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
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    • 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
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    • Sri Purushotammananda >
      • 108 Bhakti Kisses was added to Library of Congress collection
  • LORD OF THE UNIVERSE MOVIE AND PAINTING
  • Sai Rapture- Happy to announce
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  • 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

THE DOOR TO HEAVEN, VAIKUNTA DWARA

Picture
Sathya Sai Baba singing Pata Paduma
paaTa paaDumaa Krishna paluku tEne lolukunaTula
maaTalaaDumaa Mukunda manasu teeragaa
vEda saaramanta teesi naadaroopamuganu maarchi
vENuvandu tirugabOsi gaana roopamuganu maaku

Oh Krishna! Sing a song like sweetness of nectar (amrit) flows.
Oh Mukunda! Talk with me till my heart satisfies.
Take the essence of the Vedas and convert into a musical rhythm
Fill it into Your Divine Flute and hand us as a song.

Om Sai Ram Beloved Bhaktas of Lord Sai,

I just came back from an exhilarating experience. Divine Baba allowed me to step through the Door to Heaven.

Today, is a Hindu holy day called Ekadasi, it is a time of worship and veneration of Lord Vishnu, the aspect of God involved with preservation, protection and maintenance of the universe. Lord Vishnu is part of the Hindu trinity of Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva. Lord Krishna is also an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Last night, my dear friend Veena informed me that there was going to be a big Vishnu puja for Ekadasi at the Manav Hindu Mandir in Suntree, FL. I was about to take a nice relaxing bath and really had no intentions of going out the next day. I listened as she explained the significance of the puja and the holy day of Ekadasi. She sounded so enthused and ebullient, I began to feel slightly persuaded. Then she revealed something that really caught my ear and interest. She said that during this Vishnu celebration there is a door that the people can go through and enter into the Presence of God or Heaven. That alone was a tempting invitation. But there was something more.

I told Veena that this was very, very intriguing, because about 3 weeks ago I was reading the celestial book, Sadhana the Inward Path by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. On page four of this venerable book Swami states:

"In certain Vishnu Temples, a special door called Vaikunta-dwara is opened, and people can pass through it into the Presence. Vaikuntadwara is the gate to Heaven, that is to say, the gateway to self-realisation. The gateway to that heaven is not to be found only there; it will open, right in front of you, where-ever you are. Knock and it will open. Vishnu means, sarva vyapi, He who is everywhere. So, His residence Vaikunta (Heaven) must be everywhere. You can gain entry by knocking with the correct password on your lips. Your heart can become Vaikunta, if you but purify it and allow God to manifest in it. Vaikunta means 'the place where there is no shadow of grief.' When God manifests in your heart, all is full and free." ~Sadhana the Inward Path,  P.4, Sathya Sai Baba

After reading this sublime passage, I recall saying to divine Baba: "Swami I want to go through that door!"

So, when Veena offered this invitation I knew unequivocally it was from our beloved Bhagavan.

The next day, I dressed up in a Bengali silk purple sari skirt set with gold trim. I wanted to look beautiful for our Lord Sai. I reflected on the sanctified words gleaned from Sadhana the Inward Path. "Swami," I prayed softly, "help me to keep my heart pure, free from jealousy, hatred, anger, lust, greed, pride. Saturate my heart with selfless love, peace, truth, right actions and nonviolence."

As I drove towards the Hindu Temple I listened to Swami croon His love melodies in Telugu. It was a crisp, cold Sunday morning. The temperature had dropped considerably and the wind felt like a New York hawk. As the temple came into view I felt a golden warmth suffusing my consciousness.

Hurrying into the mandir I greeted Veena and our other Sai friend Yolanda. I also saw many other Sai family members. Soon the puja began. The priest was a jovial, South Indian man who exuded a sweetness that touched us all. He bathed and washed the idols of Vishnu, Lakshmi and Bhumi Devi (Lord Vishnu's consorts). Veena helpfully explained some of the ritualistic procedures.

After the adoration of Vishnu, the whole congregation began chanting the Vishnu Sahasranamam, 1008 Names of Lord Vishnu. I drifted in and out, the energy was so intense and concentrated, hallowed visions filled my field of consciousness. I saw large shadowy forms crowding the temple, as the visions crystallized hands pouring and distributing divine nectar were apparent. At one point, I saw Lord Krishna blowing His blessed conch. And, shortly after that, Swami's car entered with garlands strewn across it.

I was truly in an altered state, feeling quite frankly, out of my body. As we all stood, the priest told us to form a procession. A devotee offered us sandalwood paste, which I applied to my third eye. We filed out the main door of the temple, trekking along the outer perimeter, we crossed over to another door. The priest and his attendants had adorned a large wooden door with I think the idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman on top (not sure about that). Flowers festooned this portal. Everyone became very excited as he announced this was the Vaikunta Dwara, the Doorway to Heaven. I suddenly felt a flood of overwhelming compassion for everyone huddled there at that door. I thought of the many lifetimes and rebirths we all have been through waiting to go through that celestial doorway forever. One devotee exclaimed: "We are all going to heaven," I replied, "I'm ready." Then looming large in my field of consciousness I saw Sri Sathya Sai Baba, His curly mane blowing in the wind. He was draped in orange robes in a kind of desert setting (see picture above).

One by one, we entered the Gateway to Heaven into the Divine Presence. The priest waited for us with a golden cone which he placed on our heads as we passed through. Another devotee blessed us with fruit prasadam.

I am still high and in bliss from the events of this amazing day.
Thank You Swami, I LOVE YOU!

Sonya Ki






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