Newsdesk: Anandotsav Video 23rd February 2008, Varanasi, India Part-2

Newsdesk: Anandotsav Video 23rd February 2008, Varanasi, India part 1

ANANDOTSAV

An effort to describe the 23rd day of Feb, 2003.

It was the divine land of Guwahati (Amingaon Ashram) along with those few fortunate devotees of Bhagavan who stand as witness to Bhagavan's most eventful divine sport of playing Holi with them. As the news of Bhagavan's consent to play Holi with His devotees reached them, devotees from all corners of the country started to congregate at the auspicious place to witness this celestial bliss.

In the morning Bhagavan took all the devotees for a boat ride in the hilly river Brahmaputra. He was very normal while He was riding. At 8 o’clock Bhagavan along with all the devotees returned to the Ashram. He asked Sujata Chakraborty, one of His ardent devotees to sing a song. Sujata poured out her heart and sang with all her devotion --- "O Krishna, the enchanter of mind, the stealer of Radha's mind. Thou art the life line of Vrindavan, the holder of the mountain Goverdhana, Thou rules the heart O Hari ! O Narayana !" Bhagavan said, “I am entering into Samadhi”. Sing till I return. As Bhagavan entered into Samadhi things started to take a turn. The bliss of boat riding with Bhagavan still prevailing in the mind of the devotees started weaning away. The sweet voice of Sujata amalgamated with her utmost devotion was attuned with the eternal environment .A strong silence started to creep up within every soul. They were as it were, gradually lulled into a state of calmness. The atmosphere was gripped by a grave stillness. Sujata could continue no more. She ceased to sing unnoticed by the senses of all. She sank into the depths of Samadhi.

After a while Bhagavan came out of the room and sat on a chair under the sun which was pouring down its sweet warmth. Bhagavan was in a tremendous state. The solemnity and the seriousness of an unbounded ocean reflected from His countenance. It so seemed that even time forgot to pass on and stood still towards Him, as if like mechanical beings, and they sat encircling Him in the form of an arc. Bhagavan was looking at the infinite with the vision of voidness. He said, "There's no Bhava (feelings) here. This world is not real. Neither does that Rama exist, nor does that Ayodhya. How will there be Holi."
By then all the devotees were indomitably attracted towards Bhagavan. They began offering their obeisance by lying prostrate at His lotus feet. None could regain the strength of standing on their feet after this act of reverence. Some few moments made their way. All of a sudden Bhagavan said, to Pankaj (Swami Premananda) - "Pankaj, Sing a song of Holi." Along with a few other devotees Pankaj carried out the order of the Lord. He made a Herculean effort to give form to the formless and infinite. It so seemed that a vibration appeared to the one beyond Vibration. As if the formless Knowledge and consciousness was the threshold, taking a form of Divine Love. Bhagavan said, "Krishna is not yet born."
Some more moments passed. Bhagavan said, “Krishna is born”. Things were changing in Him. “Now He is of one month, Now he is two months ... now three”. His state was changing rapidly. His body started to move a little. An unknown secret smile was playing on His countenance. After a few moments He said, “Now Krishna is of nine years, come on, let's play Holi”. He first offered colours at His own Portrait established in the Ashram. Thereafter He started playing Holi with the devotees present. Whomsoever He touched like love like colours, sank into the depths of Samadhi and fell on the earth like a tree cut down from its trunk. The devotees also played Holi with Bhagavan intoxicated with divine love. Bhagavan was enjoying bliss with everyone. He was dancing with all the devotees. Nobody was anymore aware of the external world or even about their own self. Bhagavan was dancing amidst all the devotees but each found Bhagavan to be dancing with Him. As Bhagavan witnessed the birth and manifestation of Krishna , Hence all the devotees saw Krishna all around them. The Ashram was transformed into Vrindavan. His devotees, who never had never seen Vrindavan but nevertheless had a desire to see it, couldn't find the desire anymore from that instant. Even those who desired to have the divine glimpse of Lord Krishna couldn't find the existence of the desire anymore as they saw the living Krishna - Krishna who was living, smiling, crying, sporting, sleeping, speaking and dancing with them.

This was the 23rd February 2003. Thereafter this day began to be celebrated as ""ANANDOTSAV" -- The celebration of bliss. Bhagavan gifted another day when men could forget their woes and agonies and immerse themselves in pure and selfless bliss. This divine event proves that Bhagavan is rooted in Godhood. Even before the devotees could prove themselves Bhagavan proved that He is God -- the supreme person. He is His own witness -- One who is beyond all witnesses. This event is also a proclamation unto the future that if one would come in contact with Bhagavan, he or she would achieve the supreme without any austerity whatsoever. This may sound strange but yet true. One is freed from all bondage on having the divine Darshan of Bhagavan. Civilisation would cross the barriers of time if it can know Bhagavan. It would go beyond the jaws of destruction.

Risa from Greece writes:

Hello my friends,

here I am back to Greece. I just arrived yesterday, and my brother and me went to see a play. It was inspired by the the book of Borjes "Babel". The play talked about how much complicated it is for us to find the truth, by comparing life with a library full of endless books. There were some people who were looking through all the books to find the meaning of life. They lived the story of every book they read, thus realizing all possible experience, but still the books were endless. So the play finished by showing many empty rooms which turned into a big library, which turned into a mind. Going out of the theater, i said to my brother that this play showed me everything i had realized in this trip to India.

The last images of the play remind me my state of mind back in the days when i first met Bhagavanji. He emptied my mind by disconnecting me from my past actions, simply by coming into my dream and saying to me "Your karma's are now gone" and presenting me a new Risa. After that, i realized that i have to keep on working in order not to create new karma's, but back in India it was much easier due to the surrounding. I was spending most of my time at the ashram meditating, chanting and talking to the Swamijis and to the other devotees of Bhagavan.

