2014 Convocation – “The Guru: Guide to Eternal Freedom”~ Brother Anilananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
There are a hundred billion galaxies. What are we caught up in?
From God Talks with Arjuna, Chapter 8, Verses/Slokas 17-18
Verse/Sloka 17 – They are true knowers of “day” and “night” who understand the Day of Brahma, which endures for a thousand cycles (yugas), and the Night of Brahma, which also endures for a thousand cycles.
Verse/Sloka 18 – At the dawn of Brahma’s Day all creation, reborn, emerges from the state of nonmanifestation; at the dusk of Brahma’s Night all creation sinks into the sleep of nonmanifestation.
Master – the ceaseless cycles of day and night… the wheel rotates forever.
Cycles are eternal. Cycles of emotion and involution are eternal. How long do you want to stay?
Verse/Sloka 19 – Again and again, O son of Pritha (Arjuna), the same throng of men helplessly take rebirth. Their series of incarnations ceases at the coming of Night, and then reappears at the dawn of Day.
Master’s commentary: Except for a few liberated men, the same multitude of beings are reborn many times during a Day of Brahma. They rest (without further incarnations) during the Night of cosmic dissolution. But with the coming of the Day or cycle of cosmic creative manifestation, again they start a round of karmically compulsory journeys in physical, astral, and causal encasements.
We are actors in the cosmic dream.
Rubiyat – there are many souls born in the earliest morning of creation who are still roaming in this creation.
Ignoble confinement that binds the majority to the ceaseless cycles of Brahma’s Days and Nights.
It is the folly of man that allows himself to remain a part of this existence.
What is the solution? This place is so gigantic – and time goes on and on. What do we do?
When we become conscious, we want to go back to omnipresence.
Man is not eternally bound to these processes. Wise men, one by one, slip away from it.
For those who seek early liberation, the Lord sends his Avatars to show the way to hasten salvation. An Avatar returns to earth to help mankind.
Master is a rare gem – an ideal representative – the glory of India. As a bright light shining in the darkness, so was Yogananda. Helping as many souls as possible to attain realization.
We all have a personal bond with Master. A union of loyal spiritual endeavor.
In AY, a man is not a puppet of the past. The very heavens seek man to arose his determination to be free. His freedom is immediate if he wills.
All men can attain God in one lifetime by making the proper spiritual effort under the guidance of the Guru. All people – made in the image of God – can attain Him.
In the Summer 2011 SRF magazine Ma said, “You can find God in this life. To harbor negative thoughts hinders your ability to achieve it.”
All doors are open. The guru and the teachings will take us as far as we want to go.
How do we cooperate and tune in?
Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
How do we turn in with Guruji? By following what he wants us to do.
Master said, “When I am gone, only love can take my place. Be absorbed in the love of God and give that love to all.”
Chapter 8, Verse 22: “By singlehearted devotion, O son of Pritha (Arjuna), that Supreme Unmanifested is reached. He alone, the Omnipresent, is the Abode of all creation.”
The power of love.
There are two forces from the Holy Spirit:
– Push Out – ignorance, the repulsion
– Pull Back – love, the attraction
Love is a force that will take us all the way back to vibrational spirit. Love is the principle required for realization. Guruji is encouraging us to have this heart quality and to give it to God.
How do you love something invisible and inaudible? It’s the vibration of love that will take us where we want to go. The salvation of souls through Kriya yoga.
Kriya and the spine – Discourse 75 in SCC – “Within the physical spine is the outermost astral spine or sushumna, with its outward-branching astral nadis, the subtle counterpart of the physical nervous system. Within the sushumna is the vajra lifetronic tunnel, and within that is the chitra lifetronic tunnel. By transitioning through the threefold astral spine of sushumna, vajra, and chitra, the yogi is freed from the astral body and is then in a causal body, an ideational matrix of magnetized consciousness, in the causal world. By further advancement, he frees himself from the causal body by transition through the causal “spine,” the innermost channel, or brahmanadi —ascending out of his causal form into the Infinite Brahman or Spirit.”
It is in the center that the soul has come down. Kriya teaches man to ascend heavenward by leading the ego up through the same channel the soul came down. The ego has to be made to ascend through the same path until it realizes it is the soul.
Do the techniques Master gave us. Master brought the techniques to help us go inside.
We can feel the awakening of the heart’s natural love. We can attune with the Guru to do our very best – to be sure to do some of each of the techniques. Then we can feel God’s presence.
Blessed are the peacemakers. We are manifesting peace in meditation. The slower we become, the more peace. And give that love to all. This is hard to do.
As you get older, you realize that you don’t want to behave the way you used to behave. Give that love to others – “Love one another as I have loved you,” Jesus said.
Jesus said that “this love expressed by you would be the distinguishing sign where people can recognize you as my disciples.”
3 Points (also repeated at the end of the AY):
—Practice Kriya
—Be absorbed with the love of God.
—Give that love to all.
Practice the techniques and feel the peace. Then come out of meditation and be a truly loving soul. Extend love to friends and enemies. See the presence of the One love everywhere.
Master had the ability to project the Divine qualities of friendship, love, and good will.
Don’t resist anger with anger. Never get angry at life’s reverses or their human instigators. First culture love – love is thy strength and thy greatest ally.
The magnitude of loving thy neighbor. Be loving and friendly when you need to deal with difficulties. Feeling the presence and sending love to others. Meditate and transmit the love and peace that you feel.
Most important principle in this world is praying for peace. Praying for peace counteracts negativity. It neutralizes evil. The goodness of one soul may effectively neutralize the mass karma of millions.
September 21st is the U.N. National Day of Peace.
Love those with which we have difficulty. Send out vibrations of love and harmony which will nullify negativity.
SRF – Try to remember each person is a SOUL. RESPECT the soul. Be FRIENDLY.
Practice Kriya. Be absorbed with the love of God. Give that love to all.
To keep company with the Guru is to keep him in our hearts. Attune yourself to Him.
2014 Convo – “Recharging the Body with Cosmic Energy” ~ Bro. Balananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Bro. Bhaktananda told Bro. Balananda that the ultimate purpose of the EE’s is to gain such control over life force, that when we practice them, we can move energy up and down the spine to achieve Samadhi at will. We learn to direct and control the energy in the body.
In the 2002 Winter Olympics, downhill skier Bodi Miller began a severe fall and then raised back up. He was asked how he did it. He said he knew he might die and with visualization and will power, he lifted himself up.
One summer day a woman saw a 3,000 lb tractor fall on her husband. She lifted it up enough he could survive and held it one hour. She used visualization and will power. A few months later she tried to lift the tractor and could not budge it.
Master practiced the EE’s every day to show us how important they are. Twenty-seven trillion body cells are being energized. They help us realize we are a soul, the master of the body. When the EE’s are practiced regularly and perfectly, they will rid us of desires, psychological and physiological diseases.
Daya Mata said, if you are too busy to do the EE’s, you need to do them. A monk was very tired after a long day and evening of work. He took a quick shower, then did the first one, then the second and by the third, he felt like he could do them all.
There are 3 key points:
1. Keep the eyes closed at the Christ Center and direct energy to the body parts.
2. Focus on directing energy into the medulla and open the floodgate for energy to flow in.
3. Concentrate on the center of the body part to energize it.
Mrinalini Mata was asked how to best energize, and she said to focus on the medulla. The mind will take the energy to the intended body part instantaneously. The greater our will, the greater the energy. Don’t be absent minded, really, really focus with one pointed concentration.
In 1994 Bro. B went with Bro. Abedananda to Montreal. He didn’t speak French, so he didn’t expect to give any classes at all. Then Bro. A developed laryngitis and he had to do them all. He stayed up all night preparing classes. He needed energy and did the EE’s. He saw a body of light in his body, his whole body tingled. He felt like he could do anything and gave the classes. At 11 pm he was wide awake. Suddenly he heard a voice say, “My, my, don’t the the EE’s work?”
Brother Anandamoy said to try to imagine energy like a white or gold light flowing into the center of the body part. Make them so focused. Ask Master to help you, that is his job.
Practice in front of a mirror and see clearly how you are doing. They must be done correctly. Tense at will, then release and feel.
Then he reviewed the EE Lesson.
