Being in nature is where I’ve always felt most comfortable and at home. I also appreciate a snug house and a warm stove on a cold, rainy night. But if the weather is agreeable and I have the opportunity to be outside, then that would always be my first choice. Perhaps you feel the same way? Have you ever wondered why this is?

Here’s how the answer to this question was explained to me many years ago.

Shortly after I first read the Autobiography of a Yogi in about 1969, I met an American Indian named Red Eagle. He lived in a tiny shack in the forests of East Texas. A friend, knowing of my interest in Paramhansa Yogananda, suggested that I would enjoy meeting Red Eagle. My friend said that Red Eagle was a follower of Yogananda also. I had never yet met any others who knew much about Yogananda, much less followed his teachings, so I was excited to meet this man.

His home was extremely difficult to locate. We drove down many truly terrible dirt roads, deeper and deeper into the “piney-woods,” as they are called in East Texas. There were times when I doubted we’d ever find him, but finally we did. I felt we had been drawn or guided to his small clearing in the woods by some sort of mysterious force.

Red Eagle was quite a character and his living arrangements were unlike anything I had ever seen, to put it nicely. His one-room cabin, which he had built himself, had no electricity, water, or plumbing. The trees around his home were thick and close together, blocking off most of the sun. It was dark, quiet, and a bit spooky there, though very beautiful in its own way.

I explained to him, upon arrival, that I had heard he was a holy man of some sort (a shaman?) and also a follower of Paramhansa Yogananda. He happily told me stories from his extremely colorful past and how he had come to follow Yogananda’s path of Kriya Yoga. This was the very first person I had ever met who really knew about Yogananda and his teachings, and more importantly, who actually practiced them. I was thrilled and asked him questions for several hours.

Finally, probably growing tired of my questions, he asked me if I’d like to energize and meditate with him, his wife, and the friends who were with me. Naturally I agreed. This was to be my very first group meditation in this lifetime!

While energizing, he took off his shirt and showed me how he could isolate and move the individual muscles along his back during the “three-part back recharging” section of the Yogananda’s Energization Exercises. He was bald and he showed me how he could move several individual muscles in his scalp without even touching his fingers to his skull (for the scalp massaging part of the “Energizers”). Amazing! I have never seen, in all this time since I met Red Eagle, someone able to recharge and vibrate his muscles in this unusual way.

After we had meditated and it was time to leave, I asked Red Eagle why he had chosen to live so far removed from civilization. He smiled and said, “I love nature and I can meditate better here, deep in these woods. It’s very quiet and God seems closer. I think that the veils are thinner between God and me in a place like this.”

After I returned to my apartment in Houston and continued to try to meditate on my own, I often remembered his words and became convinced he was right about this. God seemed far away from me there in the city, blocked off by the concrete and the noise.

Since that time, I’ve always tried to spend as much time in natural surroundings as possible. As I write these words, my husband and I are on vacation, camping out on the Middle Fork of the Yuba River, just downstream from the Crystal Hermitage at Ananda Village. We are probably no more that ½ mile from where we live. But it seems like we are far, far away from the world. We hear only the bird songs and the beautiful sound of the river flowing over the boulders near our camping spot.

As the days go by, we grow quieter and more blissful. God seems nearer and nearer, as the veils between Divine Mother and us, as Red Eagle said to me all those years ago, seem to thin out more and more.

Why would this be so and what could it mean? Isn’t God always present within and all around us, present in everything and everyone?

Surely it is the restlessness of our thoughts, whipped up by the restlessness of the busy world around us that creates thick barriers of delusion and makes the Divine Presences grow fainter and more difficult to perceive. It is harder, though not impossible, to see God in concrete pavement, heavy traffic, and tall buildings, than in a sparkling stream or a meadow full of colorful wildflowers. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is, especially for those less experienced in cutting through the veils of delusion through many years of deep meditation.

My suggestion to you is to try to be more in nature and when you are there, to feel God’s presence revealing itself to you from behind the “thinner veils.” Try meditating in nature as much as you can, or if this is not possible for you to do often because of where you live, try a walking meditation, perhaps in a nearby park or on the street where you live. Here’s one suggested by Swami Kriyananda:

Walking Alone With Divine Mother (excerpted from Awaken to Superconsciousness).

To practice interiorization of the mind…try this walking meditation. Walk alone, if possible, during this exercise, for its purpose is to interiorize the mind, not to externalize it in the company of others.

