Into the Chamber of the Infinite Eternal

Yogacharya David
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Papa radiating blissful joy during early sadhana days

Travel Note: We have migrated north of Boston at a wooded campground near Concord, where British troops had march in April of 1775 to take a stash of guns from the colonists. The colonial militia here were known as Minutemen (the militia could be ready for action in one minute). The malitia resisted the British troops, and it was the first shot of what became a revolutionary war, the shot that was heard round the world. We had not planned to come to Concord, but Ram herded us here quite unexpectedly. And I might say, we are delighted to be here. for not only is this an historical revolutionary site, but it also the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson (a fully realized sage), another transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau (Walden Pond is nearby), Nathaniel Hawthorne, Bronson Alcott and Louisa May Alcott. Concord was originally known as Musketaquid, an Algonquian name for grassy plain, a prayag where the Sudbury and Assabet rivers join. Ram is ever kind in his direction for His pilgrims as they wander without any fast plans; only by His direction.

The World Is God is the title of one of Swami Ramdas’ books, a description of his travel around the world and finding his beloved Ram wherever he went, in whomever he met; including his first meeting with Mother Hamilton in Seattle. For Papa, Swami Ramdas, during his sadhana days the world had taken on a wonderful transformation in which he came to see that the world truly is God. He describes his awakening to this great Reality in this way:

In this cave he lived for nearly a month in deep meditation of Ram [God]. This was the first time he was taken by Ram into solitude for His Bhajan. Now, he felt most blissful sensations since he could here hold undisturbed communion with Ram. He was actually rolling in a sea of indescribable happiness. To fix the mind on that fountain of bliss – Ram, means to experience pure joy!
Once, during the day, when he was lost in the madness of Ram’s meditation, he came out of the cave and found a man standing a little away from the mouth of the cave. Unconsciously, he ran up to him and locked him up in a fast embrace. This action on the part of Ramdas thoroughly frightened the friend who thought that it was a mad man who was behaving in this manner and so was afraid of harm from him. It was true, he was mad – yes, he was mad of Ram, but it was a harmless madness which fact the visitor realised later. The irresistible attraction felt by him towards this friend was due to the perception of Ram in him. “O Ram, Thou art come, Thou art come!” – with this thought Ramdas had run up to him. At times, he would feel driven to clasp in his arms the very trees and plants growing in the vicinity of the cave. Ram was attracting him from all directions. Oh, the mad and loving attraction of Ram! O Ram, Thou art Love, Light and Bliss. Thus passed his days in that cave. (In Quest of God; Chapter X: This and a number of Ashram books are now available for download at no cost at: www.anandashram.org)

Such a transformation of experiencing God as pure joy and seeing Him in all creation is not unique to Papa, or just a favored few, but to all who would strive for this universal vision.

We read in the Bible that we are all made up of God-stuff! Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Our Soul is in inseparable union with God as His likeness–this union is pure bliss, unalloyed joy, conscious realization of our oneness with the infinite, eternal Reality. We do spiritual practice in order to re-member, bring back together that which is seemingly separate. The ultimate truth is that humankind is, and ever has been, an expression of God, we are made in His image. However, we have a veil of ignorance, drawn like a curtain, that makes us believe we are forever separate.

Union, yoga, with God is our natural state, and our spiritual practice brings to conscious awareness this pre-existent fact. During my sadhana I was taken through a state of awakening in which such divine love flowed through my heart; this,combined with the experience of being immersed in an ocean of love that permeated all the world. Divinity was in the plants, trees, the air I breathed and in the ground upon which I stood.

As I write this the thin bubble of individuality dissolves and consciousness spreads out in all directions, the sound of Aum reverberates throughout, creation trembles with the power of the Holy Ghost and nature’s blueprints stand revealed as thought-creations of an infinitely wise and loving Creator. Beyond this creation is pure Spirit, unadorned, unchangeable–ever as it has been–beautiful beyond words, perfect, pure and pristine. These three aspects of God, creation, thought-forms of the Creator, and changeless Spirit beyond duality is the trinity–One as three and three in One–Father, Son and Holy Ghost. For, the same perfection permeates all three, making them one, whole and complete. God loves to express Himself, and thus gives rise to the idea of seeming separateness, but only so that pure Spirit may enjoy the play, the lila–and for no other reason. But enough talk! I am dissolving once again into that chamber of the infinite and eternal–let us plunge together into the sea of Pure Being, Consciousness, and Bliss–it is what an aspirant must do, so why wait another moment!

