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The Holy Task of Self-Realization: By Alan Jacobs

Harsha — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:06:06 +0000

We must never lose sight of the Holy Task, that of Self Knowledge, or Self-Realization.

This is the main thrust of Bhagavan Ramana’s teaching. Bhagavan leaves to us to make intelligent use of our lives as we follow his teachings of self awareness and being a witness to all that is happening. Following his guidance and example, we discover the God or Guru within; the Inner Ruler, the Heart.

The journey to Self-Realization needs supporting methods or “recipes” to constantly refresh us. That is why being with Bhagavan devotees in satsang is most helpful. Bhagavan has said that those who have found the company of sages and devotees have found the best help.

Bhagavan also advocates that we enquire into our nature. Due to His grace, teachings of Bhagavan are widely available. Teachings in their utmost purity are found in Bhagavan’s works and also his conversations.

One of my personal favorites is Bhagavan’s masterly treatise Self Enquiry in which he gives a comprehensive account of how to pursue meditation and enquiry to Self-Realization.

In the picture below, I am in Satsang with Bhagavan devotees from Arunachala and we are eating some good South Indian food. We are looking so happy because we feel Bhagavan with us.

Work: By Kheyala

kheyala1 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:50:06 +0000

I am in a slightly bewildered state, having just come to the completion of two major projects; which, with my head down, had consumed much of my time and focus over the last two years. One of them is my new website, and the other is the submission of half my life’s work to a publishing company.*

Presence demands excellence. So it is interesting to me now, how the fact that I have given my very best shot at both of these things… well… that that alone really is its own reward.

Regarding these matters, I actually feel… whole.

At peace.

As if the outcome has already… out-come.

***

It may interesting to note that the words below were written *just* before the culmination of all that hard work.

From Meltdown to Mastery

RRrrrgh!
So frustrated!
Can’t make it happen!Waaaaaah!
So sad!
I’m failing!

Ohh, Mmmm
So sorry to be having this hellish experience

[door cracks open and light spills in]

*gasp*

I must get to work!

No more interest
in excuses
self-soothing
distractions

I have a calling
and I can hear it

it beckons loudly

Somehow there is energy
inspiration
forward motion!

Crank it out
Crank it out

(and actually love and enjoy
what I had most been dreading?
how is this possible?)

Result?

Who cares?

In the flow
NOBODY KNOWS
but it’s surely trusted
as it goes

Peace can wear
a peculiar disguise:
this mischievous grin
with the sparkle
in the eyes

* If you would like to see my website, please go to www.EnlightenmentSupport.com. If you would like to read my book, please send your prayers to Sounds True.

Awakening: By Kheyala

kheyala1 — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:42:50 +0000

My boy, who is nine, said to me, “Mom, I know it’s weird, but I don’t think I’m alive. I don’t think you’re alive either.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked, intrigued. “Do tell!”

“Well, I’m not me, and you’re not you; we’re just atoms.”

“Oh,” I answered thoughtfully. Then I asked, “How can you say that? I mean, what is aware of all the atoms?”

“Nothing.”

“Well… then, who are YOU?”

“Nothing,” he said again, in the exact same tone of voice. He laughed. “That’s weird to say I’m just nothing, but it’s true.”

We both laughed.

“Come here,” I said. I brushed the hair back on his forehead and I kissed him there.

You know, I was 24 when my identity made that shift, and he is only nine. My path in the world was not easy after that point, and I wonder how his will be. At least I know one thing for sure: he will not be alone.

After that conversation I realized the entire context of all that would arise in our daily life would now be different for my son. [At least now he would be on the same almost-imperceptible page as his sister and me! Haha!]

Here are two of his observations since that day:

“Nothing loves nothing.”

And, “Our forms can die, but WE can’t die.”

[As I type this, I pause to rub my hands together and bounce a little in my seat with glee. I do believe our lives just got a big notch even more rich this week!! Yeah!! ]

How I came to the Maharshi: By Papa-ji (H.W.L Poonja)

Harsha — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:34:54 +0000

I have been a visionary from childhood. When I was only five years old I already had visions of Sri Krishna. At first I thought every one could see them. I once said to my mother: “Look! He’s standing there!” but she explained to me that only I saw him.

