Picture: Mother–Holding the Light for the world
In India Guru Purnima Day occurs on the first full moon after the summer solstice; today. Tonight I have been gazing up at the full moon as it makes bright the earth below. It is a day to show respect, love and devotion for one’s guru, one’s own spiritual teacher and agent for profound change.
I bow to my Guru, Mother Hamilton and my guru-lineage. It is due to their selfless service and total dedication that I found the ways and means to attain an illumination that is far greater than either the moon or the sun.
The tradition of Guru Purnima began countless years ago. An unknown yogi appeared in the Himalayas. So many aspirants were magnetically drawn to the sage, however he appeared as dead, only tears of ecstasy occasionally ran down his face. Eventually the crowds left, and only seven remained, determined to get teachings from this obviously great mahatma, this great soul. One day the yogi opened his eyes, and they asked for his teachings. His mind hovered above dualism and he said nothing. Eventually, through their persistence they were given teachings tailored to their advancement. They practiced what they were given sincerely and the silent guru said no more. Years rolled by, decades, and still the guru made no move. At last, he once again opened his eyes and saw the pure minds those seven yogis had attained through their practice for over 80 years. This Adiyogi, first yogi, was also Adi Guru, first guru, was none other than Shiva, the Himalayan yogi of extraordinary realization. The purity of his disciples drew Shiva out of himself and on the first full moon after the longest day of the year he gave them the cream of his teachings. With those teachings came the understanding that mankind can consciously advance in realization through individual effort—the essence of yoga and all the great religions of the world.
Thus it is said that the tradition began for honoring one’s guru on this most sacred remembrance day. I know firsthand the tremendous power that emanates from a fully realized guru. Mother not only gave me the means for completing my realization, but she stood as a protector, guarding me from dark forces. As I write this I think of the numberless times that Mother lifted me out of darkness into the Light. On one occasion Mother saved me from physical and vehicular damage. I was driving to Service on a Sunday morning. I was moving along on Northgate Way when I suddenly saw the car in front of me had come to a full stop. I was driving a van that had no protection in the front. I locked up my brakes but I could see that my vehicle was not going to stop in time. I braced for impact. Mother flashed through my mind, then suddenly it was as if a film was spliced–I was twenty feet back from where I previously knew myself to be. I continued skidding but now I came to a complete rest just inches behind the bumper of the stopped car. What happened and how it happened is as deeply mysterious to me today as on the morning it happened; I can only say, “Guru’s Grace.”
Guru comes in the guise of so many relationships. Mother was teacher, disciplinarian, beloved, confident, psychologist, mystic, pure spiritual power and light. No other has come anywhere close to changing my life and making it possible for me to make real and meaningful spiritual progress in this life. For that, no amount of words of gratitude can suffice.
Once I said to Mother, “When you leave the body you should take me and all of us with you, I have no wish to continue if you are not here.” She looked at me very sweetly and said, “But who would carry on this work if there were no one left?” So, we carry on in order to do what we can to help her work in the world–the work of lifting this world closer to God. True, there are powerful forces of darkness in operation at this time. However, there are also wonderful souls striving to bring in the Light, for themselves and for this world. Wherever there is courage and dedication to reach out for that Light, then Mother’s work will be advanced just that much more. The greatest honor we can pay Mother, Master and all the guru-lineage is to strive for and merge into the eternal light of Being; to bring the bliss of His presence into our hearts and souls so that heaven and earth may merge and become as one.
Have a blessed Guru Purnima Day.