He told of Daya Mata saying with emphasis, “Do not be disorganized. Pray to God to bless you with a greater desire to do them. They have a tremendous effect on every cell in the body. They help assume and retain the correct body position for meditation. Pray that you will have the will, they will transform your life.”
2014 Convocation – “Mastering the Techniques of Meditation Part 1 – Hong Sau” ~ Brother Bhumananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Each person is made by God as a soul. We each manifest some special manifestations of God but we all have a common spirit. We all come here to learn, “How do I find God?” How do we know God? How do we experience Him?
The Rishis, many centuries ago, sat quietly and found the value of stillness. They went deeper and deeper. They eventually found a way to cut off the 5 senses. They had boundless compassion and began to pass on what they had learned and now it is known as yoga.
We should be enormously grateful to Master for bringing us the shorts cuts of yoga. If we persevere, to the end of life, we will know God. Millions will find God through yoga. Hong Sau is a fundamental part of this path. No matter how long on this path, it is a great tool, when practiced every day with enthusiasm. Hong Sau alone can bring one to cosmic consciousness, but with all of the techniques, we can be liberated more quickly.
Daya Ma has said that the moment she sits to meditate, nothing else exists for her. No matter how distracted or distressed she might be, the moment she concentrates on Hong Sau, she is with God.
Our first obstacle is the restless mind. When the saints pray, they don’t count time, they are with God. Time does not exist. Hong Sau helps us. Master said concentration means to gather the attention at one point. Great men are men of concentration.
We gave to cope with 1) distractions from the 5 senses, 2) thoughts aroused by the senses and 3) Memory thoughts from associations with the thoughts.
Hong Sau will enable us to break through the distractions. It develops our power to concentrate. It empowers us to relax. It is one pointed attention with complete relaxation. We strive to be completely absorbed, completely concentrated. Ultimately we will have to obtain the breathless state.
The motions of the body slow down, the body cells slow down, the breath slows down and as the heart becomes calm, we are deeply calm. Once in the correct posture with spine straight and stable, consciously relax the body. Relax and feel tension drop away.
It may take years to see a difference. Just do it as deeply as you can. Watching the breath can be like watching the waves of the sea.
Then he reviewed the Hong Sau Lesson.
2014 Convocation – “Mastering the Techniques of Meditation-Part II, The Aum Technique” ~ Brother Ishtananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
I was recently talking to a long time member who, after all these years, feels he is not going as deep as he should. Sound familiar? We don’t really understand the purpose of the techniques of meditation for many reasons. To accomplish the goal of the spiritual path, that is self-realization, the mind has all these words for the end result but we need something we can take and use.
It means giving up the ego self. Can I be myself and still be self-realized? Who is uncomfortable? Not the soul. We are already in divine consciousness but we may not feel blissful. The purpose of the techniques is that they give us a means by which to loosen or get rid of the identification with that strong ego consciousness. All sadhana is geared toward loosening the self-identification of the I.
An Indian saint said that once you understand you are nothing perceivable or conceivable, you will learn that the sadhana is to break down the self-identification, the “I”.
In EE’s with the eyes closed, tensing and relaxing, you feel the energy in the body. We are aware of the energy. I am energy and consciousness, not the body. Hong Sau is an incredible straight forward way to realize what we are. Hong Sau means I am He. I am spirit. We are becoming the silent observer. Who is that? Not the body, not the mind. It is the self, the soul. When the breath is not flowing, what is there? Between every Hong and Sau is the self, between every Sau and Hong is the self.
The Aum shifts attention away from the I to the holy Aum vibration. What is the Aum vibration? Master lets us go and be with it, an incredible gift.
He reviewed the Aum Technique Lesson
Thinking is overrated. Don’t think too much, let it happen. Thought cannot take us where we want to go, what we are seeking is beyond thoughts.
What if Aum comes to you and is all around the room. Would you merge with it? Or would FEAR keep you from it? Fear you would cease to exist? No, we don’t become nothing, we become something much deeper. Think: this is what I’ve been working for! Our individuality never ceases to exist. Avatars completely merge into spirit but come back as avatars.
If we are holding back, the Guru cannot give us any aspect of the Divine Spirit. Am I willing to let go of my ego self?
Devotion helps. For me, at first there were just sounds. Very seldom did I hear Aum, but during the day I might hear it loud in the background of my mind. Once I was walking an SRF couple around the grounds. I began to hear Aum very loud. The couple sounded very far away. After we left the chapel, the sound went away. I went to Bro. Anandamoy and he said, “God is calling you outside to be with Him. Don’t dismiss it, it is God’s voice. You linked into spirit. Be devotional to the sound.
Don’t be procedure-bound. Allow spontaneity in your meditation. If you sit down and want to start with kriya, do so. If you sit down and you hear the sound of Om, that’s the holy sound of God. Go with it — don’t revert to routine. Allow spontaneity.
The goal is not to listen to Om — the goal is to be Om, to merge with the sound. Shift the identification. It is no longer “I listen to Om.” There’s just Om. Dissolve into the Om vibration.
Develop devotion to the Om sound. Hearing the Om — this is God calling you. Don’t dismiss it. It’s God’s voice. Your link to Spirit.”
A dear friend is in a divine romance with Aum. It is his personal relationship with God. He said in that communion the Aum is giving him something. I was so inspired and asked him more about his experience. He said the Aum is the loom through which the threads are woven in the fabric of a holy life that we can lay at the feet of our Guru.
The Aum will be the aspect of divine love we may go to spirit through. We will go through our own unique path. Whatever aspect we will merge with, we have to let go of the ego consciousness. As Rajarsi Janakananda said, “When the ego steps out, God steps in and when the ego steps in, God steps out.”
Realization of our own true self we can all do, with the help of our Guru and the techniques. Use the techniques to give up the I, the ego self.
Where do I stand with what I want to identify with?
The devotee who heard the sound wrote to me and said, “I sit for hours, until the I returns to the body. It is my communion with God. Aum has become personal.
2014 Convocation – “Living a Spiritually Balanced Life in Today’s Complex World” ~ Brother Jayananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Mrinalini Mata’s message (read by Brother Vishwananda): Sri Daya Mata said, “It is in the consciousness of love divine that Gurudev has drawing all of us together. A fragrant garland of devotion and love to be put at the feet of the supreme Love.”
Let this be the spirit of which we begin convocation. May you take home a deeper conviction that you, too, are made in God’s image. Destined to know Him and His love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brother Jayananda
We’re so digitally connected to everything. The ability to get away and be alone – to lead our own lives – is very difficult to do in today’s world. It seems almost impossible today to balance our lives, but Guruji says it’s possible. Our awareness of the happenings of the world is greatly expanded. Things that happen around the world are instantly brought to us.
Brother Jayananda then read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “The Day is Done”:
The day is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight.
I see the lights of the village
Gleam through the rain and the mist,
And a feeling of sadness comes o’er me
That my soul cannot resist:
A feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain.
Come, read to me some poem,
Some simple and heartfelt lay,
That shall soothe this restless feeling,
And banish the thoughts of day.
Not from the grand old masters,
Not from the bards sublime,
Whose distant footsteps echo
Through the corridors of Time.
For, like strains of martial music,
Their mighty thoughts suggest
Life’s endless toil and endeavor;
And to-night I long for rest.
Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start;
Who, through long days of labor,
And nights devoid of ease,
Still heard in his soul the music
Of wonderful melodies.
Such songs have power to quiet
The restless pulse of care,
And come like the benediction
That follows after prayer.
Then read from the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice,
And lend to the rhyme of the poet
The beauty of thy voice.
And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life was simplier 150 years ago! We have to find a way to cope in today’s world. 70% of people have psychological or physiological effects from stress.
What is balance? Having everything in your life perfectly weighted. But we have many dimensions to our lives. How do we maintain a place where we can balance?
Life is about change. Things easily get out of whack. If you’re just trying to balance the material side of life, it’s impossible.
The ancient rishis laid down patterns for living that are not outmoded. Babaji is well aware of the needs of mankind and realizes the need to spread yoga equally with East and West. We need the ability to be in the world and not of it.
This year is the centennial of Daya Mata’s birth. One time Master scolded Ma – he said “you must be like steel inside.” Ma didn’t like cold and hard people. Master said “you must be unbendable – to stand unshaken amidst the crashing worlds.”
