When great beings leave their physical body, it is considered their final liberation, as they are now free of the physical body’s limitations. This is called Mahasamadhi, and is considered very auspicious.
When we think of our departed loved ones, sadness can arise because we miss interacting with their physical form. This is natural, since emotions are experiences that come with having a body. Once we awaken from the illusion of separation and realise the Oneness beyond form, we no longer identify with our emotions or seek to control them : just like waves in the sea, we can observe them coming and going endlessly.
Thirty-eight years ago today, Swami Muktananda (affectionately called "Baba" by his devotees) took Mahasamadhi on the full moon night of October 2, 1982 — in remembrance of him I would like to share a memory retold by Swami Prakashananda, who met Muktananda in 1969 :
One year on the anniversary of Bhagawan Nityananda’s Mahasamadhi, Baba was giving an Intensive that day on Prem (Love). It was also the 100th intensive of his second World Tour. After we chanted the introductory mantras Baba began his talk by saying that it was a good day, being that it was the 100th Intensive.
“But for me,” he continued, “it is also a bad day.” He explained this by saying, “My knowledge, my philosophy, whatever I teach, whatever I have learned, is within everyone in the form of Truth.” Then pointing to a photo of his Guru, Baba said that he (Nityananda) had taught him that Truth dwells within everyone.
Baba continued by saying, “Fifteen years ago today, in the morning, was a very bad moment for me.” As he said this, a wave of emotion suddenly came over Baba, and his voice began to break, and tears welled up in his eyes. He said, “That morning I lost a great Guru. It will be very difficult to find his company again in any life.”
With great difficulty Baba continued. “This Intensive is on Prem (Love), but instead only sadness arises. He was my great Guru. He was really very great. He was the greatest. Such beings are very rare. You find such beings very rarely. With only one word, or one touch from such beings, one’s life is completely transformed. Although he did not go anywhere, still, he disappeared from these physical eyes.
Nevertheless, even though he left his physical body, he is still with me in his subtle body. Yes, the topic of this Intensive is love, but it appears that my feelings have reversed. Instead of laughing, I am crying.”
Muktananda did not try to hide his emotions; they are part of the life experience. The important thing is to understand that we are neither our emotions nor our thoughts — they are just passing by : you can choose to get caught up in them, or to let them be.
I grew up with Baba, and was seven and a half years old when he took Mahasamadhi. Even though his physical form is no longer here, he has never ceased being with me and continuing to guide me along the way. Thinking of him last week inspired me to write an article about guru-tattva, the Guru principle : you can read it here.
Souvenirs de mon Guru 🧡
Lorsque les grands êtres quittent leur corps physique, cela est considéré comme leur libération finale, car ils sont maintenant libérés des limitations du corps physique. Cela s'appelle Mahasamadhi, et est considéré comme très auspicieux.
Lorsque nous pensons aux êtres chers qui ont disparu, on peut se sentir triste parce que l'interaction avec leur forme physique nous manque. C'est naturel, car les émotions sont des expériences qui
accompagnent le fait d'avoir un corps. Une fois que l'on s'éveille de l'illusion de la séparation et qu'on réalise l'Unité au-delà de la forme, on ne s'identifie plus à nos émotions et on ne cherche plus à les contrôler : tout comme les vagues dans la mer, on peut les observer aller et venir sans fin.
Il y a trente-huit ans aujourd'hui, Swami Muktananda (affectueusement appelé "Baba" par ses fidèles) a pris Mahasamadhi la nuit de pleine lune du 2 octobre 1982 — en souvenir de lui, je voudrais partager un témoignage raconté par Swami Prakashananda, qui a rencontré Muktananda en 1969 :
Un an après l'anniversaire du Mahasamadhi de Bhagavan Nityananda, Baba donnait une Intensive ce jour-là sur Prem (l'Amour). C'était aussi la 100ème Intensive de son deuxième Tour du Monde. Après qu'on ait chanté les mantras d'introduction, Baba a commencé son discours en disant que c'était une bonne journée, puisque c'était la 100ème Intensive.
"Mais pour moi", poursuivi-t-il, "c'est aussi une mauvaise journée." Il expliqua cela en disant, "Ma connaissance, ma philosophie, tout ce que j'enseigne, tout ce que j'ai appris, se trouve en chacun sous la forme de la Vérité." Puis montrant une photo de son Guru, Baba dit qu'il (Nityananda) lui avait appris que la Vérité réside en chacun.
Baba poursuivit en disant, "Il y a quinze ans aujourd'hui, pendant le matin, c'était un très mauvais moment pour moi." Alors qu'il disait cela, une vague d'émotion envahit soudain Baba, et sa voix commença à se briser, et des larmes lui montèrent aux yeux. Il dit, "Ce matin-là, j'ai perdu un grand Guru. Il sera très difficile de retrouver sa compagnie, dans n'importe quelle vie."
Avec beaucoup de difficulté, Baba continua. "Cet Intensive est sur Prem (l'Amour), mais là, seule la tristesse survient. C'était mon merveilleux Guru. Il était vraiment magnifique. C'était le plus grand. De tels êtres sont très rares. On trouve de tels êtres très rarement. Avec un seul mot, une seul contact de ces êtres, notre vie est complètement transformée. Bien qu'il ne soit allé nulle part, il a quand même disparu pour ces yeux physiques. Néanmoins, même s'il a quitté son corps physique, il est toujours avec moi dans son corps subtil. Oui, le sujet de cette Intensive est l'amour, mais il semble que mes sentiments se soient inversés. Au lieu de rire, je pleure.
Muktananda ne cherchait pas à cacher ses émotions; elles font partie de l'expérience de vie. L'important est de comprendre que nous ne sommes ni nos émotions, ni nos pensées — elles ne font que passer : on peut choisir de se laisser emporter par elles, ou de les laisser être.
J'ai grandi avec Baba, et j'avais sept ans et demie quand il a pris Mahasamadhi. Même si sa forme physique n'est plus là, il n'a jamais cessé d'être avec moi et de continuer à me guider tout au long du chemin. En pensant à lui la semaine dernière j'ai reçu l'inspiration d'écrire un article sur le guru-tattva, le principe du Guru : vous pouvez le lire ici.
It always starts with a spark of consciousness, a quick moment of being aware that something is happening (usually strong emotions) but that somehow, a part of us is sitting quietly in the midst of it all and observing without being engulfed by the "soap opera”. The moment I first noticed this Witness in me was when I was a teenager : even when in the grip of an emotional, hormonally-driven, drama — you know, yelling and slamming doors — there was a part of me that was very calm, completely at peace. Sometimes an amused thought would pop up : "Ah, here she goes again!" It felt as if someone was sitting there eating popcorn 😂 I became accustomed to have these two different aspects in me. It was restful to take refuge in the Witness inside when a storm was raging outside. Eventually, comprehension came.
then go on Monika !
I am becoming aware of the fact that my emotions and my thoughts are part of my physical existence. It is, however, deeming difficult to detach myself from the ego (i have observed). Sometimes i find myself in a rut of emotions and over thinking and then a moment of consciousness arises but so quickly the mind tries to over power this with more thoughts more emotions.... Awareness of this, is however a start... now to continue with that awareness... uh thats the challenge ☀️ but a challenge worth pursuing.
quel beau témoignage d'amour ! merci my Saraswati