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Daji Megan Fear-No-More:
Devotee Stories
April 27, 2022 was the 40th anniversary of Daji Megan's transition at the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. We offer for your enjoyment an overview from Anthony Costabile,
beautiful words of praise from Ruchiradama Nadikanta. and a story about Daji Megan's burial site at the entrance to Da Fear-No-More Zoo from Michael Nokken.
1. Anthony Costabile's Overview
Anthony
Costabile has
been a devotee of Adi Da Samraj since the mid-1970s. With
an M.A. in Education, he has been a professional school
teacher and administrator. Anthony's principal services
within the community of devotees have included spokesman
for Adi Da, writer, educator, and missionary. Presently
Anthony is one of the principal missionaries and communicators
for Adidam.
1.1. Honored Friend and Companion
Until the early 1980's, a German Shepherd named Megan lived
with Bhagavan Adi Da at The
Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary. He had been left behind
by the previous owners when the Sanctuary property was acquired
in 1973. Bhagavan Adi Da loved him dearly, and it soon became
obvious that Megan wished only to serve his Spiritual Master
as devoted friend and protector. He did so for nearly eight
years.
Megan frequently sought out the Master for a loving exchange
of energy. With wagging tail, he would enthusiastically
present Adi Da with his latest prize — a large branch
from the nearby woods — hoping to inspire a game of
fetch. Bhagavan Adi Da always greeted him enthusiastically,
with kind words, powerful pats on the head, and resounding
laughter, as Megan tussled with the branches, dragging them
along with his mouth and shaking them vigorously, even though
most were too large for him to manage.
A very sensitive dog, Megan would often approach people
who were feeling sad or dejected, immediately cheering their
spirits by gently nudging them, or offering a look of uncanny
compassion and understanding.
Daji Megan, with Rani Druda
(click for enlargement)
Daji Megan with devotees.
Reed L. recalls: "Megan always had a rock".
(click for enlargement)
He would also lie at his Master's Feet while Bhagavan Adi
Da gently stroked him with deep affection and blessing,
relaxing him into deep contemplation and surrender.
Adi Da and Daji Megan
(click for enlargement)
1.2. Death, Ceremony, and Burial
Gradually, the aging Megan grew weaker, until, on a peaceful
morning early in the Spring of 1982 (April 27), he passed
away. Upon hearing of his death, Bhagavan went to Megan's
side to attend and serve him in the death process. Bhagavan
Adi Da quietly viewed Megan's body with tears and love in
his eyes, and barely perceptible sounds of Blessing issuing
from his lips. The moment was full of Spiritual Potency.
Then Adi Da gave instructions on how to treat Megan's body.
A casket was built by a devotee-craftsman, while Megan's
body lay quiet and undisturbed in an enclosed viewing area.
A three-day vigil was commenced to honor Megan's death transition.
All who knew and loved him came to pay their respects and
quietly offer prayers and blessings. Then Megan's body was
carried with ceremony to all the Holy Sites on The Mountain
Of Attention Sanctuary. Finally, the body was gently placed
in a burial site at the entrance to Fear-No-More Zoo, a
tangible sign of Megan's guardianship, and a blessing for
the Zoo and all its inhabitants.
In acknowledgement of Megan's devoted service, Bhagavan
Adi Da bestowed on him the honorific name, "Daji Megan Fear-No-More".
Daji Megan's burial site at Fear-No-More
Zoo
(click for enlargement)
Adi Da visiting Daji Megan's burial
site
(click for enlargement)
Daji Megan Fear-No-More was a beautiful being filled
with great love for both humans and all living beings.
He was ever-watchful for all and serious in his protective
rounds of the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary.
He adored spending time with Bhagavan Adi Da and
especially lying next to Beloved where Megan would
receive Beloved’s Immense Laying on of Hands of the
Master. This moved Megan into an ecstatic, blissful
peacefulness. And when Adi Da would get up to move,
Megan would leap up to faithfully follow, attend,
and protect His Master.
I especially appreciated Megan’s protection of all
the blessed creatures of Fear-No-More Zoo, which Adi
Da had asked me to serve and develop. We had turkeys
(Clark and Gretta Gobble), miniature goats, pigs,
many birds in the trees, and in our pond we had swans,
ducks, and geese, and more. There were horses and
cows also. Megan was watchful for all of them, all-
and ever-protective.
Often I would have to go to serve them during the
night. Megan was ever-careful in making sure in the
dark that I and all the creatures of the Zoo were
safe and that no predators of coyotes, bears, wild
cats, and mountain lions came to harm the creatures
of Fear-No-More Zoo.
We knew he loved to be in the Zoo, so Beloved Master
Adi Da designated where he should be buried and given
a full stone monument, where he lies in peace. Master
Da made sure his monument was at the entrance to Fear-No-More
Zoo where all would see and feel His Ever-Protective
Guardianship.
His Spirit Lives on with our appreciation and love
of Daji Megan Fear-No-More.
Ruchiradama Nadikanta
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2. Ruchiradama Nadikanta's Story
Ruchiradama Nadikanta has been a senior formal
renunciate (as a member of the Ruchira Sannyasin Order) and personal server of Adi Da Samraj since 1974. She served Adi Da Samraj directly for nearly forty years, and was
trained by Him personally as a priest and personal emissary for the communication of His spiritual teaching, His literary works, His artistic works, and His instruction
to humankind on the creation of world peace.