When I grew up I joined the army. However my desire for God-experience grew so strong that after some years I resigned and decided to devote my life to sadhana. I wanted to become a sannyasin but could not because I had a wife and children to look after.

I started visiting Swamis and asked each one point blank: “Have you seen God and can you show me God?” I would allow no hedging. If they began to talk around it I said: “Please give me a straight yes or no.” I found no one who could answer `yes’ and returned to my home in the Punjab feeling very depressed.

One day my wife was just serving my midday meal when a sadhu came and stood in the doorway. I invited him in and told her to serve him food too and then asked him whether he could direct me to a Swami who could show me God. He told me that I could find what I was looking for from Ramana Maharshi of Tiruvannamalai.

It was the first time that I had heard of the Maharshi or of Tiruvannamalai, so I wrote down both names. But how was I to get there? It was right down in the South, and my funds were almost exhausted. However, the next day I saw an advertisement in the paper for an ex-army man to run a canteen in Madras. I applied and was at once given the post and my fare paid.

When I got to Madras I said that I must first pay a visit to Tiruvannamalai before taking up my duties. Arriving there, I dumped my bedding in the Ashram dormitory and went into the meditation hall; and who should I see there on the couch but the sadhu who had visited me at my home in the Punjab!

I decided that he was a fraud. He had been travelling about India boosting himself and had then taken a train back and arrived before me. So I got up and left the hall. I got my bedding and was just putting it back on the horse-cart that had brought me from the station when a devotee asked me why I was leaving so soon. I told him and he said: “It must be a mistake, because the Maharshi has never left this place since he first came nearly fifty years ago. Either it was someone else you saw or he appeared to you by supernatural power.” So I was back to the hall.

As soon as I had an opportunity to see Bhagavan alone I asked him my usual question. I added: “It’s a bargain. I am willing to pay any price, even my life, but your part of the bargain is to enable me to see God.”

At first he sat silent, but I said “That’s no good; I don’t understand silence. Please give me a straight answer.”

Then he said: “I can enable you rather to be God than to see God.”

That puzzled me. I had very little understanding then.

A few days later I went for a walk in the rough country at the foot of the north slope of Arunachala and fell into a state of ecstasy during which I again had a vision of Sri Krishna. When I got back I told Bhagavan. He asked me: “can you see Krishna now?”

I said, “No; only when I have a vision.”

So he said: “What is the use of a God who comes and goes? If he is a real God he should be with you always.”

That shocked me. Again I almost lost faith in him, but some of the devotees explained to me. Before I left for Madras I asked Bhagavan for a mantra but he did not give me one. I asked him for permission to take sannyas, but he refused.

However, shortly after my return to Madras he appeared to me in a dream and gave me a mantra. Soon after this I had a vision of God in human form. This was followed by a great change in me. I lost interest in all the ritual and incantations and breathing exercises that I had been doing up to then. For instance, I used to get up at three o’clock in the morning to attend to my statue of Sri Krishna. All such things ceased to interest me. I was very worried about this. I thought it meant I had become an atheist.

At the first opportunity I went to Tiruvannamalai. I told Bhagavan about the change that had come over me and how I had lost interest in all the ritual that I had been practising regularly for so many years past.

Bhagavan looked steadily at me for some time and then said something to me in Tamil which I was told, on enquiry, meant “You, that is me, that is Bhagavan.” These words sank into my heart and I experienced the most wonderful feeling of bliss I had ever known.

It was from this time that I began to understand Bhagavan and his teaching.

Source:

The Mountain Path
Vol. 2 – JULY 1965 – No. 3

Effort

kheyala1 — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:20:03 +0000

Namaste!

My name is Kheyala. I used to post regularly on the HarshaSatsang list 10 years ago, and I am the author of the article “Satsang with Robert Adam”. Recently, Harsha-ji again ihvited me to be a contributor to his site. My style can be edgy, but if Harsha-ji’s not afraid to have me post here, then I am not afraid to do it!