Now, back to Greece, i already see the difference in me, from the old Risa to the new Risa, the one that came to my dream that day, and i see that yes, it might be difficult to keep on like the way i worked back to Varanasi, but i also realize that my willing to realize God has not left me. It is just that the path is different, but the goal never changes. That play came to remind me to look of all the work I've done back there and not to let go of it, and mix myself again with the illusion.

Wherever we are we can make it easy for us to continue working for realization. If we really like to, Bhagavan will never let us go if we don't let him to. If our desire is true, God will create the right conditions for us to continue with our work. The only thing we have to make sure is to have true love and desire to find Him and he will then find us.

Love to all

Risa

Newsdesk:

Dear Friends,
The blog has been updated with some of the beautiful letters from our brothers and sisters from different parts of the world.We have more such experiences in store for you which will be subsequently updated.
The setup and look of the blog has also been modified which I am sure you are going to like.
We invite you to freely convey your views and suggestions so that we can serve humanity better.
In the service of Bhagavan,
Bhakti Chaitanya
Joint General Secretary,I.V.S.
bhaktichaitanya@gmail.com

Carolina's (Uruguay) experience with Bhagavan

My dear swamiji,

Is it posilble to explain what i'm living this days next to Bhagavan?

Now, even Bhagavan told me " Carolina tell me what you're feeling" I was in a deep meditation, swimming in heaven not in the body far away from this unreal world, and I don't answer. He wait some minutes and in a moment I was thinking "I have to answer he is asking me", but I decide not, in this case I have to leave heaven and come back to earth to speak, to think.

He tell everybody "supreme silence, no need for words, no need for words"

Then I know I'm right and he said my name and I fall down.

Every time when he is with us I feel I fall down, something like a strong power comes to me and take me out of the body and I start to travel in the universe, I have many visions, and feelings and I understand things, a voice told me things but I don't stay with this visions I know this is also the mind. And I try to go beyond that, my deep mind says "Bhagavan... Bhagavan ... Bhagavan, I love you, I love you, take me with you." I see He put his hand in my head and I fall down. I feel this power, energy comes like in every cell that start to vibrate . The other day I feel at the final hour a waterfall of love descending in me and I swim in a lake of love, and this love penetrate me and start to come from me, first in my hands , I feel like pure light , strong light coming out from my hands and then from all my self. In this moment I realize I can do whatever, I can change whatever, I can heal whatever pain or sad whatever soul and heart that suffer, with the love that Bhagavan put in me.

Today it was a joy day, Bhagavan was very happy and we sing and dance, he laugh so much and I see him like my father, my son, my all , His happiness is all that I want. It was a very deep day, He tell me that He has pain because he can't give us place to stay and food and everything, you know, and my heart is broken and I cry so much.

I cry and I laugh so much with Him.

I can feel what is He more and more each time.

Thank you Swamiji, that's why I can love everybody more and more also. This is a huge thing; this is a treasure that I know Bhagavan.

Today I tell Him that you write us every day and that you tell me to send Him all your love. He give His best smile, you know this smile that penetrate the heart. Like proud and grateful for you.

Thank you thank you thank you

All my love for you dear brother, God bless you!

I fly from here to Delhi on sunday at 7:45 pm. so you can go to the roof top, look the sky and tell me "goodbye sister see you in everywhere"

I will come as soon as we think, for sure.

Pray for me and my family , and my business why not, if every thing go good with this I can come back soon and we can do more things for this world. If not goes well also I will come back and we will do many things and just one, recieve all the love from Bhagavan and then give it like we receive it.
Carolina.
(de Caro)

General Secretary writes:

Dear Everybody,
As I travel all around and correspond with people of various backgrounds, both spiritual and general , I find, globally there is a dire necessity to educate people about the basics and fundamentals of spirituality so that everybody gains a very clear idea about what spirituality is all about. Till now, we have been working as an organization, I thought of creating a forum which will be independent of any organizational lines, forms, where people will come to know what exactly spirituality is without thinking of the compulsion to visit such and such Ashram or organization. This forum will dedicate itself solely for the new spiritual aspirants, giving them an idea about the basics and letting them to choose which way they are to follow. After coming back from Gujrat, I have been working on this project with Bhakti Chaitanya and Swami Sadananda. I request you all to present us some writings which can be published in the blog if thought relevant.
Lets all work for this world, for this complete human race. Whoever wants to know the truth is our own brother irrespective to any faith he/she belongs.
With regards and love, Its Swamiji from Varanasi.

www.koji.squarespace.com
www.ivs.blogspot.com

Swami Probuddhananda..
General - Secretary
International Vedanta Society.

IVS is a white elephant, writes Saroda......

White resembles truth,purity;White elephant is the magnitude & potentiality of our Organization.Its the resemblance of hauling itself with an elephant. As the gigantic creature doesn't panic or get disturbed by anything & walk with his own swiftness so is the International Vedanta Society. It will gradually but unquestionably take itself to new horizons & will one day reach the Pinnacle...
You may ask, why not Tiger??? I shall say , its sheer an unsuccessful attempt to paint black stripes on our austerely beautiful ''White Elephant''!!! It is considered as the most sacred & thus our IVS too!!! Tiger gets tempted easily on seizing its victim.Tiger is the symbol of strength , activeness & fast development...Which White Elephant has too with an addition of functioning with own pace in a royal style!!!
Now , we are the body parts & body functioning system of this White Elephant-IVS , with Bhagavan as its Heart...Now its a must duty of all of us to function properly as disturbance of even a small body segment will effect the whole body of this mighty creature , no matter how strong it is...So come, lets function in an equilibrium style so that our heart beat(Bhagavan) plays its glorious tune & spread it like that melodious tune of Pied Piper of Hameline...to every corner of this scorched world...
Come on IVS , lets start the journey....
JAY BHAGAVAN.
Saroda......

