KamalaSilva.org :: A weblog of treasured memories

CORRECTED ANNOUNCEMENT Our new 2-CD set of Kamala's Recorded Talks

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:12:00 -0700

Our New 2-CD Collection of Kamala's Talks, lovingly produced by devotee Steve Dean of Aurora Recording, is finally available for purchase. Please go to our Recordings By Kamala page to learn more!

Our sincere apologies to all who tried to click through from the earlier announcement.

NEW RECORDING :: Reverence For All Life

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:32:00 -0700

We are pleased to announce that we successfully repaired the old reel-to-reel tape containing Kamala's favorite lecture, "Reverence For All Life." We have added it to the listening page and to the downloads page for those of you who wish to listen to it offline.

Enjoy!

A Gift of Love and Devotion - Several Copies of Kamala's Books

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:11:00 -0700

It was a special joy to learn that a website devoted to Kamala Silva, the great disciple and minister of Paramhansa Yogananda was created recently by loving devotees in the San Francisco area where Kamala conducted her long ministry and established the Blessed Master's work in that area. I was blessed to know Kamala through many years of personal correspondence. Also during the many years I lived in the Encinitas area and attended the SRF services and retreats there, almost all the lay disciples owned her books and loved her. Those books, The Flawless Mirror and Priceless Precepts have long been out of print. Kamala and her husband Edward at their own expense quietly printed and sold these books to share Kamala's long life and service to Paramhansaji, as one of his earliest and most advanced disciples. In particular, The Flawless Mirror is the first book ever written by a direct disciple about Paramhansa Yogananda and remains a spiritual treasure.

The Flawless Mirror, which tells the story of Kamala's many years as the Master's disciple, and Priceless Precepts, which was taken from her many lectures as his minister, have been a great inspiration to countless devotees. The hardback version of these books were first published in the 1960's and the last edition was published in 1987. Since Kamala's passing I have been purchasing and collecting "very fine" editions of The Flawless Mirror, knowing how difficult it is now to find an edition in excellent condition, and how rare these editions have become.

In the spirit of supporting this lovely website, I have donated a number of these fine quality editions to the "For the Love of Kamala" site to be sold to help fund the future work of this small group which is lovingly keeping her spirit and life of devotion and service to Paramhansaji alive. The purchase of these editions will serve to help these devotees in their future projects, and it is hoped that at some point in the future that lovely paperback editions of Kamala's books will be printed so that devotees everywhere will be able to feel the inspiration of her wonderful books, and at a very affordable price for all. Until then, the discerning devotee collector will find these fine editions a priceless addition to their spiritual library and know that the cost has gone to such a wonderful project.

Very sincerely, Anthony Plumer

From the Editors

Our deepest thanks to this dear and generous friend. We will begin adding Anthony's contributions to the website this week.

1987 - 10/5

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:23:00 -0700

The joy of God entered my heart during meditation tonight - most wonderful. In it the blessing of God, Master, and our Paramgurus. God so tangible - such a special blessing. Pure divine joy.

1985 - 6/28

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:15:00 -0700

Tonight around 9:30 I was thinking of Master and the OM came so loud - prevading me with such a great peace. I was "still" and absorbed in it - then of the loved words of the OM song - then to think of the centers - and then to remember so many special times with Master and his words to me. The times also in the super conscious state [during sleep] so wonderful. The peace fills my mind, feeling, body and thoughts. Thank you Master so much for your great blessings that are still with me as I write.

1985 - 6/21

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:39:00 -0700

Birthday

A spiritual blessing - all day was filled with great peace and withdrawn from all else, such contentment. A most special inner stillness - and as if part of great oneness in the peace of God - from Master in God.

1985 - 4/19

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:34:00 -0700

Late this afternoon the OM is great and loud in my ears - so wonderful to be so blessed. It had been almost faint for a couple of days - but now is here.

1985 - 4/13

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:03:00 -0700

Tonight the OM came resounding in my ears and through me - bringing a great thankfulness, peace and contentment - thoughts of God - Spirit and Master filling my mind. (my first words in this diary - 1985)

1982 - 12/29

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:54:00 -0700

In 3 hour meditation with Bernadette on the first part of Genesis (listening to OM - and seeing light and deeply absorbed in the words of Genesis - first lines) God and the word (cosmic vibration) and the light. I cried afterward - so filled with the beauty of attunement with God - in my heart. A spiritual pervading of this Divine Blessing.

