Brindey was born on February 11, 1951. She was raised in the Catholic Church by her foster parents developing great devotion early in her life. She had traumatic hurdles to overcome in this life and overcome them she did with great will power and devotion. When she passed, she was repeating the names of the Gurus as she listened to Swami Kriyananda’s Chant of the Angels. She passed consciously and was as triumphant in death as she was in life.
Brindey came to Ananda with her husband, Mahadev, bore two sons and helped with the family ministry at that time. After needing to spend 25 years living away to overcome obstacles that kept her from holding onto the children who she adored and to giving up the “demons” that kept her from returning to Ananda, Brindey returned to her cherished Village in the summer of 2013 as a brahmacharini in the Nayaswami Order. She lived and served at the Ananda Meditation Retreat welcoming guests, improving the website, and working with groups who came to experience the joys of living the spiritual life.
A friend commented: “Brindey was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. In the last few years of her life, she never wavered from Truth, from her search for God, or from dharma (right action). And she inspired everyone she met to do the same.”
Meeting the Challenge with Energy
Later In October 2015, Brindey discovered that she had cancer. From that moment, her every intent was to serve those around her, either by sharing her story or by inviting anyone who wished to, to come to her bedside to talk about God and Guru.
Brindey greeting Swami Kriyananda (she never gave up the connection with Swamiji or Ananda.)
Swami Kriyananda once said, “Creativity is essential on the spiritual path.” He didn’t mean artistic creativity necessarily, but that the devotee must constantly ask the question, “How can I serve God better?” The form this service takes doesn’t matter. Brindey was creatively serviceful to the end.
In the short time she had left in her body, Brindey, who had never before done such a thing, gave a three-part webinar on Conscious Recovery [Editor’s note: She gave an interview on the subject, The Battle to Overcome Addiction—a Devotee’s Journey]; drove to Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Reno to help with book fairs and give classes on Conscious Recovery — from alcohol to overeating to depression and beyond; moved four times as her health deteriorated and she needed alternate housing; set up a satsang for the women in the community to talk about her journey, opening up to any questions anyone might have on the subject of death and dying; wrote an article for Clarity Magazine, “Welcoming Death”; and met many hours with Nayaswami Nalini, who was writing a book on graceful passings. And even, one month before she passed and was on oxygen, Brindey took a four-hour train ride with a friend because it was a last wish. And when she found out that her football team, the Broncos, was playing in the Superbowl, nothing was going to keep her from rooting for them with gusto!
She had also taken a pilgrimage to India, became a nayaswami, took life vows in the Ananda Sevaka Order, became a minister, and, in November, even after learning of her own cancer, performed a funeral service for one of her closest friends.
Brindey’s Children
She also put much effort in reconnecting with her children.
Around Christmas-time, Brindey had a dream. She saw the great saint, Anandamoyee Ma, sitting on a large cushion with Brindey’s three children on her lap. A large blissful smile on her face assured Brindey not to worry, that Ma would take care of them.
After that, Brindey could let go of any attachment and regret she had over the inability to raise them herself.
Leaving Her Body
The Blessings of the Masters
Brindey passed away on March 9, 2016, the morning of Sri Yukteswar’s mahasamadhi.
“It was astounding from a physical perspective that Brindey could keep her consciousness focused in superconsciousness during her process. It was as if Brindey had been practicing and preparing for that moment for her entire life.”
Durga spoke with Brindey on the phone at 8:30pm the night before. Brindey told her, “I have so much energy, I feel like I can run a marathon.” “Her channel to the Divine was opening, and God gave her the energy to do what she needed to.
“All of us have our own unique karma, and every death I have seen is unique. What is the same in each, however, is that God comes to each soul.”
Letter from Brindey
Master, Swamiji and all the Gurus’ emphasize the attitude to “Never give up.” So, although I am at peace with the possibility that this little bubble may soon return to the Ocean from which it came, I am also aware that it is good to “stay in the body as long as it is spiritually beneficial”… God and Guru know far better than I what is best for this incarnation. I leave the results in Their Wisdom and Love.
Grace is ever with us — all we need to do is “receive” it, welcome it. As Master said, “It is our birthright!” Anything and everything can and will be accomplished by the Grace that lives in AUM, by the Grace that is waiting for our embrace.
Never again will I have to overcome alcoholism, or the horrible habit of smoking. This war is over and inner peace reigns.
