Chapter 19: The Future
One redundant aspect of most religions and expressions in the world is that most of them seem to degenerate into something that seems to keep very little of their original light. To give the most known example: the Christian Church (talking in general, and note that I’m talking about the church, not the religion. I have great respect for Christianity. Not so much for “Churchianity”, as Yogananda called it), which took the teachings of Jesus Christ and “crucified them every day” for two thousand years.
After Yogananda’s mahasamadhi, the organization he founded to spread his teachings, Self-Realization Fellowship, changed so drastically that I was hesitant for the longest time of having any association to Ananda, because I was fearful of what could happen once Swami Kriyananda left his body.
After going there and seeing Ananda myself, though, I must confess I my fears were put to rest. First of all, I have heard Swamiji himself affirm many times that Ananda would go on its way without him, and that “the light that Master gave [him], [he has] passed it on.” My own experience, moreover, short as it was, reinforces in myself the conviction that Ananda will still be Ananda once Swamiji leaves his body. For that I am now tranquil and no longer dubious about joining this wonderful movement: the model for the New Age!
On asking Lakshman about his opinion of this, he told had no doubts that would be the case. Things would be different after Swamiji was gone, there is no denying on that, but Ananda is a community, and they are all here because they feel in tune with Swamiji and his goals. He also told me how a famous astrologer, who had visited many communities and ashrams around the world, remarked once: “Of all the communities I’ve seen, Ananda is the only one that will survive the death of his founder.” Jyotish is Swamiji’s spiritual successor and, even though I had doubts on him when I saw him only on videos, to be in his presence was another matter altogether! I never talked to him, I saw him only a couple of times, but all the same, my doubts were dispersed by the mere act of “feeling” him: I know now he is a great soul and that God is in him. I humbly apologize for my unfair pre-judgement and mentally bow to him.
As for my own future, it lies, of course, where Divine Mother decides it will be! I have already started to follow all of Swamiji’s suggestions and, as soon as I have more free time (after I finish writing this, for example!), I will get into it more deeply, particularly into the monkhood part, which I have not looked at yet except by following some advices I got from skimming Sadhu, Beware!. Concerning my trip to India, all I can say is that it brings me joy to think of going to what I feel is my homeland and help to build this wonderful work in there!
Whatever the future holds for me, I do not know, but I pray that God and Guru guide me always in my efforts to know Them.
Previous: Chapter 18: Swami Kriyananda
Next: Chapter 20: Afterthoughts
