CALIFORNIA, O MY CALIFORNIA!

 by Anand Krishna*

“Jewel of the United States of America, nay, of Americas” – that was the thought that came to my mind as I left Los Angeles’ International Airport driving through Malibu on my way to Ojai….

Just a month ago, on the 8^th of September, I was in California, in the beautiful valley of Ojai to be precise. I had heard a lot, both about California and Ojai. Paramhansa Yogananda, the Great Indian Yogi who will always be remembered for his monumental autobiography, considered California as the Spiritual Heart of the World. Theosophist Annie Besant and Philosopher Krishnamurti made their homes in Ojai. Alice Baley worked from the same valley.

And, my host in Ojai, Marilyn and her husband Robert Salas, as I know them from their days in Indonesia, are into matters of spirit too. I am trying to use my words correctly “matters of spirit” – it could be read as “spirit of matters”. One and same thing, thanks to the change of paradigm initiated by Greatest Scientist and Seer of our Age, Albert Einstein. Marilyn is into healing works, and Bob is into UFO and Cosmology – Pure 100% Spirit – at least so in my opinion.

I saw and felt in California, in the beautiful valley of Ojai and the Santa Barbara Riviera – the presence of Higher Spiritual Energies. In some I saw it fully manifest, in others manifesting. Beautiful!

But, just a month later, a month after I left Los Angeles – I hear about the devastating fires in Malibu….. Malibu, ah Materialist Malibu – many of my friends here saw Malibu as Symbol of Pure 100% Materialism. I would have seen it in the same way, had I not visited The Self Realization Fellowship’s Commune there. I also chanced to meet with ex Malibu and Beverly Hill Residents in Ojai – so I had a clearer vision of the place, perfect Yin-Yang, Balance of Matter and Spirit.

A couple of days later, I found out that the fire had spread to San Diego County. President Bush and Governor Arnold declared the state of emergency…. And then, there were those scenes broadcast by CNN and others.

Indeed devastating.
Why? Why? Why? Was the balance between Spirit and Matter disturbed? Was the Yin Yang no longer in balance? My mind has been full of questions.

And, I try to look within to find some answers, some explanations. What is it that Mother Nature wants us to learn from this devastating experience?

Mother Nature….
Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether or Space. And, here we are confronted with Fire, and with Wind. What is it that you are trying to tell us, Mother?

Got it, too much of Fire. There has been too much of Fire within us, within the residents of the affected counties. And, then Wind which is in the very nature of that part of California simply collaborated with it….

To be honest, as these thoughts came to me, I did not quite know what to make of them. I reflected and reflected and then, bingo!

The Fire within us prompts us to work, to build. So, this Fire is necessary. Without this Fire, we would be inert, inertia would take us, and we would not be able to do anything. But, when this Fire is too big, we tend to work and build in a big way, and often unintelligently.

Just consider the number of rooms in those huge properties in Malibu – many of them unused. How many rooms do you require in a house? Yes, the people living in those houses are generous. They have done great things for humanity. But, in the Eternal law of Cause and Effect, there are no debits and credits. There is no setting off of our debts. We enjoy the fruits of all our good acts and suffer for all the bad acts. Ten good acts cannot stand for nine bad acts done by us - no plus and no minus.

With due respects to the residents of Malibu – please, please think on these things….. Don’t we see it is a crime to live so lavishly, while half of the world lives on less than 2 dollars a day?

The Nikes and the Adidas that we wear, for which we pay hundreds of dollars without much thought -  are made in the third world countries where the labor is paid less than 2 dollars, 2 US Dollars, for 8 to 10 hours’ work.

Fire and Smoke within have blurred our vision.
Now, may the Fire and Smoke outside, clear our vision!

As defined by our Lord, the Messiah, spirituality is “To Love Your neighbor as You Love Yourself, and Your God”. Spirituality is not accepting the dead Christ on the Cross, but to find Living Jesus in the tears and sweat of the less privileged ones.

It is not enough that we share a small portion of our income with the so called poor and destitute. We must stop pilling unnecessary wealth, it is a crime. Too much wealth on one side causes too much poverty on the other side. This is a simple, simple law of economy that we have forgotten. An Avatar reminded us 5000 years ago that pilling up too much wealth was act of theft.

Malibu, Beverly Hills, San Diego, California – wake up, wake up to your Destiny as Jewel of Americas, as the Spiritual Heart of this World!

Resurrection of Your Soul is the only hope for all nations. Give up your indulgence in bodily, physical comforts. Feel for them who have no comforts at all. Comfort them. The fire in California will extinguish in no time, let us not forget to extinguish the fire of our desires and greed, forgive me for using such strong words, so our souls are saved from burning.

Celebrities of Hollywood, become the True Celebrities.
Celebrate this Life, for Living is one Constant Celebration. It is not enough that we share part of our wealth and consider our duty and responsibility toward this world over. Have the Element of Water within you. Make your beings humid with Love, Compassion and True Empathy, True Understanding.

It is only by letting go of our wants and sticking to our needs, that we can save this world. You, the residents of Malibu, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, San Diego, and Southern California – are destined to transform this world to become a better place to live. Once again, wake up; rise up to your destiny!

* Anand Krishna has written more than 100 books on interfaith harmony, peace and mutual understanding (see www.anandkrishna.org and www.aumkar.org). His most recent achievement is the formation of the California Bali Friendship Association (www.californiabali.org).