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4, 5, 6
FOURTH NIGHT OF SKANDA
[Pranayama with forceful exhalation]
Valentina: Kaput to Surapadma!
Really, when one is performing the cleansing breath, it is very advisable also to imagine that you are getting rid of your moral impurities, any kind of a blemish! You chase it out with the forcible exhalation. Now, we will again perform the same. Inhale... [Practice]
[Later before the final silence]
... Those of you who join me in my worship of Lord Skanda during these six days and six nights, please join me again, on that fourth night, in my special prayer. Let s pray to the Lord Skanda that we might not be under the sway of the Cosmic Delusion. Because man is so deluded, he condemns another man and sometimes hates himself, which, of course, is very lamentable and foolish, for man is the image of the Spirit. And if we see obvious defects, we should not condemn the defective person, neither ourselves, - but really and truly understand that this is the general hypnotic power, that man is caught into the delusion and illusion, which operates through all; some are more deluded and some less. One who understands it, does not accept it so easily and is, therefore, not so deluded. One who accepts the suggestions of evil is always deluded and hates another man for the same thing which he himself suffers from. The three horrible powers of lust, greed and hatred are operating as the Cosmic Delusion, but there is no truth in them. So let s understand that. Never condemn the man if he is, in your eyes, wrong; even the criminal - do not condemn him but condemn the crime, which is hypnotizing everybody.
How come that man so quickly recognizes the faults of another man? Because he himself has faults and because he is pathologically interested in them. If you would be indifferent you would not spend so much time in criticism, faultfinding and suffering because of all this. It really is not interesting for the one who understands that there is the Power of Delusion which afflicts everybody, - there is not a single human being who is spared. Therefore, we have to invoke the Grace of the Supreme Power, and now is the time of that particular Power of Lord Skanda, the warrior against this Delusion, against those monstrosities in human nature as well as in the whole Cosmos. Again, I repeat, do not look for faults, do not accept them, do not cultivate your displeasure. Repentance is healthy, but dwelling upon the sin is very unhealthy. May the Lord bless everybody with sufficient wisdom and plenty of smiles. God bless you... [Silence]
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[Asanas pranayama, prior to the final silence]
Valentina: ...Fifth Night of the Lord Skanda s exploits!... And on the sixth night He finished His job of extermination. It is a fantastic, incredible, difficult-to-fathom Cosmic Grandeur. It reflects so much the human mentality and the human aspirations. I am referring now to the Dark Forces, which so obviously operate through human heart... through human heart, and yet there is a Divine Heart in the human being where these forces cannot enter. And the Divine Heart is weeping, looking at the human heart which is perpetually attacked by really demoniacal forces.
Now, you take this Surapadma, that very great Asura, - he was might personified and he had so much vanity, just like a human genius, that he dared raise his sword against the Divinity. He just was completely deluded, he thought that he can have everything including the Divine Powers, which he would use for undivine purposes. And the Lord, in His Mercy, gave the boon to Surapadma. Surapadma could see Him as the Light Eternal. Surapadma got a certain boon from Lord Siva prior to his impudences through, not repentance, but austerities and adoration of Lord Siva. In his own diabolical way, he could adore the Divinity. So Lord Skanda gave him an opportunity to see the Light, which once upon a time he adored. And sure enough, Surapadma, the monstrous opposer of Good, prostrated to the Light of Skanda, which he was overwhelmed with... for the moment. And then... and then, the memory left him, he could not remember that he saw It. Just like the human beings, - how often everyone of you repents, promises, sees the Light, loves It, weeps for It and then forgets It. So did Surapadma, and again started his diabolical tricks. He was a Black Magician par excellance, so he assumed the form of a mango tree. The Black Magicians and also the White Magicians can do a lot of tricks to. delude others. Where is Surapadma?! No Surapadma, there is a big, good mango tree! And the Lord took His Vel and split it in half! [With a forceful wave of Her arm as though splitting the tree with the Vel] Kaput! No more Surapadma!...
So I pray that in everyone there might be the "kaput" of Surapadma, - Surapadma which assumes the forms of thousands of tricks, alibis, escapes, make-believes, pretense, falsifications, all kinds of excuses... by-by! No more! [Smiling] No more Surapadma! No more!... For the Vel is all-powerful, that Weapon of the Lord Skanda. Light flashes from every bit of that Vel and dispels the Darkness. Let s meditate upon that Light which goes from the Vel, everywhere where you direct it, including your own being. You can pierce that which is no good, - and a lot of things are no good, and they make you suffer very deeply, because things which are no good never bring happiness. But you cannot kill them without this Vel, without the piercing Weapon of God...