The night Master’s body lay in state at Mother Center – Uma Ma said that everyone was sobbing uncontrollably the night they brought Master in. People were wailing. She looked out of her room and saw Daya Mata at the top of the stairs and saw Daya Mata as a pillar of strength – not letting any emotions overwhelm her. She needed to be strong in order to look after others.
Brother spent 20 years as Ma’s secretary and he saw many times when she was like steel. When Ma’s brother Dale passed away, there were people crying. Brother walked to her study. Ma told him, “now is not the time for me to grieve.” Then she continued her work.
She had extraordinary strength. She felt for others, but she knew how to behave and what to do in every situation.
During Brother’s postulant stay in Encinitas, his brother was getting married and his mother wanted him at the wedding. A rule in the ashram is that you don’t attend weddings. Brother explained the rule to his mother. Brother Premamoy and Ma told him to go to the wedding. The rule was never bent, but Ma wanted him to go. Less than two years later, Brother’s Mother passed away. Brother realized she wouldn’t understand the rule, and Ma knew this. These teachings, this Guru, this President – things flow through in ways you wouldn’t expect.
Each person is unique and Daya Ma knew what that formula was. Ma said to Brother, “you lost your mother… I’ll be your mother now.” When you see this example, it convinces you to your core that these teachings work – the Guru is for real.
Brother Anandamoy said yoga is relevant. People do not understand the purpose of life – union with God. Balance of activities, right actions, proper use of our emotions.
We are all unique, so it’s difficult to give a formula for balance. Every person is different — what balance looks like is different, so we can’t judge others. Our lessons are not the same.
Diet – follow any simple diet suited to one’s constitution. So you need to figure it out yourself.
Master’s rules for diet were balanced and not fanatical. Throw the dog a bone and forget it.
Right attitude. Master had no tolerance for fanaticism.
Balance. The teachings are the golden middle path.
Brother Bhaktananda saw that Master would meet with intellectual types. They’d talk and laugh and had a good time. Bro. B tried to speak up and be a part of it. Master saw him and said, “this is not for you,” and sent him away. Bro. B didn’t need intellectualizing, but those men did.
Read from Man’s Eternal Quest – Art of Living (General guidelines for balanced and fruitful life.)
There are hints as to what to do. Find out which of Master’s teachings speaks to you within.”
“Everything that comes to us is meant to come to us. It’s our own karma that brings it. We really are in the place we need to be. Duties we are meant to perform for our own welfare. Change things that don’t seem right, but don’t resent where you are in life. You need the lesson.
Ma didn’t want to be the leader – she only wanted to be a Bhakti Yogi (devotion). Master took all the key disciples to the desert and left all the wholly untrained disciples – the “do-nothings” – at Mother Center to work with Ma. She thought it was impossible to get anything done. Master then asked her for a convocation the next year. She told him it was physically impossible. Master returned to the desert unhappy with her attitude. Ma knew she upset him, but felt she was right. She had to admit the truth – she was rationalizing her own desire not to obey him. Then she did as he asked and she felt a great peace come over her soul.
Master was always aware of his disciples’ consciousness.
Great strength and blessings come from willingness. Things come to us for a reason. Master gives to us what we need and there is a great blessing to that.
Meet the responsibilities placed in front of you. Don’t run from the lessons God and Guru want you to learn. Manifest more of the soul.
Do your best. That’s all Master asks. He’s never going to put more on us than we can handle.
Simplicity – if the world is so complex, simplify your life. Plain living and high thinking.
Master said to be as simple as you can be. You will be pleasantly surprised to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can be.
Use your mind for worthwhile endeavors. Give yourself the best food for it. Concentrate on great books and great men, great problems – your mind starts revolving the great spirit.
Watch your desires – likes and dislikes. The world is always trying to interest you in the new and complex. Don’t go after what the world says you need. Be content. Simplify your desires.
We have what we need – yet we put it aside and chose something else. Seek what is most dear – that presence within. The connection we feel with the peace and the joy that meditation brings. Don’t throw it away and chase other things.
Right Attitude – Master’s prayer: Lord, help me to be cheerful and willing, ever ready to change.
We can practice this in little ways – you’ll find that people and environments around you will change.
Serve others. Get out of yourself. Rather than striving for your own happiness, make others happy. Without seeking it, you own cup of happiness will be full.
Practice these teachings in mediation. Japa – taking again and again the name of God and Guru. Then you feel a definite attunement. Get into the habit of doing this – it’s very simple.
Practice devotion and practice the presence.
Ma had one of Master’s prayers on a sign in her office that said: “In life, in death, I sit unharmed in Thy lap, Divine Mother.” On the back of this sign she wrote: “Think of God today.”
That’s what made Ma who she was. She practiced these teachings and she struggled.
Don’t seek little things – they will take you away from God.
Deepest meditations are the ones where you want to meditate. Meditation has the power to change drastically our lives.
2014 Convocation – “Satsanga” ~ Brother Praffulananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Satsanga means Truth through Fellowship. The goal is to get us out of delusion as soon as we are willing. The Guru says he can show us spirit without fail, if we will follow what He teaches. Meditation, right attitude, and mental non-attachment.
Question: How do I get guidance during meditation?
We must develop our intuition. It is when we know something is true or not true. If we look at this guidance, but with our own views, we will probably not receive the guidance that we need.
First we must have spiritual study: Lessons, books, recordings. Then we can tune in with our Guru. Once we are grounded in our Guru’s guidance, then we can begin to do problem solving and at the end, not at the beginning. After meditation, ask God and Guru to give the solution to our problem. Ask for guidance and think of possible solutions, pick out the best one and follow it to success!
Question: But we have 6 Guru’s. How do we know which one to ask? Who do I pray to?
It is fine to pray and tune in with whoever you feel closest to. It is true; Master speaks of Himself as our preceptor, our teacher. He says Jesus and Babaji have planned this method of liberation for this Age. Jesus appears to those in the West and Krishna in the East. It can change over time. Don’t worry, they won’t be jealous. In the Kriya Pledge it says I accept you as my Guru’s.
Question: What does it feel like to be in Samadhi?
Master said it is enjoyable beyond imagination or expectancy. I could say it is really, really, really good.
Question: How do we make each deep meditation deeper than the day before?
If you practice in a desultory manner, without a definite plan, if you practice this way, it will never work. He is wanting us to try, to do our best in every meditation. The Guru is our spiritual coach. He wants us to do better. Our Guru knows our human limitations and tendency to practice desultorily. He is trying to stimulate our willingness. Don’t beat yourself up if you are not perfect yet. Just make a steady effort.
Question: Sometimes I am busy 24/7 and when I do meditate, my mind wanders. Help.
Go get Daya Mata’s new DVD; she answers this. Keep your meditation short but keep as focused as possible. Well, everybody has this problem, you are not special, don’t be upset. Set your goals appropriately. Make time, schedule it! Yes, you will have to cut out some non-essential things from your schedule. Meditation is about the hardest thing to do. We make impossible schedules, so we don’t have to do it.
Question: I get depressed and come crashing down after Convocation. I don’t want this, save me.
Same answer as before. Keep meditation short and focused and schedule them. Use your will power, sit down, shut up and meditate the best you can. A teacher in a business school brought a big glass jar with a wide top to class. He put in rocks until the jar was full and then asked if it was full. Yes, the class agreed. Then he put in gravel. He asked if it was full then and the class said it was. Then poured sand into the jar and the asked if it was full and they said it was. Then he put in water and said that now it was full. If you really try hard enough you can always squeeze more into your schedule. The real point of this is, if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you won’t get them in at all. The techniques are big rocks. Put them into your schedule first.
Environment is important. Master says to meditate with other people. It will uplift you from your precarious state. There is a little booklet in the Center Department about Group Meditation.
Question: I feel alone spiritually. There is no group around me.
Ask Center Department to help you start a group. I used to live 300 miles away from the nearest devotee. I spent my vacations going to others to meditate, about 4 times a year. Pray and ask God and Guru to help you meet other devotees.
Question: I want my children to be spiritual and find the right path.
There is a simple principal: behave rightly, be the example. It is easy to try to push kids, but it always backfires!
