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NEWSLETTER Issue # 9

January- March 2012 ===============================================================

In this issue

1. Translations of a Few Pages of SadGurubani: a Catechism

2. The Disciple: a Parable by Swami Sadhanananda Giri 3. Article: Ten Days with Gurudev by Ashis Boral

4. Article: My Experience with Guruji by Lewis Mazanti

5. SKYF Organization Updates 6. Upcoming Events

Translations of a Few Pages from SadGurubani: A Catechism

Swami Sadhanananda Giri

During the time Swami Sadhanananda Giri was a Brahmachari, He used to sit for hours at His Guru’s feet and ask His Guru questions. He would then write down the answers in a notebook. Later He published His notes in a book entitled SadGurubani. This translation continues from last issue of the Newsletter.

Question 30: Thakur, how should we perform gross body related introspection or self inquiry? Answer: Our body is created from seven dhatus (elements). These elements are rash (serous fluid), rakta (blood), mangsa (flesh), medh (fat), asthi (bones), majja (marrow) and Sukra (semen). There is only one creator among these seven elements. Who is this creator? Sukra is the creator. Sukra is the Acharya (teacher). That is why it (Sukra) is also called Sukracharya. He is the Daitya-Guru (Guru of demons). This (external) world is the play ground of demons. Here the dualities of good and bad, truth and falsehood, light and darkness, etc. are playing since time immemorial. We have come to this world to play this game. Who is the Creator within this? Who in the form of Guru or Acharya is controlling the world? It is none other than Sukra. Sukra is not just a microscopic organism as we believe it to be. The word Sukracharya stands for Sukra who is the Acharya (teacher). He has created this world. What else can I say? People are misappropriating this treasure. In other words

Guru is being abandoned*. Consequently, people are moving away from the Truth towards the worldly game of flesh and bones. We are downplaying Him (the Acharya) when the Sukra is thrown into the womb instead of sublimating it to the Acharya. What is this (creation)? It is my Sukra. It is the play of my Sukra organism. I am throwing it in the womb and it is coming alive in front of me. Then I am becoming attached and engrossed in it. Thus I cannot perform puja to it as an Acharya. One has to analyze it this way. Through persistent self-analysis and introspection, one can gradually move from prabritti (attachment) towards nibrrithi (detachment). Translator’s note: The words in brackets were added throughout the texts to clarify the concepts.

*Interpretation: The human body is created from seven elements. These elements are rash (serous fluid), rakta (blood), mangsa (flesh), medh (fat), asthi (bones), majja (marrow) and Sukra (semen). Among all these elements, Sukra is the most important element. Therefore, one has to practice brahmacharya (celibacy to stop inappropriate loss of semen). In the scriptures it is said “Birjadharanam Bhrahmacharyam”. This implies the control of semen is Bhramacharya. By practice of Bhramacharya, the sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) reaches the ultimate state and establishes himself in the Supreme knowledge. In the words of a sadhaka poet,

“Mastishkes sone gatha – Sukra aar pran

Ek khoy aar koye Sadhu shabdhan”

This Birja (semen) is the life force of human beings and the abode of prana. Holding Birja is life. Loss of Birja is death. “Sukra dhatu bhobeth prana.” That means Sukra is prana. One has to perform yagna inside the temple of one’s body to connect with this prana. Inside the human body, there are six chakras which Yogis perceive through deep meditation. Within each of the six chakras one must do sadhana and puja to the Divine Mother. Each chakra has a different colored lotus. The petals of these lotuses dry up when there is no flow of spiritual consciousness from the Divine Mother. As the lotuses (in a pond) cannot blossom without sunlight, the internal lotuses in each chakra cannot blossom without the Divine Energy of Jagadhatri (Divine Mother). As the fragrance of flowers cannot spread without morning air, the fragrances of the lotuses (in the chakras) cannot reach the Divine Mother’s temple without the touch of Pranvayu (the subtle breath or the prana). So my friends, travel from lotus to lotus (chakra to chakra) as your Guru taught you. Travel just like the bees. Travel from flower to flower in search of nectar. Travel from lotus to lotus using Omkar Kriya

techniques taught by your Guru with the fire of thirst in your heart and the yearning of prana in your eyes. The Divine Mother in the lotuses will awaken with your pure (internal) mantra japa. When She awakens, her movement will be upwards (through the spine). In the words of a sadhaka poet,

“Ma noy samanya meye. Shey je muladhare shashrare utche dheye dheye”.

