Hari Om
A meeting to pay tribute to Sri Swamiji feels somewhat perplexing to me. A tribute is offered to someone whose absence we feel, but how do we offer a tribute to one who is always present within us? But as the rituals and traditions must be observed, we have gathered today to pay tribute.
How do I offer my tributes to Sri Swamiji – as a yoga guru, a sannyasin or a human being? These are the three qualities that I observed in him at very close range. I feel that he possessed the very same guru shakti as the saints and sages of the civilizations that existed five thousand years ago. They used to live in the caves and forests, but they had such power and force that the sons of kings would go to learn from them. Whether it was the Ramayana or the Mahabharata period, princes born in palaces would go to the caves and forests to receive the guru’s teachings. Perhaps it was in adherence to this tradition that I saw him as a human being and also as my guru.
Today I feel happy that Munger is the place where he united the seed of yoga and sannyasa. The power of the seed is such that in future it assumes a momentous form and its fruits provide sustenance and branches provide shade to everyone. I believe that Sri Swamiji has given this message to us by walking the path from here to Rikhia, and we will see its fruition in days to come.
With these few words I offer my respects to Sri Swami Satyananda, and I can say with faith and confidence that the seed through which he drew us all and helped us grow will enable the people of the world to live their lives in a more peaceful way.
Hari Om