 

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Ralph Waldo Emerson–America’s fully realized sage

Papa’s Sannyas

Yogacharya David

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Picture: Swami Ramdas; a perfect flower of full God-realization

On a Wednesday night of March, 1974, I met Mother Hamilton. In addition to the tremendous talk she gave that evening she also led us in chanting Ram Nam. I found Mother’s tune haunting but unforgettable and found myself singing it after meeting her. When I chanted Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram (Victory to God), it started a vibrational feeling, something powerful and uplifting that soon gave me peace and bliss.

It took some time before I came to know details of Swami Ramdas; first from Mother’s talks describing her time with him, her reading from the Vision Magazine most every talk, then finally when I read his books. In 1979 Mother announced the new publication of the Gospel of Swami Ramdas which included generous excerpts of Mother’s and Papa’s (Swami Ramdas) talks from 1957. It was obvious what a powerhouse of God Papa was; he started Mother into the Mystical Crucifixion, it was he and Master who spiritually protected her all the way to her full God-realization.

I found every written word from Papa was saturated with truth and wisdom and lifted me closer to the goal. The Ram Nam chant continued in me down through the years as an essential part of my spiritual practice. I did not have a voice that could sing for very long, so after a few repetitions verbally I switched to mental chanting; it was not till later that I read that Papa recommended mental chanting, saying it was more powerful. Papa grew into an absolute fixture in my life. His Ram Nam chant, his perfectly expressed wisdom, humor, openness, love of God and God in humanity were, and are, inspiring beyond mere words. How blessed I am to have him in my life.

December 27, we celebrate Papa’s Sannyas Day–the day he put on the orange swami clothes (as Ram willed him to do), and committed himself to the life of a wandering sadhu with the new name of Swami Ramdas–meaning servant of God. With that inauguration came a great movement of love of God and perfect surrender to Him into the world. Papa very rarely recommended the sannyas life to others; what he wants for all aspirants is perfect surrender and non-attachment to things of the world. As Papa said, “sannyas is principally a state of internal detachment to the objects of the senses. The external garb is only a symbol of inner transformation.”

The simplest means to have non-attachment is to have a total focus on, and surrender to, God—by making Him first in your heart, mind and soul. Be a faithful lover of God, chant His name all the hours of the day, feel His bliss surging throughout your entire being, and you will be His, and He will be yours. Non-attachment to this world and perfect comprehension of the universal vision of God makes for pure happiness no matter your situation. Whatever color clothes you wear, you will then have the orange flame of renunciation burning brightly within you; you will be purified, so that within and without there is nothing but Ram. By striving for and attaining this exalted state, you perfectly honor Papa’s Sannyas Day.

 “Mere external renunciation is of no avail… To assume Sannyas in the hope that by taking merely that step you would realise God, is perfectly wrong…… Sannyas is not a thing to be received from, or given to, anybody. It is a dedication of our entire being to the Lord and His service. It is a spontaneous wave of aspiration rising from within our own heart.”

Swami Ramdas

He Must Come to You

Yogacharya David

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Swami Ramdas: In continuous remembrance of Ram Nam

The notion of a mantra or chanting as a means for achieving states of higher consciousness is well known in the East, but is only beginning to be explored in more recent years here in the West. A chant used for this purpose normally does not have many lyrics, it does not tell a story or have a romantic appeal–rather its simplicity is its power.

Recently a dear devotee was inspired by a statement Mother Hamilton had made, “If you call upon the name of the Lord for 24 hours unceasingly, He cannot refuse to answer. He must come to you.” Originally she thought to start chanting Ram Nam unceasingly the day after her long work day, but God prompted her to start immediately after, 11:00 that night. She asked for blessings for her accomplishment of this noble endeavor. I suggested anytime tiredness affected her that she walk and chant for some time.

It is interesting that God’s prompting made her chant throughout the night of a supermoon, a time when the full moon was to be closest to the earth (perigee) since 1948, and would not be this close again until 2034; a unique night for spiritual practice. Spiritually, full moons are considered favorable; it was on a full moon that the Buddha achieved nirvana and it was on a full moon that the gopis met Krishna in a dance of divine ecstasy.

