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I knew that the master teacher of detachment was at work. When Swami finally looked at me and brought me into his interview room, I wanted nothing more than to be in his divine loving presence. I had no more interest in Russians or Americans or people or breathing. With my tears falling on his feet, I placed my forehead on his feet in a gesture of love. He said with great compassion that the Russians were not ready to come; they had only intellectual interest, not sincere yearning from the heart. Then he told me something quite remarkable. He said that if there was even one Russian who yearned from the heart to see him, no maer what his status, no maer how rich or poor, then I had permission to go to Russia and help that person come.
I knew Swami meant that this person did not have to be a scientist, did not have to be a psychiatrist, did not have to have any worldly status, could be the poorest of the poor, and Swami would make the trip possible. Swami’s love is so great that worldly position means nothing to him. What is essential is the heart. In fact, he has come to bring peace to the downtrodden and distressed. Swami’s love is boundless, ever expansive. He is captured only by sincere love. He is purifying our hearts so we can love unconditionally the way he does, without expectation, a hidden agenda, or need for gain.
So I dropped my interest in bringing the Russians. This experience was a big lesson for me in detachment. I could see that Swami was the master teacher of detachment, guiding me through this frustrating experience, preparing me to be able to accept pleasure and pain with equanimity, to be unaffected by adverse conditions. It is almost impossible to believe that we can reach this level of acceptance and peace. I could see that the road of detachment was not easy.
Swami has declared that all forms of divinity rest in him, including Lord Shiva who Hindus consider to be the God of dissolution. This aspect of God helps us reach the state of non-aachment. In one pose, Shiva is shown surrounded with
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