You can send them to SRF camps and hope it rubs off. Show your kids how to behave, in activity, attitudes, and emotions. You will change your kids as you want them to be.
Question: Master says it is unwise and unkind to marry unless you are sure you want to live with that person the rest of your life. I don’t want to make a mistake.
Lessons 58 to 61 are on how to avoid making mistakes. After meditation, take the problem to God and Guru and ask them to bless you that you choose your companion correctly.
Question: What if marriage is not right? Is monastic life normal or is it required to be a super human person?
Some choose to be single, some choose to be married, some choose the monastic life. The monastic life is unique; cloistered, but we are in the world through service. Normal? You do need to be single. One man said, “Oh, my wife won’t mind. In fact, she thinks it might do me some good.” You must be the right age, be flexible enough to adjust to a structured life style. We have monks here, available to talk to you. For me, it is a wonderful way of life.
Question: Could you discuss what prevents me from going into Samadhi? I ‘m doing everything I am supposed to do.
You have not mastered non-attachment. It is a paradox. Make your meditations deeper but do not look for results. Prove unconditional love for God by non-conditional striving.
Question: Can a person obtain salvation in this lifetime? Is liberation really possible for me?
Master said, “I can show you spirit without fail if you will follow me and practice what I teach. It is common to wonder why we are not making spectacular progress. We want signs like seeing the spiritual eye, hearing the Aum sound, going breathless. Not having them doesn’t mean you are not getting anywhere. You can get pruned to prompt you to keep making better, unconditional effort.
The Guru said, referring to Kriya, that even a tiny pit protects us from great fear of this life and its challenges. Spiritual results begin as subtle transformations. Feeling increasing peace is better than any worldly possession. It is priceless.
Don’t focus on results you are not getting, but rather focus on what you are getting~~~well-being, contentedness, knowing there is a purpose to life and knowing we are getting there. We have an inner peace and someday it will be exhaustless bliss.
2014 Convocation – “Satsanga” ~ Brother Ritananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Question: What if a person is doing Kriya so loudly he is heard in the whole chapel?
Master said it is important to be in a group, but personally to be still and quiet in the group. Some sniffle and snore, etc. Even at home be quiet and still with your Kriya. Every long meditation I used to remind people to be very quiet with actions and with Kriya. We find reminders do help. If all else fails, endure. Once Mrinalini Mata sat down and one foot was in an ant hole. Guruji said, “Be still.” He knew the situation and it was a test. Some people are unaware and some people just don’t like to follow directions; their ego is too strong.
Question: Do you need to have a Guru in the physical body?
We need to have a true Guru, in or out of the body is no obstacle. A true Guru has an eternal relationship with us. We don’t change Gurus when one passes on. A true Guru can manifest his body as easily as we brush our teeth. But the Guru wants us to rise to his level.
A man left SRF to go to Anandamoy Maji. When she died he went to be with Pope John II. Three years later he showed up here. He said he was in his home and Master came to him in physical form and said, “Even though you left me, I never left you.” We have an ever living Guru.
Question: If you have a physical relationship before SRF, do you accept us as less?
No. The Guru never wavers in his love. A woman received some extra money in her paycheck and she stayed quiet about it. The next week she received less pay. She went to her boss to complain and he remarked she did not complain when overpaid. She said, “Well, I can accept one mistake but not two.”
God and Guru never love us less, they give unconditional love. They understand the social situation, they know if we simply make an effort to follow God’s laws. Growing spiritual awareness will guide us to live in harmony with spiritual laws. You don’t have to be perfect to follow the SRF path, just be willing to make the effort. We will be changed.
Marianne (20 years a nun), was at the service for Paramahansa Yogananda’s ascension. Rajarsi Janakananda was leading it. The nuns went to see him off. Another nun told her to record everything he said. She hid and recorded his words. He began to walk away, then turned around and said, “Where? Where?” He looked all around and then walked up to where she was hiding and saw her. He said, “You are one of the young ones and he loves you very much. He wanted you to know that.”
Question: I have a tendency to feel sorry for myself. How can I break this habit of poor self-esteem?
A little girl about 10 was in her room. Her mother called, “Michelle, come to dinner.” again louder “Michelle, come to dinner,” twice. Without hesitating she replied, “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t hear you the first two times.” Master has given us all these tools and we have heard them many times. How many times does the Guru have to tell us? I will give you some quivers of arrows to overcome poor self-esteem.
Meditation is not enough. Another arrow is affirmation. It is okay to be tempted — don’t accept or entertain temptations. Use affirmations to avoid being taken in.
A third arrow is prayer. We have been given unconditional love. Make the best of it. Pray for what you need. A fourth arrow is spiritual study. A fifth is service to others. I visited a man who was paralyzed from the neck down. I encouraged him to serve others, by sending prayers. We can serve others and that helps us overcome our problems. A sixth is to live in the present moment. Don’t waste time fretting about the past or worrying about the future. A 7th is to apply divine will around noble ambitions. An 8th arrow is to be even-minded on the altar of peace and stillness. Master says we must learn to be more calm. The deeper the calmness, the better the interaction with God. You must radiate calmness, no matter what happens.
As soon as your mind becomes restless, give it a whack and require it to be quiet and still. A 9th arrow is to be positive. Always be positive. The 10th is to take a Cosmic perspective. Turn the wheel of life instead of being run over by it. We have a body and a mind, but we are the Soul.
Master said, “I think this sinner business is overrated. It is better to correct yourself, turn to God’s infinite love. Love yourself as you would love others. If you want to make others happy, give compassion. If you want to be happy, give yourself compassion.
Dr. Kenneth Ring wrote of a woman who had a near death experience. She gained an appreciation for life and to live more fully; increased feelings of self-worth and glimpses of who we truly are, souls.
You will listen when the pain is great enough. Make the effort to meditate and to do what we are encouraged to do. We have God’s unconditional love, but that is hard to grasp.
A woman clinically died. She later spoke of love, peace, and beauty. She said the most beautiful things on earth are gross compared to the astral. The woman had free will to stay or go back. Those helping her, helped her realize that the right thing was to go back. She said that one thousand angels supported her with love and encouragement. She said, “There is no music to compare with what I heard and it was meant for me. Their voices were pure and sweet. Then I knew that every soul is infinitely worthy.” Affirm your self-worth; customize the affirmations for your need. Every lesson ends with an affirmation. Write them down, use them, customize them, and have them ready for when you need them.
Master said never to call yourself a sinner. It is a sin to call yourself a sinner because you are the soul. God seeks willing hearts who want to be free and want to make the effort.
Question: I have a diagnosis of cancer. I would like to have right attitude, but right now I can’t stop crying.
Use affirmations. Find one or make one.
It is okay to have a good cry. Then employ a game plan, using the arrows in your quiver. You may fall apart again; okay, then go back to the game plan. You will change, you will make small victories. God knows best – it’s not always what we want or expect.
No one can give you a great desire for God. You must strive for it. It is a choice; keep making the effort and you will change.
The “Cosmic Dream of Life” will give us emotions, but strive for even-mindedness. Remove yourself from the dream with proper detachment. Have a foundation of even-mindedness. Raja Yoga is the highway to God. Remain calm, do your best, leave the rest with God.
A young man was taking a test and found he did not know the answer to a question. He wrote, “God alone knows the answer to this question. Merry Christmas.” The teacher responded, “God gets an A, you get an F. Happy New Year.
We cannot advance, have the strength to advance, unless we suffer and struggle to gain strength. Daya Mata said, “It is easy to be Holy when you have nothing to do.”
A man went to the other side, with fears about all the world’s problems. He came back loving everything because he saw how each problem served a need. We need to persevere.
We have the opportunity to do things differently in this life.
***** From the scribe, “These are affirmations for overcoming cancer, given by Brother Bhaktananda.
Heavenly father, mother, friend, beloved God.
I ask you to guide me to keep me healthy and strong.
I now affirm I am healthy and well.
My body is healthy and well.
My chest or ___________, is healthy and well.
Every part of my chest is healthy and well.
Every cell in the chest is healthy and well.
Every part of the chest is functioning properly.
My whole body is functioning properly.
My body is healthy and well.
I am healthy and well.
Repeat this affirmation three times each time, five different times daily.
Affirmations for the doctor’s guidance:
Master, guide the doctor to make me well.
