Obtaining Ananda (Two Books by Swami Akhandananda Saraswati)

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Anand Ullas

Anand-Sutra (Teachings on Bliss)

Foreword:

Dear Reader,

The Lord plays His tricks! He Graced this puppet by using me to translate 'Anand Ullas'. Then, through Respected Swami Omkaranandji, gave the task of writing the Foreword for this book.

The task places me in a quandary. People who know my beloved Master (Swami) Akhandananji Saraswati, who we generally refer to as Maharajshri) will feel that I have not done him justice. Indeed, they are right, for the simple reason that to do him justice is impossible! Since I am allotted the task, I must be true to myself, and to those who may chance to read this book, and give my feelings with honesty, regardless of the reactions they may have.

The first thing which struck one about Maharajshri, is the deep joy, and feeling of being loved by him, which welled up in the heart of each person who saw him. This feeling is unique. It lingered after I left his presence, and is evoked and renewed every time I think of him, or see his picture.

Maharajshri had the ability to simplify the most profound and complicate subjects. His magnetic personality made it a deep, peace-giving pleasure to just listen to his voice, even when the subject discussed was beyond me. The most Amazing factor of his influence was that an urge to reach God arose automatically, along with an unshakable conviction that having his blessings, nothing could go wrong.

For those who have been strangers to the extraordinary effect of his physical presence, I can only say that his words carry the power of his presence. Whoever reads his words with an open mind is sure to get answers and clarifications to any number of conscious and unconscious questions and perplexities.

Maharajshri shows us how the essence of spiritual psychology is applied psychology. It takes into consideration the material, emotional, and spiritual needs of every human, anywhere in the world, at any point in time. He helps us to attain a balanced, joyful, righteous lifestyle.

Being a very ordinary person, lacking n talents, wisdom or learning, I wondered how right it was that I be blessed with so much good fortune, when so many suffered so much.

When I placed this question to Maharajshri, he asked what I would attain - except sorrow - if I filled my heart with the sorrows of the world. "Be happy, and spread happiness," he is told me lovingly, "If you fill your mind with woes, you will have only woe, to spread," I have derived incalculable happiness by adhering to this.

Another remarkable comments, is, "The behavior of every person is in accordance to his/her level of understanding," What a marvelous insight into the seemingly unjustified and hurtful behavior of people who upset us.

These are just two of the concise guidelines I have been enriched by. As the world moves inexorably towards increasingly complex global problems, I am overwhelmed at the Grace which triggered off the process of Maharajshri's reaching out to the English speaking people. It would be fraudulent to say that I translated this book, because - in-credible as it may seem - the words just seemed to flow from some unseen source, onto the paper. May as well as give my computer a name and say that it was the computer who did the translation! Being just as fallible as any instrument or machine, I own to being responsible for the faults and lacking in the accurate rendering. Being human, I do beg the reader's pardon for my lapses. I own freely that I have been indescribably enriched by the activity of emptying my mind before applying it to absorb Maharajshri's purport. I have not the slightest doubt that his blessings are there for all who seek them, and that they are potent and tangible, when sincerely desired.

The author of this witch is actually a complination of dictated articles is Srimad Akhandannaed Saraswati Maharia of Brindavan. He was not only a scholar with a deep longing for the realization of the highest Brahman from childhood, but a sanyasi of highest austerity and experiential knowledge. In the articles in this text, he has condensed beautifully all the contents of Advaitic Vedanta in a very delectable, attractive, simple and scientific language without missing even a single essential factor. For instance, the way in which he analyses the six spiritual practices of dama (control of mind), sama (control of senses), etc, for ensuing the ultimate peace by individually assaulting and destroying the six factors which contribute to lack of peace in a man is exemplary in being superb. His way of harmonizing the two main points of bhakti and jnana, based on the fitness of the persons of the respective path is unique. One feels like openly clapping his hands in admiration when he ends up in the last lecture by tilting the scales imperceptibly in favour of jnana which is nothing else then the Real Self. Sometimes when expounding the most complex truths, by lapsing into the village dialect in Hindi, one finds it very appropriate but such expressions are found the most difficult to be translated in an occidental language.

Every though the articles belong to different dates in 1985, 1986, the order in which they have been compiled forms a sequential steps of approach in spiritual sadhana for the ultimate realization of the Brahman. The chapters on the nature of a Mahatma and the clear-cut distinction between bhakti and jnana, are the most commendable. Any one of these thirty-six chapters, can be easily considered as an instant ananda capsule. Unlike the other Advaitins, Maharaj Sri, has ended his thirty-fifth article by giving equal validity and value, to the two paths, viz., bhakti and jnana. May this book "Anand Sutra" bring lasting peace and infinite bliss to all the readers.