For those who read FFL via the website and therefore do not see attached files, I've uploaded the MMY Mahasamadhi photo that was attached to the post below to my webserver:
http://alex.natel.net/ffl/images/mmy_mahasamadhi.jpg --- In [email protected], Dick Mays <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: "Steve Van Damme" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Dear Friends, > > On January 11, 2008, Maharishi gave his farewell address to his > worldwide family, saying that he had fulfilled his "designed duty to > Guru Dev" and was handing over all responsibilities to his Rajas and > Ministers and national leaders, and retiring from activity. It was an > emotion-filled tribute that followed, with all the assembled > dignitaries of the Movement giving their personal appreciations and > cherished memories. He asked his Rajas if he deserved a gift of a > memorial, to himself and Guru Dev, for what had been brought to the > world: a Tower of Invincibility in each of the countries overseen by > the Rajas. > > A couple weeks ago, it was resolved that the first tower would be > built right next to Maharishi's house. The groundbreaking ceremony > took place on Monday January 28. Offers of funding poured in from > around the world. > > Today, February 5, 2008, having fulfilled his duty to Guru Dev, > Maharishi took mahasamadhi. He has left his mortal body, but he > remains with us eternally in spirit, in our hearts, in the very > Silence that permeates every grain of creation. > > I remember the first time I saw Maharishi. It was in the auditorium > at Humboldt University, California. He walked through the line of > people on either side, gently taking the flowers people offered him. > I didn't have any flowers, it was a new concept to me to give flowers > to a man. But the feeling of gratitude was so overwhelming that it > was so natural that I wished I had a flower--anything--to give. He > glanced at me with a brilliant gleam in his eye, a smile, and a soft > Jai Guru Dev as if to say, "It wasn't necessary, just enjoy." My > heart melted in joy. It was a moment made indelible in my memory. > > Tonight, around 7:30 pm everyone here collected in the big meeting > tent where Maharaja Raam announced the news (which you can hear on > the Maharishi Channel, see link below). We listened to sahasranam, > and then did puja to Guru Dev. The air was saturated with incense, > purity, and a sanctified transcendental bliss colored with a soft > silent sadness. The Rajas and Directors were invited by Maharaja Raam > to Maharishi's house, then everyone was invited to go. > > The only time before when everyone was invited into Maharishi's house > was just before he entered it the first time, about 10-11 years ago, > no doubt with much celebration. This time it was quiet. Only a few > whispers. A lady couldn't hold back and wept. Single file we slowly > made our way upstairs to the brahmasthan room that Maharishi had > spent so many hours in the past 10-11 years, pouring out an > inexhaustible flow of knowledge and inspiration and guidance to > Movement leaders, to Purusha and Mother Divine, and to the whole > world, through every modern system of communication. > > One has time to let the reality of events sink in while waiting in > line. My thoughts touched on wonderful memories of Maharishi and also > the events of the day. A mixture of joy and sadness on the solid > ground of bliss. And a bit of pondering. What would happen now that > he isn't directing and prodding his Movement to move at every turn? I > felt the thoughts of some others, similar. Others emanated solid > confidence. Indeed, this Movement is in very good hands. > > Finally I reached the door of the brahmasthan. I could see the large > room was full of Rajas and Ministers, meditating or just silently > watching. It was also full of all sorts of gifts from years of > celebrations, on tables, on shelves, and free standing. Devatas and > elephants, Faberge eggs and flags, gold wish-fulfilling trees and > building models, and innumerable other gifts with so much > concentrated gratitude emanating from each. It was a beautiful gold > and crystal wonderland. But the most striking decoration was the row > of huge pictures of Guru Dev above--maybe 8--which Maharishi could > see from his couch every day. They dominated everything. Maharishi's > life always was 100% devotion to Guru Dev. As he said just a few > weeks before, he offered his EVERYTHING to Guru Dev. > > His mortal remains sat upright on a bed, wrapped in white except for > his face, garlanded in a few thin strands of flowers from head to > foot. Maharaja Raam sat meditating next to the bed. I couldn't stand. > My mentor, my teacher, my infallible guide through the perilous roads > of life had gone silent. I bowed in prayer of gratitude and a > request. Somehow I felt it already answered. > > Such a divine master is so unimaginably rare. It has been our > extraordinary great fortune to have been touched by his infinite > compassion and transformed by his perfect knowledge. He altered our > personal destinies and the destiny of the whole world. I think it is > quite fair and true to say he saved the world from annihilation, > several times probably. I know he saved me, many times, in ways I can > barely comprehend, too personal to describe. You must have your own > story. > > Within our hearts Maharishi will always remain. We pray that his > work, the work of Guru Dev, will be carried on ceaselessly through > his Rajas, Ministers, Directors, Governors, sidhas, meditators, and > all lovers of life, to bring permanent Invincibility to every nation > and to unfold the full glory of life in enlightenment in every > sincere seeker for all generations to come. > > Maharishi gave us everything we need. Now let us move forward, guided > by Maharishi and Guru Dev in our hearts, to create the full glory of > Heaven on Earth. Nothing else could be more worthwhile to do. > > Jai Guru Dev, > > Steve > > Watch for announcements of ceremonies at: > <http://news.mou.org/>http://news.mou.org/ > <http://globalgoodnews.com/watch-live.html>http://globalgoodnews.com/watch-live.html > > Maharishi's farewell addresses of January 9, 11, and 12, 2008: > <http://press-conference.globalgoodnews.com/archive-menu.html>http://press-conference.globalgoodnews.com/archive-menu.html > > A beautiful synopsis of Maharishi's achievements can be found here: > <http://maharishi-programmes.globalgoodnews.com/achievements/Maharishi.html>http://maharishi-programmes.globalgoodnews.com/achievements/Maharishi.html >
