Dear Friend,
One evening during our recent trip to Mexico, we were having dinner at the home of Alicia, Ananda’s center leader in Monterrey. As we were enjoying one another’s company over a wonderful meal, the memory of another evening came to mind.
It was in the early 1980s in Rome with Swami Kriyananda. We were walking back to our hotel after having had dinner at the home of Renata Arlini, Swamiji’s longtime friend and Ananda’s center leader there. Strolling through Rome on that crisp autumn night filled with stars, we were enjoying the sites of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
After some time Swamiji said softly, “How many dinners I’ve had over the years with so many different people in so many different places!” In that moment, he gave us a glimpse into a lifetime of sharing friendship with devotees around the world in his service to Master.
With his gift of fluency in languages and adaptability to new cultures, Swamiji was a world citizen who felt at home everywhere. I never saw him relate to anyone as if he and they were strangers, but rather always as friends.
All of Ananda has been influenced and molded by this consciousness of world brotherhood. As Ananda members have spread out to serve others throughout the world, cross-cultural bonds of understanding and appreciation have been built. In our Assisi community, we have members living harmoniously together from Germany, England, Italy, and Russia—countries that were trying to destroy one another during World War II.
Today when I read the news about the unceasing global conflicts, I realize that world brotherhood is more than a sweet sentiment: it is vital now for the evolution of human consciousness, and even for the survival of our planet.
Some years ago a friend gave us an original 1923 edition of Master’s book of poetry, Songs of the Soul. Master had personally inscribed it with these words:
There is one breath that enlivens all strange lands and strangers. Under one sky we live watched by One Father.
With my blessings,
Swami YoganandaOct. 20, 1924
May each of us embrace the consciousness of a world united under one sky and One Father who loves us all.
In divine friendship,
Nayaswami Devi
9 Comments
Dear Nayaswami Devi,
Thank you for the article on the Masters Maha Samadhi Day :)
Blessed !!!
Joy,
Prem
Beautiful, inspiring and so moving. Yes indeed, things need to change.
Thank you Nayaswami Devi. Blessings to all of Father’s children.
Thank you so much for sharing about your experience in Rome with Swamaji! I know it was good for me to hear. I tend to forget how widespread the love we are given is and that it is for ALL of us no matter where we call home during this earthly experience.
Dear Jyotish and Devi,
I deeply appreciate your new Weekly Letters.
Thank you so much.
IDF
Howard
This message is so dear to my heart. I do know that our Heavenly Father is our true Father and we are all his children. Master’s words confirm and comfort me in that knowing. Thank you Deviji.
Wow Devi,
I was there! The vibration of Master’s words holds his magnestism still! Powerful, especially in this day and age. How blessed to have have that wonderful book in your possession to share with us. THANK YOU.
And thank you also for sharing your memories of Swamiji. Being to young to have met Master in person, Swamiji is the only human I’ve ever gotten to know, albeit briefly, to have achieved such a high level of egolessness (if that is a word). We are all blessed from his example of discipleship.
~~~Peace, Josette
I believe that is why Jesus & Babaji sent Yogananda to the United States. They wanted him to be an example of brotherly love. Then he commissioned Swami to build communities and look what he has done!!!! It will spread. It is the wave of the future. Bless you for the work you do. I’ve been watching Inner Renewal Week online and feeling very blessed. Thank you, Marilyn from Concord Ananda
Dear one, thank you for the reminder. I, we, truly have felt this connectedness in so many places and in so many experiences. It is, however, too easy to lose this perspective unless reminded regularly as you have so lovingly done. Namaste, steve
Thank you again, Devi! That reminds me of Master’s words, “When I leave, only Love should take my place.”