Throughout this walking meditation, make it a point to relate to God, to God through Nature, and to your own higher Self. Don’t walk vigorously. In other words, don’t hike. Walk “easefully.” Express in outward action the peace you feel in meditation.

Now be aware of the energy as it moves through your body. Feel yourself surrounded by a great, inverted vortex of cosmic energy, spinning slowly around you, and drawing you upward toward its source in infinity. Bring that energy down, after a time, into an awareness of its manifestation in your physical environment.

Listen to the birds singing: Hear the Divine Consciousness singing through them. Ask the Divine Mother if She hasn’t some special message, in their singing, for you.

Listen to the sounds in your vicinity: dogs barking, people’s voices in the distance, cars moving. Feel the Divine Mother communicating with you through all those sounds.

Gaze at the sunlight as it trembles on a leaf, at the clouds sailing overhead, at the trees, the bushes, at countless objects around you. Share those visual impressions with the Divine Mother, as if also with your higher Self.

Feel the wind on your skin, the warmth of the sunlight or the coolness of the evening air. In every thought, in every impression, make the Divine Mother a participant.

If thoughts come to you in the form of words, share them with the Divine Mother as through you were talking to Her. Don’t only think about Her in the third person. Talk to Her.

Feel yourself as the breath of divine love and joy. Walk joyfully on an earth where all beings rejoice in their unseen, heavenly origin.

I should title this blog: It’s a Small World, since reports are now coming in about Swamiji Kriyananda’s return to India and his talk to a packed crowd in Delhi.

But, I just wanted to share a few more photos with you of Swami’s visit in America and also photos of our beautiful fall colors.

This year has been unusual. We had rain and cold temperatures, then it warmed up and the result was an extra long season of autumn leaves. The colors at Crystal Hermitage were spectacular.

I hope you enjoy them. Bless you all and Happy Thanksgiving!

Today at the India International Centre (IIC) in Delhi, India, Swami Kriyananda launched his book, Hope for a Better World! (To listen to Swami Kriyananda’s talk, click on the play button below)

The event was presented by Ananda Sangha in collaboration with the IIC. It was hosted by Sri (Honorable) D. R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director of the CBI (Indian equivalent of the American FBI). The chief guest was the Honorable Dr. Kapila Vatsayan, eminent scholar and member of Parliament, and Chairperson of the IIC.

It is said that a country is known by those whom its people consider great. It is gratifying in India to witness high-ranking dignitaries such as Sri Kaarthikeyan and Dr. Vatsayan sincerely honoring Swamiji and his life’s work for his guru. (They are shown below holding the new book.)

Over 500 people attended the event–further proof that India prizes, and recognizes, great spiritual teachers.

The event began with introductions by Yogacharayas Dharmadas and Nirmala, the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Sangha India. Then Sri Kaarthikeyan introduced Dr. Vatsayan, who declined to speak before Swamiji with the words, “I want to listen to him. Everybody is waiting for him!” Sri Kaarthikeyan then introduced Swamiji, who stood to speak.

Swamiji spoke about the quest of all people for true happiness. He pointed out the hard times we are now facing and how they point to Yogananda’s solution of intentional communities. He emphasized the need to act according to dharma (righteousness). After reading an excerpt from Hope for a Better World!, he concluded:

“I would like to ask all of you think seriously about what I’ve said here–to think seriously about God being your true purpose in life–even if you don’t see it that way now. Because sooner or later, nothing works! Satan has one promise he always keeps:

“He disappoints you.

“Nothing you can do ever works, except finding God.”

At the end of Swamiji’s talk, Dr. Vatsayan stood. She began, “After Swamiji has spoken, it would require the arrogance of ignorance to open one’s mouth. I have come to hear, and to receive. And Swamiji, you have given.” She went on to express gratitude and praise for Swamiji’s words, and his book.

At the close of her remarks, Swamiji surprised us all by singing a song, “God! God! God!” (set to the words of Yogananda’s poem).

Swamiji indeed has given us hope for a better world, and has shown us the way to it achieve it–both outwardly, and in our own selves.

Although Hope for a Better World! was published previously in America and Europe, this edition represents the first printing of the book by Ananda Publications, India. Thanks to Lisa Clark for these photos.)

