The following is another excerpt from Swami Nirmalananda’s newest book: The Eternal Wisdom of Anandamayi Ma—Guidance for Spiritual Seekers on the Path to Realization: A Commentary on Words of Sri Anandamayi Ma. It is available at Amazon.com as an ebook and as a paperback. The kindle version is only 99¢ this weekend.
This excerpt reflects on Anandamayi Ma’s teaching that lasting peace cannot be found in the restless world, but only in God, who dwells within the heart. Sri Anandamayi Ma (1896–1982) was one of the most revered spiritual figures of modern India. Swamiji lived under her guidance from 1963 until her mahasamadhi in 1982, and his commentary brings out the full depth and application of her teachings.
The sections in bold are Ma’s words.
Question: When will there be peace on earth?
Well, you know what the present state of affairs is; things are happening as they are destined to be.
Years ago I made my own adage in Russian: Nyet mir vo mir–there is no peace (mir) in the world (mir). But within God Who is seated in our heart there is eternal peace. In the world troubles and wars and conflicts are inevitable because it is the nature of the world. But God is above and beyond the world, and Ma often said that God and His Name are one and the same. Therefore those that live in japa of God’s Name are living in union with God. We can experience this by following Ma’s urging to continually repeat the Divine Name within. Then the Divine Life becomes our life.
Question: When will this state of unrest come to an end?
The fact that many of you feel concerned about it and ask: ‘When will it end?’ is also one of the ways of His Self-manifestation.
So to be truly desiring inner peace is itself a manifestation of our inmost Self which is ever living in God. Ma often said that the desire for God was the way to God.
Jagat (world) means ceaseless movement, and obviously there can be no rest in movement. How could there be peace in perpetual coming and going? Peace reigns where no coming exists and no going, no melting and no burning. Reverse your course, advance towards Him then there will be hope of peace.
But where is God? In His Name. For Ma and the wise have told us that God and His Name are ONE.
By your japa and meditation those who are close to you will also benefit through the helpful influence of your presence.
In metaphysical writings there are references to the “astral” and “causal” bodies that are within the physical bodies of all living embodied beings. These are centered in the physical body, but extend beyond it invisibly in what is known as the “aura.” These energies are the forces that manifest as the life of the material body.
In the yogi, these bodies are developed by his sadhana and become stronger and extend further beyond his physical body. The more developed the yogi, the further the subtle bodies extend beyond the physical body. Highly developed yogis may have auras composed of these subtle vibrations extending even forty or more feet beyond the physical body. So when you come near a yogi you may even become inside his astral and causal bodies. Naturally, this affects you, and you may even be able to feel it to some extent.
Because of this, people’s mental states can be elevated if they are near a yogi, and in some instances their physical bodies may be strengthened and even healed of disease or defect. Those who are not just physically close to a yogi, but have personal ties with him through some factors such as blood relationship or friendship definitely are affected by him–even from a distance. So the yogi blesses his family, friends and associates by his spiritual vibrations.
I knew a woman with a long-established lower back trouble that gave her real pain. But when she met a very advanced yogi she had the sudden sensation that she was lifted up off the ground and at the same time the chronic pain vanished permanently. I have known people to be mentally and spiritually healed and uplifted by the mere presence of very advanced yogis.
And this is what Ma is referring to. People very mentally close to a yogi can be affected by him even when at a long distance from him. So Ma is indicating that our sadhana will definitely benefit those who are close to us.
Previous Articles in the Series:
- Anandamayi Ma on Meditation & Spiritual Life
- Why Satsang Transforms the Mind: Teachings of Anandamayi Ma
- Reality Beyond Concepts: Reflections on the Words of Anandamayi Ma
Teachings of Anandamayi Ma
New Youtube Talks Series: Sayings of Anandamayi Ma
Swami Nirmalananda has begun a series of short video commentaries on Ma’s instructions to devotees collected in a book called Matri Vani. You can watch the video playlist on Youtube here.
In addition to Eternal Wisdom of Anandamayi Ma commented on above, he recently completed another book on Ma’s teachings contained in Matri Vani which we hope to publish later this summer.