My writings go out weekly and are a mix of essays/articles, stories, poems, and Q&A’s. Here is the latest, after receiving a letter from Walter in Maryland.

Enjoy. And love to all!

Kheyala

Effort

Walter writes, “… I try to focus my mind on the feeling of I-Am-ness when I remember, or I try to ask the question ‘Who am I,’ like Ramana Maharshi recommended. This helps focus the mind. However, Tony Parsons said no effort is necessary and for a week after coming back from Amsterdam, this seemed to work well. However, when I read the book I am That by Nisargadatta, he indicated that earnest effort is necessary. Tony was great and I plan to go back to either Amsterdam or Germany to attend another weekend at his seminar. I feel that if I hang out near someone [who] is awakened, one day I will too … I cannot think of any questions to ask except about effort and effortlessness.”

***

Hi Walter,

{snip}

I am afraid after reading your words regarding your spiritual state at this time, what’s happening is that your enlightenment has become more of a preoccupation than a way of BEING. Having enlightenment be an object or an idea that you stand next to, examining from that distance, can only lead to learning more angles on it; more how-to-get-theres, rather than actually Being there.

I speak to you this boldly only because you said you had your first awakening experience decades ago. I feel that the teachers you mentioned reading and visiting are among the very best. I am not knocking them. But for You, well, don’t you think it’s time to see what it all is from the inside? From your self?

See, enlightenment is ALIVE. In fact, I would say that that is its most outstanding quality. Even when it is perfectly still, it is ALIVE. And when it’s in motion, any acts that take place from it have an Aliveness to them. That is how you can tell a superficial stillness and any action that comes from mental activity apart from what really has divinity pumping through it. I am not talking about mind-blowing spiritual experiences, either. I’m talking about the mundane: brushing teeth, boiling water, answering the phone, doing nothing, whatever.

It is a mistake to think that one day you will be awakened. You are, indeed, awakened every single moment you are fully present now. In these moments you are awakened to who you truly are. You already ARE that presence. However, it is only when your actions come from that source of awakened presence that you get to see your own proof – that physical evidence that keeps driving you toward enlightenment in the first place.

So, you were wondering about effort. I would say to pay more attention to how present you are being when in action. How fully are you experiencing what is in front of you? How fully are you breathing in the air around you? How much love is in your heart when you write an email? How much grace is there when you are handing an object to one of your employees? Does this take effort? Does it matter?

I believe, for you, what is more important are the results you’re getting. I believe if you pay more attention to those, you will find that no effort is needed to keep your awakening in the front of your mind at all times.

Let me know what you think!

Warmly,
Kheyala

[To read Walter’s response, click Here.]

About the Author: Kheyala is a dedicated writer, mother, and walking catalyst for spiritual growth. Her greatest joy is helping others make real contact with the love and perfection that lies – unconditionally – at the center of every living moment.

The Maharshi’s Advice to Poonja-Ji

Harsha — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:36:40 +0000

Editor’s note:

As you read this personal account by Poonja-ji, keep in mind the background and the context of the times of the year 1947 as India was getting ready to be split into two countries.

1. Poonja-ji was from a Hindu family and his family was living in the area of India that became Pakistan after the partition.

2. In the summer of 1947 there was much tension in India due to the partition which resulted in violence between Hindus and Muslims.

3. During those times, Poonja-ji was far removed from his family and living on the holy mountain of Arunachala in the company of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

———————————–

Now the story in the words of Sri H.W.L. Poonja (AKA Papa-ji by his students).

I was staying in Ramanashram before the partition of India in 1947.

One day in the middle of July 1947 someone asked me on which side of the river Ravi I was from. I told him it was much beyond this river. Then he told me about the partition crisis of the country which I didn’t know too much about since I neither had time for reading newspapers, nor for politics.

