Encounter - SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA

My Encounter With --

SWAMI SATCHIDANANDA


---This encounter took place in the early 1980’s. I heard him speak at an ashram that he had, in CT. He suggested we pull our seats closer to hear better. This seemed like a good idea, but when he was done speaking, I realized that I was the only one to do this. Everyone else stayed where they were.
---I went back to my friend and I admit I felt a little sheepish. We had some snacks and we watched a video – About Space and Rockets, etc. It had a quality of expanding one’s Consciousness, but I remember being very focused on the fact that he had told a follower to make a copy. I do remember thinking to myself that you shouldn’t make copies. What is Swami doing? I didn’t say anything, but Swami is having a copy made. It surprised me not saying something, as I felt that correcting ‘’everyone,’’ was my DUTY and CALLING. I’ve grown a little since then.
---I bit my tongue, said nothing aloud, and he proceeded. He proceeded like it didn’t phase him. He mentioned how he would really like to be at his home, playing with his goats. It was kind of amazing how he had his followers, on the edge of their chairs, listening about goats. They seemed they enjoyed seeing Guru Dev, that’s what they called him, having a good time.

.

---My SWAMI Moment---

.
---It was time for him to leave, so we all got out of his way as he made his way to the car that brought him. I would like to say, ’’It Was Like The Parting Of The Red-Sea,’’ but it wasn’t that dramatic or special. As he passed where I was standing, he suddenly stopped. He pointed, and said to his disciples [of which I was not one], ‘’You should ALL be like this man. He isn’t even really here.’’ He gave no explanation, just walked on. I didn’t say anything, either, but I did think that this was kind of NEAT.
---I thought of some lame comebacks later on, but on the way home we ended up talking about my friends upcoming wedding,’’ I remember saying that I didn’t think that he was marrying for the right reasons, like I would know what the right reasons were. I was looking to hear about ‘’PERFECT LOVE,’’ and I just wasn’t hearing it. I shortly left MA., and cannot tell you if he married or not. Like I said, the 1980’s were about correcting and being sure that ‘’mistakes’’ weren’t being made.
---Anyway, back to my Swami moment, I feel that he was referring to a certain OBJECTIVITY that I have. It is due to my left-hand being as it is. Remember, I was born with the four fingers missing on my left-hand.
I will add this. The left-side is the SUBJECTIVE side, while the right is the OBJECTIVE. I was born very right-sided, and marijuana use only enhanced this. Being so imbalanced, I experienced a ‘’breakdown,’’ eventually.
---In a ‘’Nutshell,’’ figuratively and literally, I went ahead of myself and did not honor things that I still had to do. I had some ‘’Uncooked-Seeds.’’ I ended up with ten incarcerations in different Mental Hospitals across the southern USA, over the next 17 years. It was not fun.
---I would like to say it was like, ‘’ONE Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,’’ by Ken Kesey. But it was neither like the Movie nor the Book. It was more the same as the idea of it, as a saying. I think that the Movie made quite a statement, nonetheless. Billy Bibbit was NOT stuttering while he felt ACCEPTED by his lady friend and peers. He was even standing up to Nurse Ratched. But as soon as his Mother was mentioned, there was the stuttering, again. Then, his guilt became overwhelming.

What Should We Learn From ALL THIS --

1. That we shouldn’t ACCEPT snacks from A Swami?
ONLY if you’re NOT HUNGRY.

2. Moving your chair causes embarrassment? NO.

3. Copying things is very wrong, and a point should be
made, no matter what else is going on. NO.

4. When Swami’s move, WATCH OUT. NO.

5. Watch the ‘’WOODSTOCK’’ Movie, and see a bit
of Swami on film. [BUT, don’t copy it.] WATCH
only if you want.

6. Jack Nicholson should play Swami Satchidananda
in the Movie? NO.


---If Society is ‘’The CUCKOO’S Nest,’’ then Swami ‘’Flew Over.’’ But, we see that the Cuckoo’s Nest has a relative quality to it, so I’ll bet that we ALL have our own Cuckoo’s Nest’s that we have flown over, at one time or another.
---We can see how one’s Attitude toward what he is dealing, gives one his Flying Over ability. There are certain things that I’m sure we see ‘’immediately,’’ and some things that we struggle with as poor Billy did, in the movie.
---The ‘’Good News’’ in it ALL is that we have respites. And, if Billy was able to identify the problem he was having, as even we were, then he could get beyond those things and situations that hold him back. Through a short moment of ACCEPTANCE, Billy ‘’FLEW OVER’’ his ‘’CUCKOO’s NEST’’ [stuttering,] for a time. The ATTITUDE of ACCEPTANCE, where ‘’One feels good about things,’’ works wonders. As far as Swami and myself were concerned, his ACCEPTANCE was pretty NEAT. Be Well.

