Brother Anandamoy

[Jitendra Hydonus]

‘ You know it’s very simple ...whatever you do.... most people work for ego satisfaction...isn’t it? I, I, I ... And if you do whatever you do...And once in awhile you inwardly offer it to God and say i do this for you...  Because he is the movie director. You spiritualualize your actions.’

‘You would think that the strongest instinct in animals and man is self preservation so what would be the largest fear in life? Fear of death? But there is something worst. The feeling at the end of life .... I have not really lived... I have not really lived.’

Towards the end Brother Anandamoy gives personal experiences with Paramahansa Yogananda.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

[Jitendra Hydonus]

IN LOVING MEMORY Bro Anandamoy left his Body - 6th September 2016 ..... 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
...(One very Cool Monk) ♥️
   One of the last remaining direct disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda, Brother Anandamoy joined the monastic order in 1949. Prior to starting his work with Yogananda, Brotherji (a native of Switzerland) worked as an architect with Frank Lloyd Wright, which is very fitting since Wright’s architecture focused on co-existing with Mother Nature.
     During his more than sixty years serving Master’s work, Brother Anandamoy was known for his peaceful energy, sense of humor, and ability to help people find God. He also served tirelessly as an early member of the Board of Directors and served as minister-in-charge for many temples including Lake Shrine, Fullerton, Pasadena, and Phoenix. Additionally, he spent many hours counseling and mentoring lay disciples and monastics.
     Many devotees often described him as someone who exhibited God-like qualities. One devotee said the following: “If you happen to have an audience with Brother Anandamoy, you have to realize it will be like meeting one of Jesus Christ’s disciples. To meet him is like meeting Master in a sense, because he was blessed by being in Master’s presence.
     And he is certainly being blessed with Master’s presence now as our dear Brotherji feels the wondrous sense of relief and freedom that comes with the absence of a physical body. In the coming days, think of Brother as an unending source of light and energy with whom you can connect at any moment.
     May Brother’s soul rejoice with Master and Ma in the heavens above. We love you Brotherji.

~ Pamela

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Bro. Anandamoy:  I’ll tell you my avocado story (lots of chuckles)…

It was when Master was out in the desert, and I was there, too, for several months.  Sometimes there were other monks, we had construction projects, and sometimes I was alone.  And one time, as I was working I heard Master’s voice in the house, THUNDERING voice, thundering voice scolding one of the devotees inside.  And what I heard, just for a trifle, and I had never heard him like that.

 And I thought, “My God!”  I congratulated myself that I was outside. (much laughter from audience) I thought, when the Master is angry, you’re better not around!  Then I heard him walking, still thundering voice, walking to the door, coming out, SLAMMING the door, and I was shaking in my boots, and I thought, now I’ll get it!! (laughter)

 Master looked over at me.  I couldn’t believe it.  Sweetest smile.  Not a trace of anger.  And he said to me, ‘You are doing wonderful work.’  And he praised me, and I thought, ‘What’s this?!’  I was still shaking in my boots.  (more laughter)  Then he walked off, and he went for a walk.

 And then my mind got warped, completely distorted.

 And I thought—I never doubted that he was a Master.  I had too much proof of that.  But I thought, he was  so ANGRY in there, and then all of a sudden his anger is just completely vanished and he is as sweet as could be.

 I thought maybe he is just PLAYING with us, maybe he doesn’t LOVE us.  And I thought, if he doesn’t love me, I’m totally lost.  I was VERY disturbed.   And even though, usually I saw him every day several times he came and talked to me and so on, I didn’t see him anymore that day.  And I was VERY disturbed.

***

 The next day when he came out—sometimes when he came out he brought me a little fruit or a sweet or something, and in India, that is the custom.  When a saint gives something that is a token of his blessing.  And on this day he gave me a half of an avocado.

 Now, the way I was brought up, I was brought up in a very strict home.  My father was a businessman, and at the same time he was a high ranking officer in the Swiss army with discipline.  When it came to eating, there was no such thing as likes or dislikes, we ate what was on the table, period.  So I was not spoiled at all.  But, I never tasted avocados until I came to this country and for some reason I couldn’t STAND avocados (laughter).

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And I thought, now there! he is omniscient, and he knows exactly that I cannot eat these things (laughter), and he gives me an avocado.  That PROVES he doesn’t love me!  (lots of laughter)  And I tell you I was so disturbed, that whole day and that whole night I couldn’t sleep.  I walked around in the desert and I thought,  ‘He doesn’t love me, I’m totally lost.’

 And then I made up my mind, I’m gonna show him, I’m gonna tell him I’m ANGRY.  It’s gonna be a showdown. (huge laughter)  I want to know if he loves me or not, this is a matter of life and death to me.