This man told me that in the middle of the next month (August 15) India would be partitioned and so my family, who was living in Lahore and Peshawar (areas to go to Pakistan), would be massacred if I did not save them. I told him that I had forgotten everybody and that it had all been a dream: parents, family, children, and country. All of it was a dream that was over now. This was how strong my detachment was and how strong it had to be.

This man told Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi what I had said and as we went out on his morning walk together the Maharshi asked me, “Why don’t you go and look after your family?”

I said to Bhagavan Ramana, “When I came here I had my wife and parents and children, but when you looked at me everything was finished and now You are my only relation and no one else in the world.”

Bhagavan said to me, “If you call it a dream, why are you afraid of the dream? It is better if you go into the dream and look after your wife and relations. Why be afraid of the dream? Your dream hand is quite safe in the mouth of the dream tiger. Like this, live in the world, and call it a dream. Don’t be afraid and work as you work in the dream. The dream is a dream and nothing in it is real, but you, as their son, are also in the dream. So let the dream son go to the dream country and save the dream parents in the dream.”

So in this way He defined the dream for me. Then the Maharshi said: “I AM with you wherever you are.”

With this sentence Bhagavan gave me the Teaching: He is the “I AM” which is with me wherever I am.

What could I say to Him? Bhagavan was telling me to leave. So I prostrated to Him and collected the dust from under His feet, went thrice around Him and left.

I went to the Punjab and through several miraculous events rescued my family from all the butchering.

The Perfect Meeting_Ramana and Ramdas

Harsha — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:55:25 +0000

Swami Ramdas describes how he attained the Divine Vision through the Grace of the Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. Swami Ramdas was called “Papa” by his devotees.

“Papa,” I asked Swami Ramadas ,”Would you mind telling us about your final Realization which they call ‘Vishvarupa Darshan’?”

He readily acquiesced and gave a long description of his burning aspiration and yearning which had led him to Arunachala Hill, hallowed by the tapas of the peerless saint Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. I can give here only the gist of his long narration ….

Papa (Swami Ramadas) then started speaking. Please note that Swami Ramdas refers to himself in third person as was his habit.

“One day the kind Sadhuram (a disciple of Swami Ramdas) took Ramdas for the darshan of a famous saint of the place named Sri Ramana Maharshi. His Ashram was at the foot of Arunachala. It was a thatched shed. Both the visitors entered the ashram and, meeting the saint, fell prostrate at his holy feet.

It was really a blessed place where the great Bhagavan Ramana lived. He was young then but there was on the face of calmness and in his large eyes a passionless look of tenderness which cast a spell of peace and joy on all those who came to him.

Ramdas was informed that the saint knew English, so he addressed Ramana thus:

“Maharaj, here stands before thee a humble slave. Have pity on him. His only prayer to thee is to give him thy blessing.”

The Maharshi turned his beautiful eyes towards Ramdas and looked intently for a few minutes into his eyes as though he was pouring into Ramdas his blessing through those orbs, then shook his head to say he had blessed.

A thrill of inexpressible joy coursed through the frame of Ramdas, his whole body quivering, like a leaf in the breeze ….

Now at the prompting of Lord Rama (Ram), Ramdas desired to remain in solitude for some time … The sadhuram was ever ready to fulfil his wishes. Losing no time, he took Ramdas up the mountain behind the great temple. Climbing high up he showed him many caves. Of these, one small cave was selected for Ramdas, which he occupied next day. In this cave he lived for nearly a month in deep meditation of Ram. This was the first time he was taken by Ram into solitude for his bhajan. Now he felt most blissful sensations since he could 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 … He went on taking the Name (Ram) in an ecstasy of longing when, lo, suddenly his Lord Rama … appeared before him and danced and danced …

“Did you see Lord Rama with closed eyes or open?” I interjected.

“With open eyes, as Ramdas is seeing you,” Papa answered. “But it was not this momentary vision that Ramdas’s heart craved. For he knew that a vision like this, was unlikely to last and so, when the Lord would vanish, Ramdas would revert to his darkness. Therefore he prayed for the great darshan, the Vision of visions, which comes to stay for ever so there is no more parting, namely the Vishvarupa Darshan, longing to see Rama always in everything; that is nothing less would satisfy Ramdas.”