(Mother is not an ordinary girl. She is running upward from Muladhar to Sahasrara.) Oh sadhaka, as a bee is greedy for nectar, you have to hanker after Mother’s feet. Your mind will get stuck to the nectar in the lotuses and your coming and going to this sangsar (world) will come to an end. After completing the puja to the Divine Mother, you will see the Manipur chakra filled with a radiant red solar light. The brilliant moon will emerge in your forehead. When the resplendent light of the sun and moon merge, you will notice a magnificent black form. If you want to see those splendid beauties, then collect the rays of the moon and mingle it with the rays of the sun. Here it is important to state that the breath that flows through the pingala (i.e. through the right nostril) is the sun and the breath that flows through the ida (i.e. through the left nostril) is referred to as the moon. After practice of pranayama, the breath flows from both nostrils and the sun and moon merge. That is why, oh sadhaka, continue your Omkar Kriya through the lotuses with the help of Khechari Mudra. As long as the bee in the form of your mind is not attached to the nectar of the lotuses, continue to take the rays of the moon and offer it to the sun. The radiance of the sun will then increase and the lotuses will bloom. The God in charge of mind is known as Chandra (moon). If anyone can concentrate and fix his mind on the forehead, he becomes Chandrasekhar or Lord of the moon. At that stage, a soothing light envelops the inner astral sky and this gets filled with vibrations of Prana. These rays of light need to travel through the subtle channel of the sushumna and merge with the Vaiswawanar fire in the navel area. The Vaishwanar fire or the Sun burns away all materialistic wishes and desires. The sushumna is within the spine and within the sushumna lies a clear blue astral sky. If one can enter this astral sky, one can then find the Brahmamoyi (Divine Mother). This astral sky or channel is also known as Brahmanadi.

The karma in form of Bhava (state) arises from Brahma, from Bhava arises yagna, from yagna arise clouds, from clouds comes annya (crops e.g. rice) and from crops develop living beings. In the reverse journey, from living beings arises Bhagavad-bhava (Bhava of God-realization) and from the Bhava arises Yagna or Iswarmukhi karma (the work towards God-realization). From that arises Sukra and from Sukra come living beings. In other words, the mind moves from Ajna chakra to Visuddha chakra, Visuddha to Anahata, Anahata to Manipur, Manipur to Swadhistan and finally from Swadhistan to Muladhar chakra. Similarly in reverse direction, the sadhaka moves from Muladhar to Swadhistan, Swadhistan to Manipur, Manipur to Anahata, Anahata to Visuddha and finally from Visuddha to the Ajna chakra.

The person who does not perform sadhana through the upward and downward channels lives in vain. Sukra develops from Karma. If the mind remains focused on external work, external forces become stronger and Sukra originates. This Sukra is the Guru (of the demons), abode of external Shakti or energy. Asuric Shakti (demonic energy) develops and increases from that (Sukra). That is why Sukracharya is known as Guru of the Asuras

(demons). When the mind is inclined towards God, spiritual consciousness develops. This is called Deva-Shakti (energy of God). The Guru of Devas is Brihaspati.

