Intuition & Attunement

--Sample from Hints of Laughter, Hints of Joy by Nayaswami Padma

I was enjoying a seemingly casual conversation with Swami, but it turned out to offer an important truth. I told him that someone had asked me if we needed the guru’s physical touch to be freed in God. Swami responded: “Master did say that the scriptures of India say that. However, he also asked me to give people initiation, even while he was alive. In other words, God works through disciples.” Swami continued in that vein, then concluded by saying, “Don’t accept things at face value, not even things Master said. Try to understand them from the inside. Ask yourself questions about it. Win yourself over with sweet reason.”

When we learn to read, we’re also taught comprehension. Being able to state a Master’s teaching isn’t enough. We need to understand the teaching in order to live it! In time, understanding brings us to attunement.

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Swami asked us not to put his picture on any public altars. He never held himself out as a master, and pointed everyone to Yogananda in that regard.

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When Swami had hip replacement surgery, I was part of a rotation of devotees who cared for him. On one occasion, not wanting to awaken him needlessly, I gently opened the door to his room. I found him sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to me, doing what he could of Yogananda’s energization exercises. He didn’t know I was there. It was another of so many examples showing how he followed his guru’s prescription to practice the techniques; and when it is not possible to do them fully, then to do whatever we can do in an utmost effort at attunement! God watches the heart.

--Sample from Hints of Laughter, Hints of Joy by Nayaswami Padma