Sai Rapture
The Ecstatic Journey of a Modern Day Gopi
  • Sai Rapture
  • Sai Rapture ~ The Book
    • Excerpt from Sai Rapture: "The Awakening Flower"
    • Bangaru ~ Sai Students
    • Kendra's 1993 Interviews
  • Guestbook
  • Sai Rapture book
  • OM SAI RAM ~ 108 Bhakti Kisses
    • 108 Bhakti Kisses included in Central Brevard Library
    • Sai Rapture Now Available At Sathya Sai Book Center
    • Please visit my Ecstatic Art & Poetry page on facebook
    • Please visit Goodreads.com to review and rate this book
    • 108 Bhakti Kisses Testimonials & Reviews
  • ONLINE POETRY READINGS
  • NEW BOOK: Saraswati Lotus Pearls
    • Saraswati Lotus Pearls Poetry Reading
  • Dharma Press Publications
  • 108 Bhakti Kisses Book
  • 108 Bhakti Kisses ~ A Garland of Poems
  • As Close To Heaven As It Gets
    • Star of Saraswati Art Gallery >
      • Lord Vishnu and Our Lady of the Cosmos
      • The Passion of Hanuman
      • Sai Mohini
      • Artsy Movie
      • ECSTATIC ART MOVIE
      • Lord of the Universe Painting
      • Swami in our puja room
      • Art Slideshow
    • Grand World pilgrimage 2012
    • Grand World Pilgrimage videos
    • Gem of the Jemez
    • Omming Birds
  • Sai Rapture on Amazon
    • Sri Purushotammananda >
      • 108 Bhakti Kisses was added to Library of Congress collection
  • LORD OF THE UNIVERSE MOVIE AND PAINTING
  • Sai Rapture- Happy to announce
  • Sai Rapture on Barnes & Noble
  • Sai Baba Talk at Melbourne Spiritualist Chapel 10/11/15
    • Lovely Leela , Guru Poornima 2016
  • The Mystic Hour
    • Soham Meditation
    • Universal Love Meditation
    • Sai Oracle: dreams, leelas, miracles, guidance >
      • Sai Baba's Name Heard in Superbowl 2014 Coke commercial
      • Sai Oracle: dreams, leelas, miracles, guidance and instruction
      • Sai Silhouette
      • Vibhuti footprints all over my heart
      • Sai Baba Dream, March 9, 2012
      • Heavenly Sai dream, 10/26/12
      • Goddess of the Rainbow
      • Sai Baba Dream, 12/22/2012
      • Be Good, Do Good, See Good
      • Divine Sai Dream, 02/10/2013
      • Sai Baba Dream, 4/19/2013
      • Sai Baba Dream, 6/15/2013
      • Shirdi Sai Baba Dream, 9-13-2013
      • Sai Baba Dream 10-7-2013
      • Celestial dream 11-4-2013
      • Heavenly Sai Dream, 11-30-2013
      • Sun of Suns dream - 12/8/2013
      • California Sai Rush >
        • jjesus Dream 4/1/2014
        • Santa Barbara and Lake Shrine, Ca., April 2014
        • Sai At Tustin, California, April 2014
        • The Om heard at Lake Shrine, CA
      • See God in Everything, Sai dream, 1-5-14
      • How to remember your dreams
      • Incredible Sai Baba Dream, 02/03/14
      • Very Strange dream with Sai Baba, 2/13/2014
      • Swami Dream 02-26-14
      • Sai Dream, 4/21/2014
      • Ganesha Dream, 5/1/14
      • The Mysterious Cat
      • Sai Eyes Dream & Leela, 5/20/2014
      • Shiva dream and vision 6/14/2014
      • Om...Beautiful Baba dream, 7/9/2014
      • Kool dream, 7-24--14
      • Amazing Sai spiritual experience 8/28/14
      • Mystical Prayer Leela 9/2/14
      • Divine Meditation, 10/02/2014
      • Cosmic Dive Dream, 10/24/14
      • We Gather the Glory!
      • Kundalini rising
      • sai bus driver
      • baby hercules
      • Sai Greenbay packer
      • Angels in the mist
      • The Moon Goddess Diana Dream
      • "I am going to turn on your Soul!' - Dream
      • Jai Baba Sai Baba dream, 02/11/2015
      • Sea God Dream, 03/01/2015
      • Vibhuti dream 03-10-15
      • Sai Surya Meditations
