Notes from Convocation 2003

UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERY OF LIFE AND DEATH....... 2

SUNDAY SERVICE AT HOLLYWOOD TEMPLE -BROTHER BHAKTANANDA.......2

KRIYA YOGA PLUS DEVOTION ............................. 3BROTHER ANANDAMOY – SUNDAY EVENING................. 3SATSANGA............................................................. 8

BROTHER MITRANANDA – MONDAY AFTERNOON................... 8

PRAYER: TRUSTING IN GOD IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE.......................12

MUKTI MATA – MONDAY EVENING LECTURE........................................................ 12

NOTES FROM PILGRIMAGE......................................................................................... 18

MOTHER CENTER – WEDNESDAY MORNING............................................................18

WHAT IS MY ROLE IN LIFE? ..........................................................................................19

BR.SATYANANDA-WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON TEEN/YOUNG ADULT CLASS. 19

THE ENNOBLING QUALITIES OF THE SOUL................................................................22

SISTER PRIYA – WED EVENING LECTURE...................................................................22

SATSANGA.......................................................................................................................... 25

BROTHER JAYANANDA – THURSDAY MORNING.......................................................25

THE GURU’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP ........................................29

BROTHER SANTOSHANANDA –THURSDAY EVENING LECTURE...........................29

SPIRITUAL MATURITY: NURTURING OUR SOUL AWARENESS...............................32

BROTHER ACHALANANDA – FRIDAY EVENING..........................................................32

TAKING CONVOCATION HOME WITH YOU..................................................................37

BROTHER BHAKTANANDA – SATURDAY AFTERNOON............................................37

Notes from Convocation 2003

Understanding the Mystery of Life and Death

Sunday Service at Hollywood Temple -Brother Bhaktananda

We chanted “O Thou Blue Sky”, and afterwards Brother told us that one time he was riding in a car with Master and after they sang that chant Master looked up in the sky and said he could see Divine Mother there.

Not many understand what life and death is, whether they are a scientist, minister, or philosopher. One hundred thousand people leave this earth every year. The SRF books and lessons explain that advanced yogis are spiritual scientists – they can experience death without dying. Saint Paul said, “I die daily”, not literally, but he was able to die spiritually through meditation, which leads to knowledge of life and death. Most people fear death because they are leaving a plane they know and entering another plane they know nothing about – it is the fear of the unknown.

Many people’s conception of death is that they will be sitting there idly, wasting time, but this is not true. In the astral we are active. Or people have a fear of being tortured, fear of roasting in hell, but there is nothing there to roast! (Laughter) The astral body is made of light, so there is nothing there to burn. In Biblical times people burned their refuge in dumps outside the city, and they likened the suffering of evil people to being burned in one of those dumps. But the actual hell is the state of agony and guilt over all the bad things they did which will be revealed to them after death - the reasons why they are in a state of darkness in the astral.

The Bible says, “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.” This is a reference to the law of karma. Jesus said, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days”, meaning that whatever we do will come back to us, whether good or bad. We may fear facing God – we may think God will punish us – but it’s not so – it’s not that easy to see God in the first place! (Laughter) We must first attain the state of cosmic consciousness. To avoid fear, we must lead a spiritual life. The Bible says, “The sting of death is sin”. Our guilt, our fears are because we have made mistakes, errors – we must not think God is punishing us. God does not punish us – we punish ourselves.

We may fear death because we think it will be a painful experience. We may have a disease which is very painful and think that more pain will come as we die. But once death begins, there is no pain.

There was an Indian doctor who had his practice near a jungle and it was not uncommon for him to treat people who had been mauled by tigers or bitten by cobras. But they all said the same thing – they felt no pain and no fear. Nature takes care of us. Those in tune with God don’t have fear.

Dr. William Hunter, a physician and scientist, whispered to a loved one at death, “If I had strength to hold a pen I would write down how easy and pleasant a thing it is to die.”

At death, the life force – the energy -leaves the muscles, the senses, the nervous system, and retires to the brain, and finally at the moment of death the energy leaves the body through the top of the head. This same retirement of the energy into the brain happens also every night as we sleep. During sleep there is no energy carrying messages from the body to the brain and so we feel no pain. Insomnia happens if the energy hasn’t reached the brain. So sleep is partial withdrawal of the energy, and death is complete withdrawal.

At death we go to a realm of light in the astral body. Evil people go to the darker regions of the astral – they have a choice and they choose darkness, because that is what they want. The astral plane is beautiful. Atheists think death is the end of existence, but boy are they going to be surprised!( Laughter)

We may meet friends, or astral beings of light who give us information we need. We will be in great light. There is nothing to fear - it’s like moving from one city to another. Saint Paul said, “There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body.” He was speaking of this body of light, the spiritual body, or astral body.

Everything is light – there is water, but you can’t drown; fire but you can’t burn; because it is all light. This material world seems like paper mache, dull and lifeless, after experiencing the astral which is so vibrant. Thomas Edison whispered as he neared death, “It’s beautiful over there.” There is no pain, no bills to pay, no slaving eight hours a day, no limitations. Anything you want is always available so you don’t have to store things.