***

 So in the morning I went to Master’s house, ready for the showdown.  I was working, we had to build a little apartment next to the house and I was putting up the roof…so I was hammering, waiting for him.  About ten o’clock, I didn’t see him, but I heard the door go in.  And I though, now, and I hammered real furiously.  So, at the door, he called me.  No answer, hammering.  I am going to show him that I’m mad.  (laughter)  So he came a little closer.  He called me again.  No answer, hammering.  I didn’t hit the nails anymore then (laughter) I was too excited (laughter).  And then I heard him coming real close, below where I was working.  And he called my name again, this time insistent.

 And I looked down, and I said “Yes, sir?”  And he said, “Come down.”  And that moment my mind straightened out again.  All of a sudden, I saw it clear.  And I knew what Master did.  Master was a perfectionist.  And those devotees that were in the house, they were longtime, several years, or many years had been under his training.  And the slightest little thing, he wouldn’t pass.  He was a perfectionist, he was disciplining.  Where with me he wouldn’t bother with those things, he was still working on basics with me.  (laughter).

 And I thought, of course, his discipline is nothing but an expression of LOVE.  And I went down the stairs…and I walked around and I stood in front of Master.  I had a big lump in my throat for having doubted him.

***

 I looked at him and he had both hands behind his back.  And he looked at me, and he brought one hand forward and gave me half of an avocado.  (big laughter) And I took it, and I thought at that point, you know, ANYTHING, anything, anything he gives me I don’t care.  If it KILLS me I would take it.  And then he smiled, and he brought the other hand forward, and there in a napkin was a handful of dates and pistachio nuts, and he said, “Eat it together, and then you will like it.”    And my lump got bigger and bigger.  He said, “Sit down, eat.”  And he walked away.

 And so I sat down, and I ate.  And when I was finished he came back.  He said, “Come, let’s go for a walk.”  And he took me by the hand, we walked.  Silence.  And after a few minutes he stood still and he gave me a talk, on the Guru, the Guru’s love for the disciple.  And I tell you, it was such beautiful words, I wish I could repeat it, I can’t.

But he talked about the Guru, his unconditional love.  He said, “The only reason why I came is to bring you all back to God.”  And he said, “I would give my life, I AM giving my life for you all.”  He said, “Never doubt the love of your Guru.”  And as he said these things, he didn’t just say words.  There was a constant wave after wave after wave of love pouring into me.  So much I couldn’t take it.  I broke down, I cried like a baby.

That’s the Divine Mother, expressing through the Infinite Love, the Infinite Compassion of the Guru.

excerpt from  “The Mother Aspect of God”— Bro. Anandamoy/ WATCH

[mccoy]

Thanks for the excerpt, Anandamoy related many stories about him and the Guru, but I never heard about this one.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Thanks for the excerpt, Anandamoy related many stories about him and the Guru, but I never heard about this one.

You are welcome 🙏 friend i know you have felt at affinity towards him.

[MuktiJI]

       OH !!    How we LOVE Bro. A. !!    HE reminds me somewhat of Swami KalikanandaJI in FUNville, ( Fennville)  Mi., " By the Ganges", who resided @ VivekanandaJI Monestary years ago.   We attended His Meditation class every Tuesday Eve.   What JOY & Laughter He brought ! The same " Saintly Vibe" like Br. A. !     WOW !   TRULY a GIFT to be IN their PRESENCE /  PRESENTS ! ! !     JAI GURUS !

[mccoy]

We really need such souls around, my complaint is that there should be more!

[Jitendra Hydonus]

       OH !!    How we LOVE Bro. A. !!    HE reminds me somewhat of Swami KalikanandaJI in FUNville, ( Fennville)  Mi., " By the Ganges", who resided @ VivekanandaJI Monestary years ago.   We attended His Meditation class every Tuesday Eve.   What JOY & Laughter He brought ! The same " Saintly Vibe" like Br. A. !     WOW !   TRULY a GIFT to be IN their PRESENCE /  PRESENTS ! ! !     JAI GURUS !

I remember Swami Kalikananda well. It was at a nice time when I used to come to his meditation classes. The only challenge I had was staying awake at the time because I had so much going on with jobs and driving back and forth to Kalamazoo.

That can be a challenge to meditation. It is often so relaxing that it is easy to drift off. I’m fortunate that there aren’t as many responsibilities today so I can meditate with more alertness.

But I seem to still have many good experiences with meditation over the years. It wasn’t till I had a spiritual dream with Swami Kalikananda that I recognized the deep connection we had. Just once but you remember those type of dreams the rest of your life.

