Finding Adi Da


MOST RECENT ADDITION: D.L., I Will Find You Again and Then You Will Know Me By Name.
Many people have found their way to Avatar Adi Da Samraj over the past few decades, both during and after His human lifetime. The stories of how they found Him are moving and often extraordinary, even miraculous. This section contains over fifty stories, that are hopefully representative of the thousands of people who have found Adi Da and received His Blessing.

Paul Muller-Ortega, Barbara Marx-Hubbard, Robert HallFor some, while the encounter would not result in their becoming devotees, it would transform their lives in a profound way. For example, well-known futurist Barbara Marx-Hubbard describes how she draws upon the 'Adi Da Frequency' to help her work in creating a better and more conscious future for humanity. Robert Hall, co-founder of the Lomi School, says that Adi Da's Teaching has been a source of major support for him in the continuation of his personal Vipassana meditation practice, and Adi Da has always represented for him an example of the truly Realized individual. Paul Muller-Ortega, Professor of Religion and founder of the Blue Throat Yoga school, writes of feeling in Adi Da's company "an ancient bond of connection to him" and after Darshan with Adi Da, there remains "a memory and an inner feeling of Him that I carry with me daily."

For others, finding Adi Da was the discovery of their Spiritual Master. From black liberation movement veteran Greg Wells, who was also a lifelong spiritual seeker; to Frank (Cheech) Marrero, who was imprisoned at Rikers Island Penitentiary, awaiting trial for a crime he had not committed and a likely sentence of 20 or 30 years, when a miracle occurred — their stories tell how they finally found what their hearts were seeking (whether they knew it or not when they first encountered Adi Da). It was only then that the real adventure — a life dedicated not to seeking for God but to Realizing God (made always presently available through Adi Da) — could begin at last.

Greg Wells, Lyn Hart, Chris TongHow people find Adi Da reflects who He is. We're used to stories about human lives that confine themselves to the familiar laws of nature. But some of the stories below unfold in a way that suggest Adi Da was already in devotees' lives, working with them on profound levels, long before they even knew of Him (in the "normal" way). For example, Lyn Hart describes how Adi Da began appearing to her in visions, long before she knew who He was; Chris Tong tells how Adi Da literally walked into his life when he was still a baby, back in the late 1950's. That "supernormal" manner is exactly how Adi Da describes the way He works. And He is able to function in that manner because He is the human incarnation of the Divine Person in whom everything and everyone is arising:


. . . I have been Meditating everyone throughout all the years of This Divine Avataric physical Lifetime here — and even throughout all time previous to This Divine Avataric physical Lifetime here. In Meditating everyone, I Take On each and every one — to Myself. . . All have been Meditated by Me. All have been Embraced by Me. . . In all times and places, My devotees will appear — Finding Me after I have Already Entered into Perfect Coincidence with them, having Meditated them.

Avatar Adi Da Samraj
"The Boundless Self-Confession", The Aletheon


This is how people come to Me to become My devotees, or (otherwise) come to Me for Blessing. They become associated with one or another aspect of My world-Work. It is Prior Meditation. In other words, I Priorly Coincide with everyone and everything, and then Signs emerge. This is how I Work. This is My Divine Avataric Nature Showing Itself in the larger world-picture . . . And this is, in fact, how people end up coming to Me.

The devotional relationship to Me does not begin simply when people formally enter into the gathering of My devotees. My Work begins before people even come into My Divine Avataric Company. Some recognize and know that, and there are rather dramatic signs of it. In other cases, individuals are simply drawn to Me and have nothing in mind to say why, other than they heard about Me and were moved.

Avatar Adi Da Samraj, February 2008
"Tell Everyone My Leela Everywhere"
Adi Da Samrajashram Magazine, Vol. 1, #1


It is not just My devotees who are noticing the signs of My world-Blessing-Work. Others also are feeling My Presence and are responding. . . My experience is every one. I Extend out and I Touch you. When My Divine Spiritual Body Extends out, Its Touch Touches every one. Every one has felt My Spiritual Touch, whether they are consciously aware of it or not. I am Touching every one right now.