Loved ones who leave us at death are sad only because we who are left back in the physical are grieving – they don’t like those painful vibrations they receive from the loved ones they left behind. There is a story of a man, a novelist, who lived so high on the hog that he was always financially broke. He even tried to borrow money from his uncle. Finally, his uncle died and left him a good sum of money. The man wrote to his friends, “Last night my uncle and I passed onto a better life.” (Laughter)

There is much rejoicing in heaven – nothing but happiness. There is a saying, “There are two things we cannot escape – taxes and death”, but Will Rogers added to it, “…but death doesn’t get worse every time Congress meets.” (Laughter)

Master said that many devotees have seen proof of life after death by the appearances of Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar to them after they had already left the body. After Master left the body, in Germany there was a woman walking down the street and she noticed the unusual sight of a Hindu approaching her. Then some time later she read Master’s autobiography, and recognized it had been Paramahansa Yogananda she had seen on the street.

After Master had left the body, there was a man, raised a Christian, who attended church every week, but he did not understand the scriptures. He prayed and prayed for understanding of the scriptures. Then one day, inwardly he heard, “Pray to Paramahansa Yogananda.” Soon after, he found ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’. Master had power over life and death. Master told Rajarsi Janakananda that he would pass away at the Biltmore after an Indian banquet – fifteen years before it happened!

Meditate and don’t look for results, or you won’t have them. Just do what you have to do every day. Keep on meditating to the best of your ability. Our guru gives us a great consolation, “When a sincere devotee calls on me at the time of death, I or one of the gurus will come and will usher you consciously into the astral at the time of death – even if you are not highly developed.”

We are very much blessed – may Master bless us all.

Kriya Yoga plus Devotion

Brother Anandamoy – Sunday Evening

(When Brother Anandamoy walked onstage the whole audience stood up in silent pranam. In humbleness, he turned around and started to walk away – which brought laughter from the audience.)

At the first Convocation in 1950 there were about 220 devotees. Now we have 4000. All the US states are present this year and 37 countries, and we have 500 volunteers. And Master has been at each Convocation; he is here every single time – he is right here. Master said, “To those who think me near, I am near.” More and more we are advancing – and more and more he is here -we are drawing him near. Many people come to the monastics, and they testify of life-changing experiences they have had here.

There was a woman who came to that very first Convocation who was 80 years old - she was just beginning on the path. But Master said, “She will reach the goal in this life – she will find God in this life.” Brother said, “Do you know what that means?..... You young kids have no excuse! (Laughter from the audience). You’ve got to make it in this life! A little less television -a little more meditation.”

Toward the end of his life Master went to the desert to be free from distractions in order to work on his writings. Brother said, “I was there with him for 2 ½ - 3 months in 1950 and it was the best time of my life. Master came out 2, 3, 4 times a day and, being the divine sculptor, he didn’t miss an opportunity to chisel on this project!” (Laughter from the audience) But Brother said he knew he cared for him, even through the strict discipline; he knew it was the ‘divine sculptor’ chiseling and that he loved him. Then after some time out in the desert, Master told him he had to go back to Los Angeles. When it came time to leave, as Brother was saying good-bye, Master told him, “Always remember, Kriya Yoga plus devotion - it works like mathematics – it cannot fail.” With these few words Master gave us the essence of the whole teaching. We must go over the points again and again because the world will teach us things completely contrary to the teachings. Even though we are going upward in the Yuga cycle, still we live in a very dark world.

So what is the purpose of life? What is the goal of life? In the 1980’s there was a psychologist who had a very popular radio program. One time a woman called in asking that very question, “What is the meaning of life?”, and the answer she got was, “Life has no meaning”. Then the psychologist elaborated -life gives you opportunities to work and to make money, and with money you can buy

all sort of things, you can have all kinds of pleasures, you have the opportunity for relationships, but emphatically, life itself has no meaning.

In 1920 the Paramahansa Yogananda came to America and in his very first lecture at the first ‘Congress of Religions’ he said what the purpose of life is. And it is in the great scriptures, but none are as clear as the Indian scriptures because they came from the higher ages. The purpose is ‘ To be free from suffering and To attain infinite bliss consciousness ‘ – and that is God.

It is in ‘The Science of Religion’ – it is there - but the world still doesn’t know, and that is why the world is in such a mess. So paste it on your bathroom mirror, because the world tells you, “Life has no meaning”. We must make a conscious effort or we will waste our life. There is a saying in the Indian scriptures, “Know it now or after a thousand incarnations”, meaning, do you want to come back time and time again and miss the purpose of life? Don’t seek fulfillment in the things of the world.

Is there any other purpose? What else? Nothing. In ‘Man’s Eternal Quest’, Master says that man is on this earth to find God. He is here for no other purpose. But many people do not understand. They come to us and say, “But I can’t just meditate. I have responsibilities – I have my work, I have my family.” What they do not understand is - that too is spiritual discipline. Your work, your marriage, your family, your whole life – everything is spiritual discipline. Daya Mata said, “Sadhana means meditation and right activity”, meaning you perform all your duties with the desire to please God.