I’m thinking that mccoy had such a good rapport with Brother Anandamoy because of a past life connection with him. I always thought of Brother Anandamoy as a king, the way he walked and carried himself. I could always see him that way. And I believe I may be right about that.

Some of us may have had a more difficult past with some of the spiritual people who came into our life. But over the years we often come to terms with such issues and reconcile the rough edges.

[MuktiJI]

GM Jitendra & Ev~1 !   Hey there  & Namaste... We are NOT a " newbie" as we NOTICED/ OBSERVED posted; HA !    We are an OLD Soul; probly Millions of lifetimes & ENUF w./ thUH desires, so we can STOP cOMing back to Mata Earth ! ! !   AHHhhhhhhh..... OM TAT SAT OM !  We were on this site " lifethymes"/ lifetimes ago; UGH & HA ! 

Jitendra,  Did " Macstir" tell me You were initiated by Brother AnandamoyJI ?   We had the OPPORTUNITY to talk w./ him 1nce on the " fone".   FOR WE ARE TRULY BLESSED ! ! !    MMmmmmm...... said you knew/ met Swami TureeANANDAJI ?   Not sure of spelling ?                                                       

I'm TRYING to LOCATE the SRF cd where 1 of the Monks tells story of Bro.  Turee... JI where he says : "If U want peace of mind & he slams his fist on a table & says: SURRENDER" ! !    If ANY~1 knows WHICH SRF cd that story is on LMK.... THANX !   I think it came along w./ the magazines....

[Jitendra Hydonus]

GM Jitendra & Ev~1 !   Hey there  & Namaste... We are NOT a " newbie" as we NOTICED/ OBSERVED posted; HA !    We are an OLD Soul; probly Millions of lifetimes & ENUF w./ thUH desires, so we can STOP cOMing back to Mata Earth ! ! !   AHHhhhhhhh..... OM TAT SAT OM !  We were on this site " lifethymes"/ lifetimes ago; UGH & HA ! 

Jitendra,  Did " Macstir" tell me You were initiated by Brother AnandamoyJI ?   We had the OPPORTUNITY to talk w./ him 1nce on the " fone".   FOR WE ARE TRULY BLESSED ! ! !    MMmmmmm...... said you knew/ met Swami TureeANANDAJI ?   Not sure of spelling ?                                                       

I'm TRYING to LOCATE the SRF cd where 1 of the Monks tells story of Bro.  Turee... JI where he says : "If U want peace of mind & he slams his fist on a table & says: SURRENDER" ! !    If ANY~1 knows WHICH SRF cd that story is on LMK.... THANX !   I think it came along w./ the magazines....

Yes i have been initiated a couple times. And i believe way back it was with Anandamoy if my memory serves me right. And that kind of dramaticism did suit Brother Turyananda well. Wonder what Anandamoy told you on the phone. He counciled me a couple times. He always seemed a bit distant to me, but i know mccoy felt like he was Fatherly. It appears we have different experiences with the Monks and Nuns.   i attempt to see it as somewhat destiny as to who the Guru leads us to for advice. Sometimes it is not our choice. We get who we are meant to listen to for advice.

[mccoy]

I remember it well, Anandamoy was very fatherly, as if I had been a son of him in some previous lives. People was waiting to speak to him and he went on and on, and I was concerned that the other people would wait too much.

Anandamoy hinted something at me, like he might have tried to find me a job if I decided to stay in California, but for some reasons, I did otherwise.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

I remember it well, Anandamoy was very fatherly, as if I had been a son of him in some previous lives. People was waiting to speak to him and he went on and on, and I was concerned that the other people would wait too much.

Anandamoy hinted something at me, like he might have tried to find me a job if I decided to stay in California, but for some reasons, I did otherwise.

I find your account fascinating and there probably was some past life connection that he felt sympathetic towards.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Many people think that following the Self Realization Fellowship Path would bring results quickly because of the ‘salesmanship’ promotion given by Paramahansa Yogananda. However Brother Anandamoy painted a different picture of the rigorous path ahead for devotees wanting to progress on the spiritual path.

As an example I remember stories he would give of devotees asking to be disciplined and trained by the Guru. This one is an example;

People ask for the Masters training but then like a rock that is being sculptured and having its true form created: when our Masters’ are working at our ego and it is being chiseled away at we say ‘No, don’t do that it hurts’ or when a chunk of us that is not helpful for our spiritual development is taken away … we cry out to ‘put that piece back please it is painful to have it removed.’

It is not that the Master make the path seem easy or less difficult so much as the fact that few people care to change the way their present attitudes are or their present circumstances. What I have found is that many people who take an interest in meditation are happy with the so called results and claims that a Master can give from meditation, although very few are interested in the training and discipline involved with meditation provided by a Master for his or her disciples.