In His Hands

One sunny afternoon at the Mother Center of Prema Drala, nine-year-old Jasha brought a wounded bird into the house looking for his father. Cupped in both of his hands, this lovely creature was very distressed, and I noticed the severity of the injury. The flesh was sheared off the whole top of the “shoulder” of the wing, almost to the bone, which had completely disabled it from flying. The bird was barely breathing and, though it was clearly terrified in its near-dead condition, it allowed Jasha to continue to hold it because it didn’t seem to have the energy to struggle. If left to its own devices, I know that the bird could not have survived much longer. It did not appear as if there was much that could be done. Jasha lovingly presented it to Pranananda and asked Him if there was anything his father could do to help.

Pranananda gently took the bird outside, sat down at the table, and began stroking its head and speaking softly to it. Together the children gathered around, and we sat at the backyard table in the peace of the ashram gardens, watching eagerly. Before too long, the children resumed their games and we were left alone. My beloved Guru closed His eyes, embraced the small creature in His hands, and I was blessed by a most miraculous experience.

I watched for about twenty minutes as this ragged bird physically rejuvenated before my very eyes. I could see Pranananda glowing as the energy moved through His hands into the bird’s body. The air was dancing with the electricity that was emanating from Him. I watched the transformation of this beautiful creature and, as its fear passed and it surrendered, the bird closed its eyes, went totally limp for ten to fifteen minutes, then began to vibrate with the love that Pranananda poured into its being. At one point, Pranananda released His hands from around the bird. It remained nestled in His open palms, completely trusting, as it continued to drink from the wellspring of His love while it gently rocked from side to side.

I was totally transfixed, my heart burst open, and tears flooded my eyes as I witnessed the physical incarnation of God tending to one of His own creations with such compassion and unconditional love in His own Garden of Eden. When I asked Him what the bird was saying, He told me that “she” was telling Him how very tired and terrified she felt and that she was ready to give up before arriving here. We both watched as this now-sparkling animal delicately rose to a standing position, slowly stepped out of the embrace of Prananandaji’s open palms, and gingerly walked to the edge of the table. I could see the energy around the bird as she glowed with new life. Her eyes were deep, rich, and full again. He whispered in a low soothing voice, encouraging her to fly again. The bird continued to turn her head glancing back around at this wondrous being of pure love who sat before me. She then hopped off the table edge and flew into the gardens.

As she took flight, Pranananda told me that He had telepathically instructed her to fly to the base of the Quan Yin statue in the center of the rose garden and rest a while longer. I watched as she landed there and remained for twenty minutes before making her way out of the property. I sat in awe, again reminded of the miracle that I was privileged to be in the midst of each day. Prananandaji saw my tears and He gazed at me with the most loving eyes and smiled warmly, as the sunbeams danced all around Him.

The next morning, as Pranananda and I were tending the gardens together, our new friend returned. She was hovering just over our heads, singing joyfully, swooping, and dancing on the airwaves. She had brought her mate and, like many others who experience—and are forever transformed by the pure love of—Bhagavan Sri Pranananda, she returned anew to make her home in the heartlands of His embrace and drink from the ever-flowing wellspring of His eternal love. Thank You, my beloved Guru, for allowing me the honor and privilege of serving You in this most sacred mission, as You bring the beautiful reality of Your love to all the hearts of this world.

- Markus Kasunich
Laguna Niguel, California

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