Detour into materialistic realm

I had taken a detour into materialistic realm over the past 2 years and currently struggling to find my way back to the spiritual path. Maya is so very very delusive and one if wrong if she/he thinks that he can overcome it alone. Subtle in its ways, maya does not even let you know that it has possessed you until such time when one really finds one's self struggling till you are completely drowned in it. The smallest channel of communication one had opened with the divine gets blocked by one's own materialistic actions. Just like Paramahansa Yogananda had said...all good intentions take a back seat when one says "I will meditate tomorrow" that tomorrow may never come. It is right now that one has to decide to break the shackles. I am trying hard to do so...May my guru, the great param gurus, Mahavatar Babaji, Jesus Christ, Krishna and all the saints be with me in my redemption. Amen

Free Choice - God's Greatest Gift

We can say taht God make this earth not only as a hobby, but also because he wanted to make perfect souls that would evlove back to Him. He sent them out under the cloak of delusion, or maya, but endowed with freedom. That is the greatest gift of God. He has not denied mankind the free choice that He Himself has. He has given man freedom to be good or evil, to do exactly as he pleases - even to deny God. Both godd and evil exist, but nobody compels you to be evil unless you choose to practice evil; and nobody can compel you to be good unless you want to be good. God created us with the ability to exercise His gifts of intelligence and freechoice, by which we can choose to go back to Him. God certainly means to take us back when we are ready to go. We are like the biblical prodigal son, and God is continuously calling to us to come HOME.

The ideal of every human life should be to be good, to be happy, and to find God. You will never be happy unless you do find God. That is why Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." (Matthew 6:33 Bible). That is the purpose of our existence:that we strive to become perfect, and to use our free will to choose god instead of evil. God has given to us all the power we need to do so. The mind is like an elastic band. The more you pull, the more it stretches. The mind-elastic wll never break. Every time you feel limitations, close your eyes and say to yourself, "I am the Infinite" and you will see what power you have.

Paraphrased from "Self Realization Fellowship" by Paramahansa Yogananda

Introspecting our inner potential

“God made man in his image and all those who know him in spirit can realize the divinity sleeping within them by expanding the powers of the mind. Being children of God we have potential dominion over all things in his universe, even as he has.” Paraphrased from the chapter 'Receiving God's Answer's to your prayers' in Journey to Self Realization by Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda - Guru and Founder of Self Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.

The above paragraph contains the greatest truth ‘We are Gods’ and it is just that we have not realized it. Our true potential is hidden deep because our ego has taken over which says that we are limited to this body. We refuse to wake up from this slumber; at times, we wake up but fall asleep again. We make very little effort to awaken in us the cosmic consciousness. We have to remove the veil of ignorance by introspecting the way we live our lives on a daily basis. We must constantly make an effort to improve. The divine laws are so perfect that to master it may take more than a lifetime, however one must try one's best to acheive as much as possible within this lifetime that is given. That is why it is important we start the effort today and ensure we continue it devoutly. It should not be another routine but rather a time when you are going to be your own self. As we progress we realize our true self not only at a given time but all through – day and night. This will ultimately lead to simple living and high thinking.

Healing

Stubborn mental or physical diseases always have a deep root in the subconsciousness. Illnessmay be cured by pulling out its hideen roots. That is why all affirmations of the conscious mind should be impressive enough to permeate the subconsciousness which in turn automatically influences the conscious mind. Strong conscious affirmations thus react on the mind and body through the medium of the subconscious. Still stronger affirmations reach not only the subconscious, but also the superconsicous mind -- the magic storehouse of miraculous powers -- Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, "Scientific Healing Affirmations'

We all have this tendency of thinking that we must have good health at all times. Our health is determined by our thought processeses and this is precisely what Paramahansa Yoganandaji is saying in the abovementioned quote. We are very eager to get healed or good health instanteneously however we forget that unless we are always in tune to the supreme consciousness or cosmic consciousness we cannot achieve it. When we are developing ourselves into being Self realized people it takes time for healing to happen. An moreover we have to have the attitude of complete surrender to the Almighty because only he directs everything. So doing our part of affirming good health in a strong manner without an element of doubt is essential. In the initial stages of our spiritual quest we always have doubts about the power of affirmations and being steadfast in it is the way ahead because in time your effort will see results. Paramahansa Yogananda put it very well stating that pain and pleasure is transitory and we have to endure the duality with belief and faith. God Bless every soul in this world, Amen

