My son is greatly blessed
Which personn could better tells us about Swami Vishwananda as his own mother? Here she remembers the time where Swami Vishwananda was still a child:
"Mauritius is where my son, Visham, was born on June 13, 1978. And on that small island, he grew up. Today, Visham is known and respected around the world as Swami Vishwananda. It is in Mauritius that I grew up as well. In Mauritius, like India, everyone knows everyone else living in the vicinity. Unlike towns where people do not know their neighbour, in Mauritius people in close proximity are like one big family, and everyone talks to everyone else.
In his youth, Swami Vishwananda played with all the children who lived nearby". To read the full story please click here. (from Bindow, Mother of Swami Vishwananda
The childhood of Swami Vishwananda
One morning while I was still sleeping, Visham (the name we called Swami Vishwanana as a child) was playing in the kitchen. Perhaps he was thirsty; he took a bottle of petrol and drank some of it. I thought he might be dying and quickly found someone to drive us to the hospital once again. Later I saw that I was still dressed in my nightgown and slippers and wondered how I could gracefully go back home dressed like that.
How much can you pray?
During Swami Vishwananda’s youth I thought only that he was naughty; I did not realize how special he was and that everything he did was special, even the naughty things. He prayed all the time. I don’t know where Swami Vishwananda learned all the mantras and prayers in those early years. It seemed strange to me and everyone else that such a small child was praying and chanting mantras continuously. However, everyone genuinely seemed moved by a little child offering all the prayers and pujas. I asked him, “How much can you pray? You are always praying; stop praying now!” To read the full story please click here. (from Bindow, Mother of Swami Vishwananda
The youth of Swami Vishwananda
During those early years I often was scared. I wanted to have a son like other mothers, one who went to school, got his degrees, got a good position, perhaps worked in an office. Visham wanted only to do his pujas and be a pandit. I told him that the day he stopped going to school, he would have to learn how to be a mechanic. At fifteen he stopped going to school. For the next six months he learned how to be a mechanic. When I saw him coming home every day with dirty clothes and hands, I was sad and began to think that I did not want my son doing those dirty things. To read the full story please click here. (from Bindow, Mother of Swami Vishwananda
A long queue in front of our house
A lady brought a small picture and asked Swami Vishwananda (Visham) to put it in his room to bless it, which he did. I told the lady, “I don’t want that picture in his room; we have enough pictures in our house, so please take it with you”. But as Visham put the picture in his room, it became two pictures. The lady left leaving the two pictures with Visham. I ran after her telling her, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen here”. Soon everyone knew about it! Then day after day, even before seven in the morning until late at night, people began to form a long queue in front of our house. I became sick and stressed with people in my home all the time. I had no time to cook and no time for myself anymore. I felt like my life was finished and there only were people everywhere in my home all day long! To read the full story please click here. (from Bindow, Mother of Swami Vishwananda
He gave every one a lingam
Swami Vishwananda began to sing bhajans all day with the people who came to see the manifestations and materializations. There were people everywhere in our home and there seemed to be no place left for the family. I became tired, finished! During this time Swami Vishwananda (Visham) began to produce lingams as well. During a special festival day, he materialized thirty-four lingams. If the person was not there when he took the lingam out, he would swallow it and bring it back out when the person arrived. I cried seeing how tired he became and how bloody and painful it was for him to bring the lingams out of his throat. He gave everyone a lingam.To read the full story please click here. (from Bindow, Mother of Swami Vishwananda
How well Swami Vishwananda looks after me
A few months after meeting Swami Vishwananda for the first time he was to conduct Darshan and Yagna in
Bilocation of Swami
I met Swami Vishwananda for the first time in 1995 when he was only seventeen years old and still living with his parents in Rose Hill, Mauritius. At a later time some members of my family and I went to an Indian nightclub. We were happily dancing when all of a sudden I caught sight of Swami Vishwananda standing a few meters away watching us.
Uncertain of whether or not I was imagining having seen Swamiji, I asked my sister if she had seen him. She confirmed that she had seen Swami also. The next day when we visited him at his residence, the first thing Swami said was, “Did you enjoy your dance last night?” We were stunned by his words and from that day on, we never have set foot into a nightclub!
