Ma Jaya teaches from a depth of wisdom and practicality which allows us to return again and again to turn over the words, and bring them into our moment. Ma is a consummate story teller, using words to paint a picture or illustrate a point that otherwise might be hard to grasp. These stories are often simple but profound, similar to the way that Swami Nityananda and Neem Karoli Baba taught.

Enjoy!

FOREST OF BLISS

One tine, a long time ago, in the blessed Kashi Forest of Bliss – a name that was once given to Kashi – the great god Vayu was approached by the lord of all the yogis, Lord Shiva himself.

“Vaya,” said the great lord, “why is it that you can blow in to my forest all the older trees?  They are blown in to my forest uprooted and dead.  Why is this so?  Where are the new ones, the tender stemmed trees that are new to the earth?  Why am I only getting those who have been uprooted by one of your storms?”

“Great one,” said the Lord Vayu, “the young trees with the tender trunks have not learned pride and therefore they do not care that they have to bend with my mighty wind.  The older ones stand tall and proud before me and forget to bend and are uprooted in my stormy moments, therefore they are not a living entity when brought to your Forest of Bliss.”

“I will go then,” said the great king of Kashi.  “I will go to where the young, humble trees are rooted and know how to bend before the Gods.  I will go, myself, and give the living trees my blessings.”

So Shiva went and gave the trees who bend in the wind with a great humility his blessings and love.  He said to them, “I will transplant all of you in to my Forest of Bliss and there you shall grow old and know the great lord blessed you himself.”

Ma Jaya
Morning Pujas and Prayers, March 9, 1999

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