If you were to lie down and extend your body and touch someone's body, he or she would feel it. Well, I am Extended everywhere like that. I am Experiencing all as My Own Form. . . All is in My View, My Touch-Field. No one is unfamiliar to Me. No one feels as an "other" to Me. All is in My Sphere. That suggests How I Work.

Avatar Adi Da Samraj
Adi Da: The Promised God-Man Is Here



Stories below marked with are either all video or contain video supplements.
 
     

Life With Adi Da Samraj — Aniello Panico has been a devotee of Avatar Adi Da ever since their first meeting in 1972. Over the years Aniello's primary service to Adi Da's great Work of liberating all beings has been the publication and distribution of Adi Da's books. Aniello left his body on February 3, 2022, at 86 years old. This page commemorates and celebrates his life of devotion to Adi Da Samraj.

Aniello Panico

 

 
   
 

Paul Muller-Ortega


Four Luminously Amazing DaysProfessor Paul Muller-Ortega Ph.D. is recognized internationally as one of the world's most highly respected and renowned academic scholars in the field of Indian Religion and Hindu Tantra. "I palpably sense an emanating wave moving out from [Adi Da's] body, a wave that forcefully ripples outward through the entire hall. As it does, this wave of his beneficent and now magnified and intensified blessing force catches directly at the heart; it strongly moves the mind; and it powerfully lifts the spirit."

   
 

Here's a Teacher Who Can Deal With MeIn these video interviews, James Steinberg talks about his early life up to and including becoming a devotee of Adi Da Samraj. video

James Steinberg

   
 

Robert Hall


I Feel the Greatest Devotion to HimRobert Hall is the co-founder of the Lomi School. "The first time I saw Adi Da was at a Darshan in 1986. That first Darshan was very powerful for me because I experienced a transcendent "exit" from the body and a meeting with Him outside of the body. It was exhilarating and ecstatic. It happened spontaneously and, for me, it removed any doubt and concern I might have had about His authenticity as a Great Spiritual Realizer. From that time on I became even more interested in His Work."

   
 

Finding the Divine in Person and Waking Up From the DreamChris Tong: "I literally felt love pouring out of my heart, reaching His Heart, and feeding Him. Then I felt His Love tangibly transmitted back to me, in a great overwhelming wave, which caused my heart to open even wider. I soon found myself totally engaged in the most direct relationship, at once both human and spiritual, crying out to my Beloved Guru with tears in my eyes, 'Let me feed You with my devotion! May You always feel my devotion, wherever I am!'

Chris Tong

   
 

Barbara Marx-Hubbard


The "Adi Da" FrequencyWell-known futurist, Barbara Marx-Hubbard, describes how she found Adi Da, and how she draws upon the 'Adi Da Frequency' to help her work in creating a better and more conscious future for humanity.

   
 

Only the Divine Presence Alex Grey is one of the foremost visionary artists in the global spiritual counterculture. Here he writes about the profundity of his encounter with Adi Da, and about his subsequent painting of Adi Da.

Alex Grey

   
 

Gerald Sheinfeld


At The Feet Of The Spiritual Master Gerald Sheinfeld has been a devotee of Adi Da since the early 1970's. In these video clips, Gerald tells the story of how he found Adi Da, and how he became Adi Da's devotee. video

   
 

I Will Find You Again and Then You Will Know Me By Name — DL: When it surrounded us, I sensed it as a gigantic dome or sphere extending limitlessly upward. Its light seemed to infuse everything in the area. On top of this was an undeniable Presence of Something or Someone. Someone vast. Fear enveloped both Scamper and me. We began to run like crazy away, from that place. There was a sudden, non-verbal command to STOP!

   
 
A Glimpse Of Him In Truth — "I was never fortunate enough to have been a true devotee of a Guru. I was closest to Adi Da. I was an appreciator of Him, and occasionally let into His world by Grace to catch a glimpse of Him in Truth."
   
