The year following the Mahasamadhi of The Master is said be to be one of celebration of His Life and recounting Leelas ( Divine sport or Instructive play) associated with The Realizers time amongst us. This is an oral Leela which I don’t think has ever been published, I have heard it recounted twice in detail but not directly to me, so some details may be in error or in need of correction, so take it as a reasonably accurate account.
“In 1977 Adi Da, then Bubba Free John suddenly decided to go on an Indian Yajna or pilgrimage taking one devotee with him, named William. It turned out to be a very short trip. Adi Da spent most of his time in and around the area of Ramana Maharshi’s Ashram at the foot of Arunachala Hill in Southern India
He stayed some days in a Cave (more like a small dwelling) which had been frequented by Ramana Maharshi, with William, an Ashram priest serving this area, upon seeing Adi Da, began to perform ceremonial worship on Him as if He was a “Shiva Lingam” In response to this Adi Da went into an ecstatic state, losing consciousness of His surroundings.
About the same time a group of pilgrims were circumnambulating Arunachala as was the custom, upon seeing the Great Adept they also began offering their praise and worship but to the Divine Form manifest as the Hindu Godhead aspect Vishnu.
Also arriving on the scene or perhaps on hearing of Adi Da’s appearance, 2 or 3 rather wild looking sadhus also came for Darshan.
At some point the situation was getting a bit crazy,and causing a disturbance, Adi Da Samraj decided to leave with William, the Sadhus began to follow and Adi Da blessed them with a fierce hissing look, called the “scowl of renunciation” and they received this as Diksha (blessing) and did not follow.”
I love this Leela which clearly expresses what Adi Da has called the Ancient Walk About Way or the tradition of spontaneous Response and Heart Recognition of the Master’s Form wherever it appears. I also did not want this story to be lost, since to my knowledge it has never been published, if any one can add to, or clarify it further please leave a comment
The pictures are of Adi Da ( Bubba Free John) on this trip in !977, complements of Beezone and copyright Adidam.org more detail from the Vision Mound Magazine 1977
Tags: Adi Da, Adi Da Samraj, Arunachala, Bubba Free John, Leela, MahaSamadhi, Ramana Maharshi
A few years ago I met someone (a westerner) who is now a close and dear friend. When he found out my Sat Guru was Adi Da, he told me of a trip he had made to India in 1977. He considers his Sat Guru to be Ramana Maharshi, but he had read The Knee of Listening. One day during his visit, he turned a corner and saw Adi Da (known as Bubba Free John then). They looked at each other with a recognition beyond names and words, and they spontaneously hugged. My friend described it as a big bear hug that lasted awhile. Then they each went on their own way. No words were spoken.
Imagine running into Beloved “by chance” like that in India!
Hi Chris, thanks for that info, indeed what a graceful moment, with Adi Da’s Mahasamadhi there are now quite a few of these spontaneous blessing meetings coming to light, another is here
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“I am sorry to hear of the Passing of Bubba Free John; I met him one moment as he was leaving a Sacred/Esoteric Bookstore in Los Angeles years ago when we were both young. His look in my eyes left an indelible Impression that still remains to this day. I was especially impressed by his teaching of “Avoiding Relationship” and how Enlightenment is already there Within at any moment.
http://hogueprophecy.com/predictions/?p=117
I look forward to hearing all of them !
All the best.
Beautiful story…thanks so much for sharing it
Thanks for posting this! I think it’s pretty accurate, I’d also heard it by word of mouth.
I had a friend in England who met Beloved in India at Mutananda’s Ashram. He said it was very ordinary in many ways, just a bit of small talk, but he really felt a strong Presence! He didn’t find out who ‘Franklin’ was until many years later!
During the 2005 Summer of Divine Bliss at MOA William told me some of these leelas of Baba Adi Da’s cave in Arunachal Pradesh. I so fervently hope that some day William will put it all down in paper and ink…..
Yes a book, in fact would be a joy, several different books would be even better ( by long time devotees) , thanks for the comment ..
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