B.G.S. Mauritius
The cousin of Swami Vishwananda tells us about an amazing experience he hade with him in London:
"Nearby where I used to live there was a large family run wholesalers shop. We became quite familiar with each other, and would end up talking at length about different things. During our numerous conversations, I had mentioned my Guruji Swami Vishwananda and my experiences to them. As with most people they were intrigued to meet Swami and had expressed this on several occasions.
It was in June 1997 that Swami Vishwananda was in London, and we happened to visit this shop for a few items. The owner of the shop instantly recognised us and called us into his office to meet the rest of his family. After talking with Swami the shop owner’s wife asked for some sacred Vibhuti. Swami Vishwananda materialised the Vibhuti and distributed to everyone apart from me! He had started to wash his hands when I said to him “you know bro, you gave everyone Vibhuti...” “Yes” he replied. I continued “but you never gave me any Vibhuti!” Swami looked at me and laughed and said “Do you want Vibhuti ?” I readily replied “yes because you gave it to everyone apart from me.” Swami asked me to put my hand forward and materialised a huge heap of hot scented vibhuti in an instant. I did not know what to do with such a large amount of vibhuti so I distributed to everyone and kept a little for myself".
The greatmother health
It went back to Mauritius in 1998 as my grandmother was seriously ill and the doctors had given up hope, and informed the family that she did not have long to live. I remember at the time I visited her first and then went to stay with Swami Vishwananda. Whilst talking to him about the situation Swami Vishwananda said “I don’t feel it’s our grandmother’s time to leave this body. She will recover even though the doctors have predicted that she has only two days to live”. Two days later our grandmother’s health had not only improved and she had walked all the way to my uncle’s (Swami Vishwananda’s father) house to visit us!
(by Ravi the cousin of Swami Vishwananda)
Swami’s early devotion I have known Swami Vishwananda since he was a child, as he is my cousin. The earliest memory I have of Swami is when I was seven years old and I went on holiday to I remember Swami as being a very hard working boy. Everyday he would wake up very early in the morning and pray with our grandmother. He would then do all his household chores before going to school in the morning and continued them upon his return from school.When I visited First meeting with Swami Vishwananda It was the end of September 2003, and I was on my way to A young man on my flight told me about Swami Vishwananda. I listened with interest but was not able to picture him clearly in my mind. The young man explained that Swami Vishwananda could materialize, produce lingams, and also do everything else that marked an avatar. However, this conversation was forgotten amid the work and the experience of this fiftieth birthday. Click here to read the rest of the story. (by Gloria)
Ignoring Maya
During the Onenes’ Congress in December 2006 on Swami Vishwananda’s US tour, Swami gave a lecture on mudras in Pasadena. The huge room with a balcony could hold up to 3,000 people. Swami sat on a great stage and only about a hundred people were scattered around the room. He started to speak warmly about spirituality. He then demonstrated the mudras, explaining their significance and the mantras linked to them. In front of me, some young girls were listening absentmindedly while a boy sat next to them and started flirting with them. Then some more people arrived but didn’t stay, as they seemed to seek something more spectacular. In the room, there was a freezing draft and little by little, some 30 people left the room. I was feeling so bad for my guru who had to bear this empty room and the freezing ambiance. Click here to read the rest of the story. (by Pritalananda)
A long prayer
In 2000 we made with Swami Vishwananda and 50 people a pilgrim trip to holy places in Italy. One evening, we arrived at the Oropa Monastery with our bus where we were to spend the night. The sight is magnificent as the monastery is perched in the mountains and snow covers the rocks around. After we organised our belongings and dined in the refectory, we went to pray to the beautiful black Madonna in the sanctuary. The tradition relates that Saint Eusebe had brought this wooden statue, carved by Saint Luke from Jerusalem. Click here to read the rest of the story. (by Pritalananda)
Sinusitis healing
Many people came for the 2005 Shivaratri ceremony in Steffenshof. Because of the lack of space, Uddhavananda and I were sleeping in Swami Vishwananda’s bedroom. To make things more fun, the heating broke down in the main house. Fortunately, the heating in the temple and the other house still worked. Since my childhood I suffered from chronic sinusitis and no remedy could ever cure it. A crisis started and I had to keep lying on my mattress in Swami’s room, swallowing salted waters through my nostrils to try and calm the sinuses. Visitors were coming in and out of his room. Click here to read the rest of the story. (by Pritalananda)
A new life
On August 15th 2001, I was witness to a miracle that I will never in my life forget. My mother was taken ill very suddenly, suffering from some cardiac problems. While I was with her in the hospital, I phoned Swami and told him about the current situation. As I was speaking to him, the doctors were trying to start my mother’s heart with electric shocks. Swami was very upset saying that she was like his own mother and to tell her that he was coming to see her and that she should wait for him. (by Yogeshini) Click here to read the rest of the story.