The foundation of yoga is Yama / Niyama – the rules of right behavior – living in harmony with the laws of God. You cannot go against the laws of God. But some members do not understand or do not want to understand.

There was a German man who was a kriyaban, but he also lived a pretty wild life. He will never get there. He will never reach the goal that way. Brother said, “Yoga is a recipe, and you must follow it exactly…. and you will get a cake. If you don’t follow the recipe.... well, I’ll tell you a story”…..

Brother came to study with Frank Lloyd Wright and he lived with other students from all over the world. They all took turns cooking. One time he was in the kitchen, but he didn’t know how to cook. Someone volunteered to make a special dessert. She was all excited about how wonderful it looked when it came out of the oven…..until she tasted it. Brother knew from the look on her face that something was wrong. She had added salt instead of sugar, and she had to throw away the whole cake. This is just like that German kriyaban who practices Kriya and then puts salt into his dessert (the rest of his life).

Where is God? He is omnipresent, everywhere. But if we are looking on the outside we won’t find Him. The faculties we use to perceive the outer world - the senses, the brain, the emotions -cannot perceive God. Only through the intuition of the soul can we find God, and that is why we must go inside. Interiorization - Krishna said this is the great secret – to seek God inside. The various scriptures – the Bible, the Gita, Patanjali - they all say the same thing. The Koran says, “Remember thy Lord within thyself.” The Bible says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

How to go within? We have to go within, into the inner stillness. Patanjali said yoga is “stilling the waves of consciousness”. Control of the energy – pranayama is the key. That knowledge was lost and forgotten in the dark ages except for a few who were highly advanced. Religion eventually became all outer rituals in the dark ages, even in India.

Pranayama is energy control – to be still – until even the breath and heart are still. The energy operating in the senses must go back within. God does that for us every time we go to sleep – He turns the senses off and the energy goes inside. But it is unconscious passivity. Yoga is conscious passivity. With Kriya Yoga we are going inside and into the inner stillness. We use the techniques to help us do that – that’s the first phase. Then the other phase comes – and that is devotion. Why devotion? There is a very important reason for that. It is for our benefit, but it’s not selfish. That feeling of devotion is the purest of all feelings. Our feeling is the most abused, even from the beginning when we are born and the sense organs begin to operate. That feeling is there right from the beginning of life - and feeling reacts to sensation. Even in a baby – when a baby is born the first thing the baby experiences is sensory experience. As soon as the sense organs begin to operate, that feeling reacts to the sensations coming in – feeling reacts from the very beginning and manifests as emotion, and we become completely body identified.

Emotion < outward < Feeling > inward > Devotion (senses) (spine)

Now, the whole of creation is built on the principle of duality – pleasure/pain, etc. We are in duality and so the ego is saying, “I like this. I hate that”, and we become completely absorbed in this. We have to understand that we cannot find ultimate satisfaction in the things of the world – wealth, family, marriage – anything. Now understand - those things are not wrong - they are all part of the spiritual discipline. Sri Yukteswar told his disciple, Mukunda, “Learn to behave.” That is why devotion is so important. God says, “Instead of constantly letting your feeling react to dualities, instead of directing your feeling always without, why don’t you take those feelings and direct them inward and manifest devotion to Me?” What is God? God is Infinite Bliss Consciousness. Can we understand this? No, the mind cannot understand that – the mind cannot understand infinity - the mind is too limited.

So how can you love? God loves the personal relationship with his devotee. In order to feel devotion we must bring God down to a concept we can understand - this is very important. Enter the quiet heart, and choose a concept of God that rouses devotion in you – Father, Mother, Beloved, Friend – it’s up to you.

And then there is another aspect: a great Rishi in a higher age in India said that if you can’t think of the Absolute –(and you can’t until you are fully realized) - then think of the form of an avatar. Brother, in his own personal sadhana liked the idea that he could think of his guru as God – Master is his “ishta”, or concept of God.

Every once in a while God comes down as an avatar. The great avatars - Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Patanjali, our line of Gurus – most people didn’t recognize them. That’s why in the Bible when Jesus is going away soon, Philip says to him, “Lord, show us the Father.” And then Jesus says, “But Philip, I have been so long a time with you, and yet you have not known me? He that

hath seen me hath seen the Father. I am in the Father, and the Father in me.” This response is so human, because we cannot understand until after they are gone. The choice of an ‘ishta’ is wide open, whatever appeals to you. Work on developing ever deeper devotion, and as you grow that little concept will expand and become the infinite.

Brother told a story: There was a big dark forest and a man was walking through the forest toward his home. Three robbers came upon him and they took all that he had. Then the first robber said, “Let’s kill him.” The second robber said, “No, let’s bind him.” So they bound him up and left him there in the big dark forest. But presently the third robber returned and he untied the man and said to him, “I am sorry. Now you are safe. I will walk with you until you reach your home.” When they came to the edge of the forest the robber said, “There is your home. Go in peace.” The man replied, “Don’t go. Come and live with me and stop being a robber.” “No,” said the robber, “the dark forest is my home.”

