Guru Brahma…
Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah;

Namaste, I salute the divinity that is within you,

On Behalf of our Sanyasin Community, Sincere Greetings to One and All;

Please receive the grace of the sacred fire and the akhanda-japa going on for these 5 days;
and
Please receive Blessings of these saints & distinguished guests, who have gifted us with their presence.

A special appreciation to the Youth – the next generation who will carry-on this event for many years to come;
and to those whose challenges prevented them from being present — they are also with us today.

My gratitude to all who have created an oasis of beauty with their lengthy preparations, and decorations.

All of us have journeyed to this sanctuary, this sacred place of beauty and peace with the sentiments — the bhava of respect, shraddha-faith, and joy.

When devotion has matured in the fires of tapas, in our sadhana, a gem is formed. A pure heart is the gem of the saintly world, a loving mind, the gold of the saintly alchemists. This aspiration, this sankalpa for a life well-lived, are the gifts we together bring today.

We gather as a celebration on this first anniversary of our beloved Swami Veda’s samadhi.
Here, we are not adoring the physical body which was placed in this space one year ago;
we are present to embrace the subtlety of his example, the beauty of his teaching, and faith in his mandate — “share with the world the pure form of meditation and only initiate into the same.”

We gather to give witness — that our relationship with the Yoga Meditation Tradition, a Living Lineage,
should be absolutely pure and selfless, and carry the Guru-Shakti of self-transformation and spiritual awakening. This finds expression in performing our daily duties selflessly with respect, as our beloved Swamiji reminded us: “Let each person feel loved.”
With selflessness and love, we assure a wholesome and holy life.

May I present these distinguished guests — these living saints as examples of gems in the world today.
They live with the constant awareness of divinity and always mindful of their duty.
May their words, and their silence, encourage you, inspire you, and guide you to that inner source of Light and Love.
and now a moment of fullness in silence…

Om shreem gurave nama

Editor’s Note:

This is the text of Swami Ritavan Bharati’s address of tribute for Swami Veda’s Mahasamadhi to those attending the 1st anniversary commemoration at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) and for those sadhakas unable to be physically present at SRSG. July 14, 2016.