My first encounter

Swami Vishwananda arrived at my house on a nice and sunny summer afternoon, he remained for ten minutes in the doorway. Everyone was awe-inspired. I couldn’t help repeating in my head: “Babaji is here, Babaji is in my house! This is incredible. My God, how beautiful he is!”

As a matter of fact, all those present could not say a word before this handsome twenty-one-year-old boy radiating the Divine. We went on the terrace to observe this ´rare bird´ fallen from Heaven. I was surprised to feel so at ease with him, like an old friend whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. I showed him the paintings I had made of my spiritual master. He looked at them for a long time. He told me that this master had offered him a great statue of Krishna while he was visiting Mauritius. This comforted me: if my guru had offered him a statue, then he must be a good person.

Once he left, the only wish I had was to see him again soon!

Pritalananda

A special Birthday Blessing

Yesterday Dharmananda received a very special birthday blessing from Swami Vishwananda in form of a singing dialogue in Opera style. We had a very good laugh with lots of fun tears- there was a special divine joy covering us all!

Here is the birthday prayer:

Om Karam Pranam Yaham, Janam Deena bhinan danam
Kamadam mookshaha danam, Janam deena bhinan danam
Pashye maa sharada shratam, Jive maa sharada shratam
Om, Swasti, Swasti, Swastii

His true Nature

One time, Swami Vishwananda was working with one of his disciples and they were both enjoying each other’s company like two friends who had known each other for lifetimes. That very evening a darshan took place. When the time came for the same disciple to approach Swami for a blessing, he knelt in front of Swami and smiled at him. However, in Swami’s eyes, there was not a trace of recognition or personality. Moreover, Swami appeared as if he was not even there at all. He displayed only a constant flow of magnificent, limitless, consciousness. After darshan was over, we were sitting with Swami by the fire, and he confirmed to us that indeed, his true nature could be seen during darshan.

M.N.

Brasil

Swami Vishwananda's trip to Brasil was very nice- here a picture from Rio-

The Darshan Place in Bela Horizonte was in the middel of the city, but with a wonderful Garden around:

Simply being in his presence!

I have found that Swami Vishwananda dislikes idle chatter, gossip and general lazing around. He likes playing and loves life itself. He laughs a lot and has the most contagious laughter. He naturally loves all saints and their stories, and loves telling their stories and painting them. Most of all I appreciate simply being in his presence, with not much being said but at the same time feeling so immensely loved. Even when I am not in his presence physically, I inwardly feel his omnipresence and I always feel like I can communicate with him. Personally, I feel there is no difference for me whether he is physically there or travelling the world, I always feel his presence inside. I often feel him and his guidance much more strongly when I am not with him, something I experienced especially during my stay in India.

Sumitra, CH

He doesn't love me anymore!

There are also phases which I have gone through when I experience Swami Vishwananda as very strict. His firmness makes me think that he doesn’t love me anymore, or that he loves everyone else much more. These, I have found, are always the times of developing, realising and learning. Swami puts us through these trials and tribulations so that we may work through our individual obstacles which hold us back from God.
Eventually I realised that Swami had been working on an old pain I had to work through. There was a side of my ego he had to make me feel intensely, before I could really let go of it. In these situations the quickest way to get through it is to surrender the pain and just let it go without questioning it, without thinking: "Err, what’s wrong with him today? What have I done to make him treat me this way?"

Sumitra, CH

If he looks at you like this, it means: "stop taking pictures" ... and you will ... for several days or even weeks!

During Darshan

During darshan, Swami Vishwananda transmits divine energy to the crowd as well as personally when he gives the individual blessing. The individual blessing is a very intimate moment where whatever one is carrying around, be it sorrow or sickness, can be transformed by the divine energy. This is what I felt during my first darshan in Cape Town, South Africa. At other darshans I have experienced an incredible amount of energy, sometimes very powerful and sometimes very soft and tender.

Sumitra, CH

Is he speaking only for me?

Once, Swami Vishwananda gave a lecture at an Easter program that touched me deeply. I felt that he addressed me alone. I was thinking, Could it really be that he is speaking only to me? Later I found out that I was not the only one who had felt that way - many people had experienced exactly the same thing. Swami is capable of reaching out to people on a mass scale, and teaching them with an incredible amount of love and patience.

Sumitra, CH

You are what you think!

You can create or you can destroy. It’s upon to each one of you how to control it. So the first thing in spirituality, the first, the best thing you can do is to control the thought. The more the thought is negative it reflect outside. Very often these negative thought is about one own self – thinking how bad I am, how negative I am. First we have to change the thought of ourself. Then we can change the thought towards other people. Thought is very easy to control. You don’t need to sit down to control it. When the thought is passing through your mind you know about the thought. You know whether it is positive or negative. So if it is positive it will be constructive - feed it, then let it grow! But when it is negative try not to feed it. Then you say to yourself: “This is not me” and let go of it. When you let go of the thought you will see how beautiful it is - your own life. And how great is this life that God have given. And also in your meditataion you will be more easy going. The powerful thought is the positiveness in human being. Through this thought whatever you wish, whatever you think about - for your own self you will receive it.

Swami Vishwananda, Darshan Munic, 2006

A Lesson

Because I am afraid to make a mistake, say something wrong and be laughed at, I once spoke without thinking and supported Swami Vishwananda's viewpoint in a conversation, instead of offering my own opinion. Two sentences later, Swami went in the opposite direction, and I found myself entangled in my remark, facing my own hypocrisy.

