Divine Parent

FROM THE DIVINE PARENT

      Dear, Dear Loved One, You ask: How will you know when I am near you? When on a sultry night Everything is hot and still The first cool breeze Brushes your cheeks I am caressing you THINK OF ME. When the pangs of hunger are satisfied And loneliness is pierced by happiness THINK OF ME When your mouth is parched And you can hardly speak The first sip of cool water I am soothing you THINK OF ME.




     When the cloud of death disappears First on the opening of a baby’s smiling eyes THINK OF ME. When I sprinkle your face with rain And wash the earth, the dry brown leaves The first smell of clean rain I am cleansing you THINK OF ME.


      When pain dissolves And fears disappear THINK OF ME When steadfast eyes are horrified By the cruelties of life The first glance of the silent setting sun I am comforting you THINK OF ME


    Then you ask: How will you know when you are near Me? When the burning sun Has scorched you and the earth The sand and dust fill your eyes Not a sliver of shade about AND YOU LOVE ME. When loneliness is accompanied by hunger And not one can be satisfied AND YOU LOVE ME.


     When your lips are cracked Your tongue feels like clay Your throat seals up There is no water about Not even a mirage in sight AND YOU LOVE ME. When you hold a dying child With eyes pleading AND YOU LOVE ME. When I stir the ocean to a crescent You flounder in its depth like a leaf AND YOU LOVE ME. When pain becomes unbearable You smile AND YOU LOVE ME. When I take from you Your most cherished possession On the first loss of your sight Darkness envelopes you AND YOU LOVE ME.

      For everything you see, hear, smell, taste or touch belongs to me. So, how can you give to me what I already Am but your love? And THAT I gave to you before time began as your sole possession. When you return it to ME, then I will know you are truly mine and I will dissolve your sorrow and happiness into ME. That…being ME, I will place you in Bliss forever. For, I love you and think of you constantly.

From your most loving,
Father. (A letter written by Swami many years ago
to students of His Institute)

(From Prema Dhara, a collection of Swami's letters)