Shivendra ,Research Scholar, IIT Guwahati, writes......

Dear Brothers and sisters,
Hope u all are enjoying the divine love rain of Bhagavan.Great! it's our utmost luck and nothing else that we are able to attain peace and purity under the aegis of Bhagavan.Purity of heart, mind and deeds should be our goal, rest all will follow it.Bhagavan is everything of ours.Many of us "know" this fact and rest others "beleive".But we have to know Him."To know" is different from "To beleive".No doubt, at a point of time all will know the truth.Let's pray Him to make each and everybody know Him.We have only one life to live with a fixed number of time drops.All the time-drops keep vaporizing and later none is left.But unfortunately, people live their life in such a way as they have many more lives in their bank.Bhagavan teaches us the complete utilization of time,power and wealth in a right direction which is to serve people.IVS is an enormously large banyan tree planted by Bhagavan, under which the entitre universe is rushing to get a shelter.Under the shade of this tree people slake the thirst of their
soul. Let's perform our duty to make this world full of joy and bliss.The masses possess inertia.As Newton's first law suggets that we need to apply an external force to break the inertia of a system.The same way, we need to put
our dedication, sacrifice and hard work to break the inertia of common masses.To wake them up is to break their inertia.This is what we have to do.Let's pray Bhagavn to pour His blessings over us inordinately and to keep flowing His infinite energy in us so that we can wake our friends up to make them know themselves.All Swamijis and many devotees at IVS are working day and night to make this word beautiful.They are going to fly the flag of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" in this universe.Come on! let's move ahead!

Best regards,
shivendra

To Bhagavan With Love- Paula, Barcelona

My beloved Bhagaban.

Starting in these dates the convention my heart and mind are more and more with You. No words to explain my feelings of love to you. My heart only can express itself by tears ...
My Father, my Guide, my God... Thank you for rescue me from where I was and let me walk to Your direction.
Thank you for taking my hand everysecond in my life.

The baby will be born soon...
Let us have a glimpse of how you love to your Childs...

I love you Bhagaban. It is hard to be so far away from you but you are here, with us , giving light to everything ... and this is also
beautiful...

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

Mariane from France writes about the experience with Bhagavan.......

I met Bhagavan last November 2006 and today looking back at my inner journey since then I can say that this wonderful and powerful Man has planted in me, by his magic presence and touch, the seeds of Inner Peace and Love. During this last year my life has been switching to a new vibration, to a higher level of awareness. Day after day a miracle is unfolding as I watch my tension, anxiety, confusion, struggle slowly going away, disappearing and making space for a fresh look at life, for an opening to a higher dimension that in the presence of Bhagavan I started to feel.
While living near Bhagavan for some months, I was watching Him and at times feeling envious of this mysterious freedom and power that emanate from Him. Today I still cannot figure out that mystery but deep from my heart I feel lots of gratitude and thankfulness to Bhagavan to have woken up my inner light, joy and heart.
I watch this inner transformation that is happening within me and I am delighted to experience love, peace, inner rest and openness to the river of life.
This shift to my well being started to manifest when Bhagavan one day during the convention 2006 came up to me and asked me “do you think of me sometimes” ? I was in a state of shock and wandering what was that about¡ how he dares to ask me that question..... but slowly his words were making their impact in me and I found myself doing my sadhana of remembering Him sometimes during the day and soon I realized that a trusting , loving space was felt within me and a letting go of my control, my armour was melting away. At that point I understood that here is Bhagavan showing me the way to freedom, to the sacred within and that the words of the Guru have a deep meaning and need to be allowed to penetrate oneself even though the mind don t know their meaning, as it has a deeper dimension.
From that time onwards my inner transformation started with all its ups and downs but always, as often as I can, remembering Bhagavan and chanting Hare Krishna, which has revealed to be the tool to stop my mind running all over, and with this inside chanting, somehow a washing of the darkness is happening and a place is created for what is needed in that moment.
My thanks as well to the whole IVS family to have participated in their own way to help me in m y spiritual growth, with their love and care given to me and as I felt supported by all of them.

Today from that inner peace, I greet with very much respect Bhagavan and the whole IVS family.

A Small but Wonderful letter from Our Cute Friend Narayan From Barcelona

Bhagavan is love itself, pure Bliss, and he shows us that we are also that, His love is ours,
our love is His, we are one with Bhagavan because He is everything.
He has shown the truth about us and the world, Love is everywhere and this is our true nature.
Jai Bhagavan!
Narayana