YOU'RE AN ''ASS''

THE ONLY ASS YOU'LL EVER DEAL WITH IS YOURSELF


---Why do I make such a bold statement? I'm tired of the molly-coddling. For so long, I have taken another approach. It seems the one that ALL positive writers take. I tried to tell everyone it is about Love, but seem to come up empty. It sounds like everyone else. It is alright but ''lacks'' something.
---You are truly the only ASS with which you have to deal. There is none greater. Let me explain. When one sees himself as the lowest common denominator, one has only up to go. He ''accepts'' his humanity and is truly ready for his next step. He tells the ''Truth'' because he has nothing to lose.
---By process of elimination, ''the truth has set him free.'' He who realizes that he only has up to go, will go up. It is said that the highest form of intelligence is ''negative thinking.'' This is where one constantly ''revolts'' against his own thinking and thought processes and realizes that all thought is just thought, and as K. says, ''thought is all of the past.''
---It takes the philosophy, ''If you ain't got nothing, you ain't got nothing to lose.'' It even encompasses, the ''last shall be first'' point of view. It should take in the idea of ''try, try again.'' It is ALL success. Every gain no matter how small. Keeping up with the Jones' is a moot point, because you are not concerned with situations on the appearance level. You are an ASS, what does it matter?

GOOD ENOUGH

ATTITUDE -

''GOOD ENOUGH''

Praise Is A Thing I've Never
Been Too Comfortable With.
I've Gotten Praise For Many
Things I've Done
Kudos For This, Kudos For That
''You've Done A Good Job, Son.''
But, I'm A Little Suspect Of The
Praise I've Gotten
Maybe It's Me, I Don't Know
I’m Not Sure
Do You Praise Me For A Job Well-Done?
Or, Do You Praise Me Because
I’ve Done Anything At All?
You Mean Well
You Even Say It Well
For Me, Perfectionism Is Not Easy
There Is A Letting-Go, Involved

ATTITUDE AFFECTS EVERYTHING

NOT EVERYTHING AFFECTING ATTITUDE

Axis-Ego?



---We are probably aware of the fact that the Planets, moons etc., are on an Axis. They are not on their poles, but they are out of alignment with themselves and each other. This is to keep them where they are with their Gravitational pulls. By keeping them out of alignment, we find that they don't fall into each other.
---People are also out of alignment for basically the same reason. People are made from Love. This is the Driving Force if you will, that causes people to do what they do. It is the Prime Mover. The ego keep people from being in alignment and ''falling'' into each other. Love unifies, and bring things together. If we were Pure Love, we would be unified. This is what is happening to us. We are being purified. This is essentially what ''The Hound of Heaven'' is doing. We may wonder why it is so confusing at times, because we find that when we pull, it pushes. When One lives in Love, One just sort of watches this. God and Love are the same.
---We can take this logic another step. If we say this then, we see that the ego and the axis are the same situation. Then, what affects the ego affects the axis. This means that ''ATTITUDES'' affect both. It is a Chicken and Egg thing. In this way, we see and can say that our ''ATTITUDES'' [anger, happiness, sadness, etc.] affects our planet or the ''Universe,'' itself. This is also the law of cause and effect, or the law of Karma. Remember that Love is always there.
---We therefore know that we have to be Loving. Everything works better this way. We see that Love opposes Gravity. We can see that All things work better if ''Loved.'' This Means that, very importantly, when things are Loved they are allowed to be Exactly as They Are and Not Interfered with. They will then ''reorganize'' and will be as they are meant to be. This is the same as Acceptance. If we Accept with this ''Understanding,'' we are back to ''Appreciating,'' again. This is the process of Love. Love is a FACT that does NOT directly depend on how you FEEL.
---We see that people interfere and sabotage there own Relationship with Love. This is where the ''Seven Deadly Sins'' come in. I feel that people do the ''best'' they can with what they know, but If people ''knew'' what they were really doing, how they compromise their own happiness etc., I really feel people would be more ''thoughtful'' in and through their own actions. Be Well.