 

He Is God!Tom Jacobs: "There was a Force like an enormous bolt of electricity entering through the top of my head and pinning me utterly to the ground. I was beside myself, and just ran outside through the snow, up the hill and to Robin's house. I just burst open her front door. She was standing in the kitchen. I yelled: 'He is God!' She looked at me and said: 'yes, I know.' " video

Tom Jacobs
   
 

Nahshon Nahumi


God In Person Was Loving Me Nahshon Nahumi: "Suddenly, there was no limitation, no self-contraction — only Divine Freedom. . . I felt like God in Person was loving me. I tacitly knew that Avatar Adi Da was my Master and had been my Master before all time. His Presence was so familiar and so personal that there was no way I could deny it. I felt liberated from the seeking and dilemma of my life and reunited with my Beloved. And I knew that this moment was the true beginning of my Spiritual life."

   
 
"This is Home!" Daniela Morena: "Suddenly, the room around me dissolved in a bright cloud. There was light everywhere, only light. The boundary of my skin, separating my body from the surrounding environment, was no longer there. My heart skipped a beat from the emotion, as my brain formulated these words: Finally! Finally what I have been longing for! This is Home! "

Daniela Morena
   
 
Margaret Dempsey
The Baby on My Shoulder Margaret Dempsey: "One night, I had a dream. I was standing in my kitchen, looking out to sea, and I had a baby on my shoulder. Because of how the baby was positioned, I couldn't see the baby's face, so I leaned back a little to look — and got the shock of my life when I recognised it as the face of Adi Da when He was a baby."
   
 

Ice Cream and Divine Distraction Pamela Bennett: "I turned my gaze away from the frozen yoghurt toward a most unusual image: a Supremely Attractive Being whose photograph graced the book's jacket. . . in an instant, a shift occurred. There was no granite topped counter and wooden stool with music in the background. There was not a shred of bodily awareness whatsoever. There was only a Bright, Radiant Field of Whitest Light, a tiny point of witness, and the most extraordinary, limitless, astonishing feeling of extravagant and limitless Joy."

Pamela Bennett
   
 

Steve Alexander

He Was the Same Divine Presence I Had Contacted BeforeSteve Alexander describes how he discovered a Divine Presence in his heart, and how that ultimately led to his devotional relationship with the human form of that Presence: Adi Da. video

   
 

An Ecstatic Falling into HimNicole Ortega tells the story of how she discovered Bhagavan Adi Da. While doing so, she recounts two remarkable dreams. In the first, the whole human condition is revealed to her in a kind of metaphor. In the second dream, Adi Da appears to her, and connects with her directly and personally, correcting a false, cultic view of Him that she had previously held.


Nicole Ortega

   
 

David

Finding My MasterDavid tells the story of recognizing Avatar Adi Da Samraj to be his Spiritual Master. He describes the first time he saw Adi Da. He then tells how he found and became a formal devotee of Adi Da. video

   
 

Beyond All Doubt As a child in Jamaica, Donald Webley recalls feeling that there was something lacking, something without which real happiness was not possible. An unexplained experience of Bliss moved him to spiritual practice and eventually to Avatar Adi Da.


Donald Webley

   
 

Meg McDonnell


Tasting The Moon Meg McDonnell tells the story of how she found Adi Da, and of her relationship with Him, by reading excerpts from her book, Tasting The Moon: Adventures in the Meaning of Life. video
   
 

Never Has God Revealed Himself So FullyMax Rykov: "The moment the video started, my heart was broken by the immensity of Divine Force emanating from Him. I wept and wept, my body radiating with His Spiritual Transmission. . . The Divine Love I felt was the Perfection of God that I had only read about but never thought possible to experience while alive." video

Maksim Igorevich Rykov

   
   
 

"Let Me Live You. Dissolve In My Current Of Bliss."Terry Cafferty is an aerospace engineering consultant and has worked for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Terry tells how, even in the midst of a conventionally "successful" life, he became aware of his own inability to truly love, feel, and be in relationship with others. The crisis engendered by this realization ultimately led him to his Spiritual Master, Avatar Adi Da Samraj. video


Terry Cafferty

   
 

Dan Sleeth


My First Meeting with Adi DaDan Sleeth: "I marveled at these eyes, even happy to be amazed! Then a startling realization came. Clearly, he had seen — in fact, was seeing now. The face in the poster seemed to literally come alive. I could feel his presence, a person standing in front of me — looking at me."
   
