February 2009
Swami Report from India
“I Saw It All” – by Vidyadevi (Bombay) Stillman
In Ganeshpuri India, a big tent was set up under the banyan tree where Bhagavan Nityananda (Rama’s guru’s guru) had meditated when he was alive. The tent, with brightly colored walls and ceiling had a traditional firepit in the center, built of bricks according to the Vedic tradition. A full day yajńa (sacred fire ceremony) had filled the day before, invoking blessings of prosperity and joy for the whole world. The seven brahmin priests started new sacred ceremonies, now dedicated to the six who had chosen to become a swami, a seeker of the Self and only the Self. This initiation acknowledges that they are not trying to accomplish what most people are looking for in their life, but instead dedicating themselves to that “something more.” Rama was one of those special seekers.
I sat with 50 other people for morning ceremonies. This first morning, Rama wore white as she was initiated as a brahmin (the caste of priests). Very early in the ceremony, she and the other new brahmins walked out. Somehow I had missed out on the explanation of why they had left. Within a few minutes, someone came to get me and said that Rama wanted to see me. When I got there they were getting their heads shaved. I was amazed as I realized how much of your identity is wrapped up in your hair. This must go as well!
During the ceremonies, Rama offered everything to the fire. With each offering, the fire got hotter and hotter; the initiates went deeper and deeper within, letting go of worldly limitations. After four hours of morning ceremonies, they were left to contemplations and practices through the day and night, fasting by eating only fruit and yoghurt.
The next day began at 4:00 a.m. with the ceremony that turned the brahmins into swamis. The fire was started again. The initiates were joined by other swamis, who helped them offer ghee (melted butter) and dhoop (incense granules) with each mantra they chanted. Each repetition cleared a subtler level of the body, mind and heart.
After the mantras the initiates went to the hot springs for the traditional dip in the river. They stripped off their clothes, chanted the final mantras and took seven steps north, heading toward the Himalayas. Swami Shankarananda called for them to come back to save the world - to save us from ourselves. Rama came back except she wasn't Rama anymore. She had even burned up her name.
They covered themselves with orange wraps and went to Swami Shankarananda's room. I was invited to witness as he lovingly put bhasma (sacred ash) on her forehead, arms and lips, plus placing a rudraksha bead necklace around her neck. Then he draped an orange shawl over their two heads as they leaned close together. He whispered the final initiation mantra in her ear and gave her a new name - Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati. Nirmala means "beyond the three malas"; aananda means bliss. Together they mean the bliss of the Self, beyond inner contraction. Unbounded bliss. Bliss of unboundedness. Then he gave her orange clothing to wear.
I have spent the last few days with Nirmalananda and can see that she continues to find herself. She came back when she was called and has dedicated her life to taking you deeper within your own Self to svaroopa - the bliss of your own being. With great respect and gratitude I welcome her back.
“What is Changed?” – by Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
I laugh more often. I smile a lot. I find my hands touching my heart every time I see a person, whether I have ever met them before or not. It is because they touch my heart so deeply – each and every one of them. Their eyes shine with the light of God. They always have, but now I see it more.
I know things that I have always known, but I didn’t allow myself to trust them before. I feel incredible freedom – the space to love more fully and to speak more freely. When something catches my eye, it’s like watching a color chip in a kaleidoscope instead of going through the mental gymnastics of labeling it and deciding if it is desirable or repugnant to me.
Yet I am unchanged in some way. I am who I have always been. I am still me.
My commitment to serving you in the ways I have been for over 20 years is unchanged. As I say that, I realize that it is changed a bit, as it has deepened.
My love and gratitude to my own Guru, Swami Muktananda Saraswati, is so utterly complete that I cannot find the line where he ends and I begin. My understanding of what he has given me is more complete than ever before, and I know it will continue to grow.
I still answer to Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) when someone calls to me. It's like a knee-jerk reflex, as I have been known by that name for decades. Yet it doesn't name me. In fact, it ceased to be my name over ten years ago - I have felt nameless for a long time. Now I am glad to have a name that actually names the nameless!
However, you'll probably find it hard to pronounce. Click here for help with saying it! Of course, I will respond if you mispronounce it! I might even laugh and help you with it. We can laugh together.
I look forward to meeting and serving all of you as I have before, or even more fully. I certainly feel my love for you more fully than ever before - it's a great privilege to be part of your life. Thank you for that.
Another New Name
Swami Nirmalananda and Swami Shankarananda teamed up to bestow a new name on our beloved Bombay. She is no longer named after a small town in New York! Her new name is Vidyadevi, which means the goddess of knowing. Both Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, are honored by the name Vidya, so her name refers to both of them. Click here for a pronunciation guide.
Our own Vidyadevi is truly a goddess of knowing, but you already knew that!
So now you have two new names to learn…
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