An OPEN LETTER

March 29, 2007,

---I don’t know how to tell you this, but I will try. Most people question the idea of God. They want to know if God exists or not. I HAVE DONE IT AND SO HAVE MOST. People have been ‘’searching’’ since time began.
---If we were born someplace else, we probably would have been brought up in one of the popular religions, there. The USA happens to be very Christian oriented. Catholicism is one of the big Christian Religions.
---If we were born in India, we would probably be Hindu. In China – Buddhist, etc.
God is NOT any of these nationalities. Jesus was Jewish. The Jews don’t even see him as anything, but a very good prophet.
---You have to separate the Messenger, from the Message. The message is Love. Jesus was ‘’A’’ messenger who told us that it is about Love. Krishna says much the same. Buddha does. John Lennon of the Beatles, does. Anyone who at ALL Loves, is spreading the word. The word is Love. Jesus said it. I say it and You say it. It helped me a lot to ‘’de-personalityatize,’’ the whole situation. Take out the personality and see Love, from a bare-bones type of way.
---You probably ask, when do you spread the word of Love. I know it happens when you see your family, grandchildren and all. You spread the Love when you just see them It is because Love is there. The words themselves aren’t as important. For example, when a baby grasps your finger. They may NOT be able to speak, but you do know that Love exists.
---It happens. for them, when they see you. It is about Love. Jesus said it. Many others have said it. John 2, ‘’God is Love.’’
---God IS the Love, that we share. ‘’Where ever two are gathered in my name, I am there.’’ Gods name is Love. You may have heard this along with a billion rules and regulations that are ALL suppose-to, but don’t, teach us, how to do it.
---You and I, as well as many, many others were taught many things that were ‘’NOT QUITE RIGHT,’’ from people who ‘’don’t’’ understand this. They may even use the right words, sometimes, but lack the actual Love, to back it up. They are ‘’intelligent, maybe, but like , bells clanging.’’
---In comparative Religions, you learn that ALL religions, basically, say the same things when it comes down to it. Religions reflect the culture of the country that you find them. But, they ALL talk about Love.
---A Religion is ‘’a tool,’’ to do a certain job. The job is, to let us know, that God IS Love. That is what people are suppose to take away from their experience. As I said, we probably heard this message a time or two, along with many ways that [this is the part where you get stuck, I think] that certain, even very smart people, have dedided what We or You. Should do and act, so that We will get there. They may or may not have had a viable experience that they are trying to convey, but [this is very important], WE EACH HAVE TO FIND IT OURSELVES.
---Just like Moses led the Jews TO the Promised Land, but he couldn’t take them across. They had to ‘’cross-over,’’ themselves. The Catholic Church is suppose to be doing the same thing. It is geared-to lead us to the Promised Land, but it cannot ‘’cross-over’’ for us. Many, many Catholic and people of other religions are NOT having this experience. That is why the questioning goes on. Most people are led around in circles, and never seem to have any life-changing experiences. Don’t be confused by the suicide bombers and other fanatical things that people are doing, because they are just people who don’t understand. God is Love. God is Not telling them or anyone, to ‘’take their own lives. And the lives of others.’’ God IS Love.
---I know that you have heard that Catholic was the true religion. That is NOT TRUE. What is true, is that you can find yourself in Catholicism. That is true. But there are so many rules and regulations to follow, that I’m surprised that everyone isn’t more confused about it. The Catholic Religion can be very confusing, especially if you try to make sense out of it on a certain level. It is like using a ‘’broken-tool.’’ It’s like using pliers without handles or a hammer with no head. The JOB You and many others are trying to do with this tool is NOT doing it.
---What you and me and everyone else is trying to find is Who We Are? We are trying to find OURSELVES.
---God is like the Sun that shines all the time. Love is ALWAYS there. It is there, ALL THE TIME. If we are not experiencing Love, It is the same as when we stay in the shade. We may not get tan, because we have decided to stay in the shade. It is the same as saying, ‘’We are NOT feeling, Loved because we do not Love.’’
---In your case, it is not seeing the Trees for the Forest. You have a great capacity to Love, but are worried and wonder who this God is. The God that you learned about in the Catholic Church. You, and many others, learned the same things. You learned about putting the cart before the horse, and from there it is ALL messed up.