Papa paused and then resumed with a beatific smile: “And it came one morning and the entire landscape changed: All was Rama, nothing but Rama – wherever Ramdas looked! Everything was permeated by Rama -vivid, marvellous, rapturous – the trees, the shrubs, the ants, the cows, the cats, the dogs – even inanimate things pulsated with the marvelous presence of the one Rama. And Ramdas danced in joy, like a boy who, when given a lovely present, can’t help breaking out into a dance.”

‘And so it was with Ramdas: he danced with joy and rushed at a tree in front, which he embraced because it was not a tree but Rama Himself! A man was passing by, Ramdas ran towards him and embraced him, calling out: ‘Rama, O Rama!’ The man got scared and bolted. But Ramdas gave him chase and dragged him back to his cave. The man noted that Ramdas had not a tooth in his head and so felt a little reassured: at least the loony would not be able to bite him!”

Papa laughed out and we swelled the chorus.

“And then?” I asked, after the laughter had subsided.

Papa said,”The bliss and joy came to be permanent, like a torrent rushing downhill till it finds a placid level of limpid purling stream. This experience is called sahaja samadhi, in which you can never be cut off from the consciousness of being at one with the One who has become all, in which you feel you are one with all because you have perceived that all is He, the One-without-a-second.”

Finally we end with a comment made by Swami Ramdas – about forty years later.

“Ramdas went to Ramana Maharshi in a state of complete obliviousness of the world. He felt thrills of ecstasy in his presence. The Maharshi made the awakening permanent in Ramdas.

Some people told Ramdas: “You went to Maharshi and you got illumination. Give us illumination like that.”

Ramdas said, “You must come to Ramdas in the same spirit and in the same state as he went to Maharshi. Then you will also get it. Where was his heart? How intense was his longing? What was the world to him at that time ? If you come in that state it is all right.”

Bhagavan Sri Ramana in relative youth -2

Source for this article: The Mountain Path

Vol. 2 – JANUARY 1965 – No. 1

Editor’s note: Minor edits were made to the original. Harsh K. Luthar

–

Beloved Arunachala! By Helene Averous

Helene Averous — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:54:12 +0000

There is a secret
In this mountain
Words cannot capture
The magnificence
Of Arunachala
Something mysterious
Flowing from there.

Still and silent
Always present
In every flower
Every stone
Every bird
Every being.
In sky and earth
And in between

What is the secret of Arunachala?

I cannot say for sure
It embraces all life
And shows
Everything is
Holy
All is pure
Grace
Flowing endlessly.

AUM!

Editor’s note: The poem was edited from the original submission made by Helene-ji.

Harsh K. Luthar

Bhagavan’s Walk With Devotees: By Viswanatha Swami

Harsha — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:39:24 +0000

Editor’s Note about the three characters in the story:

1. Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni was a great yogi and a mystic poet and one of the early devotees of Bhagavan Ramana. Bhagavan and the devotees affectionately referred to him as Nayana.

2. Sri Murunagar is well known to Bhagavan devotees. He was the great poet who came to Bhagavan for the first time bringing a poem he had written to read to Bhagavan. However, upon seeing Bhagavan for the first time, Muruganar could not utter a single word. Bhagavan then took the piece of paper from Muruganar and read his poem. From that point, everything fell away from Muruganar and he became known as Bhagavan’s shadow.

3. Vishwanath Swami who narrates this wonderful story, was the son of Bhagavan’s elder cousin. Now the story as told by Viswanatha Swami. I have made some minor edits for clarity.

Harsh K. Luthar

_____________

Ganapati Muni once told Bhagavan Ramana that he had seen many other forests, but not the one at Arunachala. Bhagavan, who knew very well every inch of Arunachala, offered to take the Muni one day into the interior of the forest.