Her practice brought to mind times at Anandashram, especially on full moon nights, when I climbed to  the top of Manjupati, the hill behind the Ashram, and chanted through the night. On one such night I was unsuccessfully trying to remember a new chant I had heard at the Ashram when suddenly some distant temple in the valley below played over loudspeakers the very Ram Nam tune I had been trying to remember! (Only in India would a temple play a chant at this volume at 2 in the morning!) In heart-melting gratitude to the Infinite Beloved for answering this smallest of desires in such a unique way I looked out on the night, with dots of lighted lamps here and there below, in the distance incoming waves of the Arabian Sea reflecting moon’s light, with a shawl wrapped around me for warmth in the rare coolness, Ram Nam kept me company and lifted me into His Presence throughout the nocturnal observance. On other nights, when there was 24 hour Ram Nam at the Mandirs for some special occasions, I walked the Ashram walkways to quietly chant during the night.

I felt in sympathetic connection throughout for this beloved aspirant during her 24 hour practice. After this “experiment” she felt no tiredness, rather she was rested in a complete way. When drowsiness did come, she walked and chanted and did some yoga stretches without loss of Ram Nam, which was continuous. She also felt a deepened guru-disciple connection. From my own previous experiences I know this dedicated period of practice will reverberate into the future, strengthening her ongoing remembrance of God.

Ram Nam practice has a number of stages it takes the aspirant through. From the beginning chanting Ram Nam has given me a feeling of upliftment, peace and bliss. This purification results in continuous God-experience, feeling His presence permeating mind, body and spirit. At a certain point the vibration of Ram Nam enters the spine awakening an awareness of vast inner space filled with sacredness. The illumined spine and brain then effortlessly merges with outer creation–God within, God without. This universal vision confirms that there is no place where God is not.

When every cell of your being resonates with divine feeling you may be sure you are in God-consciousness. You know that you are not the body, not any temporary emotional state and you are beyond thought–you are eternal Spirit existing in a state of freedom. The power of chanting is just becoming more widely known, but what a power it unleashes to lift one and all into the bliss of His Presence–that through continuous and earnest practice He must come to you.

Note: Since returning from the Redwoods God has kept me in a powerful inner experience that keeps me indrawn in Him. It is for this reason I am not giving a talk this Sunday, the week of Thanksgiving. Know that I am with you in Spirit.

Gathering God

Yogacharya David

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Picture: Shiva, king of meditating yogis

People naturally gather information of various kinds: an avid baseball fan analyzes the statistics of various players, an intellectual gleans facts and information from his favorite subjects, a philosopher studies and compares the sages of history, and so on. Our spiritual journey is composed of a different kind “gathering.”

In the beginning an aspirant may study various religions, teachers and philosophies. However, as one deepens in merging the little self into the vast Self, the mind takes on a different purpose than that of gathering information. Now the mind is used to focus attention upon transcending the mind through a mantra or some other meditational focus. Experience teaches that only when the mind is still is God revealed–this making all the difference.

No longer is gathering facts and information central to the aspirants life. With full awareness, the mind becomes still, the little bubble of the self dissolves and merges into the vast ocean of Consciousness. Now pure Consciousness is known, the one without a second. This pure awareness resides in its Self, no thought, no information gathering, no reference to another; it is purna: whole and complete.

When I started this journey of journeys I had many questions about so many things. Some of these questions could not be answered by books or intellectual study, they could only come from a source beyond speculation. As I continued in this quest I found so many of those questions were either answered, or they simply dropped off–the growing stillness rendered questions obsolete.

This morning I entered the inner Temple of Silence, the thought of the bubble dissolving into the sea–made it so. Whatever defines this part of the mind that operates in the world simply disintegrates, awareness becomes a vast ocean of consciousness. It is not an empty ocean, it is full of all life, everything that is good and pure, but it has no need for activity so it rests in the bliss and peace of itself.

To the worldly mind this may seem like a nice dream, or it may be inconceivable how one could be enraptured when there is not constant stimulation. My mom said, when I told my parents I was going into silence and seclusion for the next year, that she imagined if my father tried that he would run out of the cabin in a few days desperate to know the score of the football game! Most would have their version of a driving need to know the score–news of a child or grandchild, of the world, work, friends or family.

There is the story told in India of the yogi who simply showed up at a temple and spent his days meditating. The temple fed the yogi daily, the rest of his time he meditated or rested. The wealthy man who financed the temple noticed this yogi and that he did not do any chores around the temple, simply ate his meals and seemed to do nothing else. Finally he had had enough of this and angrily approached the yogi. “You do not do anything here, you should leave!” He shouted. The yogi was calm in the face of this verbal assault and answered, “I will gladly leave, but I would like you to meditate with me for a little while first.” The businessman said he did not have time for such foolishness, but the yogi was somehow calmly insistent and prevailed. The businessman spent some uncomfortable minutes trying to sit still, but could not. Suddenly it dawned on him what “work” this yogi was doing by meditating long hours throughout the day–he gained a newfound respect for him. “Mahatma,” the businessman said, “You may remain here at this temple as long as you like, blessing it’s precinct’s with your dedicated meditation.”