A letter from Manel, Spain

My eternal love: When I listen to you I feel that what you say it is true. I have to work more for IVS. I understand that when you say that I have to work more, you refer that I must do it in a form more direct, since of indirect form my work for our master and for IVS is 24 hours. I refer to the indirect form like that the message of our master Bagawan goes with me, around the world, I cannot live without it, it is present in each of my acts, this is already a form of work for IVS, then I do coherent my word. But I believe you have reason when you say that I must work more, in the direct sense, speak directly about Bagawan to the people and invite to them ... It is not easy. It supposes a big change of identity. I remember Bagawan to speak about this, he set that an Indian beggar never will estimate a withe chek of a bank, the Indian beggar just want a few rupis because he is not conscious of the value of the paper. happens the same with our ego, alone I have a few rupis of ego, Bagawan provides to me an ego that is like a withe chek, the same ego that then he says to us that we should give up it ultimately. I do not scare to give this step for me, but I scare for the environment, the friends, the family... Here the people have a tremendous fear of the religions, of God, of the sects that steal the money from you and eat the head. I am afraid that they are afraid Equally I feel that every day I work more for it, more opened, more directly. I believe that you shut come here to experiment that reality of our culture. I believe that you are right, but I don't know until point you are conscious of the difference of paradigms that exist between our culture and your culture. India is the spiritual envy of the entire world. So much that already there are many people that believes India as a living Utopia. I believe that your presence, or the presence of some another swamiji, would be beneficial in the sence that the environment cut perceive that IVS is real and truth(it goes with you), that IVS and Bagawan is not a great lie that absorbs money. The world is burning. Cut you understand it? Slightly similar it must happen in the big cities of India, but I do not believe that it happen's in the scale of Europ. With all my love and with hoopeness of that you take a plane towards europ soon. Your friend, your brother and your debotee, Manel. P.D: I will work more for IVS seens now. Eternal love. Manel, karamjot singh

Letter From Pedro:

To all my dear Brothers and Sisters,

This times that we have to live show them selves full of changes, changes that get manifested in different levels of the society and of course inside of each one of us.

If it is known that life consists in this continuous changes is also evident that in the present seems to offer more and a greater diversity of changes in less amount of time. That is why we call these days as a moment of transition.

The transition that is evident is the projection the changes that occurs inside of us. Changes that in most of us had been stimulated by the “Bhagavan phenomena” as a determinant factor. That is why the ones who had the chance to experiment Bhagavan’s grace, have to face a transition period even more drastic that the rest of our society. The Providence not in vane has select us and given with the qualities to overcome this transition process and in this way help like a light house in a sea that it seems to turn every day more tempestuous.

If we are aware of the changes that go on in our environment maybe the distance does not allow us to evidence the changes that go on in Bhagavan’s physical person and the ones who surround Him. This transition shows a tendency to delegate all the functions that He has to the different parts of his surrounding circle. In the same way that the most sensible king or executive manager of a great company would do, He is preparing His retreat to a position in which he don’t need to take any mundane decision and allow him to optimize the energies that resides in him.

In this way he prepares the soil for His inevitable departure of this world avoiding as far as possible the tribulations that because of our human condition develops in every succession cases.

This is the way that the transition process will go on. The change will be to a position where his physical presence affects the less, and by doing this instead of fisurating the bases of IVS will set deep and strong bases to make this society last for the good of humanity. This pillar has been well digged already by Bhagavn’s sadhana and values. This will be the greatest legacy that He will leave not only to the ones who have the blessings of meeting him indeed will be to this whole world.

Bhagavan will not be for ever with us, but His energy is infinite and eternal and the values that characterized Him must be for ever our guide.

So there is a great challenge in our hands. Immortalize Bhagavan. For this wont be enough to keep safety all His words, words that with the time and space could even turn empty if they don’t get materialized in the characters of the ones who meet him. The challenge consists in making our lives according with the values that made Bhagavan the character we meet and becoming Bhagavan. The challenge is way high up. Only the Providence will know if we are able to achieve this goal. But we must work with out attachments to the results, and even after all, goals are not made to be achieved they were made to sing the way, like the polar star, that has never been reached but still has been followed for ages.

During this visit to India I have the chance to experiment the “Bhagavanic’s” qualities in other individuals. One of them shows me the very same way how to transmit the highest knowledge in the must simple way just as Bhagavan use to do. This person was Maharajji, with him I could experience the same feeling while meditating that I thought I could only feel in Bhagavan presence. Also with in the devotees I felt the divine Love that I thought it could be only emanated by Bhagavan himself, as a clear proof that Bhagavan’s Love transcends the physical body of our beloved.

This dissipated all the doubts that got presented with the challenge of becoming Bhagavan. In deed is a fact and is the desire of the Providence that we dream becoming Bhagavan.

This will be the greatest support for this transition period for a society that is facing these turbulent times.

The society that Bhagavan has dreamed has already strong pillars that will allow our Guide passing to a less protagonist place in the spectacle that is getting performed.

Then this society passes to the hands of each one of his devotees. The IVS of these new times must have a cellular design, in which every single component perform his very own roll, just like the cells in the human body does, we must work on our own having always on mind that we depend on the others to perform our divine duty. The Bhagavan stem cell has become an organism all ready. From now on all cells are interdependent and none of them are essential. These qualities assure the longest live of the organization. Centralized institutions have proved to be impractical and easily perverted by the time, even if we talk about the most excels of all institutions they still are conformed by humans with the limitations of that condition.

If the cannons has been well set is up to each one how to implement them depending by his character and the environment that surround him.

Finally the transition will be no other than passing from the psychical Bhagavan to becoming the potentially Bhagavan that resides in each one of us.

So let’s march on, knowing the goal and giving greatest impeccable way of living will do to canalize the turbulent energies of these days so the divine play that has been set will go on.

May the bliss that unites us encourage reaching the divine love until every corner of the earth.

Jay Bhagavan

Hare Krishna

Nieves letter:

Amingaon, 27^th February, 2008

Dear Swami Probuddhananda:

When I arrive first time in India, last 19^th January, since the first day, I felt very comfortable. It could be said this trip was casual, but I know it is “causal.”

When I get in Kolkata ashram I felt like coming back at home. A seed of Vedanta has been put in soil years ago, it was in me, quietly and silently waiting for this since this new contact makes it awaken and inspired me very much.