Vivhutti blessing in the Grube Louise The next morning we had Bhajan singing in the meditation room and Swami blessed us and gave everyone a small bag of Vibhutti. Swami sang “Wahe Guru” so beautifully that my voice failed when he sang. I was once again brought to tears and realized that I do not have to be ashamed of this beautiful experience. I loved Swami and thanked God.
I was excited to attend my first retreat with Swami in the seminar centre Grube Louise in
Swami greeted me with a cordial smile and I saw something white sticking out of his closed hand. I asked what it was and saw that it was Vibhutti (sacred ash) which he then placed into my hand. I sank on my knees before him and he blessed me. I asked if I may take a photo of him. His response: "but please do it" made my last inhibitions disappear. Later that evening I experienced my first Yagna ceremony with Swami Vishwananda. The sky sparkled with infinite star formations.
The fish
From the time Swami has lived in Quatre-Bornes, he has always kept an aquarium in his house. In 1998 Swamiji organized an outing for his friends from
From the time Swami has lived in Quatre-Bornes, he has always kept an aquarium in his house.
The vibhuti
Swami was about fourteen years old and attending college, when He called me at work. “Do you know Aunty, today vibhuti has appeared in my room”? He sounded quite confused and didn’t understand what was happening.
I told him not to worry, that we would visit his room with our family after work to see what was happening. When we arrived, everyone was amazed to see vibhuti covering the room and coming out of the walls. Everyone at first thought it was damp flakes coming from the walls themselves. An aunt who lived in the same yard tried to wipe the vibhuti off with a cloth but was unable to do so and felt dizzy. When she went back to her own house, the pavement in front of the door was also covered with vibhuti. Swami’s mother was shocked and surprised at what was happening. But soon after the appearance of the vibhuti, people came from the neighbourhood, surrounding areas and soon from all corners of Mauritius to see for themselves the miracles that were taking place. Click here to read the rest of the story. (by Pritalananda)
The coconut tree
In November 1992, I was on holiday in Mauritius. I was staying with my mum and Swami visited us almost every day. One very hot day he came by the house to visit us. We sat down and shared some refreshing coconut water that our neighbour had sent over. Later, Swami went into the back garden. He looked up at our coconut tree, which was drooping with several heavy bunches of more than fifty coconuts, and said to my mum, “Why doesn’t uncle get these lovely coconuts down for aunty to drink?” (by aunty)
Apparitions of Mother Mary in
For a certain period of time when Swami Vishwananda was living in
During one of Her appearances, Mother Mary requested that a small chapel be built in the garden. On that day She gave Swami Vishwananda a scapular. Just before the ashram in
One Friday evening in
Delving into himself
I first became acquainted with Swami Vishwananda in 1998 when he came to
I told Swami of my experiences with Daskalos which he found very interesting. Swami was still strongly rooted in the traditional Hindu ways and so he wanted to learn more about the Christian way of life. It was moving to see then how he delved deep inside himself and there found everything he needed to know.
On another occasion, I was with Swami in
Swami was often given messages from Jesus and Mother Mary. In his room, there was a large white wall on which an enormous
Christoph - Switzerland
The Om Ring
Swami Vishwananda and I were in July 1999 in Mauritius. We had all gathered in the temple and had just finished a lively bhajan. After the bhajan Swami called me and materialised a silver Om ring for me. I looked at the ring I thought to myself I like the Om on the ring but I wasn’t too keen on the style of the ring.