This is an allegory. The big dark forest is this world. The man is you and I. The three robbers are the three gunas ,the three qualities. The first robber is the dark guna – tamas - and it represents destruction and darkness, and it kills our spiritual life. The second robber is rajas – it represents the selfish actions and desires which bind us to this material world. The third robber is sattva – it represents the spiritual guna- the liberating quality.

That is why we have rules of living in harmony with God’s laws. Practice the presence of God, because through every thought, every feeling, every action, one of those qualities manifests through you.

Laziness is darkness (tamasic). Wrong actions bind us (rajasic). Liberating thoughts, feelings and actions are liberating (sattvic).

In the dark age of Kali Yuga, the dark quality is predominant. In our current age, Dwapara Yuga, the binding quality is predominant. In the higher ages the liberating quality predominates. Brother says he reads the newspaper a little bit just to keep up, but not much. Television, advertisements, movies – this is the bad guy, full of destruction and immorality. It is the binding guna.

Master said, “Environment is stronger than willpower.” We have to watch our actions. We have to watch what we let into our consciousness. We have to be very careful what activities we are choosing. If you are absorbing the wrong stuff, choosing the wrong stuff, you have the wrong guna – the guna which binds you to the material world. Most people are totally identified with “I” – that is the little selfish “I”. If we are expressing anger or hatred – this is the dark guna. You may have doubts about yourself. The dark guna may try to convince you, “I’m not good enough.” This is a denial of the divine image within you - don’t do it!

Once in a while inwardly say to God, “I do this for you.” The moment you think that, you change gunas. Then you are in tune with the liberating guna.

Brother said, “Now I want to tell you some little stories which taught me big lessons.”

The first Convocation in 1950 was held at Mother Center on the tennis court. At the closing of it Master was seated in a chair and all the devotees came to greet him and say good-bye. Brother was standing nearby and he was watching very closely, totally fascinated by the interaction between the devotees and the guru. A young man came to Master – he looked like he was on drugs or something – like a zombie – both hands in his pockets as he stood there in front of Master. Then he took one lifeless hand out of his pocket and gave Master a “limp -fish” handshake. Brother was astonished to see Master’s response - he completely withdrew and offered a limp, lifeless hand in return.

Just behind this man was a woman and when she got to Master she was all devotion – and Master - he came alive! How he responded to her, pouring out his love and blessings. The young man saw this, and he turned around and stood in line again! (Laughter from the audience) But when his turn came again, it was the same scenario all over again -the same lifeless handshake and Master’s withdrawn response in return.

Brother said, “What a lesson Master taught me. As we approach the guru in meditation, so he responds.”

One Sunday Service at Hollywood Temple, Brother stood in line to greet Master. He was shocked to hear the man in front of him ask Master for money. Now Master didn’t always carry money with him, but he must have known, because he took out his wallet and gave him some. The lesson: Our devotion should not be mercenary. Ask yourself if you are doing just that in meditation. You may not be asking for money, but you may be asking for this experience or that experience….with an attitude of “gimmee, gimmee.” That’s not true devotion.

One time Master was in back of the chapel after a service and a woman, a member came. “Oh, it’s so nice to see you!” she said, and then she talked and talked and talked about all that had happened to her since she had last seen him. No questions, no devotion. Then after a lot of words she said, “Well it’s been so nice to be with you again”, and she said good-bye and left. Brother looked at Master, and Master looked at Brother - there were no words between them, but Master made a face as if to say, “Should I laugh or cry?” That woman didn’t know what he is or who he is.

Master is omniscient. She didn’t need to say a word - he already knew all that she was telling him. If she had used that time just sitting there in his vibration and love, how much more she would have received. What a lesson again – it is so easy to do exactly that in meditation. Guru is right there in the heart - right there in the Christ Center -but we think and think and think about all our problems instead of being in the inner stillness, in the presence of God. “Be still and know that I am God.” When you go to meditate, remember -Guru is there -God is there. Throw your problems out of your mind. Don’t think much. Love much.

Soon after that incident, at a Sunday Service at Hollywood Temple Master was greeting the devotees after the service. The last person was an 18 year old girl. She went to Master and didn’t say a word -she just knelt down before him. Master put his hand on her head in blessing and then he very gently patted her head and said, “Good girl, good girl.” She felt no need for words in the presence of her guru. Brother never forgot that scene – it was a very sweet, very poignant moment.

“There are lessons to learn in these stories,” Brother said to the audience. “I tell these stories, not to talk about myself, but so that you can learn the lessons as I have learned the lessons.”

In the Gita, Krishna teaches all these lessons. Arjuna played the role of disciple for our benefit. Arjuna asked Krishna how to transcend the gunas - how to get out of this dark forest and go home. And Krishna said: by devotion – by bhakti yoga. First go inside. Use the techniques to go inward until there is no room for thought of self. Bhakti -pure devotion – only You, my God. Self surrender is the highest form of Bhakti.

