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