 

I Knew He Was the Divine Being in Human Bodily Form Catherine Dames: "At a certain point into the video I felt a strange but very pleasant feeling between my eyebrows, as if an electric charge was plugged into that spot. When I looked at the Guru, I felt completely overwhelmed with Joy. His bodily expression of total Happiness and Freedom were such as I had never seen before in any man or woman."

Catherine Dames
   
 

Kevin Pinkstone

The Heart Hears and Sees the TruthKevin Pinkstone: "It was beyond anything that I had ever dreamed possible. I had asked God for a teacher and He had come Himself!"

 
 
A Difficult Beginning Max Cottrell: "Alongside my dedication to Maharishi and teaching TM, I liked to keep my mind open to study other paths to liberation. . . One summer weekend in London in 1976, I attended a showing of a short movie called Laughter, about the American-born teacher Adi Da Samraj. . . This had a profound effect on me; here was a person who, though born in the West, showed all the signs of complete Divine Enlightenment!"
Max Cottrell
 
How Did He Know? Max recounts the beginning of his life as a devotee of Adi Da, in the community of Adi Da's devotees. He tells how he was initiated into the devotional relationship with Adi Da on his birthday, through an ecstatic dream of union with Adi Da and His Divine State.
   
 

   
 
Coming Home: The Spiritual Odyssey of a Former ClergymanTom Williams: "My story is about how I moved from being an ordinary person to someone who was given the greatest gift in the world. This is the story of how I fell in love with God. And I wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world. There's nothing that compares to being in communion, in love with God." video

Tom Williams

   
 

Lyn Urquhart


He Is Alive Lyn Hart, an administrator and businesswoman, tells of being contacted psychically and Instructed by Avatar Adi Da over a period of several years before she had any idea of Who He was or that He was alive in this world.
   
 

The Timeless Intrusion Martin Goulding: "I looked at the picture of Franklin Jones and those words, 'The Radical Teaching of Franklin Jones', over and over. The image and words and the import of them had a sudden impact on me — like a shock — not quite at the level of the conscious mind, more like: whoever that person is, I absolutely need to know more about him and must find and read that book!"


Martin Goulding
   
 

Trish Mitchell


The Book of Light Trish Mitchell, an Australian radio journalist, bought The Dawn Horse Testament one day, simply because she was "attracted" to the cover. She had no idea what was waiting "inside" that book.
   
 
The Fulfillment of My Heart-Longing, and the Fulfillment of an Indian ProphecySonia's story of becoming Adi Da's devotee, discovering genuine Spiritual Transmission and being awakened to the truth of Prior Unity by Avatar Adi Da Samraj.
   
 

My First Years with Adi DaBill Worden has been a devotee since 1997. "An energy started to descend into me. The energy seemed conscious. It was intelligent. It moved steadily. It wasn't affected by anything I did. It must have taken about thirty seconds to go all the way down my body. It was the most amazing thing to feel. I felt love as I have never experienced it. It was pure love."


Bill Worden

   
 
Wes Vaught

"What Have You Been Doing with Your Life?" In 1972, Wes Vaught worked as a proofreader at CSA Press, in Atlanta, Georgia, the original publisher of Adi Da's autobiography, The Knee Of Listening. After proofreading The Knee Of Listening, he decided to go to California to meet Avatar Adi Da in person. Wes: "I knocked. Adi Da answered the door. . ."