Guide the doctor to make my breast healthy and well.
Note: Keep mentally repeating this prayer while the doctor is attending to your case.
2014 Convocation – “Achieving Happiness Through Steady and Focused Living (Teen/Young Adult Class)” ~ Brother Saralananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Our daily lives are affected by our daily habits. Good ones help us make progress and bad ones help us regularly get into trouble. It is not your passing inspirations as much as your everyday daily habits that help you lead a steady life.
Happiness can be found through a regular daily habit of meditation. Joy will come; that joy will remain in you all day long. We all long for this. We must learn to feel His joyous presence. The outside world cannot give us lasting happiness.
I have wonderful memories of meals my mother made. She taught us all how to cook, but I did not do well. Then I went to college and I had to cook for myself and I lost weight. Then I became a monastic and I gained 30 lbs. I thought, “Never again will I have to cook for myself on a regular basis.” Then I was told that I was assigned to be the breakfast cook for the monks. Oh my!
Master said we were to do all duties with concentration and to do our best. It was hard for me to think positively. I thought the monks would be inspired by my food as they would move beyond the senses. I prayed and did my best. Then my duties were changed. This is an ever changing creation. Our eternal nature is joy; our true nature is everlasting bliss thru all experiences of life, whether they are good or bad.
Things help us—we must replace our bad habits with spiritual habits of the spiritual life. We must dedicate our services to God and try to please Him.
Practice the presence, talk to God, say His name over and over, include Him in your daily life, and share your concerns with Him. Think of God as a supportive parent or friend or a divine love or divine person.
The more we think of God in intimate and personal ways, the more we seek to be in his presence, the more we are helped.
You may face a job interview, a challenge with school or with a relationship, or budget out of balance, or a health problem~~~think of God and Guru’s nearness. Open yourself to the love and peace they want to pour into us.
Daya Mata said affirmations are a powerful way to handle problems. Use “Thou art in me, I am in Thee.” Master said to choose one and go from saying it loudly to quietly and silently until you have deep and unbroken consciousness. Do it while in line somewhere, do it mentally.
Breathe in “Lord, Thou are in me,” and breathe out “I am in Thee.” Feel the truth of what you are affirming. All fears and troubles will fade away. What concept of God stirs your heart the most~~Mother, Father, God, Guru, and use it.
Spiritual study is important. Focus on what He says and know God in Samadhi. Read his poem Samadhi and take this and imagine yourself going through it.
In the AY, Master tells of his experience in Cosmic Consciousness. He felt great joy, the light of God and splendor. In my meditations I would practice radiating out some splendor. Fill yourself with all the qualities of Samadhi and let it radiate out to all. Visualize it as the great and unconditional love and joy that God shares with His children.
My habit helped me understand God’s great power of unconditional love. “Lord, help me radiate a little more love into that life.” Some need a prayer, a smile, etc.
In the AY Master says the goal is to obtain that necessary inner stillness by which one may truly know God. Have a direct personal experience of God. We pray, we chant, we practice the techniques. All involve the mind. They help us attain a greater stillness.
When we go to sit in stillness, motion and action are counter productive. Stillness and surrender are vital. With eyes closed, eyes at the Christ Center, observe what is there. Don’t force anything, wait for a response from God. Don’t push for it.
Daya Mata said that when anxiety clouds the consciousness, you can’t find God. You have to abide in stillness and let it well up within yourself. If you constantly shake a glass of water with some dirt in it, the particles will not settle down. Just pay attention to the Christ Center and ignore the thoughts that come; don’t give them any attention. The discipline is to focus on the Christ Center. Be very still. We will find the joyous nature of our souls. Strive to have a period of stillness in each meditation. Make it an everyday experience, even for a few moments.
Then move on to express love and devotion to God. Master said to say, “I love you Lord,” “I love you Lord.” Keep on keeping on, over and over again. Never give up. Churn the ether, don’t be restless but use a steady habit and determine to never give up. It will be a communion with the Divine. Just keep on making the effort – never give up.
Florence Chadwick, a long distance swimmer, was swimming across the English Channel. She swam hours and hours and then finally gave up. It was very foggy. She could not see that she was 97% across. She said if she had known how close she was, she would never have given up. She said she could only see fog and felt like she was not making any progress at all. She resolved that next time she would not give up. Two months later she was the first woman to swim across and broke the men’s record as well.
The truth is we are very near the heavenly shores. We don’t come here at the beginning of our spiritual lives, we come near the end. It is not just Jesus and a few others who know God. If you make the right kind of effort, you will know God. You will swim toward the heavenly shores.
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)We know that when we find the true Guru we will recognize him. Honor and respect the search each soul is on. Teach your children to trust their instincts. Support their search for truth.
From January 1, 2010 Magazine Letter, a quote from Ma: “God’s love is sustaining you. Put your trust in Him…Take to heart Gurudeva’s words: “God can do anything, and so can you, if you learn to identify yourself with His inexhaustible nature. As you take time daily to commune with Him in the stillness beyond all thoughts and emotions, may you feel His enfolding presence and know that He is eternally, lovingly helping you.”
Brother is sharing his stories with first-generation disciples. He calls these his “Lessons of a Lifetime.”
Brother told the story of when he was a gardener at Mother Center during his early days as a monk. He felt inadequate to be a gardener because he lacked experience in that area. However, one day Daya Ma came out to the garden to give him encouragement to develop skills as a gardener. He met her at the wishing well. Daya Ma said to Brother on gardening, “This is exactly what you need at this stage of your growth. Learn to feel for the needs of the plants. Then compassion for people will come more easily and you will find your love for God increasing.”
Give each plant what it needs to grow. Each needs something a little different. Gardening – a symbiotic relationship.
Brother started to become more aware of the people around him. He could sense the vibrations of people based on how they stood or walked, how they carried themselves. He saw well-being, pain, burden, and depression. Ma said to him, “When I see a person, I get a feeling in my heart concerning them. I have learned to be guided by this.”
Master said, “As one develops spiritually and realizes his kinship with all that lives, his responsibility to share the suffering of others increases. In your heart must well that sympathy which soothes away all pains from the hearts of others.”
You cannot force a plant to grow. All you can do is provide the right fertilizer and care. You can’t force a person to love you. A person will be who they will be. All you can do is provide conditions to their own growth. In their own time they will respond.
Ma used custom pink stationary that said at the top “from the desk of Sri Daya Mata.” She loved pink! Once Brother took care of a flower bed Ma always saw. The flowers were always pink. Brother got tired of pink and wanted another color. Ma questioned him about the new flowers. He wanted a mix of pink, white and dark blue. Ma replied, “pink and white. A little less white and a little more pink.” Then she added, “how about just pink?”
Next season, Brother saw lavender (Ananda Ma loved lavender). He picked up lavender and pink, and planted both. And it worked! Ananda Ma was overjoyed – and Ma was happy she was happy.
Ananda Mata and Daya Mata – two perfect souls blooming together!
Master built a retaining wall with broken up pieces of concrete by the tennis court. Brother had his eye on this “ugly” wall and conceived a plan to cover the wall with stonework. He had a meeting with Ananda Ma. She dismissed it and said better to leave the wall the way it is. She told him that “Master built that wall. That wall is beautiful!”
In the eyes of a devoted disciple, everything the Guru does is perfect.
For her whole life, Ananda Ma played a supportive role to perfection. Never joined Ma on stage. Sat in the front row and supported Ma. The way in which we play our role is more important than the role itself.
One time Mrinalini Mata was leading the Christmas meditation. She stood up to pray: “impinge your love upon our hearts.” Brother had a problem with the word “impinge.” He looked it up: to invade, to trespass, to forcefully force. Brother wrote her a letter and criticized the use of the word “impinge.” Gave her the definition. He was struggling with this word and wanted to understand what she meant. He waited, but did not get a reply. Three to four months went by. He was walking along the driveway all alone and saw Mrinalini Mata. She came right up to him and said, “So, you don’t want God to impinge Himself on you?” She said, “You will find that your greatest experiences of God will come when He impinges Himself upon you. The defenses of the ego are so strong the Lord must be forceful. Always pray: Lord impinge Thyself upon my consciousness!”
Now Brother prays, “Lord, invade me. Storm the walls! I want that unity. I want that oneness.”