The chakras

Usually the mind or moon remains attracted towards external objects. As a result of this external attachment, the effects of spiritual energy diminish and one is kept engrossed in worldly life. This results in development of ordinary intelligence, brilliance, memory etc., which are controlled by Budh. This is the subtle meaning of the episode mentioned in the Puranas about the god Chandra forcefully kidnapping Tara, the wife of Chandra’s Guru (Brihaspati). Later after Tara gives birth to a son named Budh (fathered by Chandra), Chandra seeks the protection of Sukracharya, the Guru of Demons. When Brihaspati complains to Brahma (God of creation) and Maheshwar (God of destruction), Maheshwar (also known as Shiva) became very upset and wanted to destroy Chandra completely. He instructed Sukracharya to bring Chandra and Tara in front of them. However, after sincere prayers by Sukracharya for mercy for his disciple, Maheshwar became merciful. Instead of completely destroying Chandra, Maheshwar divides the body of repentant Chandra into two parts. Maheshwar (Shiva) held one part in His forehead and restored the other part to Deva-shabha (abode of Devas). However cursed by Tara, Chandra had to undergo sufferings and till today, Chandra (moon) diminishes every alternate fortnight. The subtle meaning of this episode is as follows: When the mind (moon) steals spiritual Shakti (i.e. looses spiritual energy) and becomes externally oriented, consciousness gets concentrated near Sukra. That means mental and spiritual energy gets transformed into physical energy. Sukra (semen) is the storehouse and root of all physical energy. In order to reclaim spiritual energy, one has to take refuge in the creative energy (Brahma at the Muladhar chakra) and destructive energy (Maheshwar at the Ajna chakra). One has to perform sadhana as taught by one’s Guru by going once upwards toward the mouth of destruction and then downwards toward the root of creation. When the mind rises to Ajna after touching each Chakra from Muladhar onwards, it dissolves in the forehead. That means it takes refuge in Maheshwar. Then the mind travels downward from Ajna to Muladhar chakra which is the source of creation or Brahma. As a result of sadhana, the Lord of mind, Chandra gets separated into two planes. One part of the mind remains in the higher plane which is the place of dissolution of the mind. Here the sadhaka is able to perceive his mind within the Jyoti (light). The other part of the mind is subject to expansion and contraction. In the lower plane (Muladhar chakra), the mind lords over the manomoy khetra (i.e. mundane mental sphere). Here the human mind remains subject to wishes and desires that lead to feelings of joy and sorrow as a result of expansion or contraction of the mind.

The waking state and Susupti (deep dreamless sleep state) are indications of this expansion or contraction of the mind.

Depiction of moon in Maheshwar’s (Shiva) forehead

Brihaspathi is the Guru of Chandra, the Lord of the mind. When the mind and prana remain in the higher plane and are stable in the Ajna chakra, then Chandra is sevak (servant) of Guru’s wife (Gurushakti). However, Shakti and Shaktiman (one who has a lot of Shakti or is strong) are one and the same. (This means Guru and Gurushakti are one and same)**. That means the mind in the higher plane is a servant to the Guru as well. When the mind remains in lower levels, it acts like a kidnapper of the Guru’s wife and thus brings disgrace and insults to the Guru. This is why revered Swami Bhabananda Giri said, “Jib Gurutyagi hocche” (Humans are abandoning their Guru). This means the minds of ordinary people have become impure and are subject to wasting. If the Maheshwar’s Kripa (grace) is obtained through sadhana of dissolution of the mind in the higher level, the mind can develop once again. Then one can comprehend the cause of the wasting and development of the mind. One can easily understand this by observing various states of mind. From the spiritual perspective, we have to vow to work hard to come out of this disgraceful state. Oh Guru of Gods! Your dear wife i.e. Dhri-shakti (spiritual energy) has been kidnapped and insulted by your dear disciple (mind). Please rescue your wife with the help of creation and destruction shaktis. Please save your dear disciple (mind from further degradation). Please assume your Shakti (become shaktijukto) and protect your Gurutyo (your importance as Guru).

Question 31: Is that possible without Guru Kripa (grace of Guru)? Answer: His Kripa is always there. But one has to work and earn it. Kripa means Kore powa (earning by doing). If you want to go towards the Infinite, you have to stop this play of flesh and skin. Translations from SadGurubani to be continued.