 
 
"What Do I Do Now, Since I Have Been Given Everything?" In 1975, Marvin Carpenter watched an introductory film about Adi Da. At the end of the film, Adi Da looked directly into the camera for a long period of time. Looking into His eyes, Marvin received a heart opening and heart communication he could not explain. He wept, and realized there was nothing more to look for. Adi Da was exactly What he had always been seeking.
Marvin Carpenter
   
 
Greg Wells

How Total Satisfaction Found Me A highly educated veteran of the black liberation movement, Greg Wells spent years as a spiritual seeker, trying to discover how he could live a fulfilled life. Read Greg's account of how he finally found God in the Person of Adi Da Samraj, and came to understand that Adi Da was the Spiritual Master he had been looking for since he was a small boy.

   
 
Another Reality was Unveiled As someone with an academic career in the humanities, Carolyn Lee was familiar with the highest intellectual and artistic achievements of Western civilization. But she was quite unprepared for what happened in her first meeting with Adi Da Samraj.
Carolyn Lee
   
 

Dennis Coccaro


He is Here! After years of searching and practicing world religions, Dennis Coccaro discovered Adi Da Samraj when he heard a radio broadcast-interview which featured some of Adi Da's early devotees. A profound and beautiful relationship to His Spiritual Master ensued.
   
 

First Meeting: A Personal Story After a manic decade of violent seeking, self-indulgence, and confusion, Anthony Costabile stumbled across a book by Avatar Adi Da Samraj. Its discovery led him to an intimate, spiritual meeting that was to change his life forever . . .


Anthony Costabile

   
 

Anthony Costabile


The Book Landed on the Floor in Front of My Feet In 1974, Anthony Costabile was a young seeker, living in the Denver/Boulder area, and given to browsing spiritual bookshops. As he was browsing in the yoga and spirituality section of one of those shops, Adi Da's Knee Of Listening suddenly "fell" off the shelf, landed on the floor in front of his feet, and changed his life.

   
 

The "Bright" in the Darkness: How Adi Da Found Me In 1967, Frank (Cheech) Marrero was imprisoned at Rikers Island Penitentiary, awaiting trial for a crime he had not committed. At a plea bargaining session, he was told that if he pled guilty, he would receive "only" 20 or 30 years, instead of life without parole. Cheech was at the lowest point of his life. He decided to end it all. Just as he was about to do it, a miracle occurred. video


Frank (Cheech) Marrero
 
 
Patrick Mahoney
"Where Have You Been???" Patrick Mahoney, a former nuclear reactor engineer and professor of Physics, describes the process and ordeal he went through leading up to his first meeting with Avatar Adi Da Samraj in 1975. For Patrick, it was Avatar Adi Da's Humor that first caught his attention.
   
 

I Realized That I Was "Playing for God" In the early 1980s, Bill Somers had already realized what he had held to be his life's ambition: to be principal clarinetist in a symphony orchestra. But this accomplishment was not enough for Bill, after all; his heart was not satisfied. And that was a good place to be! It led him to his Spiritual Master.


Bill Somers

   
 
Toni Vidor
An Immense Burden Had Been Lifted from MeToni Vidor (daughter of renowned movie director King Vidor) tells how she met Adi Da for the first time, and of the impact of Adi Da's Spiritual Transmission on her: "When it was finally over, I felt as if an immense burden — eighty tons of whatever it was I had been carrying around all my life without even realizing it — had been lifted from me."
   
 
The Story of Francis Popkin The story of how Francis Popkin found Adi Da, as told by Frank Marrero. Frank talks about how a young country boy showed up at his doorstep in 1981, after having read and been completely transfixed by Adi Da's book, The Enlightenment Of The Whole Body. video

Frank Marrero

   
 

Theo Cedar Jones


"This is the God for me!" — In this radio interview (with Aaron Joy), rock musician Theo Cedar Jones describes how he became Adi Da's devotee; how Adi Da transformed his entire manner of singing and his craft of songwriting; and the creative challenge of communicating Adi Da's Presence and Teaching through the medium of rock.

