In the beginning there was the Supreme Spirit, one without a second. There was no universe then; there were no actual forms. Only Bliss absolute reigned, alone. When Spirit decided to create, it did so through vibrating the surface (in a way of speaking) of Its consciousness. This vibration produced a sound, the sound of AUM. Duality is the result … Read More
Dear Friends, I’ve been making frequent trips to Master’s Market at Ananda Village to get something cool and refreshing to combat the rising temperatures. An outstanding drink I found there, and which I recommend everyone try, is Virgil’s All Natural Zero Sugar Orange. From direct experience, I proclaim that this is the best drink in all the three worlds with which … Read More
♣ Keep this thought firmly in mind: The way to advance through meditation is not grimly to force yourself to sit as many hours as possible every day. To meditate to the point of mental exhaustion is counter-productive. Don’t push yourself beyond your own natural abilities. To meditate five minutes may sometimes be more effective than to meditate hours, if during those five minutes you … Read More
Hello Friends, For some reason, every time I want to see something on Youtube, the video is preceded by a 10-15 second ad on quitting cigarettes. These ads end with the motto “Live Tobacco free.”—A good motto for all of us, and especially for us as yogis. The practice of kriya yoga is enhanced if we have strong lungs and a … Read More
Dear Ones, We all know that Paramhansa Yogananda stated that the goal of yoga is to learn to “stand unshaken amidst the crash of breaking worlds.” I recently received a letter from a long time kriya yogi, let’s call him “Jeff”, which demonstrates this state of consciousness. Jeff had been diagnosed with throat cancer, and a few months ago completed … Read More
Dear Ones, As Inner Renewal Week roles on, here is a prayer from Paramhansa Yogananda to renew our resolve to meditate deeply everyday. I find it deeply inspiring, and feel (I think everyone will agree) that the most important word in the entire prayer is perhaps the word “Today.” Let us ask ourselves: “Have we been meditating deeply everyday?” If not, let … Read More
Here are some wonderful precepts from Paramhansa Yogananda on How to elicit a Divine response through the interplay of devotion and meditation: Discover Your True Nature in Silence From How to Awaken your True Potential by Paramhansa Yogananda ~~ Meditation is complete relaxation, the only way to know God. You can do everything else but meditate, and you will never find that … Read More
Paramhansa Yogananda often called Saint Francis his “patron saint.” Here, Saint Francis teaches one of his most advanced disciple, Brother Leo, about “True” spiritual progress, which consists, not of experiencing “phenomena”. but of achieving the state of unshakeable joy. Yogananda called this the ability to “stand unshaken amidst the crash of breaking worlds.” The intensity of St. Francis’ joyous renunciation … Read More
From the Chapter “The Guru’s Reminiscences”, The New Path by Swami Kriyananda Talk turned one evening to the attributes of success. “Will power,” Master told us, “is more important to success than knowledge, training, or even native ability. Some people, when you shake them, reply with a groan, ‘Don’t bother me; I’m sleeping.’ Others wake up a little bit, but if you … Read More
One of the most common mistakes on the spiritual path is to equate progress with psychic phenomena of various kinds. Visions, voices, and other mental or psychic phenomena are no sign in themselves of genuine exaltation of consciousness. The basis of all true progress is right attitude. If you are becoming more kind, more self-giving, more calm, you may be … Read More