Sometimes you may have a dark period. You may find it difficult to meditate and you may not feel you are getting much out of it. No - it’s not true. Those dark periods are precious. They are very important they are necessary - because they are teaching us unconditional love. God is meeting you through the light and through the darkness.

Maybe you are striving for devotion, but don’t feel love for God. Just remember, wanting to love God is loving God. A saint said, “His absence too, is one of his manifestations.” God cannot be absent. Be like a courtier that goes to the court of his king – and remember that even if the king doesn’t talk to you, you are still in the presence of the king - and that’s enough. When you meditate, you go into that Presence. And if God is silent - if He doesn’t talk to you - if He doesn’t give you any experience -it’s okay –because you are in the presence of God. You have to cultivate that - that deep personal relationship with God. A saint said, “There is none more intimate and affectionate than God. God cannot be angry. Anger is a perversion.” Throw out negative concepts of God. God is love. God is peace. You have to cultivate that – that infinite, affectionate God - a concept of God that you can love. A saint said, “Just like a mother who holds the face of her child in her hands to cover it with kisses, so does God hold the devotee.” Cultivate a personal relationship with God and cultivate the thought that in meditation you are with that God.

And then what do you do? Don’t ask for things. Just be there with God. Not, “What do you give me?” Just be there and love. Master said, “Go with joyous expectation to meet God in meditation.” Then in meditation you are there. And then love, and that’s all. When he had an opportunity to see Master, to be with Master, Brother said he came with “joyous expectation”. Master wrote, “Just lose yourself in your love for God”, meaning forget yourself. Brother commented about himself, “People want to see me and be with me, but I don’t understand that, when they can be in the presence of God.”

Kriya Yoga plus devotion. Master brought us these teachings and they are the teachings of the higher ages. “Now,” Brother said, “may I suggest that you meditate, and apply what I have just said. Remember, God is waiting for you inside.”

Satsanga

Brother Mitrananda – Monday afternoon

Brother began the satsanga with a question, the same way Master would often begin his talks; “How feels everyone?” to which in unison the audience responded enthusiastically, just as in Master’s day, “Awake and ready!!”

Remember, satsanga – talking - is okay, but we can get trapped in the mind with questions and answers. Meditation and intuition are beyond the mind. Love, peace, joy - they are experienced with the intuition, not with the mind.

Q. There seem to be differences between the various scriptures. How does one get beyond the judgmental language of the Old Testament? A. Language doesn’t always serve us. What those words meant in that time was addressed to different issues in a different time period. Master said Moses came to bring the law – the laws of life, of existence, the law of karma, of cause and effect – meaning we are responsible for what happens. God isn’t doing it to us - we can make choices. Moses gave the Ten Commandments – and one of them was, “Thou shalt not kill thy neighbor”. Brother added, “We were really starting from scratch here!” and we all laughed. Then Jesus came and he said that’s not enough – we must love thy neighbor. And now we’ve gotten even more radical – You are your neighbor! Oneness, non-duality – that’s quite a shift in consciousness! The truth is there are no strangers - we are all One. This is a major, major movement in a short period of time. We are ready for a new testament in a new age.

Master was a premavatar - an incarnation of love -but Brother likes to call him a “willavatar”. Sometimes Brother used to think to himself, “Well, Master has such willpower, but I don’t and don’t tell me that I have it and don’t know it!” (Laughter from the audience) Will is dynamic – so long as you question whether you will win or lose, you will continue to lose. Our guru never reduced himself to worry. For him nothing was a difficulty – it was a challenge! Guruji came to Boston in the 1920’s. Think of it! -His ship landing in a conservative land of Protestant, old-world thinking. He brought such new ideas, new concepts, and he did it with such love! He was always fighting the odds in this work. Master tried to shock us – shock us into rethinking our core beliefs. Master said, “You may want to believe, you may think you believe, but if you really believe, the results will be instantaneous.” We must learn to use more of our divine power.

The guru knows our karma – he knows everything about us -and every lesson that comes to us already has his stamp on it. Our karma - it’s all gone through him. We will never be tested beyond our abilities. And Master gives us the tools to take the next step. Take prayer, for instance: he gives us more responsibility. Master said, “Every begging prayer, no matter how sincere, limits the soul.” Typically we enter into prayer with an attitude of “Give me solutions to my problems, give me this, give me that, gimmee, gimmee, gimmee.” And God says, “You all ready have it, you already have it, you already have it.” Every devotee must establish that this is their birthright.

Master said, “You don’t know who you are!” He refused to accept certain vocabulary. For instance, if anyone said, “I’m tired”, he would say, “No, you aren’t!” Will comes down to motivation. If we don’t have something it’s because we don’t have enough desire for it – we don’t want it bad enough.