In your practice you recognize that what you are doing is fundamentally different than what a worldly man or woman does. From the depths of your meditation you may very well be inspired to do some great work, however you must know God first for any endeavor to be truly successful. To know God you transcend the desires, thoughts and all preoccupations of the self. First merge your little self in the great Self of God, then let all action flow from that high state. You will certainly be a blessing to this whole world as no other can be.

Swami Ramdas Sannyas Day

Yogacharya David

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Today we mark the anniversary when Swami Ramdas took sannyas, the life of a wandering mendicant. We may all take inspiration from Papa in his complete surrender to God, his fearlessness in throwing his lot in with the inner promptings of his beloved Ram, and the good cheer in which he carried out even the most severe disciplines. Whether God calls us to such a wandering life or He directs us to some other, the same complete surrender is required to attune our bodies, minds and souls, not with the lower impulses, but with the highest, most beautiful, sublime states of consciousness available to anyone. Here is how Papa spoke of that initial change in his life, many years after the fact.

Swami Ramdas on Himself

The great change came over Ramdas in 1922 with his life of renunciation not as a result of his own effort or initiative, but by the power, Will and grace of God. Until this transformation came to him, he was living only an ordinary life. This does not mean that he was selfish or inflicted any injury upon others or exploited others for his personal happiness. It was only that he was not aware then that there was a great Reality underlying this universal manifestation and that by attaining that Reality one could become supremely happy and peaceful, free from all anger, hate and bickering, which brought him in daily conflict with his fellow-beings.

When this great change came, Ramdas was swept off his feet, as it were. He did not know what was going to happen to him. He was asked to repeat the name of God constantly, to keep his mind serene and calm, so that it could go deeper within himself, to find the truth on which his life was based. For that purpose he was made to give up everything, all attachments to worldly life, worldly relations, and he was taken from place to place in a state which was really wonderful. In that state he felt neither attraction nor repulsion for the world. The world had practically ceased to exist for him. His mind was merely an instrument in the hands of the Divine and he was being led by that Power. His mind was merged in ineffable peace and bliss.

Having experienced that supreme joy in this state, Ramdas was going about telling everybody that, if they lived on the lower levels of life like animals, they could never get real happiness. They must transcend all these and go deep down within themselves and realise the all-pervading eternal Spirit, which is pure bliss and peace. In this way for nearly four years, Ramdas was wandering from place to place, and during his wanderings, he was made to remain for days together in caves and jungles in order that he might get the fullness of spiritual experience which is the aim and purpose of human life.

Love’s Ways Are Strange!

Yogacharya David

Papa 4 - 3Love’s Ways are Strange!

Love’s ways are strange!

It is less than the least,

Greater than the greatest.

‘Tis humble—‘tis proud.

It yields as the reed in the wind,

It is firm like a rock unshaken.

‘Tis soft as a flower,

Hard as adamant.

It is filled with bliss,

‘Tis surcharged with sorrow.

‘Tis gentle and smiling as the new-born babe,

‘Tis stern and grim like a volcano.

‘Tis kind—it is cruel,

It wants all—it wants nothing,

It creates—it destroys,

Love’s ways are strange!

-Swami Ramdas

Papa’s poem is both wonderful and terrible; for it contains the totality of life in its verses. God is the love (as described in the poem), and love is God; this is absolutely true.

You face God daily in the life that you lead. For the pragmatist, God comes in the form of practical solutions to life’s vexing problems; to the mystic life is a constant expression of Divine Life; to the depressed life is living in a small dark cave; to the one “in love” God is walking on air. For each one lives on the same planet, but in  different worlds.

You determine the world you live in by what you focus your mind upon. Think of yourself as separate, apart, and alone, and you are. Think of yourself as connected to the Infinite Being, surrender yourself to it, and you become one with God.

Love and God are exactly as Papa describes. It is the mind that determines that only when you have what you deem good do you feel happy, and when you experience what you judge to be bad do you doubt.

Mother always taught, “Keep your mind on God,” knowing that what you constantly fill your mind with is what you become. So, my friends, what do you wish to become?

When Krishna revealed his universal form to Arjuna, it was awe-inspiring and eventually became overwhelming; Arjuna was not yet ready to remain in the universal vision. You must surrender all that you think you understand about life at the feet of the Infinite, good and bad, high and low, and become totally open to the mind of God. It is then the mirror of your mind may be so perfectly clear that it reflects only your Divine Nature; only then may you be truly free!