Let s pray... [Silence]
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[Sixth Night of Skanda Worship in the Garden... His Victory!... The Garden shone with flames of Victory from the many little candle lights which formed a circling pathway, leading from Holy Mother s Abode to Her Asana platform. To the left, under the mango tree, sat the Lion, vehicle of Mother Durga, in the center of a "V" of candle lights. In front of Her platform were placed two huge bouquets of flowers, and on the left corner of the platform stood the large metal, golden peacock of Lord Skanda.
Holy Mother s form, as She took Her seat on the Asana platform, was magnificently illumined by the little lights and Her eyes shone like two suns piercing through the night. She emanated a supra human majestic Radiance which was borne on an inexplicable controlled, measured Power - the Power which emanates from total inner victory. She seemed to be "wearing" the deep inner significance and experience of these auspicious six says in the outer majesty of Her whole Being and Bearing, - the way She walked along the lighted pathway (having Power over all the Earth), the perfect precision and control with which She moved (the gestures with the Spear), the Perfect Ruler of all the forces within and outside as She sat statuesquely, holding the upright Spear in one hand - the personification of "safety in Skanda."
Holy Mother s first movements, on the background of Chopin's Prelude, were a holy prayer, exquisite in their Divine Beauty. She then led the students in a few relaxing Asanas and pranayama. And then, inviting the students to move closer due to the windy night...]
Valentina: ...I suppose you all anticipate a word or two from me, because it is an unusual environment in the Garden with the little lights, [Smiling] not only inside but also outside, and because the peacock is standing here, because I even came with the garland [Holy Mother was carrying the long flower garland of golden daisies fringed in purple, accented with roses, when She took Her seat] ...all these things are extraordinary! [Smiling... piercing the night with Her spontaneous chanting of the Names of Lord Skanda] ...Om Skanda! Om Sakti!.
...Man understands according to his consciousness. Majority of people are monotheistic in their religious outlooks. Monotheistic means the theory about the only One God as their conception dictates to them. This is exoteric religion, and people believe, try to believe, make efforts to believe, and then go according to the prescriptions of the church, synagogue, temple and the exoteric code of morals and morality. Scriptures are limited to the one concept of God. The monotheistic tendencies usually prompt friction between religions, because each religion prescribes only its own "theism," mono-theism, mono-belief, one belief in One God. It is not that the God is One, it is [Smiling] that the belief is one! "And may you be condemned and damned if you won t believe like I do!" This is monotheism.
There are very moral people, very religious people in the monotheistic class, but they all are limiting God, who cannot be limited, but their concept about God is limited and, therefore, for them, God is very limited, for He has only one way, either Jewish or Christian [Smiling], or whatever, - it all depends who one is. Usually such people have very little understanding and very little tolerance, very little even imagination, although they really use nothing but imagination of the limited kind, according to what they can perceive through their scriptures, through their authorities, etc. This is analysis and not criticism, have it in mind, please.
Monotheism is a natural necessity of the growing humanity. You cannot immediately switch to something broad and tall and wide, you have to first establish your mono-something which is, for you, understandable and acceptable. However, it is, speaking philosophically, only the rawest beginning. And if one. persistingly continues like that, one is the loser. It is very cute to be a child and to have childish ideas about God and about life and about mama and papa, but to remain of that mentality when you are already a grownup is absurd. So it is absurdity; one has to grow from his monotheistic ideas, gracefully, into pantheistic ideas. Yet, a good monotheist is better than a bad pantheist.
That which I introduce tonight is of pantheistic nature. It involves the One Power of God as endowed with thousands of forces, powers and manifestations. This is not a belief, this is an experience. A true pantheist sees things, he does not believe in them, he just sees, he experiences them. He is able to perceive Nature in God, God in Nature, man in both. He does not see God as separated from man, - for him God is not monopoly of one nation, or of one church, but He is the Omnipotence and Omnipresence everywhere and always. Such a one sees death and birth just like, the two phases of one big life. Everything which is manifested is of that One Infinite Power which manifests endlessly! Now Lord Skanda is one of the infinite manifestations of that Invisible Power of God who is of many Faces, many Forces, many attitudes, possibilities, of which all are superbly perfect!
In order to understand it, you have to broaden your consciousness, for I say, if one jumps into that kind of broadness, tallness, depth, intenseness, arts and sciences, everything of synthesis and all inclusiveness, without having the consciousness for it, one distorts pantheism. And that s why pantheism is understood by the uneducated, ignorant mind as the worship of many gods, or sometimes even as sensuality, as aesthetics which are exaggeratedly prolonged and indulged. Of course, it is ridiculous; but this is the danger of the premature pantheistic practices or beliefs. So the point is that everyone should naturally grow, but not to pretend and not to jump from one belief into another, otherwise you will miss that which you already have and never get that which you should get.