Brother said he loves the Roquefort cheese story. Master wrote: “One way we can test our power over our habits is to command the mind to like or dislike a certain food at will. When I first arrived in America, I was served at a dinner —some Roquefort cheese and crackers. No sooner had Mr. Roquefort touched the palate and its arrival became known to the cerebral cells ...then the habit

lords rebelled and were about to upset the honored guests in my stomach. I didn't enjoy this sudden embarrassment, and saw that everyone else at the table was greatly enjoying this particular cheese. I strongly urged my senses to immediately elect the Roquefort-cheese-enjoying habit. I liked the taste at once and do so to this day.” So here was Master, looking around at everyone else and they were all enjoying this rotten cheese. (Laughter) Master looked upon it as a challenge – he commanded his stomach to like it and not to be nauseated, not to throw up. Master said, “You are your own savior.” He places the ball in our court. He named his organization “Self-Realization”, not “God-Realization”. We don’t have the vocabulary to explain what “Self-Realization” really means.

In the lower ages the concept of God became a judgmental God who was to be feared. Brother said he didn’t exactly have a loving concept of God when he was a child. His concept was:

God is outside myself.He has more power than me.He’s judgmental

Brother remarked, “Now why would anyone have the desire to practice the presence of that?” (Laughter from the audience) What is reality? Yogis talk about energy – about learning to control it going all the way down to the causal level, where willpower becomes a huge thing – it’s the next step in our evolution. Recognize it’s not a process of self-discovery – it’s a process of self-creation. So what is reality? Reality is whatever you create in your own consciousness. Master said, “Thoughts are things.” Our thoughts, our doubts, our dreams, our hopes, our desires, are all being projected out – we are co-creating it all the time. And we are here on this path now because we thought it was time for an upgrade. (Laughter from the audience)

Master said, “You will not have to fight alone.” When we meditate, there are veteran occult soldiers coming to our aid in the spine. We are not alone.

Q. How do I know if something is intuition or just my projected desires? A. To gain intuition, you must act first, and then you will come to understand. Daya Ma said, “Control the five senses; then you will begin to control the sixth.” Behavior and attitude are the pillars -then we start getting intuition – then those whispers from eternity will start giving us hints. And it’s very personal – it’s a different experience for each one.

Master used to call people, the devotees around him, “intelligent idiots” – because we think we know reality, but we don’t. Brother once saw a bumper sticker: “Meditation is not what you think.” Patanjali said the only thing the mind can do is understand, misunderstand, imagine, sleep, and remember. Meditation is not easy because it’s scary. We don’t know what lies behind closed eyes – what’s behind our shadow side. And we may be afraid to look – it all seems a little scary. The problem is that when we placed total reliance on the mind and senses, we lost intuition. We already know everything because we are the soul – the image of God.

The mind starts to form habits by age three, and gradually you accept someone else’s reality. Now we have to deprogram. Yoga goes beyond the mind. Zen challenges the mind to go beyond itself –

beyond what the mind can understand - to push us beyond the rational mind. It’s a process of deprogramming, unlearning.

The currents in the spine, which are not yet acknowledged by scientists, will help us to deprogram – will help get us beyond the mind – beyond our accepted reality. The yogis say, “Don’t go searching for the truth. Just let go of your opinions.”

Q. I don’t feel love, I don’t feel devotion. What to do? A. We all go through dry periods. Try to get out of the mode of seeking. And don’t lay down a layer of guilt. Just accept the non-peace. Make a total surrender to what is. “Let go and let God” seems so foreign because we are in a super agenda-ized Yuga. But letting go doesn’t involve the mind. Patanjali said, “The mind cannot control the mind.” That’s where yoga comes in – yogic techniques of control of the breath – and just like ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the breath takes us to a different dimension. Control of the breath is a way to interrupt the mind. The techniques of Kriya yoga are not kid’s stuff – they work!

Q. If the soul is eternal, what is it that dies and is reborn again? A. Trying to look at reincarnation through the mind is a paradox. The mind can rationalize anything. When we think about anything, it’s a paradox. Reincarnation – or anything else for that matter – if you are believing in it, it’s true because we create our own reality. Reincarnation was accepted in original Christianity. Not until the fourth century, when the institution of the Church was ripe for political intervention, was the concept of reincarnation declared heresy. It is interesting to note that the word ‘heretic’ means “one who is able to choose”. Heretics were considered too self-reliant.

Q. The saints talk of a personal aspect with the Divine and practicing the presence. Psychologists talk about being present in the moment. What’s the relationship? A. In yoga, the first goal is to become conscious of what is going on in the present moment in our mind. For instance, if we have an unfounded fear, once we can look at it – once we can identify it – we can challenge it. We need to learn to stop the incessant mind – stop the ball from rolling – and ask, “Do I have a choice here? What might it be? What am I thinking? What am I feeling? What’s going on here?” A whole Pandora’s Box opens up when we start thinking that way. Our current human consciousness centers around fear and human limitation. Master said about unfulfilled desires, “What you don’t own, owns you. Most people don’t live their lives; their life lives them.” This thing called “time” – scientific proof now exists that time and space are the same thing. Forget the past. Forget the future. They are beyond your reach. Being in the present is ending the pretending. The present is the only time that anything can be real. Why is it so hard to be in the present? It is because we think that if we stay in the ‘present’ it won’t be interesting – we think it will be boring. Now, did you ever ask yourself what’s behind boredom? Brother said, “I think it’s a type of fear. We need to challenge it and make a choice.” If you always think of God as the nearest of the near, dearest of the dear, you will encounter many blessings.