_______________________________________________________________ Editor’s Note: The book, SadGurubani, has a wealth of in-depth knowledge. It is a difficult and

formidable task to translate this compendious book. A sincere attempt was made to bring the reader

the closest possible English meaning. We acknowledge that in some cases, the translated text has

English words that may not reflect the “exact” meaning of the Bengali words used by Sri Sri Gurudev

and/or Sri Sri ParamGurudev. Portions of the original text which require extensive explanations of

Indian scriptures were summarized for this newsletter with Sri Sri Gurudev’s permission.

The Disciple By Swami Sadhanananda Giri

Upamanyu was a disciple of Maharishi Ayodadhaumya. Upamanyu did not read much scriptures or do any tapasya. He was a sincere devotee of his Guru. He used to take care of the cows in his Guru’s ashram. One day his Guru, Maharishi Ayodadhaumya, noticed that Upamanyu looked very healthy so he asked his disciple, “Upamanyu, you look very healthy, what do you eat?” When Upamanyu replied that he survived on the alms he got from begging, his Guru rebuked him and told Upamanyu not to eat begged food without first offering it to his Guru. From that day onwards Upamanyu offered everything he received from begging to his Guru. After some time, Upamanyu still looked strong and healthy, so his Guru again asked Upamanyu what he ate. Upamanyu replied that after giving all the alms he received from begging to his Guru, he would go out again to beg for himself. His Guru then forbade him to beg a second time as it deprived other beggars and it increases one’s greed. Some more time passed and Upamanyu still looked healthy, so his Guru again asked him what he ate. This time when Upamanyu humbly replied that he drank milk from the ashram cows, his Guru forbade him to drink that milk without getting permission. So Upamanyu gave up drinking the cow milk. Sometime later Maharishi Ayodadhaumya noticed Upamanyu was still healthy and asked Upamanyu what he was eating now. Upamanyu said that he was eating the milk foam that formed outside the mouth of calves after they fed themselves from their mother’s udder. The Guru forbade him to eat that as the calves out of mercy for Upamanyu were creating more foam and as a result, the calves themselves were becoming under-nourished. So Upamanyu stopped doing that. One day Upamanyu was herding the cows. Tormented by hunger, he ate some Akhanda leaves (wild herbs) without realizing that the leaves were poisonous. He became blind and fell in a well. At dusk when Upamanyu did not return, Maharishi Ayodadhaumya enquired from his disciples, “Where is Upamanyu?” The disciples said, “He did not return from the grazing grounds, Gurudev” So Ayodadhaumya took some of his disciples and went to the forest to search for Upamanyu. Upamanyu heard everyone calling his name and responded from the well. When Gurudev and disciples got nearer, Upamanyu narrated his story from the bottom of a well. Maharishi Ayodadhaumya instructed him to do mantra japas of the Asvini Kumars (the physicians of heaven). Upamanyu followed his Guru’s instructions and performed his japas. The Asvini Kumars were pleased and appeared before Upamanyu. They gave him a pitha (Indian sweet pancake) that would let him regain his eyesight. But Upamanyu said, “I cannot eat this without first offering it to my Guru. I am here in the well and my Guru is above on the ground.” The Asvini Kumars were extremely pleased by Upamanyu’s devotion towards his Guru. They gave Upamanyu a blessing to restore his eyesight so Upamanyu. When his eyesight was restored, Upamanyu came out of the well. Maharishi Ayodadhaumya understood that his disciple had passed all the tests and told Upamanyu that he would become a Bhramhagyani (realized saint). If we too can develop not only devotion but also complete and absolute surrender towards our Guru like Upamanyu, then we will be accomplished.

Translator’s Note: Swami Sadhanananda related this story from ancient texts to illustrate the

nature of a good disciple.