Effort to gain the grace supreme being

There are questions from people often as to whether there is a God who takes care of things in there is universe. This is the predicament that everyone faces especially when the chips are down. One should always make sure that one's quest for material wants should not be the only purpose to connect with the supreme being. The aspect of the supreme being may be different for every person; for some it may be a personal god with an image, for some it may be nature, for some it may be service and so on. The point is one should make sure that no matter what the form they consider to use their quest to acquire grace as per divine laws should be uppermost. Acquiring grace would mean that one makes an effort to give up vices, desires over a period of time. for example if one has a strong desire to smoke cigarettes and if that habit can be kicked by slowly reducing the consumption and eventually stopping it then the effort is in the right direction. This effort itself will set certain metaphysical forces in motion and the results may be seen in time. Now the effort has to be continuous. Again continuing with the example when one is among the company of other smokers, overcoming the urge to take a puff or drag is most important and if this sustained effort carries on the habit will die. Many great philosophers also say that is important to cultivate a good habit in the place of the bad habit. It is amazing when one is able to do this in small things. In time these efforts will pave way for a better understanding of the supreme being and also find grace. Ultimately one's spirituality grows with a great sense of fulfillment in our body, mind and soul

parables and interpretations

I was recently reading some blogs from other spiritualists who are seeking the Almighty in his absolute form. I would like to narrate some of those here today.

A certain catholic priest had come close to defining the existence of the Astral body when he spoke about the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Everybody thinks that Jesus came back to the 'physical body' that he had before his crucifixion. However on the contrary, the resurrected body or the 'glorified body' is actually the 'astral body' that manifests in all. I was amazed at the fact that the priest was quite close to discussing Raja Yoga which was propounded by the great Rishis of India

The significance is that Christ Jesus was able to manifest his 'astral body' because he was aware of his divinity since he was in constant touch with the cosmic consciousness (Heavenly Father). The Astral body is similar to the physical body and can materialise and de-materialise instantaneously. I think in a way St. Thomas was blessed because he was asked by Christ Jesus to put his fingers into his wounds to see that he is real and all that St. Thomas did was to exclaim "My lord my God" What a beautiful phrase. 

Secondly, I would like to put forth here the interpretation of the parable of the Garden Owner and the Gardener

The parable goes like this...The owner of the Garden wanted the Gardener to do away with the Fig tree as it was not bearing fruit for more than 3 years and instead tend another tree in its place. The Gardener asked the owner for another year so that he could nurture the tree well and ensure that it bore fruit failing which he would uproot it appropriately

In the context of spirituality the Almighty is akin to the owner and the Guru is akin to the gardener where the Guru intercedes with the Almighty and bids time so that he can instill devotion in the devotee so that he may reach God in time. The importance of the guru becomes significant because he is the one who can lead one to God. One can choose his guru as he/she wishes be it in the form of Lord Jesus, or Lord Krishna, Paramahansa Yogananda or any other revered saint.

State of Grace

The other day I was talking to one of my business acquaintances(whom I met after a long time almost 18 months) and it was supposed to be a business chat. As we were talking my acquaintance suddenly looked at my hands and said you look weak because he noticed the veins and nerves on my hand. Previously I was a little plump and at that showed on my hands as well. So I replied to my acquaintence stating that I had been practising a martial art. I knew that he followed the Pentacostal method of Christianity (if I may call it so). I added that the martial art kept me quite agile and it was akin to Tai Chi. So immediately based on his inference he said that usually such people are very withdrawn and I told him that yes, they may look withdrawn however the are always aware of the universe around them. He also said that such people consider Nature as God. He being a Christian was getting to the bible verses which says " I am thy Lord, thy God and thou shalt have no other Gods before me". So I told him that Nature was manifestation of God as it is how the world can comprehend him easily. As we were talking the topic went to the aspect called 'sin' and my reply was that evil and good are 2 sides of the same coin. I was also saying that one my try to overcome not suppress temptations and that requires one to be in the "State of Grace". He agreed to what I said and added that this comes only by complete 'surrender' to God and prayer and meditation were excellent mediums to through which one could always ensure one's continuity in 'state of grace'. While in the 'state of grace' one gains strength to overcome temptations. At the same time it means that once should not waste away time doing nothing. One has to also work to take care of one's material needs as required.

Even when one asks God for something that one desires one should surrender to him saying "if it is thy will may I receive it". Jesus demonstrated this by giving himself up to be crucified by saying "Remove this cup from me Father, but Thy will be done". He demonstrated that he had the power to overcome the temptation of running away as a person who assumed human form. He was metaphysically one with Cosmic Consciousness (the Father) by concentrating on the Kutastha Chaitanya (Christ Consciousness center) along with the Super Consciousness ( the Holy Spirit). The Holy Trinity is very significant and relevant to all men.