      • Holy Hand of Sai Meditation, 12/26/15
      • PRESENT MOMENT BLISS
      • Where my Devotees are Gathered There I Am
      • Transcending the Scene
      • Sai Darshan Dream, 04/27/15
      • Swami Please come, 05/15/2015
      • Sai Peacenik Leela
      • Chasing Swami Dream 06/20/15
      • Patty The Vet Matters
      • The Mysterious Double Astral Body
      • Ocean of Milk Lord Sai
      • Hari Om
      • THE CELESTIAL OCEAN
      • Krishna Madhava
      • Val Anderson ~ Swami's Beautiful Leela
      • Love One Another As I Have Loved You
      • Sathya Sai Baba Avatar Declaration Day
      • The Holy Spirit
      • Divine Swami Dream, 01/24/16
      • Nectarine Swami Dream, 11/26/2016
      • Sri Durga Devi Hears our Prayers
      • The Lord's Name is sweeter than His Form
      • You become Baby One With Me
      • Sairam
      • Sathya Sai Baba Darshan dream, 8/21/2016
    • I Am Sai Meditation
    • Courting the Presence of Sathya Sai Baba Meditation
    • Courting the Presence of Sai Avatar Part 2
    • Courting the Presence of Sai Avatar Part 3
  • Ethereal Gardens
    • Sonya ki Poems
    • Sonya Ki Poetry Video ~ Lou
    • Ecstatic Love Poems By Sonya Ki
    • Ecstatic God Poems By Sonya Ki
    • Heart Kiss ~ Ecstatic Poetry recording
    • Lotus Nectar ~ Audio/Visual Poetry recording
    • PURCHASE ORIGINAL ART WORK
    • Mirabai Poems
    • Spirit of Kabir
    • Rumi Ruminations
    • A New Year's Prayer
    • The Mystical Poems of St. John of the Cross
  • Divine Mother Sai
  • Sai Temple of Healing, Spiritual Knowledge & Instruction
    • Yoga Mat
    • Chakra Bath
    • Sai Health Tips
    • A Surpise Law of Healing
    • Manna: Man does not live by bread alone
    • God Speaks in Mysterious Ways
    • Shiva Shakti
    • Healing Light Dream and Reflexology >
      • Reflexology
    • Love is the way to God
    • THE EVERLASTING LIGHT
    • Sai Baba's Miracle cure - Ron Mead
    • Raising your vibrations >
      • The Placebo Effect
      • Deathbed Visions By Beverly McLean
    • Sweet Speech
    • MANDALA >
      • God creating with universe with Om cartoon (taken from internet)
      • SSE- Power of the mantra
      • SSE Rules
      • Heavenly Sai Prayer
    • Weight loss - If Lou can do it we can do it >
      • Confessions of a Couch Potato
    • How Does One Reconnect to Swami Within - Talk by Dr. Srikanth Sola
    • Whole Life Support
    • David's Leela Birthday, 8/16/2016
  • Compassionate Communication
    • Compassionate Communication #2
    • Compassionate Communication #3
    • Compassionate Communication #4
    • Compassionate Communication #5
    • Compassionate Communication #6
    • Compassionate Communication #7: The Jack and Geraldine Show
    • ComPassionate Communication #8: Jack & Geraldine: The 4 Choices
    • How to Save your Marriage- a Compassionate Communication Special
    • The Power of Recognizing our Needs
    • What is Empathy Anyway?
    • Pay It Forward
  • ANTI-AMA AYURVEDIC WISDOM
  • Chapel of Love & Music
    • Chapel of Love and Music
    • Swami singing Kodanda Rama
    • My Too Sweet Lord
    • Sai Mata Pita
    • Ganesha Sharanam
    • Be Still My Soul
    • My Eyes are forever seeing Your form
    • Joyful Joyful we adore Thee
    • My Prayer
    • Daya Sudha
    • Let our hearts reflect your love Lord duet- Sonya ki & David
    • Sai Unchained melody (Cover)
    • AKHANDA JYOTI JALAO
    • Come Sai Lord Incarnate~Happy Birthday!
    • Madhusudana
    • HOW GREAT THOU ART
    • All Hail The Power Of Sai Baba's Name