Ten Days with Gurudev

By Ashis Boral

Earlier this year, Thakur (Sri Sri Gurudev) asked Biswanathda to come with Him to Tripura and bring me along. Later He decided to take Kripananda as well. So on October 14, we left for a ten day trip of Tripura. Tripura is a small state in North-East India. Our first stop was Agartala, the state capital. On the first day of our stay we visited the Tripureshwari Temple. This is one of the 51 Shakti peeths (energy centers according to scriptures). Gurudev had earlier told us He was very interested to visit this temple. So He spent a long time in the Temple. During our stay at Tripura, we also visited the Shiva pilgrimage of Unokothi, Dharmanagar and Neer Mahal. Neer Mahal is a beautiful water palace, built in the middle of a natural lake, by the King of Tripura for his queen.

Neer Mahal Palace Sri Sri Gurudev at Unokothi

One day in particular during our trip to Tripura was filled with remarkable events. In the morning we set out for visiting Neer Mahal after taking breakfast at Hotel around 9 AM. While at Neer Mahal, suddenly at around 11 am, Thakur began ordering fruits and snacks from street vendors. We were very surprised. Only the day before we had offered Him mid-morning snacks, and He had told us he didn’t eat at that time of the day. He also mentioned that on our next day’s outing, He intended to get lunch only after we returned to the hotel. But here He was now, the next day, purchasing and giving us snacks, just one hour before our scheduled lunch time. Shortly after the snacks, the next adventure began. Thakur had seen traditional tribal bamboo hookahs (tobacco pipes used by tribal people of Tripura) in the State Museum in Agartala and wanted one as a souvenir.

Sri Sri Gurudev in front of Tripureshwari temple in

Tripura

Sri Sri Gurudev inside the Tripureshwari temple

Our driver knew traditional hookahs weren’t available in urban Tripura but by talking with local people, he learned the name of a specific shop that did carry them. The shop, however, was quite a

distance from Neer Mahal so it was only after 12:30 p.m. when we arrived. The shop was closed but suddenly, we saw a motorcycle approaching us.

Sri Sri Gurudev ordering snacks

Tribal bamboo Hookah making

The shopkeeper of the next shop told us that this man is an expert in handicrafts and will be able to make a traditional hookah from bamboo – as Guruji wanted. We spoke to the man and followed his motorcycle and reached his remote village. In the village Thakur asked the man to make a bamboo hookah. The man created the Hookah and gave us a demonstration. . The village was poor and remote and had no place to eat so by the time we got back to our hotel in Agartala, it was 3 pm, well past our lunch time. Then it dawned on us that Thakur knew all along what our day would be like. He knew where He would get the hookah and that we will miss our lunch. That is why He fed us a bunch of snacks at 11 a.m.

Newly crafted bamboo hookah getting tested

Sri Sri Gurudev at Village with Handicraft

craftsmen and children

During our stay in Tripura, Thakur took us to the house of His disciple Bijoy Krishna Goswami in Dharmanagar. Dharmanagar is a remote township 150 kilometers from Agartala. When we reached the Agartala station for our journey to Dharmanagar we found the passengers of the train ‘Lumding Express’ were astonished that the train was on schedule for that day only. In the train’s history, the train had never departed or arrived without minimum delay of four to five hours from the scheduled time! Same thing happened on our way back. Knowing our Guru, we tend not to get surprised by these things. During our stay at Dharmanagar, we used to eat dinner with Thakur. One night, Biswanathda was given a bowl full of chutney (Indian sweet sour side dish). Thakur looked at Biswanathda. But Biswanathda has diabetes. He told Thakur he could not eat the chutney because chutney has very high sugar content. Thakur told him, “Boro-dactar bolche khe ne. Tor kicchu hobe na” (Superior-Doctor is telling you. Eat. Nothing will happen to you). Biswanathda quickly finished the big bowl of tasty chutney and said, “if Superior-Doctor permits me, I will definitely eat sweets too”. Thakur smiled and told him, “The Superior Doctor will not permit you to eat other sweets.” Biswanathda was confused and worried since he had a big bowl of high sugar chutney in his belly. After dinner he went to his hotel room, checked his blood sugar level with his blood sugar test equipment. The sugar level was normal. So rest of the trip Biswanathda kept enjoying full bowls of chutney whenever available! On the day we returned from Dharmanagar to Agartala, we had eaten a heavy brunch. But at the train station, Thakur asked us to get Him some ice cream. We got the ice cream for

