Adorable families and venerable parents,

I am writing to all those families whose children have been growing up around me during their most formative years rapidly growing into their youthful state. As you know I continue to offer my earnest blessings for your children, while prayerfully guiding in my heart for them to blossom with fortitude into dignified adulthood.

Even as parents of your precious ones you are still my children, and surely enough your own parents are also like children to me even though they are the kindred spirit – as together we are old souls!

I see through your challenges and keep praying for your moral courage to raise your children in this day and age where the societal pressure of disobedience is further compounded by the atmosphere of dishonesty and an absent labour of love. I carry in my heart the silent ruminations of your joy and wish for your contentment in your family while you gain honour in your community.

I thank God for making you find me. God and guru are the ultimate refuge, if indeed the guru is a traditional satguru – a realized divine being who is transparent with the supreme personality of God, and surely capable of parenting you with the highest wisdom. While guru can be of many types and hail from many backgrounds, a satguru is a true representative of the Lord, the supreme personality of God.

Whenever any deep worry was shared with me about your children’s future regarding their health and study, I was there to alleviate your concern. I was able to remove the karmic obstacle to the extent permitted by the Lord’s command and allow you repose in peace so that you did not have to forbear the tribulation all by yourselves. I was there as a spiritual pillar for you to lean on.

I have been teaching to do your best and leave the rest – to God. Rest assured, only a revealed satguru can intervene regarding your children’s dilemmas, guide at the highest level both verbally and silently, and shower blessings so that you gather fresh momentum to maintain internal harmony within your family.

If I can behold how the supreme personality of God descends and what his pastimes are, then surely I can feel and see through both the drama and dharma in your families. I would not be able to initiate anyone into the path of salvation if I could not see the past and future, even while being silently reposed in the present. I am truly blessed by the supreme personality of God, my Iṣta – my Lord, and this grace is my most precious embellishment with which I have been interacting with you ever since you have known me.

It is very important for you all to not forsake or withdraw from the shelter under my umbrella, for this canopy is not held in place by me, but by the invisible power of the supreme Lord from up above. This umbrella is not just a shade but the shelter of a giant peepal tree. You perhaps know that a peepal tree exudes nonstop oxygen day and night. Yes, the shelter of satguru is indeed like oxygen for thriving, especially for the greater family.

My own monastic satguru, Swami Hariharananda Paramahansa, predicted that I will be like a Buddha whose shelter will be filled with the balmy ambience of holy abundance. Why not take the fullest advantage of knowing me in this life and walk with me strides matched together?

One lifetime is indeed a short span and change is the very nature of the world. This world and its sumptuous cushions are constantly slipping away from us. There is no need to look hither thither or be distracted by short term advice. It is not about whether you relate better with simpler handholding. Higher visionary spiritual advice from a siddha monk is rare in this current epoch’s era.

A realized monk is proclaimed to be the most suitable satguru in this yuga. Keep deep spiritual connection with me as this will be the most prudent dharma. I am not the only witness, there are other higher divine arbiters who keep watching over us. Karmic momentum of misfortunes already set into motion are not exhausted by blessings alone. However, there are multiple levels of general protection that is built in when you study with an esteemed meditation lineage which traces back to our Iṣta – the Lord Himself.

Challenges from uninvited situations come our way due to the very urge that initiated this life. Thus it is best to not give sway to either depression or elation. Freedom is not attained until the full quota of contingent satisfactions from the momentum of karma get exhausted, which may take lifetimes of striving and adhering misery. Advice by satguru may not always seem practical but assists in loosening the karmic shackles of affliction when implemented.

This past year I have been sharing with you about the descension of Lord Kalki amongst us – His place of birth and His formation of Sudharmā Mahāsangha for the establishment of dharma on Earth, matching the revelation of Bhagavad Gita 4th chapter. In the lighted depths of my heart, I can see the young Lord Kalki studying with Lord Paraśurāma in the hidden coves and lush enclaves of a mountainous terrain that I am familiar with from my past lives.