The following morning at the breakfast table I sat and looked at my ring and the mosquito bites that surrounded it. A few moments later Swami Vishwananda walked into the room and asked “you like the ring?” I replied half heartedly “yes bro I like the ring it’s beautiful”. Swami was not convinced by my response and asked again if I liked the ring and I replied yet again “yes it’s nice.” Swami Vishwananda then came over to me and said “I know you don’t like the ring, it doesn’t matter!” Before I could say anything Swami had pulled the ring off my finger and grazed my sore mosquito bites! He asked once more “you don’t want the ring!?” I replied more determined “I want it! I do like the ring!” Swami then blew on the ring in his hand and changed the Om ring to a silver ring with a large deep red stone.
He then asked me “Do you like this ring?” “Yes” I replied more happily looking at my new ring. I worn this ring for a long time until Swami gave me another Om ring which I currently wear. (by Ravi)
You must not be unhappy
Apparition in the yard During the time that Swami Vishwananda’s As light as a leaf
The lost organizer
I lost my personal organizer which is very important to me because I have all numbers and all my appointments in it. I searched everywhere for it. In the car, flat, on the street but there was nothing. I couldn’t believe it and I was looking in the same places over and over again. After 2 days I became desperate and started to pray to Swamiji to show me where my organizer was. Suddenly I had the feeling that it was in my car and that I should go there to have a look. I said to myself, I won’t go to the car. I was there already 5 times, but the feeling was so strong and so I looked again and I couldn’t believe my eyes! The organizer was there! Under the car seat but not hidden. It was clearly visible. It’s no question for me that Swamiji materialized the organizer. Thank you Guruji! (by Pari)
On one occasion, while Swami was in Rose Hill, he wanted to get something from the top of the van but he could not reach it, as the roof was too high for him. He asked me if I would help him. I put my hands together so that he could use them as a step up to reach the top of the van. I was amazed to find that I could barely feel his weight! (by Yogeshini -
My first darshan
It is said that the first impression you have when you meet somebody is the good one. It can be also the first darshan you had with Swami Vishwananda. A man wrote us these lines:
My first Darshan really convinced me of the greatness of this marvellous Avatar. I looked into His eyes at Darshan and saw the Divine. It is not something that you can easily write about, it has to be experienced. It’s a bit like me trying to describe the Mona Lisa to you. You have to see it with your own eyes to experience its beauty. Looking into Swami Vishwananda’s eyes at Darshan was like looking into your very own soul, into the pure blissful state that exists beyond the mind, beyond any words that anyone has ever managed to describe. I was indeed in the presence of Greatness. Of that there was no doubt!
He is non-judgmental
Swamiji often delivers speeches before giving darshan. He does not plan the topics he chooses to speak about, they simply flow. Often it turns out that many questions that people have wanted to ask him are answered during his speeches. Once I asked him to talk about world peace. He answered that this might be a good idea and he later went on to talk about the importance of peace in the mind. He said that the outside world would never provide stability or security for a person and that these very qualities would have to be found within inside each person. Click here to read the rest of the story.
The big wave
There is a place in
The person did not listen and suddenly Swamiji lifted his hands up and down and the waves started to move up and then down completely soaking the man! Everyone then went up to Swami and asked him to repeat it again as they wanted to see the huge wave (see picture). He did it for us several times and we all enjoyed it thoroughly. The waves were all falling down on us like a huge shower! We were all wet but very happy and content.
A visit to St Leopold Mandic
During a pilgrimage trip to Italy in 2005 with Swami Vishwananda we arrived late in Padua. It was midnight so I proposed to stay outside of Padua to find a hotel but Swami wanted to sleep so close as possible from the church where St Anthony of Padua is buried. So we went with the car in the middle of the city and I parked the car on the big place of the old city where the cathedral of St Anthony can be seen. I was wondering how we will get a hotel here tonight. Swami told me: “Look for an hotel”. I answered: “Yes for sure, I see some hotels but all of them seem to be closed. I don’t see any light. But lets go and check”. Swami went also out of the car and we were checking one hotel after the other. All were closed. So we came back to the car. Suddenly, from nowhere came a man and he asked us in Italian if we were looking for a hotel and he told us that he knew a hotels’ owner who was living not far from here. (by Vijaya) Click here to read the rest of the story.
