Dear John,
We’ve just finished a program in honor of Paramhansa Yogananda’s mahasamadhi, which occurred on March 7, 1952. There is a powerful current of energy that is released on special holy days, especially the birthday of a great master and the anniversary of his passing. Like a surfer riding a giant wave, we can make rapid progress if we make a sincere spiritual effort at these sacred times. Ananda’s celebration took place at a lovely retreat center, The School of Ancient Wisdom, near Bangalore, India. Created only twenty years ago, this center already has powerful vibrations, because it was created from divine inspiration and because only spiritual groups use it. While our group of seventy was here, there was also another, similar-sized group dedicated to Babaji, who come here annually. The environment itself is very beautiful, filled with artwork, trees, and flowers. Beauty, in itself, adds a high vibration, reminding one subconsciously of the astral world. The original Zen gardens started as pleasure gardens or small paradises. Next, they developed into replications of famous scenes, created to save the emperor from having to make an arduous journey. Finally, they evolved into the more symbolically stylized gardens we see now. No matter what the outward form, whenever a garden is created, a little of the astral world descends to earth. Swami Kriyananda always created beauty around him—in architecture, expansive views, simple but lovely possessions, and especially flowers. Crystal Hermitage, where he lived, is famous for its annual tulip festival. Each April more than ten thousand tulips delight five or six thousand visitors, some of whom have said that these are the most beautiful gardens they’ve ever seen. Paramhansa Yogananda wrote, “In the flowers and blossoms, with their fragrance and their colorful quilts of petals, God smiles invitingly, as if to tell us, ‘Remember Me.’” Indian devotees enjoy the shapes and colors of God’s blossoms, and make amazing altar decorations as a symbol of their love for Him. Whenever we do a program, flower arrangements line the walkway to the temple or satsang hall. Then comes the altar. Ah, the altar! There is rarely anything quite like it in the West. Every picture is adorned with a garland, as is the altar itself. Marigold garlands spill down onto the floor, onto chairs, and sometimes into the entire room. We recently held an initiation into Kriya Yoga in Chennai, where flower decorations are beyond spectacular. As a part of the Kriya ceremony, each person offers flowers on the altar. In the West, this is usually a single flower, often a rose, or, at most, a single bouquet. Not so in Chennai. Person after person came to the altar, some with trays full of blossoms. Nor did they simply place them in front of an image and leave, as a Westerner would do. They began to decorate the altar. I began, just for a moment, to grow a little impatient with the time this was taking. “Couldn’t they be a little more efficient?” I wondered. And then I caught myself, and laughed at my folly. Which does God treasure more: efficiency or devotion? As I relaxed, I began first to enjoy, and then to marvel at the love being expressed. Yes, I thought, flowers are a symbol of God’s love for us. And of ours for Him. In the love of flowers, Nayaswami Jyotish The post Flowers appeared first on Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi. | 