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and about a foot apart. I sat behind and between them looking straight at Swami. Then Swami materialized two sacred triple threads worn by Brahmins and while placing them on the boys, initiated them into the Gayatri mantra. Swami spoke about the meaning of the threads, which in part represents past, present, and future, and the three levels of consciousness, the gross material, the vibratory mental, and the radiant transcendental. He chanted and had the boys chant over and over again the holy Gayatri mantra. The room was flooded with the sacred vibration, and I drank it in with great gusto. As the Gayatri was one of my primary mantras, and given I had such deep experiences with it and the light it generated, I was overcome with gratitude and love for Swami. What a wonderful birthday gi!
Following this initiation my inner experience of the Gayatri mantra and light became more intense. At times I felt the light infuse my whole body and a radiating column of inner light take me upward. I was enveloped by it, infused by it, and felt that if it intensified I could actually merge into it.
Individual Transformation
In June 2002 I was invited to speak about individual transformation at the International Service Conference in the presence of Swami and 15,000 aendees. I was humbled by my subject, which was about the transformation of individual consciousness into infinite divine consciousness. I was unseled by the large gathering. Having lile direct knowledge of divine consciousness, my courage to speak on the subject came from my experiences with Swami. This would be a test of my ability to release worry and offer the outcome to Swami.
Swami heightened the tension. A few days before the presentation I gave a brief summary of my talk to those in charge. I was perplexed when told to consider a different course to the talk. Although I appeared receptive I knew that I couldn’t change my direction at such a late stage. Try as I might,
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