The mistake of the premature pantheism is also very tragi-comical, because here comes idolatry instead of the inner realization and broad inclusiveness. The mistake of the monotheist usually is in intolerance, narrow-mindedness, extreme prejudice and limitations. As I have already mentioned, amongst these, sometimes, are very educated people, very good people. But if they say Christ is the only one who is going to save you, you better believe it! If you will not, they will start crusades and bloodshed. And among them are, at times, people of talent and education, but of no consciousness for something which is surpassing their stubborn, limited, monotheistic concepts.
The pantheist, if he is real and not make-believe, sooner or later will become a monist. Monism is the concept of God as the One Reality, the One Power, the One Essence which underlies the whole Cosmos and Supra-Cosmos. Nothing can surpass It. And that One Power, of course, includes everything - the pantheistic ideas as well as the monotheistic. For if you are powerful, even in your human, limited way, you always are inclusive and not exclusive. It is only that which has no power that excludes everything and pronounces itself as blameless and unsurpassable.
...All that I tell you because I feel that you need the rational explanation of my personal, very esoteric observances, which most of you join very obediently, and some enthusiastically, and some even consciously. But some are unaware, especially if one is belonging to his monotheistic religion. So that s what I wanted to share with you. Then you will be able to, perhaps, rejoice more consciously, perceive the Cosmic Grandeur more sincerely and to grow more rapidly... [Vividly, joyously] SKANDA!... Where is my Vel? Jay? Go to Fairyland and ask Sri Ganesha to "release" the Vel... I put the Vel by His side. He shares it with Skanda on that Night!... [Laughter] Get out! [Student leaves to get the Vel] He knows all the "avenues" to the Fairyland except that one. [Smiling] I hope he will be able to find it... Music, please!
[Pranayama]
[Student returns with the Vel] Was he by Sri Ganesha?
Student: Yes, Ma am.
Valentina: Okay, that s the boy. Shall I pierce the "Surapadma" behind you?
Student: Sure!
Valentina: [Holy Mother points the Spear to the back of the student] Now you are without your "companion!" [Laughter] Now palm your eyes and massage the eyes. [Practice]
[Later] ...Let s meditate on the Symbol of the Lord, the Spear, the Vel. I have been often telling you about it. You have to feel the thought in order to make it alive. I pray that you may... [Silence... from the depth of Her Being] .What a beautiful Force Thou art - Skanda!... It is safe to be with Skanda!...
The evil forces have a relative power, relative existence, relative influence. It is just like disease vis-à-vis health. It really does not require much argument in order to understand that health is the natural state, is Harmony, is Truth, and lack of health is discomfort, which is due to certain violations of Truth, but which is not Truth. So it is with the Cosmic Evil Forces - they are no power, they are dark because they are excluding God. Wherever there is no God, there is sin.., and this one [Taking the Spear in Her hand as though slaying the Asura] pierces the Evil. They sometimes shoot from above even and He puts them here, here! [Pointing the Spear directly into the ground]
Om Skanda!... God bless you with the Power of the Luminous Cosmic Beauty...
[To the conductor] I suppose we will have the "traditional" concerto of Beethoven, is that it?!
[Referring to Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto, which is played during every Skanda Observance]
Student: Yes, Ma am.
Valentina: I received a very amusing definition of this concerto vis-à-vis my worship of Skanda. "Great as it is, but it sounds like a music box in comparison with the grandeur of Skanda and the music which He deserves." To what I said, "We have no choice, that s the best the Earth can offer." Offer!... [Laughter] [As the Adagio movement of the concerto begins, Holy Mother sits immobile with divinely serene countenance which emanates great Power, holding the Spear upright in Her hand. Laying the Spear down in front of Her, She bows down, bathing Her face in the flower garland, then places it over the fan of tail feathers of the metal peacock... As the music changes to victorious agitato, She again lifts the Spear in Her hand, gestures several times, as though slaying the Asuras, exclaiming...] Finale!... [Lying the Spear down in front of Her and behind the peacock] Stay here!... Victory to Yoooou!... [Removing the smaller garland which She had been wearing around Her wrist, She tosses it high in the air and it comes down just in front of Her platform; walking to the Altar beneath the orchid tree, Holy Mother bows in homage and silently led by the still-burning pathway of lights, She disappears into Her Abode... while the music of Beethoven plays to its grande finale...]
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