Today Swami Kriyananda arrived back to his home in Gurgaon, India, just outside of Delhi. Swamiji had been away for about 10 months–his longest absence since moving to India. He spent that time getting needed rest and working on important projects (writings, interviews, lectures) in his homes in America and in Italy.

Swamiji doesn’t think of his “home” according to the common interpretation of the word. For, as he wrote in his song, “Home is a Green Hill”:

Often I dream that life is a play;
Laughter forever, and skies never gray.
But when I’m silent, freed from all care,
I discover my home’s everywhere.

Nevertheless, it is a joyful reunion for us all whenever Swamiji returns.

Here is the crowd waving to him as he pulled up to our main building, “Ashram House”.

His body was feeling quite tired from the flight, and we expected him to say hello to us from the car. Then he said, “I’m going to get out and greet you.” Steve helped him out of the car, and he stood before us.

“I’m getting to be an old man,” he said, chuckling. “Nice to see you all.”

As he got back in the car, a Bengali devotee asked him how he was feeling.

“khub bhalo,” he replied. (Very well.)

He added in Hindi, “main bahut khush hoon.” (I am very happy.)

Tomorrow (Sunday) Swamiji is scheduled to give a lecture to hundreds of people at the prestigious India International Centre in Delhi. Swamiji constantly demonstrates his dedication to his guru by his unending service in Yoganandaji’s name. Yet Swamiji’s body is feeling understandably fatigued after the journey. What we can all offer, in gratitude for all that he has done for the world, is to add our prayers that he regain his strength for tomorrow.

(Click the above for a larger version. Thanks to Lisa Clark for the photos.)

I’ve been on this path for almost 30 years and I’m just beginning to realize how much my consciousness has been changed by the teachings of Yogananda and the guidance and influence of Swami Kriyananda.

“How would he respond in this situation?” has become part of my thinking, and it is a remarkably easy way to keep myself centered and joyful. I have had the opportunity to know Swami Kriyananda, and observe him in many situations, but you can also get to know him through his music, his writings and his talks.

Recently, I was spending a great deal of time in the hospital, at my mother’s bedside. I’m a former nurse and my sister and I were actually providing all the hands-on care, short of dealing with the IV machine.

I would arrive in the wee hours of the morning, shortly after my sister went home to rest, and the nurses would welcome me with smiles. But one morning I came in through the E.R. entrance at 4am and the guard reluctantly called the floor for permission to let me through. The head nurse said no.

I got on the phone and kindly pleaded with her for “permission” to be with my mother. She was concerned I would disturb the other patients and I offered to sit in the waiting area if there was a problem, and she eventually agreed.

When I reached my mother’s room I tiptoed in and sat at her side, silently checking her breathing and the machines. The charge nurse came in and challenged me, giving every indication that if I left the room she would not let me back in. I was kind, but firm about staying put.

As I sat there in the dark, I considered the alternatives. I could accept the challenge and see the nurse as an adversary, then face a battle for bedside rights during the rest of my mother’s stay. Very unpleasant, and dangerous for my mother.

But when I visualized Swami Kriyananda in the same situation, I knew that was not what he would do. I prayed for guidance and understanding. I saw clearly that the nurse was really a loving soul, who had given her life in service to others. Perhaps she was surprised by our presence and didn’t like surprises. I knew from my own nursing experience that families are not always assets in patient care.

I prayed for her understanding, I asked God to bless her with calmness and I poured out my heartfelt gratitude for her skill and attention on behalf of all the patients. Then I refused to put any more negative energy into the situation.

The next night, she walked into the room while my sister and I were present and my mother was awake. After asking if I was the same person she had asked to leave the night before, she offered a sincere and sweet apology. I was stunned and touched, as she stood in front of my sister and mother, within earshot of the other patient, and said there was no excuse for her behavior.

I looked her in the eye, as Swami Kriyananda would, and told her we were very grateful for her concern and pleased with the care that was being provided. As we discussed my mother’s condition, she seemed to have a sudden inspiration and offered to move her to a private room that was becoming available later that night.

She personally made sure the move happened before her shift was over and treated us with loving-kindness during the rest of our stay. The ER guard also inexplicably changed, greeting me with a cheerful smile and escorting me through like an old friend, regardless of the hour.

Swami Kriyananda always treats others as souls, with the highest potential. Every time I remember to do the same, grace flows through the situation and I can feel God’s presence. Try thinking like him, and see the positive changes that will come, because you have opened the door to the highest within yourself.

In loving friendship,
Lorna