Gayatri died suddenly on 16 July 2021. Babaji was able to carry her to the shrine room where she died peacefully in his arms with Sarasvati by her side. Yogini and Imogen wrapped Swamiji’s scarf around her neck before she left Eithin. Yogini said: The gift she gave on her exit was a powerful feeling of devotion, love and strength, everything else quietly washed away
On 29th July we gathered at Eithin for Gayatri’s kirtan with beautiful music and readings which included this reading from Swamiji..
Canopy kirtan 1992 Gayatri with swamiji
How can words express the thank you to Gayatri for all her collection of songs on this website – she recorded most of what you can listen to here. And also not to forget her own beautiful songs, just one of the many manifestations of her devotion. Two favourites below:
Mahayogini, Jai Narain and Satchitananda were on retreat.
There was singing/chanting led by Mahayogini on a resuscitated harmonium of Swamiji’s.
Here are the Swamiji notes (available in the index of the website to download and at the end of the blog):
April 25-27, 1980 Kedarnath visit. Friday, 25 April Friday night. Swamiji spoke to the devotees in the kitchen:
Satchidananda, Mahalakshmi, Sita Devi, Jai Narain, Chandra Rakhal, Sada Siva, Shri Lakshmi.
‘Karma is an empty bag to be kicked when you’ve given your mind to God, which is most difficult, even though God is always attracting us, through the Sun, through the song of birds – morning and evening continuous they have sandhya, [starting] first thing in the morning. But it’s not easy to give the mind continuously . The heart must remember MA even while you’re listening.
‘God is very hard to see, so get the rope of love. He seeks you, and you come to realize, taking the path of renunciation… If God opens the eyes one doesn’t need books. The eye of the soul is God’s property, for part of God’s eye is given here in ajna [chakra]… God will take the head and remould it, but first He will work through the whole body, from the toes to the hairs of your head – or through other people… As soon as love swells to ajna chakra, the vision of God may be seen. When love swells, eyes cry, the little speck of dust that was blurring your vision is washed away. The more your tears, the more the washing, the clearer it becomes. When the eyes are washed through devotion, formality stops and becomes love, the goal of meditation. The upwelling of love from the heart …
‘God is in His Word, and the Word is in your mouth. Every time you repeat the Name of God, God is coming out of your mouth. Swallow it yourself and get nourishment… Surrender your mind completely to God. You can’t renounce your responsibility – [but remember] your wife, child are objects of love, manifestations of God…
‘What is love? The wafer of a tiny particle of penny-sized Host…
‘The way of divine love is very strict, because without strictness how can it be so pure?
‘I saw with these eyes Sarada Devi coming to the caravan, carrying a blanket on her shoulder, her hair grey. She was about fifty, so beautiful.
‘Bow, first thing. Put your mind there, and God will see and touch your mind now and then. God is the coiffeur, the dresser: today you wear this, that. God may not be visible, but He is tangible…
You must believe in devotees.
‘To Brahman will attain only those whose minds are dedicated to Brahman. The food of the tongue will be the food of the soul when it’s dedicated to Brahman…“He who is attached to the Real, Sat, becomes Sat, Real” (Vivekachudamani)…
‘Divine madness is lacking. Be reborn with divine madness.
‘What is love? The wafer of a tiny particle of penny-sized Host…
‘Whenever there’s a door of love, He peeps in. Yogis follow the path of light.
‘Love has come. You have intruded sex, gender, colour, etc. But love is samesightedness and oneness.
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‘Bow, first thing. Put your mind there, and God will see and touch your mind now and then. God is the coiffeur, the dresser: today you wear this, that. God may not be visible, but He is tangible…
‘To Brahman will attain only those whose minds are dedicated to Brahman. The food of the tongue will be the food of the soul when it’s dedicated to Brahman…
“He who is attached to the Real, Sat, becomes Sat, Real” (Vivekachudamani)…
‘Divine madness is lacking. Be reborn with divine madness.
‘Whenever there’s a door of love, He peeps in. Yogis follow the path of light.
‘Love has come. You have intruded sex, gender, colour, etc. But love is samesightedness and oneness.
Swamiji reading the Vivekachudamani 15 April 1980 with SadaShiva playing sarod
Sadly the pandemic means we cannot meet together in person for Ramakrishna’s birthday, but your amazing music is so inspiring it gives us an alternative. Satchitananda writes:
Please join in mentally and spiritually in our circle of Bhakti Love for the celebration of Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday on Saturday 20th from 3 to 5 pm.
May we form “a luminous bubble” filled with the singing of the names of God, chanting Om, meditating, reading from the GSR, songs, dancing.
And below are a few words, songs, videos and Aums incase you would like to follow a programme.
Sri Ramakrishna portrait by Swamiji
Aum chanting
Aums, Spurling Rd 1980
Music and meditation: from Kamarpukur to Dakshineswar a beautiful musical account of Ramakrishna’s experience
Visions of Sri Ramakrishna with music and singing from Sita Devi, Quintessence 17 Jan 1980
Kirtan
Verily thy name – Swamiji Jan 1982Jai Ramakrishnaya – Yogini, 1980Ramakrishna – RajaRam, 10 Feb 1980Sri Ramakrishna is dancing – Tryambaka, 17 Jul 1994Chanting the name of Ramakrishna – Shambhu, 6 Nov 93
Video: Mahapurushji Sivananda’s account of Sri Ramakrishna
I am a true lover of Sri Ramakrishna – Tryambaka, 8 Feb 1995My Mother is an ocean of mercy – SadaShiva 28 Feb 82Ramakrishna – Tryambaka, 28 Feb 1982Whom shall I love – Yogini, Oct 2020
