Exit Strategies

Dear John,

“YOU ARE HERE” is written on the poster in bold letters, next to a bright red X. A line of arrows leads from the X, showing the exit route that leads out of the building in case of a fire. Every hotel room we’ve ever stayed in has such a sign posted inside the door, and although I’ve never actually studied one carefully, it is comforting to know that it’s there.

In our spiritual development, we may start to look for a different kind of exit strategy. Paramhansa Yogananda spoke of the “anguishing monotony” that comes when we realize that we’ve been trapped for a long time in a world where true happiness cannot be found. Then we begin to look for ways to escape suffering permanently, and for this we need more than one of those posters. The true way out is found through the guidance of God or one of His enlightened children—one who is free from delusion.

I’m reading an inspiring book now: A Goddess Among Us, by Swami Mangalananda, about the life of a great woman saint of the twentieth century, Anandamayi Ma. The book contains a story of one of Ma’s young disciples, and how the saint helped her to escape the confines of this world.

The girl was once standing in line to receive Ma’s blessings at the conclusion of a satsang. Ma’s health was quite poor at that time, and her attendants had formed a tight guard around her to prevent people from touching her feet. As the disciple stood in line, she felt an intense longing to touch Ma’s feet, and began mentally praying to receive this blessing.

As her turn came and she stood before Ma, she suddenly found that “time had stopped,” and she was in a completely private world with Ma. There was no sound, and she saw only the saint, who extended her feet towards her. Kneeling down, the girl lovingly held Ma’s feet to her head in reverence. Then, as she stood up, the noise and the attendants returned. The girl moved on, realizing that no one else had witnessed that magical moment when she’d “stolen” that sacred touch.

An even more dramatic story in this regard comes from the life of the great sixteenth-century Spanish mystic and saint, John of the Cross. Along with his elder mentor, St. Teresa of Avila, he sought to reform the Carmelite Order to its original purity, which had been lost over time.

His reform efforts were met by fierce opposition from powerful Church leaders, and in 1577 John was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured. Kept in a tiny cell, which was no more than a crawl space between two walls, he was subjected to frequent public lashings and a starvation diet. This went on for seven months.

Finally, one evening in the dead of night, a great light appeared in his cell, and Christ stood before him. The prison walls seemed to melt away, and he quietly made his escape. Though weakened and in pain from his harsh treatment, he found his way to one of St. Teresa’s convents, where he was protected and nursed back to health. Later he received protection from the Pope, who gave him permission to found and lead a new monastic order.

Friends, if you feel the problems of life are closing in around you, and all your exit strategies lead to dead ends, remember to seek help from God and the great saints. Through them alone can we find the soul freedom we are seeking.

Swami Kriyananda composed a wonderful children’s song whose words are:

“Nothing on earth can hold me;
Rise, O my soul, in freedom.
Nothing on earth can hold me;
Rise, O my soul, in freedom.

“Rise, O my soul, in freedom:
Nothing to fear anymore.
Rise, O my soul, in freedom:
Nothing to fear anymore.”

May your search for inner freedom be met with fulfillment.

Nayaswami Devi

P.S. There is much happening in honor of the Mahasamadhi of Paramhansa Yogananda, March 7th. Visit our events pageto see the various programs you can join for free virtually throughout the day.