Swami Ramdas’s Sannyas Day

Yogacharya David

Papa_OrangeRobeColorized reducedOn this blessed day, Swami Ramdas’s Sannyas Day, we honor the whole hearted commitment Papa made in totally throwing in his lot with God. I have included an email from our dear Swami Muktanandaji sent on the 27th (it was the 26th on our calendar as they are over 12 hours ahead of our clock), and my response. I have also included some salient quotes from Papa, from his book Swami Ramdas on Himself. Yogacharya David

Blessed Atman:

We are deeply grateful to both of you for the loving greetings on the occasion of Christmas and we heartily reciprocate the sentiments expressed therein.

On this joyous occasion of Christmas what wells up in our mind is the sublimity of the love of the Christ! His heart is ever shining with the lustre of compassion, forgiveness and peace. It is a heart that thrills in symphony with the ailing heart of mankind. The waves of love that go out of it seek to soothe, heal and purify the heart of every being. How blessed does indeed life become when the mind ever dwells in him.

Yes we all remember the blissful time we all had with you during your stay in Ashram. When are you planning to be here again?

By the abundant grace of Beloved Papa, Pujya Mataji, Pujya Swamiji and all Mahatmas, the activities of Anandashram is going on well as usual. They also make us aware of their guidance always in spite of our short comings so that we are constantly reminded of the ideal they placed before us.

Today is Beloved Papa’s Sannyas day. He reminds us that Anandashram came into existence because of the transformation that took place in the life of Vittal Rao on the 27th December 1922.  Our heart is full of gratitude to Him who not only awakened us of the higher life but also has been providing all that we need for realizing Him in spite of the fact that we are not rising up to His expectation.

Deepest love and best wishes to you and Carlaji

Ever your Self

Swami Muktananda

Our dearest Swamiji,

How thrilling to receive your most loving note. Your words about the life and teachings of Jesus could not be more perfect, as Jesus must be seen as the embodiment of compassion, forgiveness and peace. It lifts and purifies our hearts just to think on these virtues made manifest in him, even as these virtues are at the core of all the great Masters.

You are now a day ahead of us, so while it is still early for us, we are so glad to think of Papa’s Sannyas Day even now. It is amazing to contemplate that on a human level Papa was just one man who totally dedicated his life to realizing the universal vision of God, and how that has changed the world!

May Papa’s vision of God spread all over this earth to usher in a new era, an era of “Peace on earth, and goodwill toward all men!”

And, may Papa’s Grace ever radiate from your hearts, minds and souls in total realization and loving service. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

Yogacharya David

*****************

Swami Ramdas on Himself

The great change came over Ramdas in 1922 with his life of renunciation not as a result of his own effort or initiative, but by the power, Will and grace of God. Until this transformation came to him, he was living only an ordinary life. This does not mean that he was selfish or inflicted any injury upon others or exploited others for his personal happiness. It was only that he was not aware then that there was a great Reality underlying this universal manifestation and that by attaining that Reality one could become supremely happy and peaceful, free from all anger, hate and bickering, which brought him in daily conflict with his fellow-beings.

When this great change came, Ramdas was swept off his feet, as it were. He did not know what was going to happen to him. He was asked to repeat the name of God constantly, to keep his mind serene and calm, so that it could go deeper within himself, to find the truth on which his life was based. For that purpose he was made to give up everything, all attachment…

To tell you the truth, when God wanted Ramdas to leave his family—the old family you may call it—and go on a wandering life, he did not know why he was going. He went because God led him away from the place. He had no idea what was in store for him. If it was for Sadhana, why should he go elsewhere? He could have practiced it sitting at home. Still God wanted him to go. Ramdas did not ask Him why he was being taken away, but He Himself whispered to Ramdas’s ear: ‘Ramdas, I am taking you from place to place not because you have to renounce everything, but because you have to see that everything is My form. You have to go to householders and tell them that they need not renounce worldly life in order to realize Me.’ It was with this object that He made him give up the old life…

Having experienced that supreme joy in this state, Ramdas was going about telling everybody that, if they lived on the lower levels of life like animals, they could never get real happiness. They must transcend all these and go deep down within themselves and realize the all-pervading eternal Spirit, which is pure bliss and peace.

[Our dearest Papa, we pray that same desire for God be awakened within us that inspired you; that we are led, even as you were led; and that we find fulfillment in the same universal vision of pure bliss and peace in which you were constantly immersed. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!]

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