We heard an amazing story last year when we were visiting the Ananda Community in Assisi. A friend of ours, with whom we were staying, told us that she had a beloved dog who had recently passed away at the age of fifteen. Her heart was still grieving for the loss of her dear friend and companion.
One rainy night while we were there, we heard a whining and scratching outside their house by the compost pile. When our friend went out with a flashlight to see what was happening, she saw a starving, injured little dog who had gotten caught on the wire fence. Approaching him to help, she startled the abandoned creature, and he tore himself loose and ran away toward the road.
Our friend got into her car hoping, even though the night was dark and rainy, to find the poor puppy. Eventually she spotted him, and pulled over to the side of the road, but with each step she took toward him, he backed farther away. Finally, in desperation, she prayed to her beloved dog who had passed away, “Please let this little one trust me.”
Almost miraculously, the little fellow immediately turned and ran to her. Looking at her with beseeching eyes, he allowed her to pick him up and take him home.
When they got to the house, she fed him with dog food left over from her former pet. She was amazed to see that he ate three times the normal amount. From then on, he refused to leave her sight. A year later when we returned, we saw a plump, energetic, happy little beagle with a sleek coat. He was entirely devoted to our friend who had showered him with food, good care, and love.
How mysterious are God’s ways! Praying to a dog for help?
Love is more than a mere human feeling. As the great saints tell us, God’s love is the very fabric from which all creation is made. In one of Swami Kriyananda’s beautiful songs, “What Is Love?,” he says:
What is love? Is it only ours?
Or does love whisper in the flowers?
Surely we, children of this world,
Could not love by our own powers.
It took me time to understand that it had been God loving me through all of those forms.
Many years ago before I came to Ananda and took up Master’s path, I had an interesting experience which took me some time to fully understand. It happened during my last semester of college, when I had just begun reading Autobiography of a Yogi. One sunny spring afternoon, I was sitting on a couch in the living room in the apartment I shared with several friends. No one else was at home, so the place was quiet and still.
As I gazed out the window at the sunlight on the trees, I fell into a sort of reverie. I started thinking how fortunate I had been to be surrounded by a loving family and friends. I began to visualize each one of them—parents, brother, cousins, aunts, uncles, teachers, and good friends—and feel the love that they had given me.
As the image of each person faded into the next, my awareness became increasingly expanded and still, until all I could feel was that I was bathed in light and love. As I said, it took me time to understand that it had been God loving me through all of those forms.
In a wonderful letter from Swami Kriyananda to a devotee, he wrote: “If we feel God’s love in someone’s love for us, then that is right and good. I remember once in India telling the woman saint, Ananda Moyi Ma, how much I and others in America loved her. Her reply was, ‘There is no love except God’s love.’ . . . Ultimately, the only important thing you can do in life is love God. The only fact that truly matters in life is that God loves you. . . . The solution to our worries is love, and more love—divine love, not egoic love. . . . As the Bible says, ‘Perfect love casteth out fear.’”
In the face of a world in turmoil, let’s remember that God’s love for us—in fact, simply God’s love—is the only important thing, the only reality. Whether it’s expressed through the love of another person, through a pet, or through a challenging situation, look behind the surface, and see God’s love. Let it saturate your heart, and then share it with everyone.
So where do we find love? If we have eyes to see, everywhere.
Towards the One in all,
Nayaswami Devi
Listen to Devi as she first reads the blog, then expands on its meaning and messages for readers with behind-the-blog commentary. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (9:18):
25 Comments
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El que tenga ojos para ver qué vea..
Thank you Davi for your explanation regarding God’s Love.
Touching with a finger our Guru’s picture I received the present of his Autobiography and I took the chance to reread Dr. Evans-Wentz prologue; I enjoyed his description of Sri Yukteswar. It is always amazing to see how many ways God uses to express His Love.
I wish all a beautiful weekend
Beautiful
Beautiful. Thank you, Devi!🙏
Thank you so much dear Devi for this inspiring letter.
I wish you a beautiful and Loving weekend❤️🙏
This message pops up in my Gmail at the right time. God’s love is the most beautiful ones.
This post really touches the heart, with 2 deeply moving stories. Thank you, Deviji.
Thank you Devi!
Thank you so much! Even though I am far away in Mississippi, Master speaks to me and sends me love through your words. I am grateful to experience Gods love through Ananda. Your light is bright.
I like to see Love in Nature. How squirrels are working hard to hide their food for wintertime.
And to see the nice colours in this time of the year. To make long walks in nature and feel a deep stilnis in everything that is…and that is God.
I feel thankful that I can feel his present so close. Thank you for your story Devi.
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How true Devi ji! It also reminds me of a comment by a good friend of mine. Almost 2 decades back I was generally feeling love all around and I was wondering what is happening so I shared it with her. To which she said, you are in love with the feeling of love. Since I was not on the path at that time so I did not understand Divine love.
Thank you for giving clarity and understanding for something so special as well as omnipresent.
Thank you so much, Deviji. This is beautiful.
Thank you! It just beautiful and inspiring … with Love
Heading home soon, dear sister?
What you mentioned about your friend praying to her dog on the other side to help the scared puppy, reminded me of the time my dog Chloe passed. We always walked by a certain tree each day, morning and evening. After she passed I no longer did this. A few days later I was driving past this tree and could feel that it was distraught, not knowing where Chloe was. I prayed for the tree and also to Chloe to comfort the tree and let it know that she was safe and happy. The next time I drove by this special tree I could feel that it was at peace.
Divinely beautiful explanation regarding the meaning of love. Thank you for the clarity and inspiration
that this post provides. Heart hugs my friend!
Thank you for this inspiring message. It came at the right time for me. The story about the little dog was heartwarming. Life is beautiful like that. Blessings to you.
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you for this lovely blog!
Such a moving story. Thanks for sharing.
Joy,
Prem
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I just love your blogs, your stories, and YOU. Thank you. EmojiEmojiEmojiEmojiEmoji
Thank you dear friend. I know this is true and I pray to feel God’s Love all the time and not just when challenges come. In gratitude, namaste
I read the story of the Beagle a dozen times. Such a heart warming event that gives me peace , every time I read it! Thanks !!!
Deviji,
Your articles are full of wisdom. The story of a puppy really touched my heart.
I love reading your articles. keep doing the good work.
Thank you,
In divine love.
Love to you, dear friend.
I had also such expierience with our cat.
She was very young and alone and hungry. She came out of the Woods we lived close to. When she came in our garden I called her but she ran away. The day after she came back but also ran away. Than I saw her by some children and asked them if they New the cat but they said No. Than I asked them to bring the cat to an cat care home and that I would pick him /her up. When I came in the cat care home she cames direct to me. I asked the person who care for the cat if she/he had a name. …the man said Holy. Well I said than it is my cat And I am still happy with her. Now she is 13 years old and very healthy. .