Why Swami Vishwananda wanted to venerate St Leopold Mandic
Leopold Mandic was native of Croatia, he joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained several years later in spite of several health problems. He could not speak loudly enough to preach publicly. For many years he also suffered from severe arthritis, poor eyesight and a stomach ailment. Leopold taught patrology, the study of the Church Fathers, to the clerics of his province for several years, but he is best known for his work in the confessional, where he sometimes spent 13-15 hours a day. Several bishops sought out his spiritual advice.
Leopold’s dream was to go to the Orthodox Christians and work for the reunion of Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy. His health never permitted it. Leopold often renewed his vow to go to the Eastern Christians; the cause of unity was constantly in his prayers. He spent also one year in Italian prison during world war, since he did not want to renounce his Croatian nationality. He was gifted with mystic abilities like prophecy. Leopold, who lived most of his life in Padua, died on July 30, 1942. His tomb was opened 1966 his corpse being still intact.
Kenya
We are living my husband and me in Kenya. In 1997 we made a trip to India. When we came back home from
“Come to my house tonight, he is such a lovely person - you have to see him. He is out at the moment but I will call you as soon as he gets back”.
My friend called me later that evening.
“Sorry, Swami Vishwananda came back late and he is tired now, you have to come another time”.
“No problem”, I said, “When God wants it, I will meet him”.
We went to sleep that night, but at two o’clock in the morning we were woken up by the telephone ringing! I wondered who could possibly be ringing me at this time of the night.Click here to read the rest of the story. (by Kajal and Sanjit)
Back to Kenya
Swami Vishwananda returned after one month to Kenya, and we took him to the homeless children’s home. There he blessed all the children and materialised a pendant for every child. I was very touched to see his love for these children.
Before my tenth wedding anniversary he gave me a surprise party, he was nineteen years old. After the party, it was twelve o’clock; he came home for tea and asked me:
“Where is my room?”
“Any room you like”, I told him.
“OK, so be ready, I will come to you soon”.
He was staying at somebody else’s house at this time, so I assumed he was joking. When he left for
“Please, get my things and get my room ready”.
Two months later, Swami Vishwananda came to our house. On the wall of his room appeared the signs of the three main religions: the cross, the
When he was in
One year later he came again. In August 1998, for Janmashtami, the birthday feast of Lord Krishna, he materialised nine baby
One evening in 1998, we went to see the movie The Day After Tomorrow about a terrible tsunami. As we went back home, Swami Vishwananda told us, “This will come true”. It was seven years later when the tragedy of the tsunami occurred.
Kajal and Sanjit - Kenya
Meeting Swami
It was around August 1998 in my hometown of Zürich in
Leading up to meeting Swami Vishwaqnanda, there were signs announcing his imminent arrival. A few months earlier a friend of my father’s had given me a present. On the cover of the book a yogi was looking up to the sky wearing an orange robe. When I received it, I thought, “There we go, another guru in orange. He can’t be that important. I’ve already found what I’m looking for”. I left the book on a little table near my bed and ignored it until months after meeting Swami Vishwananda. (by Divyanananda)
One week before the pre-destined meeting, a man unknown to me at that time approached me after bhajans and prayers that I visited regularly, showing peculiarly great interest in me. Since I wasn’t much into socialising in that environment, but rather into introspection, I wasn’t giving the friendly man named
The next week,
The period following the day that I first met Swami Vishwananda became the most intense period of my life. It was like being in love. My whole life became more vibrant and I loved being with Swami. The subsequent months during which I would spend much time with him were filled with joy, beauty and laughter. He would sometimes call me, usually reaching me in the evening when I would still be in the downtown Zürich office. His voice sounded like the sweetest of all mothers calling her child. Swami Vishwananda would repeat my name many times and it felt like He was saying, “Dearest child, finally… finally I have found you again”. It seemed as if he was simultaneously far away and deep in the universe, yet incredibly close at the same time. (by Divyananda)
In retrospect, it all happened very quickly and naturally. It was amazing that someone like me would start joining and singing bhajans wherever we were, whether it was at my home or on our travels with Swami Vishwananda.