I have to thank you all for the true love that you give. I have feel like living with my own family, a very beautiful family that protects our body, mind and soul. I have received something unexpected, a precious gift, pure love. I will never forget you all.

Tomorrow we are leaving for Varanasi; new experiences are waiting for me there. I am happy for this time we have shared, at the same time, I am also sad because we are leaving , but all of you are very deep in my heart, so you come with me too.

I have to go on with my responsibilities and my family, but these days I have waked a step, so I hope to continue with the practice that I renew here and I am sure it will help, not only myself.

I would like to come once again with my husband and who knows, with my two sons, too.

I can tell you great things that have happened to me. When I was in Kolkata ashram I realized two things:

At the precise moment when Bhagavan was leaving Birati, I saw Jesus in Him; I could understand both messages because they are the same. Although Catholics has misunderstandings in it and they have put relevance in suffering and sin, Jesus always made Love and Truth- his way.

Swami Premananda has touched my soul as a brother. He healed sad and empty feelings that I had with my own brother. When I arrived here in this Ashram I was very well received, immediately I feel love. I felt the energy of grand mother I never had a Vaishanavima she was very close to me. I appreciate every word, every chat, every song, every meal, everything is blessed here.

Swamiji, I want you to know that I appreciate very much all your dedication that you have given us all this days and I hope in a future not too far away I could do the same for you in Tenerife. You ought to know you are very well coming there any time and if you need something I can do, you could stand by me.

Thanks very very much for all good things I have received from you and all other Swamijis.

With sincere love from heart,

Nieves

Maria

Narayani.

This is a wonderful letter(translated) from Ramsharan(Gulliermo) what he feels about Bhagavan. The letter shows how devoted he is towards Bhagavan

Hare Krishna, Bhagavan is the subtlest vibration in the material world, therefore we perceive as much as our subtle state permits us when we are in front of him. He said almost all the same things in every opportunity on which each one of us has seen him, but now the vibration of Bhagavan makes everything turn out perfectly among the devotees. Everyone among the foreigners showed appropriate and precise behaviour for the situation in which they found themselves. Bhagavan creates this. The foreign devotees made a subtle, expressive and sensitive connection. Devotees who have been practising spirituality for many years have recognised Bhagavan and been inspired to continue finding themselves once again. Every time that we see Him, we are receiving everything. As said by Maharajji, "Bhagavan is God. If you have faith in that, so much the better for you, but even if your faith is not so strong, Bhagavan will always continue to be God". The name is inherent to Bhagavan, just as Bhagavan to the name. He who can measure the infinite existence of God, how it is possible to receive the energy of the all-powerful if we are just small mortals sometimes real, sometimes abstract. As Bhagavan says, let us practise spirituality all the time, not just when we come to the temple to chant, let us practise every moment of the day, always connected with ourselves, aware of our road to clearer consciousness. Now I have begun to realise words that Bhagavan uttered when I met Him three years ago, and now I have begun to realise words that Koji transmitted three years ago, too. As my mind knows that it is itself that plays the games, and although it is merely a player and not the creator of the game, the mind never stops playing, and when I recognise it, it also shows the power of mutating and transforming itself so fast that it once again surrounds me with the coverings of Maya. This time that we have enjoyed the spiritual vibration unique to God cannot be described by mere words, and as Bhagavan said, words are an insult to the supreme silence, but people arrive here hoping for words, so I have to say something. Bhagavan shows us with every action his compassion and the total acceptance of an Ishwarakoti. He manifests in the physical form so that we may have an image that we can easily receive through our senses, he speaks that we may hear him through our senses, he embraces us and shows us affection that we may feel his physical presence and his incarnate form. Although he is all that, he is also completely free in every way, he is the Everything incarnated and also a very simple man, he is the very Bhagavan, and he also likes to take photographs. I have heard many times from various swamijis that it is very difficult to catch and perceive the subtle vibration of Bhagavan. Now that I have been continuing to realise little things, and the information has been being transformed from knowledge to realisation, I have begun to associate the teachings with all these saints that surround us. Now I believe that I can call myself a spiritual aspirant, and now I will be able to begin to live spirituality always, and when I remain quiet, thinking within myself and meditating like Bhagavan himself said just a few days ago. Bhagavan is always giving light to everything and everyone, Bhagavan is the sun in a place that has been dark for many years, Bhagavan is the rope in the darkness. We are just limited existence, and from this limitation we all know that we will not perceive the vibration of the infinite that Bhagavan means. Devotees, come closer to yourselves and do not stop searching for the truth within yourselves, there it resides, and there we must search for it. I love all of you. Hare Krishna Jai Bhagavan

Letter from Shivendra, a devotee of Bhagavan

Revered Swamiji,
Hare Krishna,
I am so fortunate to have got a diamond opportunity to have met my master last week on Mar 02, 2008.I had been so eager to get His blessings for a long time.All the time it seems He used to play hide-and-seek with me.Of course, He is Lord Krishna, so He can play hide-and-seek with anybody but yes,He has infinite love too.Whenever I tried to meet Him earlier, it could never be possible.Actually, I am not in that position to take it as hide-and-seek game being played with me.All the time I was sad cursing my luck.Whenever He visited Amingaon,I used to be out of my institute and when I went Kolkata last month regarding my visa for US, He was in Puri.I was very uneasy to meet Him that day but I had no other option to leave Kolkata without having met Him.Really, it was very painful.Finally, my visa processing got suspended the same day.I became very sad again but I was happy the same time as I murmured to myself "Probably my master wants this happen so that I can get another chance to come Kolkata and to meet Him".Finally happened the same and I went again to Kolkata to collect my visa and thus stars shone and I reached Birati to have His blessings.