Thakur. It was just frozen cream. He tasted it and asked me what type of ice cream it was. Then He gave me the unfinished cup and asked me to get an ice cream in a stick, which is basically an ice and syrup combination. He finished half of it and gave the rest back to us. We had a four hour journey on the train. I was sitting in an aisle seat and Thakur was sitting

Sri Sri Gurudev at His disciple Bijoy Krishna Goswami’s housein Dharmanagar

in the adjacent aisle seat in the train. After awhile Thakur said, “I am feeling hungry. Get me a Frooti fruit juice”. I went and got Him the Frooti. Then after fifteen minutes He said, “I am still hungry. I want some jhal muri (a spicy oily puffed rice mix). I could not find any jhal muri vendor. So I tried to bring Thakur tea and other snacks. He went on eating those things and distributed prasad to us. Finally I found some jhal muri. Thakur again tasted the Jhal muri and gave it back to me. But when He gave me the jhal muri prasad, He said something unusual, “Ashis, finish this jhal muri. But not a single grain of this should drop on the floor”. Eating slowly, I managed to finish the jhal muri. It was quite unusual for Thakur to eat every fifteen minutes for last three hours. Usually Thakur does not eat very much outside food while travelling. Anyway, after I finished the jhal muri I went to the washbasin to wash my oily hands. The washbasin was at the end of the train near the doors of the coach. In this part of the India, trains run on ancient meter gauge railway ties, so the trains jerk violently at times. When I reached the washbasin, I noticed both doors on either side of the coach near the basin were wide open. I started washing my hands and suddenly the train jerked violently throwing me off balance. The train conductor who was sitting nearby was thrown off his stool and fell on the floor in front of me. I felt I was being thrown out of the door of the running train while both my hands were busy washing giving me little chance of grabbing anything. As if by divine grace, I somehow regained control! This whole incident took place in less than two seconds. It could have been a disaster. I returned to my seat completely shaken and told Thakur,” You just saved my life!” As usual Thakur ignored me, changed the topic and started speaking about something else as if nothing happened. But I know in my heart that it is by His grace alone I was saved. During the next hour and half of our journey, Thakur did not ask for any food. When we reached

Agartala, He said “My job for this trip is complete. Now arrange for my return to Ashram tomorrow.”

Sri Sri Gurudev (in rear sear) and Kripananda in the Train

These were a few of the miraculous incidents during our “ten days with Gurudev”. They show that our Gurudev and His doings are so spontaneous that even supernatural happenings looks so natural, that one always thinks there could have been no other outcome in a given situation. The ten days with Gurudev passed like a dream and were definitely the best ten days of my life.

JoyGuru

Editor’s Note: All individual articles and facts presented in this article are solely the opinion of the

author. The author’s views or facts may or may not reflect the opinion or views of the Sadhananda

Kriya Yoga Fellowship.

“Unchu jamite jol jame na, nichu jomite jal jome. Gurushakti dhorte gele je joto

nichu hobe, shey tato kripa beshi pabe” (Water does not stay in high grounds, it

accumulates in low ground. To receive Gurushakti, one has to give up one’s ego and become

humble. The more humble one becomes, more one gets Guru Kripa)

-Swami Sadhanananda Giri

My Experience with Guruji

By Lewis Mazanti

“Remember, I am always with you.”