“What is a quality that is common to first generation disciples? Tremendous willpower and enthusiasm.
Brother has seen this positive attitude of enthusiasm fueled by tremendous will. The first generation disciples never became discouraged. They never felt defeated. They gradually overcame every obstacle until Master’s wishes were fulfilled. Their patience seemed so infinite and their will so strong, they exhausted the devil himself! They fused their will with the will of the guru. It’s comforting to come in contact with this resolute force. Dark forces beware!
Our will can be that strong. And our faith in the guru can alleviate our fears.
There is no failure. There are only a succession of actions I can take to be successful. There is no failure. You will achieve. This is what the first generation passed on to all of us. A strong determination and consistent use of the will. Energize your will.
Daya Mata, from the Jan 1, 2010 Magazine Letter: “Materializing our good intentions takes strong determination and consistent use of the will. When you choose a realistic, worthy goal and energize your efforts with the dynamic power of your will, nothing can prevent you from succeeding. That was the indomitable resolve Gurudeva expressed. There was no room in his vocabulary or his consciousness for the word “can’t”, and he would encourage you also to cultivate the strength of mind to act on the resolutions you have made.
Act on the resolutions you have made. “I will will, I will act, but guide Thou my will and activity.”
Trust yourself and affirm a sense of action that seems right and true. Pray and live to be one with Master’s will – then you cannot fail.
On another occasion, Brother was on the 3rd Floor of the administration building. He was dropping off a report for Daya Mata. It was very quiet – no one was there. He’s in the hallway and he hears her door open. She steps out and starts walking toward him in the hallway. She stands 10 feet away – looking right through him/beyond him – with a big smile on her face. Ma then said, “I have just been meditating and felt the wonderful presence of God come over me. I have been troubled about the suffering our devotees endure and asked God about it. What message can I give them? And a simple message has come with inwardly formed words: love and serve. Love and serve. Love and serve.” IT’S SO SIMPLE!
Ma then started to sing, “Love and serve, love and serve.”
At convocation that year, Ma told the story of the powerful realization of the sweet intelligence and message – “When I was meditating recently, such a powerful inspiration came into my consciousness. . . . as I was meditating, pouring my heart out to Divine Mother, suddenly—I don’t know how to describe it to you—such a sweet, soothing Intelligence descended on my consciousness. The message that was conveyed to me was so simple, two words: “love, serve. Love, serve. And the rest do not be troubled about.’ I cannot tell you what comfort what strength filled my soul.”
This is a perfect message for a new millennium. This is a variation on Master’s thought, “Love God first and then give that love to all.”
Service is externalizing the love of God. Attunement in the effort we make. Lord, show me how to let your love go through me. Let me be a channel. When we ask this, we feel something that is not our own. Then we know we are a channel of God.
We have learned the nature of a true Sat-Guru from the first generation disciples. They taught us how to be perfect disciples.
We can be grateful that one moon gives more light than all of the stars. The light of the first generation of disciples shines through the organization.
According to Brother Anandamoy, “For an omnipresent Guru, all disciples are direct disciples.”
Just as the first generation has given so much, so must we.
Brother then shared a story of seeing a rainbow and telling Daya Ma about it. Master and Ma energized on the balcony. Brother was walking after a rain storm – close to sunset. The sun shone through. To the east, large storm clouds. Then there was the most beautiful rainbow out of the mountains, over Mother Center, and it landed downtown Los Angeles. It was like an astral blessing on Mother Center.
We want to share the rainbow. Brother then rain into Ma’s office. She was occupied at the moment and had him wait. Finally, she looked up. When free, she asked “What is it, dear?” He says, “There’s a rainbow outside, right over Master’s porch.” She says, “A rainbow? Well, why didn’t you say so?”
Ever eager to share, she dialed Ananda Mata and said “Mataji, come quick!” Then, she dialed the others, “Mata, mata, mata…,” said Brother as he demonstrated her pressing on the phone, speed-dialing the sisters. All the “matas” came rushing out, and there they were…seven first-generation disciples looking up at the rainbow that extended from Mt. Washington to downtown L.A. They stopped talking and stood still – just looking at the rainbow. First, he was relieved the rainbow was still there! Then, from his view, he saw that the rainbow arched overhead, perfectly framing the seven of them. Imagine!Brother said that he took a mental picture of it, and was now downloading it for us, the next generations of disciples, by passing this story along. It was one of many stories shared that demonstrated Ma’s divine love and how she gave that love to all in so many different ways.
We need to create these kinds of memories and capture them. Brother uses these memories in quiet times to think and to dream.
Daya Mata said, “With the passing of the years I have come to realize in an ever greater way that what matters most is our relationship with the Divine. Everything else in this world is impermanent, but that relationship is eternal. When you have Him the deepest needs and desires of your soul are fulfilled.”
2014 Convocation – “Sustaining a Joyful Heart in Times of Adversity” ~ Brother Sevananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Nothing is impossible. Everything Master gives us is to be able to attain the unattainable. “I would not tell you if it were not so.” ~ Master
Don’t deny your feelings and emotions, but don’t deny the nature of your true soul. The perspective that comes from the teachings is that we are the immortal soul.
We need to realize we are understanding, compassionate, cheerful, grateful – the pure heart.
Enter the quiet heart. But tonight we are talking about a joyous heart.
Joy is our nature amidst the twists and turns of adversity.
How to change oneself – Until we wake up from the dream of life, keep your common sense. Separate the real from the unreal.
To paraphrase Mrinalini Mata: “You will find that the interior life is the only thing to cling to when things get rough. The interior life becomes the only thing that is real to you. Then you see the world as a dream of God.”
Get away from the unreal and get back to the real. The only place you can find the real is in the interior life.
God’s consciousness is sleeping without each one of us, but the energy flowing through the nerves to the brain hypnotizes us. This universe is God’s hobby and God’s very serious about his hobby.
Meditation wakes us up from this dream. We start to slow the breath down and the mind becomes calm. Then we feel the peace and joy in our hearts. Then we intuitively recognize — “Oh, that’s me — that’s what I want.” We are getting back to our natural state.
There’s a growing shift — how we perceive our experiences. We don’t identify ourselves in the same way. But we can feel more compassion. Get away from identifying your consciousness with the body and the physical world.
The world is great when we feel good, but a nightmare when we feel bad. The body is how we get around. Not to be mistaken that that is who I am.
Meditation is the first supreme way to a joyous heart.
Alleviating the suffering dreams – in the midst of our pain, care and look after each other.
What is the meaning of life? We are light but not the source of light. The light will shine on dark places if we act as a mirror for the light. Divine light is hidden in each and all of us. Behold that light, live in that light, shine that light on all.
Brother then read John Donne’s Meditation 17:
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Ma’s book, “Finding the God Within:” Facing what we have to face – what’s ours that will come into our life – with an attitude of a child of God. Endure with right attitude whatever crosses we have to face in our daily lives and then to rise above them. This is what leads to joy and lasting peace and understanding.
Trials will come – don’t be afraid of them. And don’t ask for them, either!
No one was so centered in his heart during trials than Jesus: “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” This is an example of infinite love and understanding. It is because Jesus didn’t act in revenge that we love Him. He demonstrated that true spirituality.
The Dalai Lama said, “My religion is simple. My religion is kindness.”
It is in the interior life where we will be good, we will be kind. We all have our unique karma. The dream of death is the final examination in this dream of life. In the end, all will be well. The soul rises up and is victorious.
God will not allow you to be tested more than you can endure. Everything is a part of the journey that is yet to come. Temporary pauses for new challenges. Shadow of the valley. My cup runneth over. That is the conclusion. That’s the reality when we merge from that shadow.
Look at every difficulty as the shadow of God’s hand reaching out to bless you. During a temporary dark night of the soul, we feel God and Guru have abandoned us. But that is impossible. God cannot abandon the Self. Their help is just as much in the shadow, but it is hidden. That’s when we doubt.
The Great Ones have walked that path through that shadow. Master wants us to recognize the divinity within ourselves. Our blessings are waiting just around the corner.
Do what you can… offer what you can to God. God judges to a much different standard than we do or do those around us. Our efforts to God are pure gold. Our love is already perfect in His eyes.
