Swami in the USA

Toegevoegd door Swami Dharmananda op 04-06-2010 om 14:09

Dear friends,

Sitting in the spacious hotel room in the Leguna Hotel in one of the most picturesque spot in the world the Laguna Beach, CA ; I am overlooking the vast blue crystal clear expanse of water outside the window pane stretching itself towards infinity. My mind at peace with itself trying to reach out to the horizon to fathom the vastness of the ocean on the outside and also trying to go within the deepest recesses of my own being seeking answer to that one question which I often asked as I stepped out of my ashram on the 19th Apr 2010. What is the reason I am going to America? What do I have to learn or receive or experience there? Why my life so meticulously worked out the details to prepare for this trip. I pondered the same question now but with no better result than earlier.

My heart however, well ed up in the deepest of gratitude towards Adeshaji and Dennisji my host in America who has been the Divine instrument to give me this most spiritually rewarding trip. In this mystic land of Colorado, Lyons my hosts conducts spiritual retreats, teachings and psychological ministrations to a community of advance and very sincere truth seekers.

I have no idea even now as to what inspired their hearts to do this favor unto me. They sent Sam and Isha two of the most devoted students of their’s to escort me from India. They planned for me this car trip across the Rocky mountains covering four states Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California. Two weeks of one of the grandest experience of my life.

On 16th May on a bright sunny morning we began the trip. As soon as we reached Vail, The Rocky mountains began unfolding to my inquisitive vision its majestic beauty. We crossed the Eisenhower Tunnel and entered Frisco and then halted for the night at the Glendale Springs in one of the most well known and historically famous Hotel Colorado. On the 17th we moved thru mainly the rugged , desolate, exceedingly enchanting , ever changing landscape, the mountain terrain of Utah and halted for the night crossing Las Vegas in a hotel situated in beautiful mountain valley of Primm. On the 18th we reached California and the majestic blue colored vast Pacific ocean unfolded in front of our gaze. We camped the night on Mount Malibu. My host took pains and carried sleeping tents so that one night we can experience the joy of the oceanic beauty from outside. The starlit night sky, cool wind blowing, the sound of ocean waves breaking on the shore a superb inspiring treat to the soul.

Visit to Lake Shrine-This is where Mahatma Gandhi’s, ashes are kept. That is the only place outside India. The beauty of the place with its well laid out gardens, flowering profusely in all shades and colors, shading trees, the lake, the ducks, the fishes all testifying to the spiritual glory and beauty of God and the man He chose to create that place, Paramahansa Yogananda.

Visit to Kern River Valley- On the 19th Charlotte a dear friend and student greeted me in the Lake shrine and volunteered to take me to the Kern River Valley. The valley with the Kern River in full flow and emptying itself in the man made lake Isabelle was a sight whose beauty both during the setting sun and the rising sun is difficult to express. That evening Charlotte and I had the privilege to see the trail of 100 giant world famous Sequoia or the Red wood trees. These trees are one of Natures greatest wonders. They are over 2000 and at times 3000 years old. They rise to a height of over 300 ft. they have a girth whose diameter at the base is over 30 ft.

Visit to Mount Washington and Encinitas- These two places connected With Paramahansa Yogananda like the Lake shrine was sheer joy to move around for its uplifting spiritual energy and the beauty of the well laid out landscape. It was in Encinitas that the great Guru wrote his famous spiritual classic, Autobiography of a yogi.

Blessing Dana Maria’s marriage- On 21st and 22nd we attended Dana Maria a dear student’s marriage in the Church and the Beach party ceremony followed by bon fire and inspiring singing by the groom Daniel. It was very pleasant surprise for me to see that in a distant country as two families with their friends were meeting for a marriage there were five individuals in that group who had been to my ashram. The well known Indian dictum often repeated in India for the last 10,000 years- ‘The whole world is my family’ appeared to be literally so. The marriages that break thru nationalities, religious denominations, economic disparities literally bring the world together.

Meeting with Dolly and her psychic friend- Dolly has been known to me for over 20 years. It was a nice reunion. I loved her daughter Jogmaya who thru just a few well spoken sentences revealed the truth behind the belief of the Indigo children in the west. Dolly a proud mother of a very gifted child. Dolly introduced me to her friend Shama who was very kind to take me to her house and present me two woolen jackets which came to real use in the cold of the Bryce canyons and as we travelled that evening thru snow covered mountains over 10,000 ft high.

Visit to Bryce canyon and the Zion canyon-as cakes are topped with cream so this trip was topped by the unplanned visit to Bryce and Zion canyons. Who can ever in words describe the superb architecture of Mother Nature. Rains, thunder showers, running rivers, soft snow, furious storms are the tools with which Nature painstakingly over millions of years carved out one of Her grandest architecture for the eyes to marvel and the soul to simply surrender in awe of the grandeur. It is believed 50 million years ago this place was under the ocean. In fact we saw an eagle canyon which was once the bottom of the ocean.

Once again I thank from the bottom of my heart and express my deepest gratitude to Adeshaji. All along she took special care to offer me the best food, best lodging and the best experiences. Dennisji’s calm gentle and extremely efficient driving took us to the right places at the right time. No problems.

With warm regards to both of you

Swami Dharmananda

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