Q. I am turning fifty years old soon. I’ve heard from others that ‘life begins at fifty’, but I fear old age. A. Victor Hugo said, “Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.” Usually for the first fifty years we are living someone else’s life. ‘Consciousness’ is a new word – it is what we are, and

consciousness does not get old. But we can get wise. Master said that old age is when your mind becomes “hardboiled” – accepting the limitations imposed by body-consciousness and closing its doors to creative thinking. In the higher ages in India there were four stages of life. Children at age three were taken out of the home and put into a monastery for spiritual discipline. We need that kind of discipline in order to recognize that the truth is within us, not without. Youth is always looking without, but it’s a game that cannot be won. The truth and everything we are looking for is within us. At fifty, finally, we start turning within.

Q. Please talk about addictions – I know they are subtler than we think. A. Master preferred the word ‘habit’. Habit is when the mind believes it cannot get rid of a particular thought. It is akin to ‘samsara’, which means “to flow with” – to take the path of least resistance. We start giving up our conscious choice and it becomes automatic. If you put frogs in a pan of boiling water they will immediately jump out. But if you put the frogs in the pan first and then slowly heat the water, they will just cook! That’s what maya is doing to us! (Laughter from the audience)

Herb Jeffries, a famous performer and devotee once asked Master, “Sir, is it really okay to come see you and then continue with smoking and drinking and carousing?” Master replied, “Of course you can, but I can’t guarantee you that if you continue to meditate you will continue to want to do those things!” And soon, like autumn leaves on a tree, his habits just fell off. Now at age 92, Herb remains a robust example of the spiritual life.

Change is difficult. It takes energy to change. But anyone can do it – you just need to ask yourself, “What do I want?” In between wanting to change and not wanting to – that’s the time of the most pain. Once you turn fifty, it gets a whole lot easier. The goal is to “die daily”. Die to this, die to that - try to die to something – a bad habit - even if just for a while, and see what happens.

Q. I can’t help thinking about the future of the world and worrying that it is going to destroy itself. What is the proper attitude? A. Don’t buy into those who say it’s a dark time – it is so un-yogic. We will always have wars, depressions, turmoil. There is no duality – there is no future -unless we believe in it. How much energy do you want to put into tomorrow, into the future? It’s a fantasy – it’s a lower-age belief system. There are no good times. There are no bad times. Whatever is happening is right and perfect. The yogi always asks, “What can I learn from this?” no matter what is happening. Detachment is going within . Go to love - and you will see that there you have nothing to do with war and peace. Environmental conditions or any other outside conditions, whether good or bad…. take the attitude of St. Francis who said, “The weather is always nice, but in different ways.” We’re only a breath away from going within. It’s so simple. But the mind makes it so complicated, so complex. The mind is always flickering. Learn to say “Ahh, what’s happening?” Get rid of the judgment. Ask, “What can I learn?” Take full responsibility – be a god!

Prayer: Trusting in God in Every Circumstance of Life

Mukti Mata – Monday evening lecture

Sister said she often thinks of Master’s devotees, all of us, as part of Master’s spiritual army, spread

throughout the world. Though we are in bondage, soul to soul we are all united, whether we know it or not. Something very deep binds us together and creates a subtle power here on earth.

When Master gave lectures he often began his talk by saying, “This is a vast subject”….and no matter what the subject was, it was vast. He may have started his talk with something that didn’t at first appear to have any relation to the subject at hand, but he would tie it all together in his talk.

There is no one here who hasn’t had some personal experience having to do with prayer. So what is prayer? Paramahansa Yogananda said, “Prayer is a true expression of the soul.” The more we pray, the more we create an intimate relationship -a stronger connection with God. Master said to talk to God in the language of your soul. As you pray, He becomes closer. He becomes for you a greater reality. Daya Mata says we should talk to God as the nearest and dearest friend.

Master always guided us to go directly to God for help and guidance – to consult Him personally rather than consulting outside sources or relying on our own abilities. Usually when we have a problem, we are thinking, “Who can I go to? What can I do?” This is alright, but we need to remember that we can’t do it alone. Ask for divine aid in all that you do. We need God and guru. Master taught, “Do not stop your conscious efforts nor rely entirely upon your own.” Remember, God is the doer. Our part is to be in tune with Him and allow him to work through us. We may scarcely be aware of how this is happening - things that may be so much a part of our lives that we don’t notice. But He often plans for us much better than we plan for ourselves.

Begin each day with meditation, and pray deeply afterward. And then stop periodically throughout the day and see how you are doing -reflect on how things are going. At night meditate and pray again, and then leave all your difficulties in His hands.

