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DESECRATING THE DIVINE
BY SWAMI DURGANANDA, SRI LANKA

When I met Swami Premananda in the early 1980's, being a businessman then, I was still very much involved in worldly pursuits. However it was at about this time that I was also gaining an interest in something more than living a mere ordinary life that many live through to the end. I was at that time reading avidly about anything and everything on the subject that I could get my hands on all the popular major religions and also on the lesser known subjects then like Zen, Zoroastrianism, Shamanism, Sufism etc. I had also been to India before and had spent time in a number of Ashrams. The great beings that lived in those Ashrams talked freely about the "other thing" in life and sometimes called it the "higher life" that human beings can have if only they wanted to.

However all great and Exalted Ones of the past after whom almost all the major religions had begun, spoke about uncompromising celibacy if one was really interested to get to or to experience the "higher state" in life. There was absolutely no compromise on this as sensual indulgence is one of the most important things to be left behind if one were to experience the "higher state" in life. However all this was mere theory and therefore meant very little. It seemed a very challenging ideal to strive for. But that was that.

To get to know of such an intimate and personal area of someone's nature one has to associate with that person closely. Merely going by what one saw on the surface could have been deceptive. It might have been what the observer had preferred to see. But what was relevant was whether there was a factual basis in real life to what one preferred to see or another proffered to follow - either positively or negatively.

It really would take much patience and understanding if one were to delve into this very personal area of anyone's life. Failure to do that would invariably end up with very wrong and very unjust conclusions. Swami Premananda was one such person who was wrongly and unjustly condemned without any real investigation.

In his case, no enquiry whatsoever had been done or anything even close to it. If any enquiry at all was done impartially and without prejudice then the actual truth would have been made known and Swamiji would have risen to greater heights than he had already done in the eyes of the public. If he was sentenced by a court of law accused to the contrary, then the evidence that sentenced him, necessarily had to be false and thereby fabricated. I shall explain why evidence must have been fabricated. Such incarceration and media malfeasance have defamed a dedicated dignitary and desecrated divinity.

Early Years with Swami Premananda

From the early 1980’s I have known and associated with Swami Premananda very closely - not just for a few weeks or months but for a number of years. Since I joined the Ashram I lived with him day in, day out often sharing the same room. Even at other times, my room in the Ashram was next to his and there was no way that anybody would have gone into his room without my knowing.

I was the only one in the Ashram then, worldly as I was, who was full of doubt and suspicion about such matters and was very keen to know if there were any improper things going on. As I was quite genuine in my search, foolish as it may have been, I even told Swamiji of this. I also said that if he was found to be false I will fearlessly proclaim that to the whole world. Not merely about matters of intimacy but I also wanted very badly to know whether the materializations that he did so easily, were genuine as well.

To my utter surprise he immediately summoned the others living in his residence and in front of me told them that I should be allowed to be anywhere to look anywhere, whenever or wherever I wanted to as much as I liked. This way he gave me a totally free hand to clear my doubts. After that, checking on almost anything and everything without anybody else in the Ashram knowing it, was something I did quite meticulously.

At that time being a Charted Management Accountant I was a trained auditor. Also I was then managing an organization with more than 800 in the labour force and about 25 in the management cadre. So I knew how to go about this checking process, which I did fairly well.

Not once did I ever have the opportunity to discover anything offbeat or suspect that anything was amiss even in the faintest manner. Soon I was feeling quite ashamed at my attitude and manner, which I felt as being very silly. But what was to be done? I had to know and He allowed that without holding back anything.

The Ashram then had both male and female inmates besides almost a hundred children of both sexes. However only a very few close inmates were allowed into Swamiji’s living area. And this comprised only a handful of us. Two females and two males. It was very obvious to me from the very outset that even though Swamiji was associating closely with everyone including the female inmates, there was a total absence of any form of intimacy or sexual contact at all between Swamiji and the females or even between and amongst the others in the Ashram.

It is not difficult to perceive and identify whether there is an undertone of an intimate relationship particularly of a sexual nature between two people. Any adult can clearly notice it in no time. Any two people in such a condition, with or without them knowing, reveal the intimate nature of their relationship in the way and manner they conduct themselves and behave with each other in company. What I saw in the Ashram with Swamiji and the others including the womenfolk were more of ‘a matter of fact’ like relationship that might be there amongst those who are quite familiar with one another, like in a family. Or more like a working relationship but with a certain underlying affection to one another.

Swamiji was looked upon by everyone in the Ashram as a caring father figure. He was loved and respected that way, not only by the inmates but also by all those who came to visit Swamiji and the Ashram. People from all walks of life, devoid of ethnic orientation or religion and from all over Sri Lanka, came to the Ashram to meet Swamiji. That is why those who really know Swamiji find it rather impossible and quite unthinkable to go along with the absurd accusations made against Him.

