Darshan in Kiel

Swami VishwanKurunandhanAnanda who was with Sri Swami Vishwananda in Kiel, has written the following: 

The Darshan in Kiel, Northern Germany was very nice.

Held in a gymnasium located at the local Rudolf Steiner school; one would feel immediately at home in the curved rolling architecture.

It is said that the more one goes north, the less people are interested in spirituality. It remains to be seen whether this is a valid hypothesis or not, but there seems to be some truth to it, because also in other Nordic regions, the interest in spirituality seems to be relatively restrained.This is astonishing, as the climatic conditions are ideal for going more within. 

As if the Northern Germans wanted to prove this thesis wrong, many more came than what could have been expected. Close to 350 visitors were present. Considering we are in the summer holidays, and also less people could come from the surrounding regions, since the Guru Purnima celebration has just happenend, and with the extensive Bhagavad Gita Course (SPN) approaching, this makes the number all the more remarkable. The large-scale hall was well filled, and still offered a relaxed space.

In summer temperatures, Sri Swami Vishwananda, felt quite comfortable and led the people gently into "his" world; the world of the Self, the heart, and the unconditional Love of God, who dwells within us all.
Swamiji sang, "OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA," and then a whole new beautiful song, "BHAJA GOVINDA JAYA GOPALA.”

It began to rain heavily, and Guruji smiled and mentioned it was normal that when he comes it would rain. Often this happens and even during his last visit to Kiel it started to rain. In Mauritius, this is considered to be a special blessing.

Actually, Swamiji didn’t want to give a talk, as on the next day there was a satsang taking place, where he would take plenty of time to answer each question visitors and devotees ask alike. Even so, Suresh, the host, an old friend and disciple of Guruji, asked him to lead a short meditation and Guruji lovingly corresponded to his wish and gave us all a sweet foretaste of what we can experience when we delve deeper into the ocean of the Self. 

The meditation itself we will tell you about some other time. However before the meditation, he explained in detail what our life is all about. To return to God, to our Self, to Love, and that without this Love, life degenerates through the day-to-day routine. We go to work, come home, go back to work, and so on. Work is important, but for what? It was a wake-up call for the people in the hall, and ultimately for all of us. For we are all still on our "path" to the heart, and we are constantly running the risk of losing ourselves or as Guruji explained, of “drowning” in the sea of our thoughts and desires. 

It is better to go within, where if the mind drowns, it cannot actually die, but will be uplifted and enwrapped by the Self. And when it is completely saturated with the elixir of life, the Divine Love that is in all of us without exception - we are all essentially this Love - only then will we genuinely live and life will become what it is, the most wonderful gift that God has given us.