...As per the instructions of Swami Nirgunananda Ji, Swami Prajnanananda Ji and Swami Premananda Ji, I left Tollygunge at around 1600 Hrs.. and started for Birati.Finally I reached Birati at 1730 Hrs.Swami Prajnanananda Ji had spoken to Swami Sankarananda Ji before I started for Birati.I asked the location of Mayer Bari from a local person and proceeded to meet Him with lots of questions rising in my mind just like water waves in a sea.I kept questioning myself "Whether I will be able to meet Him today.Will He talk to me? How much time will I get to speak Him?If there would be a crowd of devotees then how will I get His blessings?etc.etc."I was floating in my questions and started walking languidly.I was just following two persons on the road.After a few minutes, I saw both of them entering the Mayer Bari compound. I thought them to be devotees of Bhagavan Ji and thought them to going for prayer because it was the nearly the prayer time.Although the shine board of Mayer Bari was there but still to make it confirmed I asked them "Uncle, is it the Mayer Bari?" One of those two replied "Yes".I entered the compound and kept walked enthusiastically leaving both of them behind.After a few steps I got confused about the place as I was supposed to go to the IVS office.Being confused I stopped there and when looked back, O my God, He was Bhagavn Ji and Sri Tapas Ji, to whom I asked "Uncle, isit the Mayer Bari".Actually He was returning from an evening walk.Bhagavan Ji took me to the office where I met Sankarananda Swamiji.

Bhagavan Ji asked me to have a seat He too sat in a chair.Conversation started:

"What's your name?"
"Shivendra Pandey."
"Okay, I have heard about u a lot u.Where are u originally from?"
"Bhagavan Ji,I am from Amethi..How is your physical health now?"
"It's better as compared to previous days...So, is it your first visit to Kolkata?"
"No, it's second.I had come on Feb 01 before this visit."
"Okay, so u have some work or what?"
"Yes, for visa"
"Where are u going? And for what a duration?"
"To Florida university for 2 and a half months"
"Have we met earlier?"
"Yeah, once in Amingaon"
"Oh yes, in Amingaon we have met."
"Bhagavan Ji, I was very eager to meet u but all the time it could not happen as I was out of IIT Guwahati whenever You visited Amingaon"
"But, this time it happened..right?"
"Yeah, I am so happy to have met u today"
"How is Maharaj Ji?..At present only Ramananda Swami and Maharaj Ji are there..Swarup has left for Varanasi"
"Yes, he will be back on Tuesday"
"To whom u use to talk these days? Swarup or Maharaj Ji"
"Everybody but generally I use to talk to Ramananda Swamiji and Swarup swamiji"
"Okay,..Ramananda Swamiji."
"Yes."
"Where are u staying here"
"Sealdah City lodge"
"Everything is okay? Any problem there?"
"No Bhagavanji, everything is okay"
"So u are coming from there?"
"No, I reached sealdah at 8:00 and then I went to Tollygunge from there I came here"
"Swamijis are fine there?..Did u face any problem?"
"Yeah they are fine.I faced no problem."
"How did u come?"
"By bus."
"Okay, while returning u can go by train...How did u know the location of this place?"
"Asked at Ganguram's shop.Swamiji had told me."
"Okay.So u were told about Ganguram's shop by swamiji"
"Yes."

By this time He had taken His tea.I also had tea to take.I first offered it to Bhagavan Ji.He touched the biscuits in my plate and said"Okay.I have touched it." and He asked me to take tea and He left the office.After a short time He came back to me.By that time I also had finished it.He asked:
"Tea over?"
"Yes, I have to wash it"
"No, leave it there..come with me.Let's go to prayer hall"
I followed Him to prayer hall.
He started "This is actually my home that I have converted to ashrama.Here Vedant is discussed all the time.People use to come throughout the day or phonecalls.Thus Vedanta is discussed always..So, what made u to come here?"
"Actually I use to talk to Maharaj Ji, Probuddhananda Swamiji, Prajnanananda Swamiji, Premananda Swamiji and mostly I keep in touch with Probuddhananda Swamiji through internet.This way I feel very great with them and fortunately I am here to get Your blessings "

"How do u feel"
"Happiness,peace, very good in studies and confidence in self"
"Okay, confidence in this (Pointing to self)"
"Yes"
"Very good."

After that I came back to office with Sankarananda Swamiji and talked to him.After a very long time I was fortunate to speak to Swamiji.First time I had met him in May 2006 only for a few hours. It was second meeting with him...After that we again went to prayer hall as it was prayer time.
Bhagavan Ji asked "Do u understand Bengali? No!"
"I do but a very little bit"
"Okay,A very little bit !"

Now it was prayer time.After prayer, Bhagavan Ji discusses vedanta.Finally after Mahamantra, He asked to Sri Tapas Ji "U will be leaving for Sealdah?"He replied"Yes"
Bhagavan Ji asked me "Get prasad and go with him.He is also going to Sealdah"
"Okay Bhagavan Ji"
"Tomorrow, do give me a call after u get your visa. ok?"
"Okay Bhagav ji"
"Okay then!"

And unwillingly I left Birati.It was extremely painful toleave Him but I had to leave..I felt the infinite love in Him for everybody.I have no specific word to express His love and generousity.He is everything.He is beyond everything.Nothing can map Him.How do I express my feeling within the boundaries of words.He is infinite.His love is infinite but I have only finite words.I feel more and more, deeper and deeper but I am getting myself unable to express..Love You so much My Master!!!!!!!!

