In the 20th Century, in what was the jungle village of Ganeshpuri in Maharastra, there lived an avadhoot, Bhagawan Nityananda, an eccentric saint whose spiritual power drew many seekers to him. This blog is about an experience of how he still sends his grace to this world.
Surrounded By Grace by Helen Kottler, 7”x11”, gouache, colored pencil, and collage on black paper
An Answer to My Prayers
by Helen Kottler
I have a young nephew, Marcus, with some mental health problems. He went through some difficulties a few weeks ago. I immediately wrote a prayer to Bhagawan Nityananda (or Bade Baba, as I affectionately call him). Bhagawan Nityananda was the Guru of Swami Muktananda (of Ganeshpuri). In our Siddha Yoga Meditation Center in Los Angeles, we have a murti of him. His presence in the temple is so powerful that the mind is drawn into the silence of the heart. (Our thirteen year old daughter, Emily, often feels he is smiling at her.) He bestows his grace on all who come before him. I find that I can invoke his grace by writing prayers to Nityananda. I do this daily and also when I become aware of someone needing grace.
As I was writing the prayer for Marcus, I had a vision of my nephew within the body of Bade Baba. He was completely surrounded by grace. This is the picture I made to show the experience. The figures are floating in the space of consciousness. The white light around Bade Baba's head is the vision of union with the divine. The red lines on the side are the pain, but also just the energy experienced in human existence. My nephew sits happily inside Bade Baba's golden figure. Inside Marcus' heart is the blue pearl, the light of God.
In recent discussions with my family, I have heard that my nephew is displaying a new maturity. His psychiatrists have changed his medication, and he will go to the outpatient treatment center twice a week for anxiety reduction. We continue to pray for his well being.
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With love and respect,
Harry and Helen
Harry,
I understand what you are saying. I think if you are open to the truth, you can see things differently. There are things which needs to be believed coming out of the box. It is not about any religion but it all about our own soul. If we really want to go to heaven we need to find forgiveness of our sins while we are still in this world.
Thanks
Sherly
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Sweetheart,
I will not continue this debate. Do you really think that you can convince me? Should I think that I can convince you? We each have different intellect, different understandings and have had different experiences. God bless you. May your beliefs bring you joy everlasting.
Love,
Harry
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Harry,
1. If God lives within every human being and if every human being has God's nature then how come they do evil things?
God is Holy but humans are not
God is love but humans are not
God is all powerful but humans are not
....And the list goes on.
2. My question is to you that from where this negative thought and actions came in the life of humans? God does not have that nature in Him.
I am an indian and I have known many Sadhus but no one ever claim that Yoga gives them pureity or forgives their sins. No it is not. I understand that you have done yoga, can you say that you are a pure person? Can you say that your sins are forgiven? If not, you need to seek God not your mind or body.
Jesus forgives sins of a person then that person has to learn that how to walk in holiness everyday just like a small child learns how to walk, talk and run...
My friend there is no other way to find forgiveness. Yoga cannot forgive our sins but God can. I have known this way of slavation when Jesus forgave all my sins. He gave me grace to walk with Him everyday.
Thanks
Sherly
http://insearchofpeace.org
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wonderfull
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Dear Sherly.
1. God dwells within every human being, so every human being has God's nature.
2. What you call sin sare negative thoughts or actions which in no way change man's essential nature. These negative thoughts and actions are a result of impurities within the mind. Yoga transform the mind and makes it totally pure. Then what you call sinning stops. Many Christian say they have been forgiven for their sins, but do nothing to deal with their unstable minds. Christ clearly does give grace and can change people's minds but it takes a lot of spiritual work. That work, prayer, contemplation, and meditation is similar to yogic practices. A true Christian, a true yogi, a true religious person of any creed are totally alike.
I pray that you purify your mind.
With love,
Harry
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Helen and Harry,
Jesus wasn't an emissary but He is the same God who created heaven and earth and you and me. He is the same God who is all knowing, all powerful and omni present God.
Whether you believe in sin or not but sin is in this world. Every person has sin in his/her life. Probably most of us have never committed sins like murder, adultery etc. But if we hate others we sin. If we have spoken lie just one time we are liars. If we have stolen something, we are theif. And the list goes on... If we are committing sin, we are sinners. And if we have sinned, we need a Savior who could forgive us of our sins and rescue us from the punishment which awaits for every sinner.
Thanks
Sherly
http://insearchofpeace.org
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Bhagawan Nityananda, just as Jesus Christ, is a being of incredible power, a conduit for God's energy. You believe that Jesus was God 's singular emissary while we believe differently. We also don't believe in your notion of sin. We believe that man is completely pure, and the only impurity is the mind and its attachment to the senses. Let's stop the conversation right here. Thank you,
Helen and Harry
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Hi Helen,
It is not about respect or disrespect but just a thought that man is not all powerful to heal us but God can. Man has limited powers and limited knowledge but God has unlimited power and unlimited knowledge. God has created us and He alone can heal us. He alone can forgive our sins, no human being could heal or forgive our sins.
Thanks
Sherly
http://insearchofpeace.org
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Dear Sajita,
Obviously, we have different beliefs. I respect your beliefs, and I hope you respect mine.
With love and respect,
Helen
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I know that any sickness is terrible. But often we try to solve it just scratching the surface instead of going deep into the root. If we really want healing, we need to go directly to the creator and not to any human being who is a creation like you and me.
Thanks
Sherly
http://insearchofpeace.org
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