Ananda Baba

Ananda (Francis Ananda Love), founder of the Hermitage, and an independant, atypical monk,  has experienced this universal teaching during his years of pilgrimage, cave sadhana and service in Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and USA since 1973. Although his practice and teachers mostly follow Buddhist and Hindu lines, his study and counsel come from the teachings of all religions...for surely, truth is one.

Visiting India and Sri Lanka almost every year since 1973, usually remaining for 6 months to 2.5 years, India has become his second home (maybe first?!). Known in India as Sadhu Anandadeva or "Ananda Baba", his sadhana includes much companionship and service to poor people as well as walking in the Himalayas, living on the banks of the Holy River Ganga, and visiting saints, yogis and sadhus (monks) at their camps, caves or ashrams. He has spent many weeks, months & years in various caves for meditation, from 1980 til the present, in north and south India; and, those years of Cave Sadhana, as well as many Vipassana sittings with U.S.N. Goenka and Robert Hover, in the 1970's,  inspired his construction of the Samadhi Cave and the Samadhi Hermitage.

Previously a university scientist (with PhD), Francis Love was married and living "happily ever after"...almost. His first visit to India (1973) plus reading the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Yogananda when he returned home, was enough to "leave everything and everyone" and become "sadhu" (monk). Fortunately, the beloved wife he departed from had the same inspiration, and joined Yogananda's Ashram and is still a nun there today. He finished reading the Autobiography on his return airflight to India in 1974. During his "visits" to America 1974-1982, his base was a spiritual community in California.

Nearly two years of cave sadhana in South India ended with a return to USA in 1982 to commence a world peace project entitled "World Citizens for World Peace". The project promoted an invitational concept (us and them) rather than the age-old confrontational approach (us or them), and "set a date" (October 24, 1983) for the "Beginning and First Day of World Peace". Over 6,000 unique peace letters went out in three languages to Heads of State, other politicians, various organizations and individuals throughout the world. Collecting over 8,000 signatures, the proposal was supported by Robert Muller, and received at the United Nations twice (prior to and on the 40th anniversary of the United Nations). Although it did not create everlasting world peace, it did participate significantly in the 1980's awakening of spiritual rather than confrontational peacemaking.

Ananda usually spends the three winter months in solitude and cave sadhana, so the cave is normally unavailable from December 1st thru the end of February, every year. The Samadhi Hermitage and "Sadhu Ananda Baba" were featured as a cover article in the second quarter issue, 1995, of Yoga Vedanta Magazine.

"I remember my first few meetings in the early 1970's with my guru Anandamayee Ma, a great woman saint of North India. Relating to her that I was totally disillusioned with Christianity, she said 'if you don't get it together with Christ, you'll never get it together with God.' She blew my mind! Later, when I told her I cannot choose a particular form of God, leaving some aside and following only another, She said "that's the most difficult path, but do it if you can." I later found out why she said it is the most difficult. One day, I suddenly felt 'I don't have any guru, nor just one guru ('the' one) like everyone else'.  I crashed feeling I had none. Then I remembered Ma's words and understood why she said it is the most difficult path...our ego makes that such a difficult path, because the ego  wants to be right, it wants to be on the right path. Without having 'the one', or at least 'a one', how can the ego be on the right path, and therefore be correct? These are the fears of the ego.  Only by accepting the oneness of all, does such a person become free. Of course, I came out of my slump, gladly accepting my sadhana and belief that 'Truth is One'.   The greatness of India is that they uphold and support all true pathways to the divine, so I was never lacking in respect and support for this sadhana. Today, as we know, the great spiritual awakening in the world is embracing that truth quite nicely.

"These days, I am enjoying the english translation of my name (Ananda Baba) which is 'Bliss Baba'.  My favorite conversations are in the areas of inspiring people to find and be in their bliss.  Bliss is bliss, and it is available everywhere, even in those relationships where the "honeymoon is over" and people have forgotten to love each other the way they used to.  Gratefulness is a necessary doorway to tears of bliss, as well as to the supreme place where the two are one. Sit and look into each others eyes, just feeling so much gratefulness and love for the other...until tears flow. THAT is dwelling in bliss! Yes, the extraordinary is available, and when tasted how can there be any less in our view of what we want in life.

"Monks are of many types, although those most commonly known, are the celibate folks seen in robes.  So often this conveys to the world that the lovemaking (sexual) aspects of life, and thus bonded relationships, are a 'notch' or two down from true spirituality; and are, therefore, a block to ultimate spiritual development, growth, acheivement, liberation, enlightenment, etc.  This is a great sadness, for 'monk' does not just mean color of the robes, and nature of celibacy. To the contrary I believe the real 'monk' is the nature of the heart and soul, for one who is truly dedicated to discover their true (god) self, sharing this gift with others, living a life of truth and love rather than selfishness, greed and anger...this is the real monk.   Such people live single as well as in relationships. In India, so many people joyfully agree when I comment that 'monk' is not the robes but in the heart.

"The mis-understanding of sexuality versus spirituality comes muchly from a definite truth that yes, in a bonded relationship, it is usually much more difficult to pursue a spiritual path...especially when compared to how fully absorbed and concentrated one can be when single and in a monk style of life, free from the various distractions, needs and turmoil of family life.   However, that too comments on the ordinary.  At the extraordinary level of relating, two people can definitely enhance each other's spiritual journey; and the aspect of lovemaking can be such a powerful purification, kundalini awakening, and an extraordinary samadhi that the resultant genuine divine bliss easily stands equal to the dry path of so many monks who have not yet found such peace, joy and bliss in their celibate path. That's okay...everyone's sadhana is perfect in any given point in time; no one is better than any other...only different, sort of.

"No one should think the bliss of spiritual love in a relationship is any less than that of an ecstatic monk...for love is love, bliss is bliss; and in the case of both paths, one more double-feature is exactly the same...the object of one's love is none less than God and the experience of godliness is nothing less than pure unconditional love!   Whether god is formless or manifested in human form it makes no difference; for when the heart is pure, and when the tears of blissful gratefulness and love flow...it is surely all the same! Whether the 'object of one's love' (and thus path)  is God without form, or in the form of Guru, or via manifestation in the form of one's soulmate, it is surely all the same...pure unmitigated bliss just is!  Love is love, truth is truth, bliss is bliss.  Jai Ma!"

Thus spake the "Bliss Baba".
(Bliss also means to maintain a good sense of humor!)

Oh, I almost forgot...one great source of bliss for me are the people I support in India, especially my adopted families whom you can visit via these pages...Mishra Family and  Sarubai Family, and also via the Blissbook Photo collage pages listed in the second Index box below.  

Peace, blissings and blessings to all.
Ananda
 

Ananda with Sarubai Family (left) and Mishra Family (Right)

P. S. If you wish to see a taste of the old days, this page...With Gunapala... has a few pics of myself with my very dear friend Gunapala, in Sri Lanka, in the 1970's.  

ananda@samadhihermitage.org

telephone: (505-473-3560)

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