(Shivendra Pandey ,Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India, devotee of Bhagavan)

Swami Probuddhananda writes:

Dear Everybody,
I have a request to you all. We have been saying that you have to live the life of Bhagavan, create a character like Him within us etc, but we have to know what are the works that He had done all His life. We have to know that character fully. He has worked in so many fields, among so many people, right from the factory worker to the king of Varanasi, from remote villages of India to Barcelona and many other places, from slums to the Elite class. He had done a very important work among women, transforming several into a true spiritual giant. I am sure, everybody of us has a separate and special relationship with Bhagavan,everybody has an idea of Bhagavan in his/her own mind, lets share this. For people living outside India,what is that that always kept you attached to Bhagavan's love. You had very little days with Bhagavan compared to the Indian devotees who are fortunate enough to have many long years of association with Him. Lets all discover this, why we are here with Bhagavan, why are we trying to propagate His message to everybody, why do we live for Him? I want His life, character and teachings very very clear to everybody,let us not run after the doctrine of Incarnations, let us run after this man called Bhagavan and know Him more and more. If somebody comes to IVS or to see Bhagavan, He should know why is he/she here.
As IVS is increasing, we also will have a potential danger. With quantity, quality degrades. We will have ample chance to talk to people, and with time people will start to believe whatever we say, we have to be careful that we should always speak the truth. We should say only those what we have experienced and realized. I have seen a very subtle tendency of ours to create stories about Bhagavan. Let us not make Bhagavan as an idol, our Lord Bhagavan is living, in our heart and soul. He is with everybody, everywhere irrespective of any form. Our Lord is a human being first, a perfect man, a lover of mankind. He is the one who represents the complete human race. Our whole life will be spent on this research.
I am very happy that some of you have started writing on your own and thus share your views on spirituality. Lets all do this. It creates a consciousness, helps people to have faith in themselves, inspires. Writing makes our knowledge clearer. It helps us in many ways. We have to be prepared for the future. Our goal is to create such a civilization which will be called a family, a family of mankind. For your information,the IVS blog publishes some of your best letters. Its a very good online forum visited by many now a days and it also features in the google search, thanks to the efforts of Swami Bhakti Chaitanya, the joint General Secretary of IVS. I send you the link of this blog,please have a look.
http://www.ivs.blogspot.com/
In my childhood days, I used to love a hindi song, the first line of that song was - when we, the hardworkers, ask our share from this world,we will ask not a garden, nor a field, we will ask the whole world............ lets do this.
With love and service to Lord Bhagavan,
Its Swamiji




Swami Probuddhananda..
General - Secretary
International Vedanta Society.

Chrysanthi (Risa), devotee of Bhagavan from Greece writes her feelings on Bhagavan

Chrysanthi (Risa), Varanasi 03/03/2008

I had been anxiously waiting for Bhagavans arrival. I had been preparing my self as much as I could, but I wasn't very sure of what to expect, and even though many had told me that Bhagavan in a few words is God, like every unrealized human, doubts filled my mind.

The day of His arrival came. We were all waiting at the small street at the ashrams entrance when I suddenly felt the strong vibration of His presence. I was holding to some flowers that I would kindly shower on Him as a show of love and respect. I saw him coming towards me: an illuminated, childish face that hid all the wisdom of the universe behind those eyes and smile. He asked me whether I was ok; never in my life has somebody asked me this question in a more sincere way than Bhagavan. I was left speechless; completely unable to answer the only thing I could do was smile, happy to have felt unconditional love from someone I was seeing for the first time in my life.

The days following Bhagavans stay, I tried to spend more and more time at the ashram trying to figure out what was that vibration, so familiar, like a memory long forgotten. It is only now that I can realize what Bhagavan is.

Bhagavan for me is Love, unconditional Love, Love that doesn't see faults, mistakes, doubts etc. He only sees God inside you, He believes in you whether you believe in yourself or not, and that gives you strength to carry on. He is Knowledge, supreme Knowledge that sparkles in His eyes like the rays of the sun. Once I looked in them, and now I find myself swimming in that ocean of Knowledge all the time. He is everything, he is my inspiration, he is God. He is my father.

Now, even though Bhagavan is not here, his presence in me is occupying more and more space, until I finally be able, as I told him, to sacrifice my whole being for Him, for God.

Caution, Bhagavan is God.

Swami Probuddhananda, General Secretary , I.V.S. writes the Secretarial report about Bhagavan's Varanasi visit.

Dear Everybody,

Varanasi, the place that has given IVS immortality because this is the place where Bhagavan got the boon of immortality from none other then Lord Shiva. Since then, Varanasi had offered many important and significant hand in the growth and development of IVS. But nothing was so brilliant and enlightening then this visit of Bhagavan from the 17th to the 27th of Feb'08. I have been in Varanasi almost from the very inception of IVS here, but never did I see so much effect of Bhagavan's visit. Neither did I see Bhagaavn so ensured as He was this time. My sincere regards to all the Swamijis and the members and among them specially the IVS girls here who had made this possible.

This time many things had happened but among them the most pleasant development I saw was great combition of the east and the west working hand in hand to make things possible in every sphere. Everybody seemed to know exactly what each one of us had to do, everybody knew what was best for Bhagavan and everybody seemed to be totally knowing what was best for the world as well. The health of Bhagavan was not 100% but as days progressed, we found Him more and more live and pleasant.