As you have felt, the current age is such that negativity spreads faster and grips harder, but these times will change in the foreseeable future when Lord Kalki reveals His full glory. Then the lives of your children will be memorable and spiritually meaningful in every which way. I am just holding the mast and guiding you through these troubled waters. Times are forthcoming in some years that will bear the fruits of our present service and you will be able to overcome the current challenges of civilizational crises.

Whether embroiled or relatively free, once encumbered, the tentacles of duties cannot be avoided. I have always taught you to discharge the duties of life as a spiritual penance and lovingly offer the fruits of hard work to the Lord. Ultimately only the Lord can protect you from the imbalance of adversity and prosperity.

I thank you profusely for reciprocating my compassion with your charity and kindness. Now I urge you to follow my wise words. I see through your lives and hover silently over your children and parents, while I behold Lord Kalki and await His command. I welcome you heartily to secure with me the citadel of solace with rock solid fortification.

With the holy blessings of Lord Kalki,
Swami Vidyadhishananda

The Himalayan mountains span nearly 3,000 km skewed upward from East to West with three main ranges of mountains acting as a receptacle for a number of glaciers and lakes. It is the longest chain of mountains in the world, spread across a width of nearly 300 km in places. Based on height, the Himalayan ranges can be divided into the lower, middle and high ranges. The lower Himalayan ranges are called as Shivalik mountains in India and have more vegetation and rare medicinal herbs which survive the wintry conditions of lower altitudes.

For most of the year, the ambience of the mountainous terrain is enhanced by a chilled silence. One is not quite ready for the low temperatures in early October as winter begins to creep in even in the lower mountain ranges. At every reflective pause during those long winding trekking routes, one is taken back through the labyrinth of time. For the wandering and wondering trekker, forbidding glaciers, slanting narrow paths by the side of ravines, deep gorges and steep ascents of the middle and high ranges often give way to dense forests in the lower Himalaya.

On the way to remote caves and altars, the treks take one through frequent stops in villages where one can partake of meals with the most unassuming villagers. Hidden and tucked therein amidst the lower and middle range Himalayan peaks are several lesser known sites of India’s myriad cradles of spirituality. One can offer prayers at such sites with little preparation and recognize the silent blessings flowing forth from these living shrines.

These towering high Himalayan mountain ranges bordering their southern evergreen valleys defy theories about the ice age and stone age alike. India has had a continuous unbroken civilization since antiquity, and has been aptly called the cradle of the human race by many renowned authors and travellers. India’s decreasing land borders and the cultural decadence of contemporary times were preceded by eras and periods of thriving Vedic civilizations originating from these Himalayan valleys. As per the records of the Sanskrit literature (Pouranic history and geography), Vedic lineages date back to at least 15,000 years of continuous habitation in the Ganga river planes south of the Shivalik mountains.

The biodiverse habitat of the Himalayan terrain is home to many rare species of animals and plants. The world’s smallest deer and the webbed-footed flying frog are part of the exquisite variety. The famous musk deer stands out as the prize of nature among the tigers, leopards and bears, while exquisite birds and butterflies help beautify the ambience created by the exotic plants.

Rare medicinal herbs colonize the lower Himalaya and swampy areas. Many of the ancient Ayurveda and historical texts of India’s ancient past mention these medicinal plants. One such herb, mruta-sanjivani, revives the stunned or traumatized from succumbing to death and has been mentioned in the Sanskrit historical epic, Ramayana.

Rich minerals and beds of flowers help supplement a nearly unmatched biodiversity. Rivers passing through the mineral formations and flourishing areas of herbs carry potent healing waters down to the lower plains. The flowers are specifically grouped in such a way that neighbouring patches do not overlap. And specific medicinal properties are attributed to these flowering plants. Many larger Himalayan trees are not found to be growing everywhere in the region. Himalayan forests are essentially unmixed in their make-up of vegetation.

Wind, snowfall and melting snow create a unique partitioning by creating exclusive colonies of vegetation. Thus the life cycles of trees, vines and herbs are governed by a different set of circumstances at high altitudes, especially because of the high winds in this rarefied atmosphere. While the seeds of shrubs migrate with melting snow, the seeds of herbs stick to soil and are deposited within discrete pockets. In contrast, the seeds of large trees are very light and easily get wafted to great heights. High winds typical amidst the mountainous terrain carry such seeds to higher peaks, slopes and into rocky recesses. Thus Himalayan slopes and rocky recesses are known to bear tall trees.