   
 
Inexplicable Happiness and Peace Julie Nagorcka writes about her relationship with Adi Da.

Julie Nagorcka

   
 

Jane Lind


"You Will Always Come Back to Me" Jane Lind talks about how she came to Adi Da, and describes her first meeting with Him.

         
     
Truth Alive in Human Form Scott Campbell talks about how he came to Adi Da, and describes his first sighting of Him.

Scott Campbell

 
         
     

Flick Rahke


"No, You Are Meant For Another" Flick Rahke: "So when Swami Muktananda asked for questions from the audience, I stood up, bowed, and asked him if he was to be my Guru. He tilted his head and looked at me with a little smile as he said: "No, you are meant for another."

 
         
     
Every Cell in My Body Relaxed Steven Shapiro: "As I watched the video with Adi Da, every cell in my body relaxed and lined up as one. Nothing fancy, just home. Utterly home."

Steven Shapiro

 
         
     

David Ward


The Book Fell Down at My Feet David Ward tells the story of how Adi Da found him.

 
         
     
The Meaning of Life Award-winning artist Marla Baggetta talks about finding Adi Da Samraj and the meaning of life.

Marla Baggetta

 
         
     

Andre Decio


The Divine IS Everything and Everyone Andre Decio: "Let me try to tell you about the deepest yearning of the human heart, and how it was fulfilled beyond measure, by the truth of all."

 
         
     
The Room Exploded Into Brightness Lassi Lammassaari: "I sat down to read the book. I felt like I was breathing in something nectarous from the pages. I totally relaxed. In the next instant, the room exploded into Brightness."

Lassi Lammassaari

 
         
     

Alaya Gernon


No Doubts Whatsoever Alaya Gernon: Suddenly, Adi Da Samraj appeared in the room, life size. He was sitting right in front of me. . . And then — suddenly, it was Ramana Maharshi sitting in front of me!"

 
         
     
Beyond, Beyond Karen Richardson: "There was no religious upbringing, but as a young girl, one day I found myself looking up at the sunny spring sky and just 'knowing' that something wonderful is going to happen in my lifetime — not only to me, but to the whole world."

Karen Richardson

 
         
     

Frederick Court


The Eternal Answer of the Divine Frederick Court: "The room that night had a constant shower of nectarous Transmission of Him, washing down continuously, so, so sweet. Many Profound and extra-ordinary visions of His Form arose. It was a bathing in His Love, and all the devotees in the room were swooning in His Love-Bliss. In those moments, it was the most beautiful place to be on the planet."

 
         
     
His Blessing Intrusion Dennis Regan tells the story of how he received a Ph.D. in biotechnology and was pursuing a successful career in scientific research when he encountered a book with the unusual title, Scientific Proof of the Existence of God Will Soon Be Announced by the White House! — and a Revelation occurred that changed the course of his life.

Dennis Regan

 
         
     

Jan Myer


At the Feet of the Malibu Surfer-Dude Jan Myer: "In the midst of my search, at the bookstore I frequented in those days, I saw (for the first time) the too-happy, too-youthful face of what appeared to be a kind of 'Malibu surfer-dude', on the cover of a book I'd never seen before, titled The Knee Of Listening. The man looked too cool by half, and I was a little offended by the book's subtitle, 'The Early Life And Radical Spiritual Teachings' of 'Franklin Jones'! I chuckled to myself, thinking, 'Just about anybody can claim to be Enlightened these days!'"

 
 
Da


Quotations from and/or photographs of Avatar Adi Da Samraj used by permission of the copyright owner:
© Copyrighted materials used with the permission of The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as trustee for The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam. All rights reserved. None of these materials may be disseminated or otherwise used for any non-personal purpose without the prior agreement of the copyright owner. ADIDAM is a trademark of The Avataric Samrajya of Adidam Pty Ltd, as Trustee for the Avataric Samrajya of Adidam.

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