I met Swami Vishwananda in jeans rather than robed and it was natural for me to regard him as the closest of friends. That’s how he treated me and how I interacted with him. Only after some weeks, when Fabian, Swami and I travelled to
In some intimate conversations we had, Swami Vishwananda told me he was free of birth cycles, and that he could leave this earth at will anytime he pleased. The thought made me sad, but I knew he wouldn’t actually leave soon. Yet it was a good reminder not to take his presence for granted. Swami Vishwananda also said that one day he would become stricter as more and more people would come to him. This also made me a little sad because I loved the way he was — the sweetness, his childlike innocence. Why change this innocent pure nature into anything harsher? But I also knew at that stage already that he had a mission to accomplish. From my own professional experience I knew too well that it was sometimes necessary to apply firmness in fulfilling one’s duty.
(by Divyananda)
I was ready to drop everything, I was doing right there and then to join and support Swami Vishwananda on this path. I knew that the best way to use my life force was to help him. There was no more effective use of my time. I had always checked and controlled how I used my time in that respect, asking myself regularly, “Am I doing the best I can to serve the higher good?” My professional activity was the best answer I had come up with until then. With Swami Vishwananda’s arrival, I started to question all of this. As it turned out, it wasn’t yet time for me to give up my professional activities. Years after this initial realisation, towards the end of the year 2007, the right timing is approaching: I’ll be dropping my entrepreneurial activities in favour of duties Swami requests of me.
(by Divyananda)
My best friend
I immediately understood my error and replied, “Yes, it is stupid that I got so upset. You appeared to me in my bedroom, so I came back here”. He smiled and said, “You understand that if I don’t say anything when you make mistakes, then you will start doing the same things again”. Thus I not only have a divine friend but, even more wonderful, I have a master to guide me through this jungle of life!
(by Kumaraguptananda)
Wenn Swami Vishwananda was eighteen years old, he was talking always upon the Ramayana, he had really this in the mind. He went in meditation that he was practising very seriously. After he told me that the american scientist are near to discover the existence of the bridge build by Rama and the monkey in the Ramayana. Three years later, I talked to a friend what Swami Vishwananda said about the bridge of the Ramayana. This friend called me four years later to tell me:
- You know Ravi, the american scientists have discover through photos from satellite the linked bridge which connected
- Wooaoo!! That’s great. It’s amazing. Swami Vishwananda told me about it seven years before it happened.
That was really a cool experience.
(by Ravi, the cousin of Swami Vishwananda)
The Birthday surprise
For the birthday of Swami Vishwananda in the year 2003, we made Him a surprise with firecrackers. After Swamiji cut his cake he told us:
- OK now light the firecrackers. we said:
- There is no firecrakers.
- Oh yes, I know they are in the Ashram. Please come on and get it.
So, finaly we brought the fire crakers and The surprise was for us instead of being for him. I had to light one firecracker. Which was surrounded bei a row of three big cement briks. While lighting, three of them fell one my left foot. Every one was scared. Swami Vishwananda came to me and told me:
- Don’t worry, there is nothing broken. It will be OK you will have no pain.
It was true, I was able to walk and run without any pain.
( by Yogeshini )
Christa’s story with Swami Sri Vishwananda
Having met Swami Sri Vishwananda is a great grace in my life. In the Vedic tradition it says, how important it is, to learn from a living enlightened Master.
After having met Swami Vishwananda, I experienced great joy and the feeling of finally having found the Guru I was looking for. Since he came into my life, wonderful things are happening like finding sources to study the Vedic Sutras, important studies for my profession and receiving more and more clarity about my life, relationships with myself and with others.
I can feel his guidance inside my heart and I am very grateful for that.
Jay Gurudev.
Christa
She also paints a little bit
Digambari - Germany
My friend Zita is an exceptionally gifted painter. She has an internalized painting style, which is highly appreciated by guruji. Some of Zita’s icons are hanging in the front hall and in the Chapel of Springen Center, Swami Vishwananda’s spiritual center in Germany. Two of them emanate sweet-smelling oil.
