Samadhi or not?

Having gone to all possible lengths to gain permission from the authorities to meet Baba, changed my plan into a violent one.

I entered the office of the prison warden. I was well known to him due to my numerous attempts in the past to gain permission. He politely invited me to be seated. One other man was also sitting there.

Dharmavedananda

This week I met the Vice-Governor. He also refused my request to meet Baba.

So I shall physically thrust you aside and enter His cell by brute force.

Baba’s cell was only a few meters away and that no locked door stood in-between. Out of respect they never locked the door of His cell.

Guard

Sir, you must not think such things. You know I am deeply sorry that I cannot allow you to enter. I would lose my job. I, too, am a devotee of Baba, so please believe me about my limitations."

Dharmavedananda

How can you say you’re devoted to Baba? If it were so, then you wouldn’t be afraid to take such a minor risk. You know my heart is breaking to see Him.

Guard

We know about Baba’s power and omniscience. But I am helpless due to my duty.

Dharmavedananda

This is just a load of nonsense. I am going to break through now.

I started to get up.

Guard

Wait! You don’t understand our realization of Baba. Doctor, please tell this gentleman about the experience you had the other day.

Doctor

Usually, I attend Baba every morning at 11am. But 3 days ago, I was busy all morning and had to delay my visit until 3pm.

When I approached the cell, I got a shock. Baba was sitting in meditation floating 3 feet above his cot!

I couldn’t believe my eyes. All my thoughts disappeared. I stood there, simply staring at him. How much time passed I don’t know. But I slowly became aware that His face was changing. He had become Lord Shiva! Trembling with fear, I ran back to this office.

Guard

The doctor was shaking like a leaf when he dashed in here that day. I thought he was having an epileptic fit.

Dharmavedananda

I don’t care for your explanations or your experiences. If you won’t give me permission to enter Baba’s room, then I will go there in my own way.

A third man entered the room. The warden turned to me, saying

Guard

Please! Wait at least a moment while I speak to this officer.

While the warden was occupied, I closed my eyes. Without the slightest effort I dropped into deep meditation.

Losing awareness of surroundings, I saw Baba smiling sweetly. He was holding me in His lap. Stroking my head repeatedly, He said:

Baba

My dear Dharmapala. There is a very good reason why I am not allowing you to meet Me … a very good reason.

Gradually I remembered where I was.

I cut him off by doing namaskar with my hands, and said in a breaking, feathery voice, “It’s…alright…now.”

Almost simultaneously, all 3 of them dropped their jaws in surprise.

They were speechless as I walked out of the office into the outer courtyard.

Transcending drugs

Huskvarna, Sweden.

Our first 3 residents moved into our new rehabilitation project today. They are all drug addicts.

The city government has given us a free lease on the building with an understanding that we would establish a halfway-house for drug addicts.

We only accept young men who demonstrate an interest to improve themselves. In that case, it is not overly difficult to cure them.

Our staff joins them in practicing meditation to gain inspiration and will-power, vegetarianism and fasting to eliminate body toxins, yoga postures to balance the hormones, and social work to provide a sense of personal value.

The system appears sound, but the most important ingredient is loving care. Enforcing external discipline has little worth in itself.

A few years ago one of our workers first demonstrated this process by curing some heroin-addicts in Berlin.