![]() Fourteen years ago today I was immersed in the beginning of the biggest quest of my life. I was was participating in the inaugural events of The Dhyanapeetam Anandeshwara Temple in Delaware, Ohio. Swamiji, an enlightened master, had come from India to not only bless and consecrate North America's first Nithyananda Temple, but to teach us all the rituals of prana pratishta and running of a temple. Swamiji blessed us, the Temple, the city of Delaware, and the deities who resided in the temple from that day onward. It was a sight to behold. People travelled from all over the world to be part of the historic event and to get a glimpse of Swamiji. Swamiji gave every single person who attended a personal audience. The care and respect that he gave each person was an unusual sight for me.
He brought a team of volunteers from Los Angeles and a container of deities and ritual objects which he proceeded to use and teach how to use down to the very last detail, such as how to clean and care for the implements used in the rituals. He had the ability to lead all of the events without effort or force and it seemed that all of his actions simply radiated outward from Him to the volunteers, participants and by-standers. I felt both like a bystander and involved. Marsha and I seemed to be the newest volunteers and the only non-Indians. But we were both given responsibilities and were fully involved in helping to put the event together. I was helping with the massive amount of flowers that were arriving daily to be used in making garlands and for the poojas and homas. Indian rituals and customs are very different than western/European so I made many mistakes along the way. Swamiji commanded a reaction in me that was very powerful. I would feel hit by a wave of awe that would cause me to lose words and logic. In that wave my impulse was to bow at his feet and not move, basking in the protective embrace of His radiance or energy, feeling as if I would stay at His feet for eons. The opposite impulse is the one I always went with, thinking that I should not bother Him and that He should see me contributing - that I should continue with my volunteer work. When this would happen, for example Swamiji leaving His room and walking by the office where I was working, I always felt the moment freeze. His very being there in the doorframe made time freeze, as I grappled with the two opposing impulses, to drop everything and let myself express the outpouring of respect and awe I was feeling, or to suppress it and not bother him. He would seemingly watch me as I struggled and I would go back to my work. Fourteen years later I am taking a back seat at the Temple while my health takes a rest. It feels that in this time of non-action that my inner temple is growing. For the first time there is room in me for those powerful feelings to come forth and I can be with them. Happy Anniversary to The Ohio Temple, and to my inner temple.
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