Swamiji's Transformations

Swami Vishwananda is definitely one of those rare persons who actually know and are fully conscious of their true self and their Divinity. He can connect with that Greater Reality at will. When the greater connection is made, Swami is no longer that ordinary person we see in everyday life. His facial expression and his eyes change as he becomes a radiant being expressing unconditional love. I have witnessed Swami’s transformation on a daily basis. Most of the time he behaves as a normal person who does not make a fuss about his true Divine self. Those who view him superficially do not recognize the greatness of his soul.

Kartik Purnima Celebration

Swami Vishwananda celebrated Kartik Purnima last night with an Abishekam, and a Yagna which was very strong. He told us the whole Story about Tulsi Devi and Vishnu. There where a lot of Bhajans going on the whole night with dancing and much joy!

Kartik Poornima, the wedding of Goddes Tulsi and Vishnu

Kartik poornima is the birthday of Matsya, Vishnu's fish-incarnation. It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi-plant:

The Legend:

According to Hindu mythology, the Tulsi plant was a woman named Vrinda, a synonym of Tulsi. She was married to the demon-king Jalandhar. Due to her piety and devotion to Vishnu, her husband became invincible. Even god Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu Trinity could not defeat Jalandhar. So Shiva requested Vishnu - the preserver in the Trinity - to find a solution. Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and violated Vrinda. Her chastity destroyed, Jalandhar was killed by Shiva. Vrinda cursed Vishnu to become black in colour and he would be separated from his wife. Thus, he was transformed into the black Shaligram stone and in his Rama avatar, his wifeSita was kidnapped by a demon-king and thus separated from him. Vrinda then buried burnt herself on her husband's funeral pyre or immolated herself due to the shame. The gods or Vishnu transferred her soul to a plant, henceforth which was called as Tulsi. As per a blessing by Vishnu to marry Vrinda in her next birth, Vishnu in form of Shaligram - married Tulsi.

Darshan

Here just picture from the Darshan tonight. Swami Vishwananda spoke about the pilgrimage trough Israel and how touching it was not only to read about all this in the Bible but to be there and feel...

Yes, we laugh a lot

A guru is someone who removes ignorance and makes you self-realise. Swami Vishwananda does it while having fun. Life is not sad with him. Yes, we laugh a lot!

Once we got lost while driving Swami. Swami burst into laughter in the back of the car as our friend who was driving, drove around the same roundabout for the third time. By the time he found the right way, rain was pouring down and all the restaurants were closed apart from a diabolical pizzeria, decorated with plastic ghosts and witches as if it was Halloween. What a delicious pizza!

Pritalananda

The Lilas of the Devine

Swami Vishwananda likes to play. He has this capacity to enthuse you with something that you found insignificant before. He creates role-plays and throws himself into them for the pleasure of living and playing. Afterwards, everyone learns a personal lesson from the event. That is what is happening on this earth: We are here to learn how to live and love from every possible and imaginable situation.

Every Darshan is unique

I have been to many darshans with Swami Vishwananda over the years and I have found that every one is always a new and unique experience. Swami is aware of everyone’s thoughts but he doesn’t want to talk about this. Once as I was sitting near him in the front during a darshan, I noticed many incidents that could not be explained with a conventional worldview as Swami gave darshan to each person: He asked a child to take education more seriously as he had skipped out of school. He gave another child only a sweet and told me that this child was just coming for the sweet. He gave me a handful of vibhuti packets to give to someone at the back of the room as this person was in need of it and had to leave soon. When I hoped for a special piece of prasad, he asked for the whole bowl and picked out my favorite piece. These numerous miracles occur all the time around him.

Naamdev

He takes us home!

Swami teaches his devotees through playing different roles. At times, he may interact with you as a strong master, best friend, a mother or even play with you like a child. Swami has appeared to various people around the world in many forms. Some people have seen him as Lord Krishna, others as Jesus or the Divine Mother. Truly his nature is divine! To me he is everything: master, mother, friend, my beloved and the Divine. He is my life and my final truth. His love guides me gently but firmly. I feel that Swami Vishwananda is truly here to take us home – back to our true reality.

r.v.

Swami's Goal in Life

Swami Vishwananda is someone who loves God with all his heart and soul in a very pure and childlike way. This approach to loving God creates for him a very personal and natural relationship with the Divine, and thereby he resonates with people in a way that their lives may be transformed. Swami’s goal in life is to touch the hearts of people who are spiritually and magnetically drawn to him in such a way that they are motivated to adopt a spiritual life centred on God.

It's Your Choice what he is for You!

Once Swami and I went together to Rodrigues, a small island off the coast of Mauritius where we stayed at a small guesthouse. The son of the family who lived in the main house was 20 years old, which happened to be the same age as Swami at the time. The son began mocking Swami, making fun of him as a spiritual person who performed miracles, etc. Swami graciously tried a few times to talk to the son in a reasonable way, but met with no success. Soon Swami quietly removed himself from the uncomfortable situation. At that time I was astounded to see that instead of getting hurt or angry, he actually had compassion for the young man. Swami allows people to choose whether they relate to him as guru, brother, friend or just a ordinary person.

Paartha, Springen