Befriending Swami Kriyananda

This happened in April, 2014.

I walked to the saloon two buildings away from where I used to live. As usual, I had to wait for my turn there. I picked up the English newspaper from the table, and then went through the headlines. It’s possible I looked at the sports section first, which is at the end. Then I glanced through the headlines and flipped pages. My eyes stopped looking at an ad. It said, Introduction to Kriya Yoga, free lecture. (That was it, the time when the seed of friendship started taking birth.)
A sense of joy filled me seeing this ad. What I thought was far away, was in my city. I had read Autobiography of a Yogi, during my college days or to be more precise, during my Sanskrit classes. This book was my rescue, then to ease the time through the difficult Sanskrit grammar coaching. This book became my Gita or Bible. This book answered many questions by showing me the direction where to find the answers. I knew by the time I finished reading, that, the author knew the answers to eternal questions of what is life? Who am I?

Then I visited the Ananda Sangha Bangalore Centre to attend the free lecture. It turned out, for the next three years, I visited my new home for most weekends. Once I met Swamiji, I felt a genuine friendship, expecting nothing except my own good. Something I hadn’t experienced before.

In 2015, I came to the Ananda Yogashram near Pune. Here Swamiji has his house. It was a time for me to make a career choice. I came here for his guidance and blessings. I went home with lots of them.

In June 2017, when I finally wanted to make my shift to the monastery in Pune, he invited me with open hands. I was facing hard times.

Around the end of 2017 in Mumbai, I met him again. I was in self doubt of me being in the monastery. He came up to me at the end of an event and said, “You are perfect.”
Then I was quick to respond, “No I am not.”
Then he explained, “What I mean is that, you being here is perfect for you.” That gave me lot of solace and peace.

Now in April 2018, I have come to the Yogaashram near Pune, for his blessings. This time too, I am filled with peace and joy. Thank you Swamiji.

– premdas

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Did you know Swami Kriyananda left his body and became completely one with his Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda on April 21st, 2013. So then how did I meet him on the dates I said above?
In 2014, at Ananda Bangalore, I befriended Swamiji through Nayaswami Haridas and Nayaswami Roma.
In June 2017, when I moved to the monastery, I felt his support and help through Nayaswami Devarshi.
At the end of 2017, in Mumbai, I felt his solace through Nayaswami Devi.
Though I didn’t meet him in his physical body, I felt him through his friends.

For me, Swami Kriyananda is a symbol of joy, kindness, wisdom, love I see through all of the Gurubhais he lived and shared his life with. Truly, the friendship has just begun.