Ganapati Muni could not bear even the slightest heat of the sun on account of a yogic experience he had, known as Kapalabheda (breaking of the skull), and so Bhagavan waited for a cloudy day. Such a day came soon and Bhagavan asked me if it would suit Nayana (Bhagavan referred to Ganapati Muni affectionately as Nayana) to go into the forest then. I replied that he would gladly jump at the opportunity and went ahead to his room to inform him of Bhagavan’s intention. In a few minutes Bhagavan came to our room in Palakothu and we three set out. Bhagavan took us through the third forest path.

After going for more than a mile, Bhagavan chose a cool and shady spot adjoining a huge rock to rest a bit. As we were sitting there a rustling sound was heard indicating someone was approaching, and in a minute, Muruganar stood before us. Bhagavan put his finger on his nose and asked him with surprise: “How did you come here? Even a forest guard could not have found us here”.

Muruganar replied, “I knew that Bhagavan had promised Nayana (Ganapati Muni) to take him into the forest on some suitable day. I also wanted to join the party and was coming to the Ashram earlier than usual. But today, not finding Bhagavan at the Ashram, I proceeded to Palakothu where I found Nayana’s room locked. I learnt from the watchman Sabhapati that Bhagavan had gone towards the forest with Nayana and Viswanathan. I made my way straight to the forest. Going along the second forest path, I found a footpath going further into the interior. I took the path and straight I arrived here.”

Bhagavan replied: “Is there a short cut like that? We shall return by it.”

Nayana (Ganapati Muni) patted Muruganar and said: “It is an indication of how you are attuned to Bhagavan by his Grace.” And we returned to the Ashram before 4 p.m.

I am thrilled when I recollect my intimate contact with Bhagavan and these two great poet-disciples of his.

Source: SURPASSING LOVE AND GRACE

In His Grace-Gananjali

Radhe — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:38:40 +0000

“I do not reside in Vaikuntha, or in the hearts of ascetics.

I dwell in the hearts of the devotees who sing about me.” Padma Purana

Back in March of 2009, I wrote about the music of Sundar Narayana in http://luthar.com/in-his-grace/ Since then, he has had another stroke, but that has not stopped him or his family from continuing to dedicate themselves to make the music devoted to Sree Guruvayurappa available to others. In addition to more CD’s of the music, a book of his compositions has been published. I was blessed to be able to attend the Sundarana Narayana book release at Bridgewater Temple in New Jersey on July 16, 2011.

The night before the book release, I had gone to check on some plants for my friend who was in India for two months and had left them out on the patio for her neighbor to water. She had been away now for 6 weeks and I wanted to check on the condition of the plants, since some of them had been kind of straggly before she left. I went prepared to prune them so they would look nice when she returned. There were a few jasmine plants there and they were all in profuse bloom, with the fragrant flowers fallen to the ground around them and into the top of the pots they were in. I decided not to just let them wither there, but took a bunch of the newly fallen blooms intending to make a mala but not knowing what it would adorn.

In thinking of it, I knew that they would not last until Monday for Rudrabishekam so I decided I would use them for Gananjali. Not knowing whether there would be any small murthies, it crossed my mind to make them for my hair, as I seen women do at other concerts in the past. In the car on the way, with our driver driving faster than the speed of light, I discussed options with Bhadra, who was sitting next to me. Marvelling at my own ability to stitch in such speedy conditions, I then made one small mala, using all of the blooms. I put it in my purse, still not knowing what it would adorn. The program had not yet started when we arrived and I looked around for Sreedeviji and Sundara Narayana. The room was bustling with activity, microphones still being set up and people coming into the room to be seated, chatting to each other as they waited for the signal that the program was about to start.

Up on the stage, there was a small pujya, a framed murthy of Shri Guruvayurappa and a small Ganesha.

I turned to Bhadra and asked her what she thought I should do with the mala I had made and she told me to do what I thought was right. Here we were at the Bridgewater Temple, where I had never been before and so a part of my mind told me that I should offer the mala to a deity in the temple if we went there later for darshan (we never made it); another part, the part that won, told me that I was here for the Gananjali book release and that the mala was for here.