These were the final words that Guruji spoke to me during my October visit to the Jujersa Yogashram. These words, spoken in English, are still reverberating inside my mind. Now, having had a little time for reflection, I am beginning to comprehend in some small measure the full import of those words. First, I must conclude that these words are a statement of truth which encompasses the past, present and future. Secondly, I believe that they were an imperative given to me at the specific time that I needed and as a prescribed course for my sadhana. From hearing stories from my GuruBrothers and Sisters, I came to realize that each of us may have a list of miraculous incidents, either major or minor, that have happened in our lives which can only be attributed to the benevolent omnipresence of our Guru. What is most amazing to me is how it seems that Guruji is administering for each of us, our own individualized lesson plan, taking into account even the smallest details in our lives. In retrospect, I can now see how many of my life experiences, although not understood at the time, must have been divinely directed; after all, I did finally arrive at the feet of our Sadguru. How else could this have happened? Guruji says, “Those who are predetermined to have initiation from Me will certainly get it at the proper time.” I believe that this is also true about all the lessons we receive from Guruji. They are timed perfectly. There is a saying that goes, “When the student is ready, the master appears.” The veracity of this has manifested itself at numerous junctures in my life even when I was seeking to learn worldly things. But the truth within this saying lies in the fact that first, one must seek to learn. Indeed, one must ask to receive and then one must also knock for the door to be opened. In my case, it was the 'knocking' part that I found the most difficult to understand. Why do you have to knock? Well, let’s say we're seeking to learn something and have asked for and even received some guidance along the learning path; so we are progressing along and then we encounter a closed door and can't go any farther. That's when we have to knock. That's the signal that we are there at the entrance and ready to pass through this obstacle. It's the signal that we believe that there is someone who can hear our knocking and will open the door even though we can't see him. It is the signal that we are there ready to reply if someone opens the door and asks, “Who are you and what do you want?” Any further progress depends of course on our having an answer to that two-part question, and that requires some introspection and self-awareness on our part regarding our desires. Ultimately we must have the courage to cross the threshold when the door is opened and the courage to proceed onward into the unknown. Next, what is most often found is that the path continues. In fact we are quite likely to find that the path becomes more challenging. However, we also find that with each threshold we cross, we gain some practical knowledge

regarding what is required for our progress. A number of years ago, through the grace of God, I found the words and teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, and that is what eventually brought me to the path of Kriya Yoga. For about a dozen years, my joy and contentment continued to increase with each day's practice. Then I realized I had begun to confuse contentment with complacence, and although I had received many blessings, I needed to get moving on down the path if I really wanted to know God. Suddenly, I was reminded of the scene in the Second Chapter of John's Gospel about Jesus gathering his disciples. In that Gospel story, the very first words that Jesus speaks to the two disciples who had begun following him are in the form of a question. Jesus saw them, turned and asked, “What are you looking for?” They answered, “Where do you live, Rabbi?” He said to them, “Come and see.” What stuck in my mind was that Jesus didn't just reply with the factual information that they were seeking, but offered to personally guide them and let them experience the answer. That was when I knew that what I really needed was a guide (a living Sadguru) who could and would actually take me by my hand and lead me down the path into the experience of knowing. I prayed for some inspiration regarding my next step. So again I found myself seeking and asking and then 'knocking' out a search request on Amazon.com which resulted in my ordering the book, “Kriya Yoga – Its Mystery and Performing Art” by Swami Sadhanananda Giri. Soon after I received and began reading the book, I decided to visit the ashram website. I recall being very much touched with a feeling of sincerity and love that seemed to be transmitted by the website (maybe it was due to Guruji's beautiful singing voice). I found the following two statements on the website especially significant: first, that “Guru is ONE and everywhere; there can never be my Guru & your Guru” and second, that “Any person, belonging to any tier of the society and any religion, can come directly to the Ashram and meet Swamiji personally.” I followed the directions on the website and typed out an email asking for permission to visit the ashram. I hoped that I could spend some time in His presence and ask for His advice regarding my spiritual progress. I even took and attached a digital photo of myself, but I didn't have the courage to hit the send key. I'm not sure why I lacked the courage to cross that threshold, but I did. Obviously I wasn't ready and the time wasn't right. Two years later, I rediscovered the draft of that email. During those two years, I had occasionally re-read parts of Guruji's book and had even thought about seeking Guruji's advice, but when I found the draft of that old email, I knew it was time for me to act. I revisited the website and discovered that Guruji was going to Ireland, so I eagerly tried to make arrangements to meet Him there. That didn't work out but when I learned that He would also be coming to the USA, I booked flights to New Jersey, His first stop, and that was where I met Him. He Himself travelled that long distance from India to reveal the truth to me when the time was right. Now, since that time in August 2009, my personal list of miraculous incidents which I can only attribute to the benevolent omnipresence of our Guru has certainly been growing. I know that these events were provided to help me remember that He is always with me. He has given me the experience of hearing Him tell me directly that “Guru is not a mortal frame” and I am gradually coming to understand that “Guru is ONE and everywhere.”