God and Master can’t take away all the suffering and adversity – that’s not what they do. More often than not, help comes in a thousand different ways. Healing of mind and soul – helping us find a glimmer of joy.
Daya Ma taught us these truths through the example of her life.
God watches the heart. He judges by the sincerity of our hearts. Effort is progress. Not the result necessarily, but the effort to achieve that result.
It’s all about the heart. We can’t do it alone — we can only do it with the love and blessing of God and Guru.
Master said: ”God is Love; His plan for creation can be rooted only in love. Does not that simple thought, rather than erudite reasonings, offer solace to the human heart? Every saint who has penetrated to the core of Reality has testified that a divine universal plan exists and that it is beautiful and full of joy.”
A plan like this exists for each one of us as well.
2014 Convocation – “Satsanga” ~ Sister Vinita
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Question: With all there is to read from Master, what is the priority?
Read which ever book finds you first. Sister Shanti was in the library and the AY fell off the top shelf onto her head. She became a member! If the AY is not your first book, then I recommend you read it next. Subscribe to the Lessons. Most of us want to read every book Master ever wrote. There is from cosmic consciousness to the practical. There are 3 books of his writings, mostly classes he gave, and the 4th is on the way. The two scriptures, The Second Coming of Christ and God Talks with Arjuna can keep us busy for a lifetime. Master said, “Know my teachings, backwards and forwards. Just one thought might redeem you.” Absorb what He is saying. Meditate on key thoughts. How can I live by this principal of truth?
Question: I heard there is an introspection chart. How do I get it?
The Art of Introspection is available by request. Ask for it in the Santa Anita Room.
I can’t get in the habit of writing in a diary. It is hard for me to do. Can you help me?
It can be cathartic and help us be more objective. Just start writing something, just for yourself. Pretend you are writing to the Guru, like in God Alone. It helped her to put her thoughts in writing. Try writing a Dear Guruji letter, or keep a mental diary.
Question; How do we introspect?
Look at yourself honestly and directly. When we see a negative trait, we can identify it and then get rid of it. Ask yourself, “How did I behave today?” “Was I impatient?” “Was I kind?” “Did I set aside enough time for the techniques?” “Did I carry through with my commitments?” “Am I calm or frazzled?” “How do others react to me?” People’s reactions give me a clue.
Some of us nuns were working together and one said to me, “You look worried.” I did not feel worried. Later on I thought about it. The Guru helps us see ourselves as others see us.
When as a child, I loved to make images out of mud. Later on that was immature. Some people become furious when immature behaviors are pointed out. Clear away your mental and spiritual dirt, so others just see your marvelous soul.
Try to develop an opposite trait to the one you don’t like. If we have a very strong will, we can change quickly.
Our Guru once said, “I will never be angry again.” He was not! But He did show anger for a purpose. You may get angry and afterwards feel sorry. Tell yourself to avoid anger. The first day it will be hard, the 2nd day less hard, and the 3rd day even less hard. In a year you will be another person. Have faith that God and Guru will be supportive of you.
Bad habits do not belong to us. The soul is pure. Do not be attentive to discouraging thoughts. Be objective. Take Action. Avoid discouragement.
Question: I know that to overcome problems I need to meditate more, but I don’t want to.
Meditate more!
Question: How do I overcome my restlessness in meditation?
Ignore it and meditate anyway.
Question: I am a Kriyaban, but do not meditate regularly and I get exasperated.
Meditate regularly anyway. Ignore the restlessness and do it anyway. There is always the battle between good and evil. Restlessness is a weapon used by Satan. He wants us to be distressed and lazy. If we continue in spite of Satan we will be assisted by the Holy Ghost. Master said unwillingness to meditate is one of the foremost enemies. By deeper and deliberate acts of meditation, we will gain success.
The problem is part of the way the Creation is set up. We need to recognize the enemy and not accept it. We must have a desire to meditate, in spite of the restlessness. Each person has to fight his own battle. Sooner or later we will win.
Have a particular place to meditate. Set aside certain times of the day. Force of habit helps us. Go there and begin, sit down and begin. Read Daya Mata’s, Enter the Quiet Heart. Affirm, “I can meditate. I can resist this restlessness.”
Ask God and Guru for help; pray intensely for whatever help you need. Open one of Master’s books at random and see what is there. I opened Man’s Eternal Quest and it said “meditate more.” I opened it about 6 months later to another chapter and it said, “meditate more.” Work on deepening your relationship with God. Talk to Him more and more throughout the day.
Question: How do I concentrate at the Christ Center without getting a headache?
To focus your eyes on the Christ Center is a natural thing; maybe you are looking too high. Pressure in the head is an accumulation of energy in the brain. If it feels pleasant that is okay, but otherwise perhaps your posture is not right. Feel like you are being lifted up by the top of your head. That can help. Tense and release your body a few times. Get enough exercise, then it is easier to sit in meditation without discomfort. Be intense in our effort but without tension.
Lovingly practice each technique with a desire to connect with the Gurus.
Question: Is it OK to practice Hatha Yoga?
Yes. It gives vitality and physical easiness. Be careful not to force yourself. Also go outdoors and walk. Play a sport.
Question: I teach Hatha Yoga, but don’t have time to practice the Energization Exercises.
The EE’s are the 4th step of Raja Yoga. We learn to draw extra energy into the body and send it to the body parts where it is needed. Master said they are tension exercises. You don’t know what you have received.
Question: I know that spiritual progress is subtle. How do we know if we are progressing?
Look at your effort. If we are making an effort, we are progressing. We can be sure we are making progress if we are making an effort. Desire itself is progress.
Don’t be negative. Never say that you cannot find God. Throw away thoughts of discouragement. One day darkness will vanish, as though it had never been.
Look at the 26 soul qualities and see how you are doing.
Daya Mata says a sure sign we are progressing is if each day we have a desire to meditate. Cultivate the desire to meditate.
Each day you are approaching Heaven. Have a Heavenly Convocation.
26 Soul Qualities
Fearlessness; Purity of Heart; Steadfastness; Almsgiving; Self-Restraint; Sacred Rites; Right Study of the Scriptures; Self Discipline; Straight-Forwardness; Non-injury; Truthfulness; Absence of Wrath; Renunciation; Peacefulness; Non-Condemnation; Compassion Toward All Beings; Absence of Greed and Envy; Gentleness; Modesty; Absence of Restlessness; Radiance of Character; Forgiveness; Patience or Fortitude; Cleanness of Body and Purity of Mind; Non-hatred; Lack of Conceit
2014 Convocation – “Living in the Moment: A Spiritual Perspective” ~ Brother Vishwananda
(DISCLAIMER: These notes are our best attempt to capture the essence of what was said at this class. There is always a degree of human error involved when taking notes and we have transcribed them to the best of our ability.)
Foundational and fundamental to the practice of our Guru’s teachings:
~The very purpose of life is to find God. Remind yourself every morning. If you don’t, you may find yourself veering off the path.
~Have a basic understanding of karma and reincarnation. Have the discipline and will power to pursue God. In our daily introspection we need to realize who we are. Accept the responsibility of your life, but don’t do it alone. Take Guruji with you.
~Science of Yoga – 8 Steps. Remember the Yama/Niyama.
Refresh your memories of these foundation stones. Forget one of these and you could get off of your spiritual path.
Moments from Brother’s and Ma’s life – stories that reflect insight and lessons that we can identify with.
Ma was in Indian in the late 1960s. Brother saw a change in a friend’s life after this friend met Ma. He had a calmness he didn’t have before. He started to talk about his meeting with Ma, and Brother knew he had to meet her.
Two years later, Brother went to India to see Ma – she was going back to India. Shortly after he arrived, he heard that Ma postponed her trip because of the war. Brother waited and waited – and he got more and more excited. He finally met her one year at the Calcutta airport in the early 1970s. So many devotees were on the tarmac surrounding the area they would exit the plane. Ma came off the plane last – she swept her hand along the semicircle and when she arrived at Brother all he heard were the words Dum Dum. He felt she was talking about the name of the airport, but it didn’t help his expectations that she was saying Dum Dum and pointing at him!
Brother had a private meeting with Ma. She had made a comment that Guruji gave Ma the same strict treatment that Sri Yukteswar gave to Master. Brother asked for the same strict discipline. Ma chuckled. It was a chuckle of divine wisdom and insight. She said, “My dear, you are not ready yet.”