    • MY EYES ARE FOREVER SEEING YOUR FORM VIDEO
    • I Offer myself to Thee
    • Swami You send me
    • Blackbird rising
    • I will follow Sai - audio
    • I will follow Sai
    • MY SAI AMOUR
    • My Sai Amour Audio
    • Love is My Form
    • Love is My Form ~ Part 2
    • GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD
    • Jaya Jagadeesha Hare
    • O Beautiful!
    • Prem Amritha
    • Hanuman Chant
    • JAYA JAYA JAYA AMBE
    • Without Singing to the Lord
    • Ceiling on Desires Bhajan by Renu Gidoomal
    • Prayer of a Sai Child
    • Down Blue Jay Way
    • Sai Mata Pita
    • Sai Ram Murari
    • Will you Love the Poor*
    • Sai Natha
    • Om Jai Jai Guru
    • Karunanta Ranga
    • Somewhere Beyond Samsara >
      • Sri Durga Devi
      • Narayan Narayan
      • Zuni Sunrise *
  • About me
  • Heavenly sai prayer 2
  • Sing, Sing for Swami dream 06/06/15
  • mala
  • Art for the Soul
  • Untitled
  • Colombe Kendra
  • Grace of the Lord
  • ADHIKA BASHINCHU
  • Divine Messenger
  • Why fear When I Am Here
  • I Surrender to you Baba
  • THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND
  • Blood Brothers
  • The Door to Heaven, Vaikunta Dwara
  • This is my Father's world
  • TALKING WIND DREAM
  • Golden Bangaroo
  • Om Sri Sathya Sai Baba
  • SAI IS THE BLISS OF DIVINITY
  • A flower from my lips to Yours, Sai
  • Ocean Goddess
  • Sai North Carolina Region 3 Retreat Reflections
  • Blessings from the Heart of Sai Dream
  • Green Pastures
  • I Am God
    • "I Am from you" Sai Dream
  • A Song for you
  • Krishna's Celestial Flute
  • Heart Lotus
  • Starship God Dream, 9/25/2017
  • Sathya Sai Baba White lotus dream, 10/04/2017
  • Sai Collage
  • Sai Darshan Dream, 11/07/17
  • Sai Divine Love Dream, 12/26/2017
  • GOLDEN AGE OF SAI
  • SWAMI AND AYURVEDA
  • Lovely Sai Leela, 4/17/2018
  • Sai, Center of Unbroken Praise
  • Golden Sai Dream
  • The Power of God
  • Swami Dream, 02-05-2018
  • Sweet Swami Dream, 03/14/2018
  • Sai Ram
  • Celestial Portal
  • Candlight in the Grotto
  • Sathya Sai Baba's Celestial Throne
  • Swami Jhoola Dream, 6/6/18
  • Omnipresent Sai
  • Art Gallery
  • Sai Golden Lights
  • Sai Deus
  • Sai Portal
  • Happy Sai New Year
  • Golden Sai Ganesha
  • Sai Nectar
  • Happy Sai Ram Navami 2019
  • Sai Luminary
  • The Sai Element
  • Sai Chariot, 02/09/20
  • Jagan Mati Shakti Durge
  • Sai! Our Beloved Avatar
  • Sai Temple Text - Good Company
  • Sai Temple Text - Human Life is Sacred
  • Sai Temple Text - The Divine Presence
  • Sai Days
  • Glories Of Our Jesus Christ
  • Sai Temple Text - Good Character Blossoms
  • Baba's Devotees Love Him So Enduring
  • Temple Text - The Eternal Path
  • One
  • Sai Temple Text - Serving Hearts
  • Sai Bilva Leaf Leela
  • Sai Temple Text-Golden Smart Choices
  • Sai Temple Text - "Who is your true friend?"
  • Sai Temple Text- The Purpose of Life
  • Sai Temple Text ~ God's Golden Presence
  • Sai Temple Text - Temple of the Mind
Sai Ram Beloved Sai Family
We journeyed north to Santa Barbara which truly has to be one of the most beautiful cities in America. Driving along the exquisite coastline of the alluring Pacific Ocean was just sheer enchantment.  Sandy mountains plunged joyously into the open arms of the sea. Curving around western hills with patches of cactus, sagebrush only to be surprised by happy green pastures of farmlands. Migrant workers bent over picking strawberries, their floppy hats and clothing billowing out like kites para-sailing over the wide open fields.

