A Festival of Light

Swamiji’s visit exceeded all expectations! From sunshine to flowers, to joy and inspiration, our hearts were full even if by the week’s end our bodies were a little tired! Swamiji’s visit marked the culmination of his three month Hope for a Better World lecture tour that began in late April in Rome. No more fitting ending could there have been than the reception, both in numbers, heartfelt appreciation and openness, than he received on this visit, and especially Friday night at Benaroya.

“To as many as received him to them gave he the power to become the sons of God.” This quote from St. John in the New Testament was often cited by Paramhansa Yogananda; it is the “promise of immortality” given by God to mankind in every age. In our own way, we too have experienced some of this power. For many months now the Seattle Sangha has worked to beautify and improve the community grounds; the community hosted nearly forty overnight guests and hundreds for the Sunday Service; careful planning was needed for all these things and for the Benaroya event; the details were endless and many: extra music rehearsals, arranging flights and lodging; cooking, cleaning, phoning, on and on. The spirit shown by all has been willing, energetic, creative, and open to the many twists and turns that Divine Mother has guided us through!

While he was here, Swamiji cited the example of how at Mt. Washington, many years ago, at a Christmas banquet, a large group of unexpected guests arrived at the last minute. Swamiji reported to Master afterwards that the disciples “vied” with one another to give up their seats at the table to accommodate the latecomers! Master smiled sweetly in response saying “That’s the spirit I love.” It is because of this spirit, this giving, that we received so much this weekend. It is a testimony to both the power and the grace of the spiritual life. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” Jesus declared. Yes, indeed, but how difficult, how stubbornly the mind clings to the body protectively saying, “Yeah, but what about me?”

The message of Hope for a Better World could be expressed, too, in these terms. The hope of the future lies in understanding how we can achieve happiness (by expanding our hearts to include others), and in understanding why this is so (because we are a part of all Life). If we live therefore in the consciousness of this larger reality, seeking to find happiness for the greater Self of all, we will, to that degree, find it. No mere philosophy however could motivate us to live such a life deeply. Thus love for God, seeing the Infinite Love and Presence in all is the devotee’s secret. Love is the key: the pure love of God and the natural love of the heart.

This pureness of feeling and clarity of being is what I think we all felt, however we might express it, in Swamiji this last weekend. His life is a shining example of what the spiritual life is like: not in the things he’s done outwardly, but in the spirit and attitude with which he has lived his life! He has lived fully, without condition, as a disciple of a God-realized master with great courage and depth of feeling, directed always to the highest ideals. Such a life would be inspiring even at a distance, but with the closeness of the true friendship which Swami offers to all who would walk the path together with him, we are deeply grateful.