{"id":2129,"date":"2026-10-10T15:52:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T15:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yoganandafortheworld.com\/story\/?p=2129"},"modified":"2026-10-10T15:52:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T15:52:54","slug":"swami-kriyananda-as-we-have-known-him-swamijis-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yoganandafortheworld.com\/story\/swami-kriyananda-as-we-have-known-him-swamijis-love\/","title":{"rendered":"Swami Kriyananda \u2014 As We Have Known Him: Swamiji’s Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Told by an Ananda devotee)<\/em><\/p>\n

Whenever I had found myself in trouble before, Swamiji would send me a simple message: \u201cTell her she is making a mistake.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

If he hadn\u2019t done so, I might have found a way to rationalize my actions. Instead, I was never able to commit to the course I had chosen. I might not understand why<\/em> it was a mistake, but I couldn\u2019t forget that Swamiji thought it was.<\/p>\n

As I thrashed about in the sea of delusion, his words kept me tethered to Master (Paramhansa Yogananda). And when I was ready, they were my lifeline that brought me safely back to shore.<\/p>\n

Now I was in trouble again \u2013 much<\/em> worse than anything I\u2019d done before. This time, my actions were jeopardizing not only my own well-being, they threatened to be disastrous for many others as well.<\/p>\n

Swamiji was out of the country so we talked on the phone. Before and after the call, I was almost paralyzed by grief and shame over what I had done. While talking with him, however, to my astonishment I found all my emotion subsiding. I was absolutely calm, and not the least bit defensive. I knew that everything he said was true, and I agreed with him.<\/p>\n

He scolded and scolded and told me how disappointed he was in me. He would pause for a moment, then scold again. At least it felt to me like a scolding, but in fact I think he was just talking in plain, objective terms about the consequences of what I was doing.<\/p>\n

In the midst of it all, his energy suddenly changed completely.<\/p>\n

So gently, so sweetly, he said, \u201cYou know, of course, my love is always with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d I said, \u201cI know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he went back to scolding me.<\/p>\n

I promised to do better, but it was a long time before I was able to keep the promise. He knew that I was floundering, and he sent another message: \u201cTell her to sing Master\u2019s chant, Polestar of My Life<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over and over, I sang that chant until it was blazoned on my soul.<\/p>\n

I have made Thee Polestar of my life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Though my sea is dark<\/em><\/p>\n

And my stars are gone,<\/em><\/p>\n

Still I see the path,<\/em><\/p>\n

Through Thy mercy.<\/em><\/p>\n

When I finally saw Swamiji again in person, my life was more on track. However, I was so ashamed of what I had done that I couldn\u2019t bring myself to greet him.<\/p>\n

When he saw me standing as far away from him as possible, he came right over to me. Immediately, he told me that Master was pleased that I was working things out now in the right way.<\/p>\n

I had always been afraid to open myself to Swamiji\u2019s guidance for fear he would ask me to do something I wouldn\u2019t be able to do. Behind that fear was the thought that if I disappointed him, he would never love me again.<\/p>\n

I have suffered intensely over the wrong things I have done. Even though my suffering has transformed me spiritually, I cannot sincerely say \u201cI am glad it happened this way.\u201d Too many other people were hurt.<\/p>\n

There is one reason, though, why I am<\/em> glad. Now, I know the pure, unconditional nature of Swamiji\u2019s love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Told by an Ananda devotee) Whenever I had found myself in trouble before, Swamiji would send me a simple message: \u201cTell her she is making a mistake.\u201d If he hadn\u2019t done so, I might have found a way to rationalize my actions. Instead, I was never able to commit to the course I had chosen. … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nSwami Kriyananda \u2014 As We Have Known Him: Swamiji’s Love - Swami Kriyananda: Lightbearer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda helps a friend understand the love behind the teacher's scoldings.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yoganandafortheworld.com\/story\/swami-kriyananda-as-we-have-known-him-swamijis-love\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Swami Kriyananda \u2014 As We Have Known Him: Swamiji’s Love - 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