At the same time this thought ruled the day, I looked up onto the stage and saw the woman who I knew must be Sreedevi auntie standing there with some others near the pujya. I rose from my seat and went up to the front of the stage. Since we only knew each other from the Guruvayur group and had never met, as I looked up and she looked down I asked the silly question…”Do you recognize me?” She laughed and told me that of course she did. I handed her the mala, trusting that it would find its way to where it belonged.

I went back to my seat and began chatting with Bhadra. When I looked up I saw that Sreedeviji had walked across the stage with the mala hanging from her wrist. I wondered what she would do with it!

Moving to the back of the stage she disappeared. When she came down to the front on the other side, Bhadra nudged me and said, “Look, she is wearing it in her hair!” I looked over and there, fitting perfectly around the bun in the back of her head, was the mala. I could not think of a better place for it adorn!!! In fact, I felt as if it were indeed a blessing that the mala I made was adorning her hair on this special day. It seems like it was a day of malas…

During the first of the performances, one of the strings of numerous garlands, that which was directly under the poster which decorated the back of the stage, fell to the ground. It seems the Lord had His own ideas as to where the garlands should be!

Swami Siddhanandaji was kind enough to offer the blessings for the book release and Sundara Narayana received those blessings with bowed head and overflowing heart. What he could not say in words, limited now by the effects of his recent strokes, emanated from his eyes, speaking volumes, alive with all the things he could not say. There is a certain look someone has when Grace is flowing and he had this look.

As he came onstage to perform the blessing for the book, Swamiji picked up the fallen garland and placed it at the pujya around the picture of Sree Guruvayurappan and commented that the Lord had wanted it to decorate His image and so made it fall. He also commented later that the Lord does not always manifest in form but in small symbolic events like this, a blessing upon the event for sure, and a blessing upon the composer…

So many people were there who loved him dearly, so many wonderful musicians giving life to his words and his songs, and Narayanakutty himself, a presence of kindness, devotion, and grace under the fire of the Lord’s prasadam. His humility was endearing. The devotion of Sreedevi to her family and her husband was such a joy to see. It is funny how you get a feel for someone by their online presence and this is true of her. She exudes the same kind and gentle energy in person that you can feel in her posts to the Guruvayur forum.

The speakers ranged from family members to patrons and friends for many years, all united in their love for and admiration of Sundar Narayana and his family, and, of course, their devotion to the Lord.

And then there was Sundara Narayana Uncle, who spoke a few words, quite an achievement in light of his recent stroke. As Sreedevi Aunty told me: “These were his own sentences, which Emily, the speech therapist printed out and he read from there.” He said, ” Hari Om. Welcome to you all. Lots of things have happened in the last few months, some of it good, some of it bad. All according to God’s will. All are prasadam to me. My wife and two wonderful kids, I have are given to me by God. I am blessed with wonderful family and friends. I am also blessed to know my wonderful speech therapist, Emily Sweet and her husband Eric.”

To honor his accomplishment and to support his efforts, Emily and her husband came to the event and, although unfamiliar with the traditions and carnatic music, stayed the entire time, surely experiencing the benefit of this exposure to culture and Grace!

The afternoon was filled with devotional music, all written by Sundara Narayana, krithis rendered by local musicians as well as a concert by performing artist Sankaran Namboothiri. The versatility of carnatic music was evidenct in the spontaneity of the performances, accompanied by accomplished violinist Smitha Krishnan and mridangam player Akshay Ananth.

By the end of the program two more garlands had fallen, the Lord’s blessings upon the offering and an expression of His love.

The book itself is a lovely hardcover with the classic image of Guruvayurappa, containing 200 of the works he has written to date, along with an MP3 containing approximately 82 of the recorded versions of some of the works.

Just like when you spend time with family, you leave with a fullness of heart and a sense of peace of belonging, so, too, when we join together in sangha with our spiritual family, the heart is filled with bhakti and I left feeling blessed and happy that I was able to share in this day of the expression of One becoming many in sweet sangha. Krishna!!!! Guruvayurappa!!! OM Namo Narayanaya!!!

Luthar.Com: HarshaSatsangh » Luthar.com

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