This summer I saw this most magnificent manifestation of the Divine. I was on a hike across a lava bed in southern Oregon when I saw this circular halo of light around the sun. This light ring of color around the sun appeared for about an hour in the early afternoon of June 25 from about 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. I had to shade the sun by the tree in the foreground so that I could keep looking up. The light formed a complete circle around the sun and the

inside of the ring was red in color. I had been hiking for about 3 hours and all morning I had been thinking about Guruji. I had just received permission to come to India to see Him in October, so when I looked up and observed this rare atmospheric phenomenon, I certainly did feel that Guruji was there looking over me. When Guruji told me, “Remember, I am always with you,” He gave me a tangible demonstration of the feeling that I had been seeking for many years. Guruji actually took me by the hand to lead me down the path of experience. Words can't adequately describe my feeling regarding my experiences with Guruji, but I can say that I know that all the while that I am on this spiritual journey, I know that I have an ever-present guide that has the key to open any closed door I encounter and that actually lives in the place I'm seeking to reach. I have been given a new step in my lesson plan.

JoyGuru

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Editor’s Note: All individual articles and facts presented in this article are solely the opinion of the

author. The author’s views or facts may or may not reflect the opinion or views of the Sadhananda

Kriya Yoga Fellowship.

SKYF Organization Updates

Newsletter This quarterly newsletter completed two years of existence. We launched the newsletter in January 2010, the same month Sadhanananda Kriya Yoga Fellowship (SKYF) was formed. SKYF encourages articles and feedback from the readers. Those who wish to send articles to the newsletter may do so by submitting their article along with a passport sized photo to:

info@sadhansangit.org. SKYF will make the final determination about if and when articles are published and may edit articles prior to publication. Please email a passport size photo along with your article.

Kriya Events Our last and final of the four 2011 SKYF Kriya events, Swami Sadhanananda Giri’s birth tithi, was held on October 1 in San Carlos, Northern California.

Donations Those who wish to donate to SKYF may do so by using either a major credit card or PayPal

through the SKFY website: http://www.sadhansangit.org/donate. Donations to SKYF will be used to fulfill the mission of SKYF.

Upcoming SKYF Events

February 18, 2012 - to celebrate Sivaratri

West coast Kriya Event at Campbell, CA East coast Kriya Event Ellicott City, MD

April 14, 2012 - to celebrate ParamGuru Swami Bhabananda’s birth Tithi

West coast Kriya Event at San Carlos, CA East coast Kriya Event to at Branchburg, NJ

Note: SKYF events are usually held on the Saturday closest to the Tithis / Jujersha Ashram events. No Kriya initiations are given at these events. Kriya initiations are only given by Swami Sadhanananda Giri. No Kriya initiations are given at these events. Kriya initiations are only given by Swami Sadhanananda Giri.

For latest updates visit: http://www.sadhansangit.org/events

Contents of this newsletter is the property of the Sadhanananda Kriya Yoga Fellowship

Inc. (SKYF), a registered New Jersey nonprofit organization. For further information, please visit our website: www.sadhansangit.org

SKYF Email: info@sadhansangit.org