Bhagavan didn't speak much as He normally does, but the effect was phenomenal. It was very good that everybody realised that its now time for us to take up the work of Bhagavan. Its not in His body, its Him and everybody seemed to be fully ready to carry Bhagavan with them in their hearts back to their places. Everybody realized the need to carry on a disciplined spiritual life if we have to carry on our work and to take legacy of Bhagavan beyond time and space. We can create this same enviornment back in our places, the only way is to beleive that we can. We can do the same work that Bhagavan has been doing, the only thing required is the sincerity and genuinity He puts on in His efforts. His mere presence makes a difference because all through His life He has been the epitome of truth, a living manifestation of originality. We have to live His life in ourselves. We have not to intimidate but to become one like Him. And this phenomenon has started and as we march on, we will see all His devotees carry the flame of His in their hearts and thats the greatest work that He could do. He had illuminated the light of Knowledge and love to so many people all over the world and as time goes on, I see that all His devotees rise up from their own plane and scatter everywhere in this world showering the glory of humanity and transforming our world into a eternal blissfulness. Just imagine for what a grand work we have been chosen for, what a fortune we have. Jai Bhagavan, Jai Bhagavan Jai Bhagavan.

Now to come to what we are going to do within the next few years. As you all know that 2008 is dedicated to the publicity of IVS, we will stretch it into two more years. That is from 2008 to 2010, we will work in such a way that the message of Bhagavan reaches to the people everywhere. The plan for the immediate next six months is that some of the Swamijis will be visiting places in Spain, England, France , Argentina, Chile and Paraguay and propagate the message of Bhagavan and Vedanata. I urge each and everyone of us to make this effort a mass movement wherever the Swamijis go. Start work from now on. Lets take the full advantage of this. This is the first step.

Once this is complete, some more doors will be open to IVS worldwide. Chances and demand will grow. I will ask everybody of us to be prepared to serve Bhagavan whenever they are required in any part of the world. We should be in the position to make us available whenever and wherever we are needed. Prepare yourself to work globally. IVS is a spiritual organization and out whole life will be spent to distribute spirituality amongst the masses in the way Bhagavan had done, with love. Prepare yourself for this grand finale. Its time, its to come, What I see, it will come soon.
With love and in the service of Bhagavan,

Swamiji

( I request some of you who know the IDs of the new people who had just arrived in the IVS family to send a copy of this to them as well.)

Swami Probuddhananda
General - Secretary
International Vedanta Society.

Cristian, Devotee of Bhagavan from Chile writes his experience about Bhagavan's stay at Varanasi

Wed, Feb 27, 2008
Dear Friends,
today Bhagwanji left Varanasi.

we are full in emotion. no many words now. but just wanted to thanks everibody because being with him and seing increse the family everyday is plenty of hope/

Bhagwan is out of our understanding. really. people fell in love to him just in a few hours.. and as result deep joy is coming.

a group of 24 chilean people came to see him. and all them were very touched by his grace- i am not saying this just in words.. - really they were able to see the grandness of His love and feelit inside as never before.

the atmosphere has been full of spirit..

and is amazing to see the change in pleople just after a few days with Him.

i am very gratefull of all this and the opportunity to be with him and all.

Bhagwan health is also good. he has dance a lot. and enjoy every moment with new devotees.

i hope and wish the best for IVS, which is no more than the visible part of this celebration togeter with Bhagwanji.

is a tremendous Power in Him and pure love come to all because of that.

love to all.

Cristian.

#if you see clouds one day in the sky are just clouds, doesnt mean that the sun if not there.

Sharada Writes

Dear everybody.
Hope you all are enjoying the divine life which Bhagavan has gifted us...Yes , this shows how great He is as He has gifted us the life of divinity , for which people spend years after years doing Sadhana...What is Sadhana??? We all have His 10 commandments written in the script of Sadhana...But we must realise the contents of Sadhana from within...There Bhagavan has told us to meditate & practice Vedanta...In my previous letters I told you all about the cyclical process of practicing & preaching Vedanta...But what are the benefits that we are going to get if we keep a regular touch of meditation & practicing Vedanta???
Regular meditation will help us in establishing our own selves....yes our own being...to know the self , where God resides...Vedanta says - KNOW THYSELF....Why does it say so? As because there's no one else other than God , other than Brahman...We all are just the portion of this Brahman , nothing else....Vedanta teaches us to be independent , to be confident on thy self , that I am for God , God is within me...Vedanta teaches us to listen to our own soul.........In ''Flashes of Vedanta'' we can see that , ''TO KNOW THE SELF IS THE KNOWLEDGE , OTHERWISE IGNORANCE.'' Yes, ignorance...but why ignorance?Vedanta teaches us to put our mind towards self-knowledge , to believe into within...to listen to thy heart & not depend on others.....Bhagavan also tells - EXPAND THY HEART...This is the only way to salvation...Just by mere saying will not help...you have to put it into practice...Expand yourself , your heart...which can only be possible through regular practice of Vedanta...Work , work & work...It will show the representation of your own thought....Express yourself as much as possible....Relish the taste of Vedanta from within , then you can relish the taste of Bhagavan's love....Know this , if we are to work for anyone , we have to work for God...If we want to live for anyone , we must live for God.....If we are to be the servant of anyone , we must be the servant of God....We must feel God within each of our cell...
So make your own heart as large as possible free from any disturbances , calm & quiet , enjoy the taste of Vedanta...Be self-confident , be free , if there's exist anything , it's only God...He is within you , within me , everywhere....His divine love changes our mind from dry desert to the beautiful cool Oasis...Its the only way-through of getting peace...Its the only way of gifting homage to our Lord , who has made our lives so special , so beautiful....We must be like Him....We must become firm & strong like Him.......We must become God.......Live for God , work for God & then to become God by ourselves...This is our goal , our Sadhana.....Do you all agree , friends???
I shall be heartily waiting for the reply to this letter from all of you.....God bless you all.....JAY BHAGAVAN.
With lots of love & regards,
Sarada...