The tall Himalayan cedar (devadāru), considered to be a favourite of the gods, grows at higher altitudes and its forest cover makes the surrounding temperatures even cooler. The birch tree, famous for its bark used as writing material, has specially shaped seeds which can be airlifted by high winds. Colonies of birch can therefore be seen afforesting mountain slopes even at high altitudes.

The highest mountains of the world harbour glaciers that represent the largest store of water apart from the polar ice caps. They supply the water flowing in rivers like the Ganga, Sindhu and Brahmaputra. The gangottari glacier (often simplified as gangotri) that feeds the Ganga has been receding year by year over the last decade. Glaciers which regulate the water supply to other rivers are also believed to be retreating each year. Many snow-fed rivers have shown signs of reduced flow and the water level in the lakes and swamps of the Himalayan valleys has been affected too.

Melting glaciers ultimately point to water shortages for millions of inhabitants in the lower valleys as well as affecting the settlements the rivers run through. A scenario beginning with floods and followed by droughts has been discussed as a possibility in the future. If the glaciers melted rapidly, it might first increase the volume of water in rivers and that could bring about flooding. Then decades later this situation could change when the water level in rivers declines and gives way to severe water shortages.

Those living on the flood plains are of course vulnerable to raised water levels, while the droughts that could follow might usher in a drastic environmental shift. It is easy to see why the availability of irrigation affects the livelihood of people living miles away from the source of these Himalayan rivers. One of the most heavily populated regions of the Indian subcontinent, where the Ganga and Brahmaputra conclude their descent into the sea, is more than one thousand miles from the foothills of the Himalayan mountains.

Besides overall climate changes encompassing the receding of glaciers, the rampant denudation and unchecked pollution have severely impacted the ecosystem. Plastic dumps are increasingly visible at most well known pilgrim centres. Musk deer and medicinal herbs are now a rarity kept alive in a few protected pockets. The environmental downslide enveloping the Himalayan wonder has become conspicuous.

Himalaya literally translates as the abode of the snow, but has also been called the heart and soul of the gods (devatātma) by the famous Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa. Well known for its mystical tradition, it is home to a number of yoga lineages. Most of the distinct mountains have names and are revered as entities each embodying a stream of knowledge. Traditionally, a spiritual lineage of masters is connected with a distinct mountain and a particular esoteric heritage.

The vast body of glaciers and lakes represent the sublime knowledge. And the melted snow that forms their waters captures the essence of divine grace bestowed from the mountaintops. Therein, the glaciers are adored as the body of knowledge frozen and preserved for a timed release. The abundant spree of rivers and rivulets represents the streams of knowledge reaching out to the parched lands to quench thirsty souls.

Himalaya is thus considered to be the disseminator of spiritual knowledge and divine inspiration, precipitating the higher knowledge from the yonder abodes for genuine seekers. The mountain villagers view Himalaya with awe as the father of the great shakti and holy mother, Parvati, who is the venerable consort of the auspicious Lord, Shiva.

A swan known as rājahansa (literally king swan), which is hailed as a symbol of transcendence, is said to have been born only at the Manasarovar lake next to Mount Kailash. The white swan is agile and ready to take off at any moment on its yonder flight. The white colour represents spiritual purity and is also symbolic of merging.

A highly realized soul is identified in Sanskrit literature as the Paramahansa or literally “the great swan.” The white swan is fabled to be astutely discriminating while absorbing only the essence, as in merely drinking the milk even when mixed with water. Ready to fly gracefully and float effortlessly, it is able to merge into the being-ness of all. The swan is said to symbolize the Shiva characteristic or auspiciousness.

Even with the encroaching environmental hazards, the yet pristine Himalaya continues to beckon truth seekers and meditators to its abode. Its rarefied atmosphere thins out worldly distractions, and the enchanting holy ambience makes the seeker adapt to the austere terrain.