Once, I arrived at Springen Center after a long drive. Zita was sitting in the orthodox Chapel seeming to concentrate and to meditate. At that moment guruji rushed into the chapel followed by a group of Italian devotees whom he was taking on a tour of the center. Swami glanced casually at Zita. Then he turned dramatically to one of Zita’s icons and said in a proud voice: “This one, I made“, followed by words of admiration. Zita, who was now standing having abandoned her meditation, stood there with a gaping mouth. Soon, Swami pointed to another of her icons and said: “And this one, I also made…“ Then he presented to the Italian devotees the Madonna icon Zita had painted that was oozing with oil, as his own masterpiece. At the end of the tour of the icons, Swami went to Zita, patted her cheek and said smilingly to everybody, “She also paints a little bit…“ Artists have the tendency toward a growing ego. Swami Vishwananda’s work, as a teacher, is to teach humility and he does it often with a lot of humour.
David – Germany
Once, Swamiji was in our home giving interviews. Months before, all the appointments had been assigned which meant that the demand for him was very great. At the end of the interviews Swamiji decided to cook for all of us. It was the first time that he was in our kitchen, which was not yet fully furnished after our recent move.
Some hanging baskets had been filled with kitchen tools. When Swamiji decided to take a short break from the cooking he went to one of these baskets and unerringly pulled out a small bag from the very bottom where he could not have seen it before since this was his first visit to our place. Swamiji said, while swinging the bag in the air: “This is the favourite condiment of the housewife.” We looked at the bag and could hardly believe it because he was right. It was a bag of vibuthi, holy ash, from India which we used to flavour our food.
Dream-darshan
One night I received darshan from Swami Vishwananda during a dream. This darshan was very intense and also something special:
Swami Vishwananda gave me his blessing through the third eye together with a mantra. Although I was aware that there was a mantra I did not comprehend which one. The blessing was of such intensity that my head sank onto Swami´s shoulder and there I was like a baby in his mothers arms. It was so beautiful; I could have stayed there forever.
Later at a darshan I told Swami Vishwananda about this dream-darshan and he asked me if I had understood the mantra, which, to my regret, I had not. Then something happened which was very surprising to me: Swami gave me the mantra with the hint: “It’s private.” He also told me how often to repeat the mantra. Quite baffled yet full of gratitude I returned to my seat.
12.5.10 at the restaurant with Swami Vishwananda
We are in Italy Swami Vishwananda, Pramod and me. After a day well filled, we go to have dinner. As it is 22h, we look in the street for a restaurant in the city, mostly they are all closed. Finally Swami finds a restaurant. It looks like a German “Biergarten”. The people drink beer and talk very loud. The music plays so loud that you have to scream to make yourself heard.
I tell Swami:
- It is terrible to work in such a place, I have pity for these poor maids.
- Yes they absorb all the negative energy of the place, said Swami.
- And we have absorbed also all this negative energy?
- No I made around us a bulb of protection and I neutralized all what we were eating.
- Wow, that is cool.
- Yes, there is so much negative thoughts in this place. The people here are acting like animals, says Swami.
- With all the alcohol that they are drinking and the music makes it worse, says Pramod
- They follow only their instinct, they eat as much as they can, they become drunk and then…
- It is the same music as in the discos, says Pramod.
- It takes three years to clean all the negativity that you get when you frequent the discos and then stop.
- Really? How is this?
- When a man wants to follow the spiritual way, he has to let down alcohol, the frequentation of women, the cigarettes and meat. You try to think positive, to control your emotion, to serve other people, to think less about your own needs and to detach from the material things. Is it not?
- Yes.
- But the marks done by the frequentation of the discos take three years to disappear completely, said Swami.
- You never went to disco? Asked Pramod.
- No.
- You appeared in the disco where Arpana and Bella had gone one evening in Mauritius to scare them and make them leave the place, I said.
- Yes, I appeared all around them. Each one thought she alone could see me.
- They said since this experience they never went again to a disco.
Pritalananda