
I had the blessing to be in Swami Kriyananda’s presence many times over the years, though we never had an outward relationship such as he enjoyed with friends who had given their lives unreservedly to the work, and who had doubtless done so in many former lives: Jyotish and Devi, Asha, Vidura, Durga, and others.
Mostly, I received his help from afar.
Swamiji was keenly interested in finding ways to use technology to help spread the teachings. In the mid-1990s, he seized upon an innovative way to keep in touch with the Ananda members around the world. He would record a talk and mail videocassettes to the centers where the congregation could watch them after Sunday service.
I didn’t watch any of the videos, until a Sunday when I felt an inner guidance to do so.
A TV was set up on a table in a classroom. Perhaps thirty people sat in folding chairs. I took a seat on the far left side of the room.
Several days earlier, while driving down Alma Street in Palo Alto, I had fretted over a seeming contradiction in the spiritual teachings.
Ananda friends for whom I had great respect would say how “excited” or “enthusiastic” they were about something – a project, news of Swamiji, or the latest tidings from the Ananda centers.
I wondered if being excited and enthusiastic was consistent with Paramhansa Yogananda’s advice to us to be always “even-minded and cheerful.”
Swamiji counseled us to be calmly centered in ourselves, and not give in to emotional reactions.
He urged us to relate to the world from within, in keeping with Yogananda’s counsel to him: “Always remain in the spine.” Yet the people who were closest to him seemed the most joyful and enthusiastic.
I thought, “Yoga says that we can’t be really enthusiastic about anything, lest we risk becoming emotional and outward. Yet Swamiji tells us to be enthusiastic about everything. What’s up with that?”
Fast forward to Sunday morning. The video started, and no sooner had Swamiji begun to speak than he said, “On the spiritual path, you can be enthusiastic!” He proceeded to elaborate on how we can be calmly enthusiastic and share our enthusiasm with God, and how it’s very good to be enthusiastic about helping others.
As he spoke, his eyes were turned to his right, where I sat. He seemed to be looking into my eyes.
Swamiji’s expression was bemused, as if he were thinking, “Now, isn’t this quite the joke.”
I thought, “This is really weird. He seems to be talking to me.” But then I thought, “It’s probably just my ego, craving his attention.”
I stood up and walked to the opposite side of the room and sat down.
Swamiji then addressed another question that had been troubling me – I forget what it was, but he turned and looked straight into my eyes as he spoke. When he’d finished giving his counsel, he looked straight ahead.
I have no doubt that the experience was real. I’ve had too many experiences of Swamiji’s unbounded consciousness not to be persuaded. I’ll share some of those stories as we go along.
Swamiji often said that no distance can separate the disciple from the guru. His counsel is available everywhere, even half a world away, and even if his advice must be delivered by “taped delay.”
This is a very funny, touching story – thank you for sharing your experience!