The Christmas Gift

It was that time of the year when the world was preparing to celebrate Christmas in 2012. Life at Ananda Pune was busy, joyful, and full of activity. The greatest blessing of all, of course, was Swami Kriyananda’s presence in Pune. From time to time we had the joy of seeing Swamiji at satsangs, recordings, and other public programs.

One day I set aside time to buy Christmas presents for my spiritual and earthly family. The night before my shopping, as I lay down to sleep, my thoughts turned to a gift for Swamiji. I had planned to write him a simple Christmas greeting to accompany the gift, but I found myself wondering: What could I possibly give to someone who has already received the highest of all gifts? What would make a meaningful offering to Swamiji?

For a long time I lay awake, looking at Master’s [Yogananda] picture before me. Finally I prayed inwardly, asking Master, “What would you like to convey to Swamiji in this Christmas wish?” Immediately the words from the Bible arose in 

my mind: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Then I asked Master, “What Christmas gift would you like to give Swamiji?” Immediately the thought of apples came to mind. The thought took me by surprise, and for a while I wondered at the simplicity of such an offering—just apples? Really, Master? I kept wondering – why apples, but no understanding came. Finally I decided that even if I didn’t understand, I would simply follow the guidance and get the apples.

The next day I wrote a handwritten letter and, along with a basket of three or four kilograms of apples, offered the Christmas gift to be given to Swamiji. 

For days afterward I continued to ponder why Master chose apples as the Christmas gift. And, one day, I was given to remember the following story [extracted from The New Path by Swami Kriyananda] – 

I remember one occasion, when he was standing with a small group of us, about two yards away from me. The thought came, ‘He isn’t really standing here with us: He is inside me. In essence, he is infinite.’

Just then, Master walked over to me with a quiet smile, and gave me an apple! He was implying, ‘Don’t be so sternly philosophical that you reject the human aspect of our relationship.’

I was deeply moved. The apples were Master’s loving remembrance being offered back to Swamiji –  of the sweetness, love, and divine friendship at the heart of the Guru-Disciple relationship.  Even today, the memory of that simple gift fills my heart with gratitude for the silent ways in which the Guru’s love speaks to the soul.