"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt," someone wise once said. It seems an apt description of the life of Sri Daya Mata, who led the Self Realization Fellowship for the past 55 years. I never saw her pontificating on TV or quoted in news stories, as is often the case with other religious leaders. I never heard tell of any scolding or finger-wagging on the part of this spiritual woman. As far as I can tell, she lived in the spirit of Gandhi's famous words: "My life is my message."
Before moving to the woodsy, hillside Los Angeles community of Mt. Washington twenty-three years ago, I had never heard of the Self Realization Fellowship (SRF), nor had I heard of its leader, Sri Daya Mata. This despite having spent three years studying for a Ph.D. in Social Ethics at USC's School of Religion. But I had been interested only in Western religion and theology, so I never took any classes in Eastern religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, Shinto or modern-day hybrid religions like the Self Realization Fellowship.
I don't remember exactly how I learned of SRF's presence on Mt. Washington -- probably through a neighbor telling me what that big campus was on top of the hill. It seemed to me that those who lived there kept a low profile but were always pleasant whenever our paths crossed while jogging or walking.
It was some years before I learned that their hilltop campus is a cloistered monastery, which explains why the monks and nuns keep to themselves most of the time. Their job is to do their spiritual work on behalf of the world, but not actively engage with the world, as one of the monks explained to me when I invited several of them to come over for dinner. Silly me. Cloistered religious devotees do not do dinner with the neighbors.
I was curious about my unique neighbors, but I would have to content myself with reading some of their literature, listening to audiotapes (my favorite was actor and SRF member Dennis Weaver on "How to Spiritualize Business") and visiting their other facilities in Pasadena, Encinitas, Hollywood and Pacific Palisades. After learning more about their theology, I appreciated them in my neighborhood even more. After all, I figured, having monks and nuns meditating, chanting and pursuing their spiritual work in our midst must surely generate some good karma. And heaven knows, the world -- and our community -- needs all the good karma it can get!
I never thought much about who the leader of the SRF was, I simply appreciated what her church's presence added to Mt. Washington. They're quiet and respectful of their neighbors. They keep their grounds immaculate. I love the fact that they open their gardens to the rest of us for meditation or simply a walk to enjoy the incredible view and the gorgeous grounds.
I appreciate the public events they have hosted over the years: the Halloween fantasy land for our kids and the concerts they used to hold on their tennis courts. And during Christmas week, I love the fact that they ring recorded church bells in the evening. I try to make sure I'm outdoors at the right time so I can hear the Christmas carols ring out in the crisp winter air. It never fails to make me smile and enhance my holiday spirit.
Sometimes on Sunday mornings when I'm walking my dog in front of the SRF grounds, I hear the monks chanting their prayers. I think, Say a prayer for me while you're at it, guys. I always feel a tad more spiritual as I eavesdrop on their Sunday morning ritual.
And what of the woman who led this spiritual community for 55 years? I didn't learn the facts of her life until I read them in the LA Times after she died at the end of November. But I didn't have to know the details of her life to get a sense of who she was. I already knew her by her work.
I knew her spirit in the happy, friendly faces of the monks and nuns who greeted me on my morning walks. I knew her in the beautiful books and calendars the SRF publishes. I knew her in my strolls across the SRF grounds to take in the view and the times my dog and I would play on their lovely lawns. I knew her in my quiet moments of meditation in the SRF garden, when I acknowledged her unseen presence with a simple prayer of thanks.
Sri Daya Mata, the neighbors of Mt. Washington hardly knew you. But yet we did. We knew you through the peaceful, serene spirit of your community and the special energy we feel when we're around your followers and in your gardens. Thank you for being our neighbor; thank you for making Mt. Washington your home; thank you for your contribution to the world. Your work speaks for itself.
BJ Gallagher is a Mt. Washington writer and co-author of 'What Would Buddha Do at Work?' (Berrett-Koehler; 2001)
Follow BJ Gallagher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BJ_Gallagher
Deepa S. Iyer: The Sacred Act of Eating: A Hindu Foodie's Daily Ritual
Daya Mata - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sri Daya Mata, American Hindu Leader, Dies at 96 - NYTimes.com
Memorial service set for Sri Daya Mata - latimes.com
om daya mata
spending time with the monks in silence was an interesting experience. then one day there was a lecture on the devil. what I thought a personal devil. yes indeed I was told by the head monk a personal devil.
so I spent time coming up with my one question that week on how the devil could escape karma for its evil deeds. the answer that came back was god gives the devil special permission to do its evil deeds with no karma involved. dogma knows no boundries.
again another religion with its religious dogma but this religion is worth the effort as it dives into the teachings of enlightened hinduism and the evolution of consciousness process.
the garden at Encinitas is the most beautiful garden I have ever seen and sitting on the bluff and doing meditation listening to the waves break below you is a delight that every sincere seeker should experience.
the autobiography of a yogi is a must read for every sincere seeker into these mysteries of life.
now how anyone can get a degree in religious studies and not study buddhism, hinduism or sufism is beyond me.
this is not what the head monk taught.
the monk taught a personal devil out to get us and god gave the devil a free pass from karma. interesting god is it not. :-)
his quote was that once yogananda had a black cat jump on his lap and yogananda pushed the cat off his lap and yelled devil get off my lap.
as we were not allowed to ask follow up questions or any dialog I was unable to question this head monk further.
surely you are able to see that followers screw us their master's teachings time and time again.
one only has to look at christianity and see how jesus teachings have been screwed up by christians.
Daya Mata was decent and honorable. True, she trained under PG, however, she
has her own personality ~ tailored and pure. I have seen her many times as we are
SRF. I am blessed, humbly blessed to be on this path. No ego goes hand in hand
when your truly following God. Are you the neighbor that observed the headquarters? Thank you from a genuine blessed heart this magnificent well
written article. I want to be reminded of this so I may grow and have the spirituality
Daya Mata ( Ma, as we called her ) possessed. Yes, she deserves to the in the
spotlight alone and not just this one time, let's strive for more. Thank you.
Jeanne Faye Daves Oceanside, California. P.S. Your an angel & beautiful !!!