---You see and are Loved, everyday. You Love, everyday. THAT IS GOD, GOD IS LOVE. As soon as you begin to worry and wonder, you are off and running, again. You worry and wonder about the same things that most everyone does. Am I GOOD ENOUGH? The answer is YES, FOR You and Me and ALL of us.
---If you see God as someone who judges, like you may see yourself or others, doing, then you will ALWAYS have the next question. AM I GOOD ENOUGH? Maybe by seeing God ''AS'' Love, you will see it the way that it really is. Whenever you see God as a judge like that, you will ALWAYS have the other question, and worry and wonder, that you are meeting the criteria. You and I were taught IT was like this, by people who see IT THIS WAY. IT IS NOT THE WAY IT IS.
--- GOD IS LOVE. You are Loved unconditionally. This is A FACT. What we should have learned is how to Love Unconditionally. You didn’t and I didn’t, and many Catholics, Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, etc. didn’t.
---We experience Love when we Love. God is this Love. When you Love your family, you experience God.
---We are supposed to find ourselves in the Catholic church. Many don’t see it like this, including many teachers, priests, etc. Many don’t UNDERSTAND Love.
---You find the Kingdom of Love inside yourself. When you Love or are loved, THAT IS God. God is Love. JOHN 2.
---Meditations, etc. help us to go Within. When people truly express themselves, they are expressing the Kingdom. God is inside You and inside Me. God is inside of everyone, and everything. ‘’God is Everywhere.’’ Baltimore Catechism.
---The Priests and Nuns come to see me. I basically tell them that I like anything or anyone that is about Love. You don’t have to attend Church or Mass to know this. There is a Chapel here, but I only go there to attend a non-denominational meditation group that they hold, there. Nobody talks and you come and go as you wish. Many here attend the Masses, but I don’t. I went a few times to check it out, but it is not for me. To much ‘’non’’ understanding what is going on. Most go out of obligation, it seems to me.
---Many Sunday mornings I go outside, in the sunshine or play with my computer. I work on my blogs or whatever.
---The Nuns and Priest are very nice people, but we don’t see things the same way. Do I feel that I am going to Hell? NO. Far from it. That is all part of a fear tactic. Fear tactics are used by people who are Afraid. If one Loves, than all of that Fire and Brimstone business, DOESN’T HOLD WATER.
---I feel we ALL are where we are, and ‘’learn as we go.’’ When I do something that is not Loving, I work on being sure that I don’t do it Any more.. I like to stay Loving. Being Positive and seeing things on the bright-side, is another thing of mine. I help others, when I can. I notice that people aren’t happy and don’t laugh a great deal. I try to use one of my talents, and it is one that you have, also. It is the Playbook, that I spoke of. I try to lighten-up a situation. I feel better when the situation is lighter. That is what Joe was talking about in the video. The Bikers were a heavy situation, and I tried to lighten it.
---We really don’t approach the day-to-days of life, that much differently. You have done things your way and I have done things, mine. But, we are both very sensitive and take things to heart. We are both SOFTYS. Everyone else has what they have, too, believe me. Accept others for who they are. People aren’t used to that. Most people judge others. That’s why the world is in the shape it’s in. You were told many things from many people, who really don’t have a clue.
---The Bibles readers do NOT always have it right, either. If you do not see it correctly and understand it, the Bible can really mess people up. The most common problem that I have seen is that people start to identify with ALL the negative things that they find. They feel they are ‘’suppose to,’’ because somehow they think it applies to them.
---There is NOTHING that you, me or anyone has ever done, that is not forgiveable. Mistakes are how we learn. Don’t worry about things like original sin, etc. These are all interpretations.
---Remember the song, ‘’Things that you’re liable, to read in the Bible---Ain’t necessarily so.’’ This applies to the New Testament, also. There are some strange interpretations going around, and if you don’t see them through the eyes of Love, it is easy to feel condemned.
---When you walk in the Monastery, enjoy yourself. Stop worrying about how bad you are, because you are NOT, believe me. We all have something we are dealing with.
---It’s Nice To Be Nice. [That ‘’should’’ be in there.]

Paul

[I keep on adding things, etc. I keep trying to write the ‘’perfect’’ thing, but I ‘m not really sure. This is how I see it. I don’t know if I’m saying what you need to hear me say. I hope it is, but I don’t know.
BUT, it is the same things we do in life. We try to ‘’perfect’’ what we do. We add things. We keep trying to make it better. We ALL are doing our best, whether we think so or not. Just Love]