I have always thought my Epitaph would read “Enter Weary Traveler.” One of my favorite lines in a song has been, “You give the appearance of one widely traveled. Miracles appear in the strangest of places sit down let me buy you a beer.”
Looking back at a Writing Conference I attended in Telluride, Colorado, It seems like I was visited by one.
Entering into a book store across from the performance theatre, I immediately flashed on a serene face on the cover of a book titled, “The Autobiography of a Yogi.” The picture was of Paramahansa Yogananda, the man who would become my eventual Guru. He is the founder of the Self Realization Fellowship. I was soon to begin my studies of Kriya Yoga, and my journey to becoming a card carrying Yogi.
I don’t think I ever really believed in Miracles. Oh! I had heard of all the Biblical Miracles the great ones, but not any personal ones. I’m not sure that you recognize them when you see them. They are subtle.
A nice story at a glance, but where is the miracle? I returned to my writing loft in Vail, Colorado and continued my studies. The veil
of maya was slowly lifted from my life as well as the cloud of alcohol that
ruled my life. I continued my writing and ski bumming life.
After attending a writing
conference in Aspen, the opportunity to move to that city and ski Ajax opened up. I quickly accepted it and moved. At the very same time, the manager
of the local health club, the Aspen Athletic Club, was hoping to become
involved with a group of people her own age and looking for a new job. Kathy,
my boss and I started working together at a new fresh career. It was evident
from the beginning that we not only worked well with one another but there was
an attraction. I was having my mail delivered to our office as my apartment was
in the same building. Yes, Main Street Aspen, Colorado across from the Main
Street Bakery. We often shared a revered delivery of matzo ball soup from
Benjamin’s Deli or famed turkey burgers and brownies from the Silver City
Grille. One particular afternoon while sorting through our mail Kathy came upon
one of my lessons from the Self Realization Fellowship from Encinitas,
California. She asked Nancy our secretary about it and was told that I
routinely received correspondences from
there. Surprised, she confronted me and began to explain that as a young high
school surfing hippie girl they used to surf at Sunset Beach. It would later in
life become Swami’s Beach. They would sit out on their surf boards until almost
dark and look with binoculars into the ashram, hoping to see the swamis flying
around on their carpets. We laughed heartily at her youth and she said she
would take me to the ashram as it was so beautiful. It was one of those promises made that you knew would probably never be fulfilled. Our working lives brought us closer together and we became romantically involved.
A few years later, we decided to take a month off and travel the west coast from Mexico to Oregon. Somewhere along
our vacation the thought occured to us that that we may never have a month off together again and that we
would get married in Lake Tahoe after our pilgrimage to the ashram. Upon
arriving at the ashram, we were hoping to receive a blessing concerning our
plans for marriage. While walking up to Swami’s meditation bench that looks out
on the Pacific Ocean, in what I consider to be the most beautiful setting in
America, our miracle occurred for us. In the sand in large letters was the name
Paramahansa Yogananda spelled out. I being a devoted chela of Paramahansa and
Kathy, a respected admirer of his, we viewed this as a miracle blessing for our
ensuing marriage. We continued on to Lake Tahoe and were wed. Over the years
the blessings of Swami and the Self Realization Fellowship has brought great
joy, enlightenment and wonder into our lives.
I am soon to begin a new chapter in my writing life
and begin my search for an agent to assist in the publishing of my work,
‘White Dreams, The Trials of the World’s Greatest Ski Bum,’ simultaneously in
America and Europe. Hopefully in time for the Olympics that will be held in
Sochi, Russia in 2014. I ask humbly for the blessing of my lord Krishna, my
lord Jesus Christ, Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahashiya, Swami Sri Yukteswar,
Gurudeva Paramahansa Yogananda, and all Great Saints of all Religions in my
endeavor. I further ask that I may succeed in climbing the sacred mountain of
self realization and stand at last on the shining summit, face to face with
thee, O inconceivable Spirit Divine.
I will leave with the recitation of what is
considered to be the most powerful mantra
known to man.
The
Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhur Buvaha Swaha Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo
Devasya Dheemahi Dhyo Yonaha Prachodayath.
Perhaps my new epitaph should be a quote from Procol Harum in the song Conquistador, from
the Album, A Whiter Shade of Pale.
“Conquistador your stallion stands in need of
company and like some angel’s haloed brow you reek of purity. I see your
armour-plated breast has long since lost its sheen.”