1982 - 3/9

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:32:00 -0700

A great spiritual peace - the whole night from midnight on and into whole morning. Prefect Peace - in 9th meditation with Bernadette - there was such stillness around me - in body, mind, room. Hours of greatest stillness pervading room and me. (no outside sounds either) But this was an inner stillness. A rare and wonderful blessing.

Merry Christmas To All

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:45:00 -0700

From December 1951, Master's last Christmas greeting with a note to Kamala...

From the Letters of LP

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:40:00 -0700

Note from LP: I am pleased to share this two-part correspondence I received from Kamala Silva in June of 1985.

Please note that Kamala sent me this card after I wrote her to thank her for writing The Flawless Mirror. I had just finished reading it a third time on Master's birthday, and felt compelled to thank Kamala for her great contribution to literature on Master.

Note from The Editors: LP asked us to use only initials on this submission and to blur the address on the postcard, which we have done. Kamala's typewritten and signed note in the upper corner of the second enclosure reads:

"The underlining was added many years ago as I studied our Guru's words and precepts for the Sunday Service which I prepared each week." Kamala

From the Letters of Jan and Dave Dunlop

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:06:00 -0700

Jan and Dave Dunlop shared a long and happy correspondence with Kamala as admirers of her books, The Flawless Mirror and later Priceless Precepts.

The words they wrote her which Kamala "treasured" were penned by Dave Dunlop and inspired by the "heart of hearts" phrase in one of Master's chants.

To clarify which words she so loved, on January 30, 1984 Kamala wrote in a followup postcard:

These are the melodic words:
"As you have wished us our Dream of Dreams in the stillness of our souls, so also we wish you the Grace of God in your heart of hearts."

From the Letters of Anthony Plumer . . .

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:49:00 -0700

This was one of the last letters I received from Kamala, and I have given the original letter to KamalaSilva.org to share with devotees. I hope it will clarify and even comfort devotees of Paramhansa Yogananda as to her continued and warm relationship with Self-Realization Fellowship and Daya Mata.

Over the years that I had the privilege to correspond with Kamala, I never really asked any questions of a personal nature. The ongoing questions and discussions were about the Master, meditation, his teachings, and so forth. Part of this letter is a discussion about a young devotee in the Bay Area who had written to Kamala after reading her book, The Flawless Mirror. She had mentioned his interest to me of living in a situation or environment that had a strong focus upon the Master and his teachings. At that time, I rented several rooms in my home to individuals interested in yoga and meditation.

She also responded, however, to another question of mine. Since I knew nothing of her current relationship with SRF, I offered to purchase books and tapes for her. I knew she was retired and lived in seclusion, and she answered my question in this letter explaining that relations with SRF and Daya Mata were friendly and ongoing. She also adds comments about her own book, and also about the new recordings of Yogananda being released at that time by SRF.

I was very happy to learn that she and Daya Mata were in touch, and that they were on such friendly turns. It was also touching to know that Daya Mata remembered Kamala and Edward in this way, and personally sent them copies of various new editions.

~Anthony Plumer

Bonnie Reed Koobatian and Haig Koobatian

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:27:00 -0700

Kamala's closest friend and confidant from the 1950s through the very end of her life was Bonnie Reed. Bonnie was her beloved secretary and also helped with editing and polishing both of Kamala's books, The Flawless Mirror and Priceless Precepts. Bonnie married Haig Koobatian in the early 1960s.

Haig Koobatian had been a high school teacher before becoming a B17 bomber navigator during WWII. When he returned home from the war, he returned to college and earned an MBA. His father was an early member of SRF, and in 1952 Master called Haig home to SRF as well. Haig became a devoted student of Master's revered disciple, Dr. Lewis, and studied with him for many years. Haig later found his true calling as a healer. At the age of 57, he graduated from chiropractic school and went into practice. Haig still sees patients today, at age 87, ever ready to help anyone destiny brings his way.

Haig and Bonnie Koobatian were mainstays of the Sacramento Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Group. They helped to establish the Center there, and both of them served selflessly for decades to support Master's work in Northern California. Bonnie Reed Koobatian passed away in October 2005 and is still sorely missed by many of us. Such a dear sweet soul.