Daji Megan Fear-No-More was a beautiful being filled with great love for both humans and all living beings. He was ever-watchful for all and serious in his protective
rounds of the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary.
He adored spending time with Bhagavan Adi Da and especially lying next to Beloved Adi Da where Megan would receive Adi Da's immense Laying on of Hands. This moved Megan into
an ecstatic, blissful peacefulness.
And when Adi Da would get up to move, Megan would leap up to faithfully follow, attend, and protect His Master.
I especially appreciated Megan's protection of all the blessed creatures of Fear-No-More Zoo, which Adi Da had asked me to serve and develop. We had turkeys (Clark and Gretta Gobble),
miniature goats, pigs, and many birds in the trees. In our pond, we had swans, ducks, and geese, and more. There were horses and cows also. Megan watched over all of them and was
ever protective.
Often I would have to go to serve them during the night. Megan was alwayd careful in making sure in the dark that I and all the creatures of the Zoo were safe and that no predators of
coyotes, bears, wild cats, and mountain lions came to harm the creatures of Fear-No-More Zoo.
We knew Daji Megan loved to be in the Zoo, so Beloved Master Adi Da designated where Daji Megan should be buried and given a full stone monument, where his body lays in peace. Master Da made
sure his monument was at the entrance to Fear-No-More Zoo where all would see and feel His Ever-Protective Guardianship.
Daji Megan Fear-No-More's spirit lives on with our appreciation and love.
3. Michael Nokken's Story
In the early 2000's, my intimate partner and I went to The Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary on a service retreat. This was something I had done on several
occasions at this Sanctuary and at other locations and Hermitages where Bhagavan Adi Da was residing or where His devotees were serving. My primary service
has been as a "healer" (it is my profession) and upon becoming Bhagavan Adi Da's devotee it was evolving into the practice of a sacred art in relationship to
Him.
Our first day began with a formal tour of the Sanctuary that had been scheduled as an orientation for some new devotees and public people. We did not expect to be included in such an
"introductory" occasion because we had been to the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary many times before and we were anticipating "getting right to work" in our healing service.
I was grateful to be on the Mountain Of Attention Sanctuary again and I looked forward to learning more of the Sacred History during this tour.but.admittedly.part of me was thinking:
"Yeah, this is great, I've seen this before, I'll maintain some sila as good company for the new people, I wonder who I will be working with later today".and all that kind of stuff!
The tour was led by a long-time devotee who would share with us the stories and the significances of key Holy Sites and historical occasions relevant to the Divine Nature of this place
of pilgrimage. As we began the yajna (tour), Bhagavan Adi Da's Presence began to capture more and more of my feeling and attention, even though a part of me was still kind of "tolerating"
this moment of "public orientation" because I "had some work to do soon".
Fairly early on during this tour, we were led to Daji Megan's burial site at the formal entrance to Da Fear-No-More Zoo. As we approached the rock that honors Daji Megan's unique relationship
to His Heart-Master, an immense force of energy began flowing from my heart and out through the top of my head accompanied by a high-pitched, primitive, seemingly non-human, forceful emotional
crying out. I had no control over what was happening. It seemed like the sound was coming from Daji Megan, but through my voice and that it was meant to be heard by everybody everywhere.
Daji Megan was calling out to everywhere, but as Bhagavan Adi Da, in and beyond my own heart — not personal, but as clarion feeling.
I collapsed on my hands and knees in the overwhelming feeling and love flowing from and between Daji Megan and our Heart-Master Adi Da which seemed to be anchored to or emanating from the
Zoo's Holy Rock-Gate. Daji Megan's "call" as His Divine Presence continued to wail out loud from deep within my heart. The guttural response felt completely "sung" by the currently,
continually living relationship between Daji Megan and Bhagavan, like they had been "calling" — ALWAYS — and what felt like a knowledge they shared of what is required to live beyond fear
in this realm.
I could feel Adi Da's Blessing-Response to Daji Megan as a most Precious Gift to the entire human and non-human "world". Avatar Adi Da has said Da Fear-No-More provides Him with a tangible
"focus point" through which He perpetually Blesses the entire non-human world. He Gave me a glimpse of His Blessing-Work that exists outside the frame of my human referencing and which is always
active prior to fear.
Still on my knees, a calming and gentle touch patted the top of my head. The devotee leading the yajna hadn't skipped a beat in her communication with the group. I felt no concern from her,
no reactivity. She was slowly petting my head like I was a dog and simply carried on with her responsibilities.
As a group, we continued into the Zoo area proper. A softened mess of painfully vulnerable love and sensitivity, I had no mind about the rest of the service retreat schedule. The black
Labrador non-human devotee named Coal had come over to me and maintained contact with my leg as we moved through the rest of the Zoo.
Now, I was looking forward to the rest of the yajna and more of the stories that were sure to be shared. But just as we were leaving the Zoo area proper, another devotee came to tell my
partner and I that were we needed for our healing services, and to come right now!
May His Divine Presence of Perfect Love Reveal the Unbiased Fullness of Heart-Intimacy with all beings.
May we all — human and non-human — see and feel our co-existence, our mutual interdependence, and our surrendered, same-as-each-apparent-other Awakened to The Divinely Bright Intelligence
of cooperative Happiness while living and dying.
May Avatar Adi Da's Gift of Da-Fear-No-More Suddenly Transform and Brighten the timelines and plans of mind-full patterning into a World-Scale "Call" of Love and Healing and Heart-Intelligence.
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