Swamiji was great example of selfless love. He greatly encouraged us towards achieving such a pure and a high state of mind. I, then, used to very worldly ways, was the only one at that time in the Ashram who was, in this sense, a ‘fish out of water’. I admit I was feeling very awkward and even embarrassed that I seemed to be the only one who seemed to have a worldly background as I had and the accompanying (if not polluting) thoughts. I told him of my predicament. With such kindness and understanding he, like a very close friend and brother, more than a teacher, advised me about food, sleep, bathing habits, meditation, whom to associate with, etc towards achieving a higher state of mind. This was just the beginning of the discipline towards climbing that most hazardous and difficult ‘mountain path’. However, soon after I spoke to Swamiji I found that while being in the Ashram I did not find it difficult to keep my mind away from sensual thoughts. I very much wanted to take to the way of life that required celibacy as a pre-requisite. The wonderful company of someone who was entirely like that was the mainstay and inspiration to me to take to this otherwise unthinkable and daunting task. Swamiji led the way and everybody who lived with Him followed suit without any seeming difficulty.

Besides, from about 4.30 in the morning and until about 9.00 in the night everybody was kept quite busy with Ashram duties that nobody had the time, inclination or the necessity to indulge in such things. I didn’t know at that time as I do now, that all the inner energy that would otherwise be wasted was now being turned towards serving other human beings under Swamiji’s guidance. Who else other than someone who knew very well what he was doing, was able to guide others in this manner?

Swamiji himself was the perfect example of what he was guiding all of us to be. Yet it took me a while to really understand that he was perfectly celibate. It was not only because he had absolutely no intimate contact with anyone but also by the way and manner he conducted himself with everyone - by what he said, how he said and what he did etc. Also the fact that someone can actually be like that was something that I at that time still found rather difficult to connect with, often found myself being on the lookout about Swamiji in whatever circumstances that he was in, to see whether I could catch a phrase that might slip from him or even something that he might do involuntarily that was inclined towards that way. After months and years later I never came across a single instance that was even faintly suspicious.

Also, with time, I realized that He seemed to be above the “male/female” concept or consciousness, which all very ordinary humans have. He seemed to see people as ‘just people’. As I was interacting with him on a daily basis I realized that the whole mental process or the mindset of those who were sexually inclined, naturally seemed to be totally absent in Him.

If one were to say a regular joke in his company and if the joke had even faintly sexual connotations to it, Swamiji would not understand at all. Then someone had to explain to him in detail as to what is what and the why of it all, which takes quite awhile. A very tedious process indeed by which time the joke would be completely flat. And the worst was, after all the explaining, by which time there was no joke at all, he would very innocently ask, “So, what is so funny about it?” Well, I suppose if one had really no sexual inclinations even in the slightest sense, then such things would have no meaning at all!

It is after an innumerable number of instances and moments as this, stretching over a number of years that I can confidently say he is a very great and wonderful person to take as an example and to follow. I used to think he must be the ideal of human existence.

Wishing well, serving and giving to others is very natural to Swamiji and he simply revels in it. The more I saw Swamiji like this the more I was keen on giving up all limitations within me as well, which I was now beginning to view as being very low down in comparison to the wonderful state of purity of mind and the never ending happiness which seemed to be natural to someone in such a state of mind as seen in Swamiji. Living in the company of such an unusual being totally inspired me, too, to take on this daunting effort of trying to achieve this seemingly impossible task, total abstinence.

I had the good fortune of not merely just seeing, but being and living with such a person in whom all theory seemed to come alive. I was in the company of someone who was so naturally devoid of such feelings and thoughts, which so totally controls all beings.

Something that seemed so impossible seemed possible in the presence of Swamiji. The ideal of abstinence that was only theory all that time was now there in real life, living and moving amongst us very ordinary mortals.

Even though it meant giving up the easy and affluent life I had then, here was a wonderful challenge to take on in life. Fail or succeed never mind. At least there was now a chance to make effort towards a worthwhile goal.

Creating various objects by mere will power, including precious metals, stones and all kinds of fruit and sweets, Vibhuthi, sandalwood powder, Kum-Kum, trans-locating objects, multiplying food, turning water into various substances etc., are but a few examples of what an advanced human being can do besides the vastly more significant abilities of kindness, tolerance and the inexhaustible unending love. Swamiji has had these abilities from birth. However, those who associated with him were still unable to see the sheer goodness and the sacrifice he was making towards humanity at large. Everybody came to get. There was hardly anyone who wanted to give, save perhaps those who came for spiritual guidance and a marginal number of other devotees.