We reached Santa Barbara early before our planned lunch engagement with a friend of David's. As we drove through the city trying to decide what to do, David said the Santa Barbara Mission would be nice to visit I agreed so we made our way to Mission Street and soon saw the exalted white  towers of the Santa Barbara Mission center.  A Franciscan order The mission housed about 120 active residents but at one time served over 2000 community members. The main reason for the establishment of the Mission center was to evangelize the Chumash Native American population.

The Mission center was quite large with multiple courtyards resembling an intricate labyrinth that we both easily got lost in. The courtyards were adorned with lovely gardens of peonies, roses and lush green foliage. Sacred statues of friars, saints and Jesus blessed the holy Sanctuary.

St. Francis of Assisi sent his disciples out into the world to evangelize and bring people to Christ. He was a mystic and lover of God, animals and nature
. St. Francis of Assisi's mantra was so awesome:
"My God, My All."

The Mission had a beautiful cathedral where David and I sat for a lovely meditation, we also toured the museum and lit a candle for world peace. At the conclusion of our tour we were given a special treat. David inquired at the office if he could speak to any of the friars. At first they said no one was available. A man in native Chumash dress named Russell chatted with me offering tips for our travel. We were about to leave when a Friar unexpectedly appeared- Father Larry. He took us into his private office and told us a little bit about the history of the mission. He said he was a Vietnam vet and had a transforming spiritual experience that inspired him to surrender completely to God and become a friar. It was the crowning touch to wonderful experience. We left the mission spiritually sated and blissed out.

LAKE SHRINE OF PARAMAHAMSA YOGANANDA

We traveled south on California 1 again through truly gorgeous ocean and mountain vistas. The sapphire blue surf of the pacific ocean splashing its jewels across the rocky shores. We were off to visit the Lake Shrine of Paramahamsa Yogananda. Swami Paramahamsa Yogananda brought Yoga to the West, he also had a special affinity to the teachings of Jesus the Christ. His book "The Autobiography of a Yogi" is a world renowned and awesome book.

We stopped to take pictures at a particularly beautiful spot. A kind couple in a white pickup truck asked if we would like our picture taken. We agreed they took our picture with the Pacific Ocean sufi dancing  in the background. This sweet couple took their dogs out for a walk and unfortunately locked themselves out of the truck. They came over to us requesting help to call triple A. We started talking about spiritual matters, the couple said that there was a Hari Krishna temple nearby. We told them about Lake Shrine they appeared very interested. We exchanged emails and left feeling very blessed. Finally, we made it to Lake Shrine. Words cannot describe the unparalleled beauty and sacred vibration of this place. As we strolled towards the lake, giddy flowers and gigantic rose blossoms welcomed visitors with glowing beauty. We passed the Gandhi Memorial and took holy pranams. This place was indeed a slice of heaven in the middle of LA. I began to sing a bhajan to the Celestial Mother while standing by the lake. Hummingbirds joined the chorus flirting and flitting about. I was a bit disappointed when I did not see the Divine Swans I had heard so much about floating tranquilly on the reflective, meditative surface of the lake. We encountered a young man named Gary who was a host at the shrine. Gary was from Britain and was very helpful and loving. He was currently unemployed and actually lived off one meal a day and a lot of meditation. He pointed out Paramahamsa's boat house residence on the lake and the wind mill Temple under construction.  David and I were standing on the small pier watching painted turtles when suddenly my eyes were drawn to two huge white lotus looking blossoms in the corner of the lake where the construction was going on. Then the apparition became clear there were two swans building a nest. Eagerly I rushed over to the area where they were diligently plucking and pulling bits of reeds and grass for their swan nest. Again, I sang a song to the Divine Mother praying that she would grace me with a vision of the lovely Swan swimming on the lake. After a short while the male Swan waddled into the water and sailed serenely and royally before my eyes. "Thank You beloved Devi Ma!" I continued to watch contemplating the Grandeur and magnificence of this sanctified place.

David and I climbed the hundred and five steps to the main temple. We entered the temple and sat for meditation. Divine peace enveloped us, we both had wonderful visions. David said that at one point in his meditation he saw a vision of a young  Sai Baba. Baba reappeared again later in his meditation. In my meditation I observed a short man standing by what looked like a cooler. He looked at me and said "We will cool you off,"  then he handed me a card and a can. Immediately after that I had a hot flash... hahaha. As I went deeper into the meditation two staircases opened up and I saw saints and holy personages descending. After that Sai Baba's face appeared very large extending out to the mountains and across the sky, I turned and saw Lord Shiva, the Ganges gushing from His locks sitting atop a mountain.
 Our meditation lasted about 45 minutes, after which we explored the bookstore and the gift shop before concluding our our heavenly visit to Lake shrine.
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