I lived for three years, almost continuously, at Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG). I felt that as my home, and people there as my family. I was a Gurukulam student, and when the program was over, I left.

Then life takes its courses, back to my country, reorganize a life after three year spent only in yoga, meditation, studying philosophy… it took some time. Everything was different; any meaning of life was different. It took me quite some years to decide to come back to India (who knows who decides?). One’s own karma, fears, difficulties, insecurities…

Another strong desire: to visit Kashmir at least once in my life…. So this year everything fell into places (as did my will). First stage: Srinagar. Right out of the airport a shining light “Welcome to Paradise on Heart”.

Indeed everything was beautiful!!

A week later…SRSG for Swami Veda Mahasamadhi Anniversary and Guru Purnima. The Guru family was there welcoming as ever. I felt like I never left. The atmosphere was simply great: hours and hours of fire offering (Havan) every day. The Guru Gita chanted continuously in the Meditation Hall 24 hour a day. The energy was so vibrant, so full, so alive! I decided to do silence for all my time there, just not to miss in chattering such an intense atmosphere. I didn’t want to leave the ashram even for a small walk.
… and above all… Swami Veda presence… still there, still so vibrant and alive… his love almost touchable.

And I know this is everyone’s feeling. It was so good to dive back into his energy field which remains there, and get rejuvenated and re-inspired!

THIS is Paradise on Heart. Nothing more to say.

On Mahasamadhi day many SVB friends and disciples from all over the world were present.  In the morning the last fire offering was performed, and after, we all gathered in the Meditation Hall.

Many were invited to say something, some did, others preferred to stay in silence.

Bhagavan Dev
Senior teacher and senior disciple of SVB:

“First time I met SVB, introduced by Sanjayji, I was so much attracted by his figure! I felt a desire to stay by him and serve him. I stayed for meditation, had tea, and then I left. Before I could reach my home, he phoned Sanjayji he would like me to come and serve. I was so happy! Next day I came with just a bag with three clothes.

In the first six months SVB put me in so much trouble! I cannot say how much trouble. He would ask me to do ten things. Before you reach one, he would give another. Before you attend the second one, he would give the third. When you attend the third, he will say: did you do that? The first thing or not? And he would look at your face. I was getting very bad. What kind of human being is this? But I never reacted on my face. He used to look at my face, but I was not reacting. Although inside my heart there was great agitation. I thought what he is asking is not possible for a human being. In six months so many things happened! Then one day something happened. I reached my edge and I was so angry I was about to say Swamiji I am not going to tolerate these things and I’m going to leave right now! At that very moment another fellow pinched me from behind, so somehow he distracted me and I just kept quiet. Then I understood he was testing my emotions. That was my test, and he said ‘You have passed the examination and now the entire responsibility of my place will be on you’. I served him for 10 years.

With his blessing we crossed all the tests, and we could serve him for ten years. I learnt so many things from him! I served him tirelessly.

He used to say: unless and until you conquer sleep, you cannot do anything. You should be like Arjuna. If you sleep 10 hours a day, how do you get time to serve the world? So I hardly got 3 to 4 hours sleep a day. He would come, knock at my door and wake me up. I am a little man, coming from a small village in a dark part of India, and whatever I have achieved is due to his blessings, to his training and his presence. Thank you very much to all of you”.

Mrs. Lalita Arya (Ammaji):

“I welcome all of you here, and I am so happy to see so many people present here from all walks of life. My oblation to Baba and to Swami Veda, to the present Swamis and to all the friends and those who have come from a far.

A swami doesn’t fall out of the sky. They have a previous life and that life has been chosen for them to train them for the future. Whatever path, aim and inspiration put them on the path, a lot goes on before.

As far as the Mahasamadhi is concerned and as far that I am concerned, there is no time. Third Mahasamadhi, fourth Mahasamadhi, this things have no time. Time doesn’t mean anything. And this is how we have seen him as a person training from childhood on this path, and having to go through Grihastha routine for many years… these are all training on the path. So that when one has to give up, how do you give up that which you have become so attached to? That have some meaning in your life?

I’m saying that whatever we are doing, don’t be so much attached to it because we will have to give it up someday. Even if you are not to become a swami. The personality who developed in this swami who was Swami Veda Bharati took a long time to develop. Babaji grace, Baghavan grace, the love of his family. He was a good husband, a good father, a good son. All these build up good relationship in the small family that later, when you adopt the whole world as your family, you must know what you are adopting.

There is so much to share, but I would prefer, as Baba used to say, Experience for yourself: when you come here, with what devotion do you come?

From Swami Veda throughout his life, I learnt two things: LOVE totally, unconditionally. And SURRENDER in the same way. If you can do those two things you can be a swami in Grihastha or whatever ashrama you are in. However, when you adopt the garb of a swami and you take those vows, than it become really serious.

I wish you all the blessing that I know Swami Veda wants to give. We are all blessed that he came in our life and whatever we have learnt, as student, as people who have been friends, those who served, those who are in the Himalayan Paramparam I greet you, but always when you come to the ashram, take one thing away with you. If you come for silence, then take that silence with you. But take one thing with you. I thank you and I feel so happy to share this time with you”.
So many people bowed down at Mrs. Arya’s feet!

Dr. Prakash Keshaviah:

“I have known him for 50 years. He was a professor of Sanskrit at the University of Minnesota. He organized a talk with Swami Rama at the university so I met him. I’m so glad to him to have brought him into my life.

When I think of Pandit Arya, who became Swami Veda, so many adjective come to my mind… he was a kind, gentle person, warm hearted, compassionate, a great scholar and academic, teacher, mentor, philosopher, a writer, a humanist. Many of you have met him in his last time, having a sick body, but when I met him he was so strong… the nauli he could do would make Baba Ram Dev look up in wonder. He was a goody and a foodie, a scuba diver. He used to say that when you go deep down into the depth of the ocean you experience a silence that only in deep meditation you can know that kind of silence.
He received the best teacher award at the University of Minnesota and just one year later he gave up his academic position to devote full time as a director of Dhyana Mandiram, The Meditation Center in Minneapolis (which this year is celebrating its 50 years)”.

…from my little side…

I was just so happy to be there. I kept feeling a stream of love and grace almost constantly pouring itself into my being… and nourishing, and healing, and accompanying my way… whichever it might be.

(Photos by Jay Prakash Bahuguna.)