Photo Credit: Truth Ultimate

As we approach the 50th Mahasamadhi anniversary of our revered Neem Karoli Baba, or Maharajji, we’re reminded of the profound depth of this spiritual milestone. Mahasamadhi is the final, enlightened meditation a saint enters when consciously departing from their mortal body. It signifies the harmonious fusion of their consciousness with the divine self.

While Maharajji may not be with us in physical form, his spiritual essence radiates evermore powerfully. Ram Dass’s poignant words from “Miracle of Love” resonates deeply, “One cannot understand what he is. Physically he is not here, but he is listening to everything.” Many of you have shared stories of being profoundly touched by Maharajji’s grace, even if you never met him physically, underscoring his boundless spiritual reach.

On September 11, 1973, Maharajji transitioned to the eternal at the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital in Vrindavan. His Vrindavan ashram today houses the Mahasamadhi room, preserving his ashes—a space where devotees experience waves of pure love and deep meditative connections. Echoing this sentiment, Ram Dass observed, “When a saint leaves his body, the temple becomes his body.”

Remembering Maharajji’s profound insight on a devoted mother’s unwavering faith in Shirdi Sai Baba, he shared, “A guru never leaves his devotees. A guru is indestructible, immortal, and immune to old age and death.”

Let’s come together to celebrate Maharajji’s eternal presence and cherish this deep, unbreakable bond that soars beyond the physical.