Compassion and love for fellowmen seemed to be something very natural in those who were like Swamiji. People like Swamiji have to serve others, willingly taking over their burdens and do all they can for anyone. Swamiji himself seemed to be in a big hurry to get on with the work of developing spiritually those close to him by encouraging them to selflessly serve the never ending stream of mankind that came to him for help, solace and religious guidance. He was by no means an easy Master to be under. We were ‘worked to the bone’ and physically there was hardly any rest. The theme was, ‘wear-out your body in serving others’, an idea that can be understood by only a handful in the world. However through all this we all felt a deep sense of goodness, peace and a joyous glow within, which can only be understood by those who experienced it. I, for one, can clearly testify to this with my own experience.

We all ate simple vegetarian food and slept on the floor. But the so called good worldly life I had before didn’t come anywhere even close to the kind of inner satisfaction and fulfillment experienced with Swamiji, by serving others, in the Ashram.

Large numbers came to the Ashram from all parts of the country on weekends and on all significant religious days and festivals that took place every month. During these days Swamiji would talk, coax, guide and encourage all those who came to lead good and wholesome lives as advised in whatever religion they were used to following. Never did He try to push anyone to take to the Hindu religion. He always maintained that He was a Hindu merely because He was born into a Hindu family.

At these times Swamiji would give interviews to those who asked, in an effort to give redress to their many personal problems. There were innumerable number of instances where many found help and solace in the Ashram where they could not find elsewhere. Many with medical problems and also those with many other complicated personal situations found that their problems sorted out after talking to Swamiji. In all these instances, invariably Swamiji would advise those with whatever religious background to go back to prayer in whatever way they were used to and appeal to their form of The Almighty for guidance and solace.

However as I noticed with time, shocking as it were, people being what they are and more so in present times, sometimes Swamiji was made to bear the brunt of sheer ungratefulness from the beneficiaries of his kindness themselves. Ordinarily it would be considered quite justified to have utter contempt for such behavior and for such people. But not with Swami Premananda. He would go on serving and helping even those who shamelessly came back afterwards without any anger or ill will. In spite of such things happening, un dauntingly he still kept working for the welfare of people however way they were towards him or however way they took it, without any expectations whatsoever, much to the utter consternation and confusion of us very ordinary close associates. Over the years I’ve watched in utter amazement an uncountable number of such instances. No one I’ve known or associated with over the years, even the best of them, came anywhere even close to this.

“Expect nothing and serve everyone all the time”, in action. Equanimity and Dhana (selfless service), are explained in Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and in all other books on true religion.

Present situation – Fabrication of Evidence and Media Mockery

In the face of all this if Swamiji has been accused of sexual misconduct. If courts have believed such accusations and sentenced him to serve time, then it is to be presumed that the sentence is based on total and shameless fabrication of evidence on a very large scale and that, to this extent, that process clearly needs revamping.

Quite obviously it is not the laws themselves that have to be questioned, but the practical workings of these laws, which are administered by the enforcing agencies supposedly working within the rules of the laid down law.

Why do governmental agencies such as the law enforcement authorities, the Courts of Justice etc attract such trust and respect from the public and the world at large? Is it not because they are supposed to give redress to the innocent and to justly punish the guilty in accordance with the accepted laws of the land and thus mete out justice? Also aren’t these laws and regulations based on wholesome human values for the protection of society?

If these elementary principles of truth, goodness and fair-play, well known to have conferred justice and given redress to those wronged over the many centuries of the past, have now somehow been administered for reasons other than of upholding the truth, then the system or the process that does that utterly defeats itself and, therefore, is not only dangerous but is quite useless. There could be nothing that is better than just and fair laws and their effective administration upholding truth and justice. There is nothing worse than unjust and unfair administration of those laws. Do not truth, fair play and goodness play any part in human affairs anymore?

Going by the depth and the broad spectrum media coverage given with a view of mostly highlighting ill placed sexuality built upon fabricated evidence, it is pretty clear that mercenary interests governed the Media, expected to be truthful and independent. It may not be wrong to think that such Media actions have been motivated by some person or persons to achieve an end that is only and wholly detrimental to Swamiji personally and to the Sri Premananda Ashram in general for reasons other than of presenting the actual truth about them to the public. Looking at all this it is obvious that an utter mockery has been made of all decent norms in journalism of just, fair and factual reporting.

It is quite obvious that whosoever is behind this particular campaign is far gone in serving ungodly or satanic forces to counter goodness in the world today, perhaps with vested worldly interests as well, hell bent on creating havoc to an unsuspecting and quite an innocent person whose only fault, if at all, was to serve anyone and everyone from anywhere, with whatever need or want, especially the poor and the needy or whoever else that came to him in person or for that matter even thought of him within their hearts in prayer. These seem to be the only reasons for Swamiji’s ‘guilt’ if at all, which obviously was very inconvenient to those people who engineered his unfair incarceration.

Swami Durgananda, 2005