As I was thinking of Paramhansa Yogananda today, the 69th anniversary of his Mahasamadhi, I was reminded of this poem. As far as I could find out, it was written sometime in the 1950’s by “a Western devotee.” I first encountered it when I was very new on the path and the message of it rocked my soul. It still does.
The Guru’s Love
You may come to him for a few seconds then go away
and do whatever you will.
His love is unchanging.
You may deny him to yourself
and then curse him to any who will listen.
His love is unchanging.
You may become the most despised creatures
and then return to him.
His love is unchanging.
You may become the enemy of God, Himself,
and then return to him.
His love is unchanging.
Go where you will and do what you will,
stay however long you will
and come back to him.
His love is unchanging.
Abuse others, abuse yourself, abuse him
and then come back to him.
His love is unchanging.
He will never criticize you;
he will never minimize you;
he will never desert you
because to him you are everything
and he, himself, is nothing.
He will never deceive you;
he will never ridicule you;
he will never fail you because
to him you are God Nature to be served
and he is your servant.
No matter what befalls;
no matter what you become he awaits you always.
He knows you; he serves you; he loves you.
His love for you in the changing world is unchanging.
His love, my beloved, is unchanging.