She had the courage to be honest with Brother. She then gave him the next steps.
Ma would go out on an evening walk at Ranchi. Afterwards, she would come back and devotees would sit around her for an informal Satsanga. One evening, a marriage procession passed with a band. Someone complained to Ma and apologized for the disturbance. She said, “don’t be disturbed – just focus on the rhythm.” She focused on the positive. Identified the rhythm with God.
He went on a road tour with Ma. He joined her on an evening meditation – Ananda Ma and Ma, and an Indian swami and Brother. They were in a guest house up on a hill. Ma asked him if he could sit still for one hour. He said yes. But she wasn’t sure. Ananda Ma came back with two pillows. Ma said, “you have to sit very still if you want to learn to meditate.” Brother didn’t meditate at all – he was just trying not to move.
She would encourage you with her love and patience.
Years later, serving as one of Ma’s secretaries, he was in a mood one day. When Ma would want them, they’d run up three flights of stairs. Ma was standing at the top of the landing. He was standing looking at him. She asked him how he was. He was stumbling a little bit – she knew what was going on, that he was in a mood. He said, “I’m okay.” She asked what that meant. She sent him back to his office to contemplate what “I’m okay” meant.
She had the insight to help everyone overcome their flaws and to help them. Rarely or never did you hear Ma use the word “I.” It was always, “what would Master want.”
They would take the letters Ma or Ananda Ma signed and they put the letters on Master’s shoes overnight. Sometimes the next day they would change their minds. They consistently turned to Master.
One day Brother was in Ananda Ma’s office. Ma walked in – turned and walked out. She seemed to be limping and had her hand on her hip. Brother had this thought that Ma was getting old. There was a ruckus in the hallway. Running and clapping. Ma was running up and down the hallway clapping her hands and chasing her little dog. Never once did Ma say a word to him about getting old.
Ma always found a way to fill life with inspiration or a lesson. In their interaction, there were times when the word God was never used – but she always applied a spiritual principle. You always saw that her consciousness was in God. She always worked and interacted with others from this center.
Ma wouldn’t want Brother to react or defend Ma to others. Ma doesn’t have to be a teacher – she’s become one with the teachings. Ma was a living scripture.
Even in those times when the heart feels dry, always try to feel love for Him – through all the moments of the rest of your days.
Each day can be a day of joy, courage, strength, love. Unceasingly commune with God through the language of your heart.
What is life like when the moments of your life are not filled with God? Minds scattered and cluttered with ideas and opinions, moods, urges, whims and superficial self-centered distractions to prevent introspection.
What made Ma what she was? Guruji told her “only love can take my place.” Guruji wasn’t talking about human love or manifested love. What is that love that can take Guruji’s place? An incarnation of divine love is a manifestation of God’s love – a channel for God’s love. Only divine love can take my place. Where do we find this? Only inside.
Our Guru knows us inside and out. He finds little ways to whisper to us. He plays with us sometimes like a little child. He whispers to show his presence. Guru dwells in our hearts and consciousness.
What greater gift can someone share than the inner consciousness. He makes available to us his divine God consciousness. God is already in the moments in our life. God is always waiting for us. He is always there. There’s nothing there except ourselves – our love, devotion, dedication.
What is the reward? Guruji will share his consciousness with us. He will guide us. Behind all these, Guru gives us this divine gift of his consciousness. We get his perceptions and his communion with God. Guru is the speaking voice of the silent God. This is available to us every moment of our lives if we choose to live in that consciousness.
Ma lived in that consciousness all the time. Ma was so one with Master’s consciousness. She even had his inflection and mannerisms.
This is God come to help us. The consciousness is there, but we have to want it and seek it.
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Master – When I am Only a Dream
I come to tell you all of Him,
And the way to encase Him in your bosom,
And of the discipline which brings His grace.
To those of you who have asked me
To guide you to my Beloved’s silently talking mind,
Or speak to you through a gentle significant glance,
Or whisper to you through my love,
Or loudly dissuade you when you stray away from Him.
But when I shall become only a memory or a mental image,
Or silently speaking voice,
When no earthly call will ever reveal
My whereabouts in unplumbed space
When no shallow entreaty or stern stentorian command
Will bring an answer from me,
I will smile in your mind when you are right,
And when you are wrong, I will weep through my eyes,
Dimly peering at you in the dark,
And weep through your eyes, perchance;
And I will whisper to you through your conscience,
And I will reason with you through your reason,
And I will love through your love.
When you are able no longer to talk to me,
Read my Whispers of Eternity.
Eternally through that I will talk to you.
Unknown I will walk by your side
And guard you with invisible arms.
And as soon as you know my Beloved
And hear His voice in silence,
You will know me again more tangibly
Than you knew me in this earth plane.
And yet when I am only a dream to you
I will come to remind you that you too are naught
But a dream of my Heavenly Beloved,
And when you know you are a dream, as I know now,
We all will be ever awake in Him.
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Gita Chapter 4, Sloka 24 – Sanskrit prayer before food – used before meals.
The act of offering is God. The offering is God. The one who offers is God. God is that who is to be attained by the one performing the action.
Take the time to pray before you eat. Live in the moment. Look at the beauty of what Guruji has given us. Thank God and keep repeating for Him to receive this food and make it holy. These words are infused with His vibration. Say the whole thing or take a part of the prayer.
“Heavenly Father, receive this food. Make it holy. Let no impurity of greed defile it. The food comes from Thee. It is for Thy temple. Spiritualize it. Spirit to spirit goes. We are the petals of Thy manifestation, but Thou are the flower. Its life, beauty and loveliness. Permeate our souls with the fragrance of Thy presence.”
Whispers from Eternity has a section on prayers during the day – prayer at non, night, before meditation, for peace, etc. Whispers is the poetic wonder and inspiration power of Guruji’s words.
Use his words as a magic carpet. Guru is the gift of God.
Guruji spiritualized the cosmic chants. We can be divinely in the moments of our lives.
The one thing God doesn’t have is our love. Take a moment and chant to God with devotion and sincerity. You have to believe that God is there – in your heart – ready to respond. He’s always there every moment of our lives.
Guruji loved Tagore. From Gitanjali:
I had gone a-begging from door to door in the village path,
when thy golden chariot appeared in the distance
like a gorgeous dream and I wondered
who was this King of all kings!
My hopes rose high and methought
my evil days were at an end,
and I stood waiting for alms to be given unasked
and for wealth scattered on all sides in the dust.
The chariot stopped where I stood.
Thy glance fell on me
and thou camest down with a smile.
I felt that the luck of my life had come at last.
Then of a sudden thou didst hold out thy right hand
and say `What hast thou to give to me?’
Ah, what a kingly jest was it
to open thy palm to a beggar to beg!
I was confused and stood undecided,
and then from my wallet I slowly took out
the least little grain of corn
and gave it to thee.
But how great my surprise when at the day’s end
I emptied my bag on the floor to find
a least little gram of gold among the poor heap.
I bitterly wept and wished
that I had had the heart to give thee my all.
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The only real moment is the eternal Now – when you are aware of God’s presence. Ma said to Brother in India: “This is a message for the ages.”
This is a message from one who loved God and knew her Guru.
The consciousness of God – it’s the love of the Guru.
Ma: “May you surrender your heart to Divine Mother and Guruji that you, too, may become a true faithful devotee now and for always.”
Cherish the gold nuggets Guru has given you this week. The divine friendship, the love, and the peace. Hold on to this – don’t let go of these. Cherish them. We’ve sought them out and God and Guru have responded. Cherish them.
In Awake, Master tells us how to talk to God – how to go straight to God: “Again and again, reveal Thyself, reveal Thyself.”
Churn the ether with your devotion. God and Guru are waiting in the eternal Now!
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A message from Mrinalini Mata:
“I was praying during the film (Awake) that Master could see beyond the light and shadow – and could feel Master was alive. I could feel his loving presence.
Hang on to what you have gained at convocation and believe that you carry this with you.”
Mrinalini Ma said that she will pray for each of us that we remember God and Guru as we experienced them during convocation. All will be well if we keep in tune with Them.
She missed being with all of us and appreciates our divine spiritual friendship.