For two years after entering the ashram, Sister was Daya Mata’s secretary. She would often respond to letters from the devotees. One time Master told Sister, “Always take the time to say a little prayer for the one you are writing to.”

Master always consulted God. One time a woman came and wanted very much to see Master about her problems – she was in a very complex situation. Later, Master told one of the nuns, “I’m so sorry, but God does not permit me to help her.” Sister commented, “How interesting….we all have lessons to learn.”

There is a story of someone whose prayer went: “I want to thank you, Lord, for being close to me so far this day. With your help, I haven't been impatient; I haven’t lost my temper, or been grumpy, judgmental, or envious of anyone. But, in a minute, Lord, I’ll be getting out of bed and then I think I'll really need your help. Amen. (Laughter from the audience)

Pray with the consciousness of being children of God. Don’t adopt the role of being a beggar. He delights in /fulfilling our worthy wishes. Establish your identity with Him and then pray as a child of God. Master said, “God is not a mute, unfeeling being – He is love itself. If you know how to make contact with Him, you do not have to plead, you can demand as His child.”

Ask and it shall be given to you. First, re-establish your identity with the Divine Father and you will automatically inherit everything else. When Master prayed, he prayed until he got a response from God. Pray with determination and faith – faith that your prayers will be answered – that what you pray for is possible. When the “can’t” disappears from you mind, then a divine power comes.”

We need to employ willpower through constructive activity. Sister said, “And we must be persistent – and I would even say, insistent.” Master had that kind of insistence – he didn’t give up until his prayer was answered. Just before he left for America, he prayed for divine solace that he was doing the right thing by leaving his India for a strange, foreboding land. He wrote in the ‘Autobiography’:

“As I went about my preparations to leave Master and my native land for the unknown shores of America, I experienced not a little trepidation. I had heard many stories about the materialistic Western atmosphere, one very different from the spiritual background of India, pervaded with the centuried aura of saints. "An Oriental teacher who will dare the Western airs," I thought, "must be hardy beyond the trials of any Himalayan cold!"

One early morning I began to pray, with an adamant determination to continue, to even die praying, till I heard the voice of God. I wanted His blessing and assurance that I wouldn't lose myself in the fogs of modern utilitarianism. My heart was set to go to America, but even more strongly was it resolved to hear the solace of divine permission. I prayed and prayed, muffling my sobs. No answer came. My silent petition increased in excruciating crescendo till, at noon, I had reached a zenith; my brain could no longer withstand the pressure of my agonies. If I cried once more with an increased depth of my inner passion, I felt as though my brain would split. At that moment there came a knock outside the vestibule adjoining the Garpar Road room in which I was sitting. Opening the door, I saw a young man in the scanty garb of a renunciant. He came in, closed the door behind him and, refusing my request to sit down, indicated with a gesture that he wished to talk to me while standing.

"He must be Babaji!" I thought, dazed, because the man before me had the features of a younger Lahiri Mahasaya. He answered my thought. "Yes, I'm Babaji." He spoke melodiously in Hindi. "Our Heavenly Father has heard your prayer. He commands me to tell you: Follow the behests of your guru and go to America. Fear not; you'll be protected."

Even when Master was a young boy he had that strong determination, faith, and persistence. One time he wrote a letter to God, addressing the envelope, “To Splendid God, Heaven”, and asked that God send a reply. Weeks later, though no response seemed to be forthcoming, he continued with his fervent prayers. Then one night, he was awakened suddenly by a great light in his room. God replied to his letter in that divine light!

How to develop faith and determination? When making decisions, first meditate and pray, think deeply, make notes, and then distance yourself for a while before going back to the process. Master taught that willpower and in-depth thought are essential. With positive thoughts, calmly and steadfastly proceed. Then come the subtle forces that bring about what we want or need.

There was one older Sister that always impressed Mukti Ma with how she drove a car. She was often the driver when they were going on some trip or excursion, and Mukti Ma noticed that she never rushed, always took her time to prepare and make all the necessary adjustments before they left. She never drove fast, but took her time, and Mukti Ma wondered how it seemed that her car was always the first to arrive before all the other cars in their group. (Laughter)

Sometimes God answers our prayers by dropping a thought in the mind of another person who can fulfill the desire or need; that individual then serves as God’s instrument to bring about the desired result. You don’t realize how wonderfully this great power works. It is very mathematical.

If we keep trusting and doing our part, the answer will come. Only by persistence can He be persuaded. No true devotee is ignored by God. Devotion always results in some form of response. Master said, “Never think that God does not answer your prayers. Every word you have whispered to Him He has written in His heart, and someday He will answer you. If you keep watching for Him and the many ways in which He does respond, you will know that in fact He answers you all the time. If you are very eager He will answer you in greater ways. Only by persistence can He be persuaded to come.”

Sometimes he allows us to go through experiences that are very difficult. Why? We may need those challenges in order to grow spiritually. We develop inner strength through such experiences and this in turn helps us develop greater faith. When the time is right, the right solution comes. God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we want, but in the way we need.

In Kuwait during ‘Desert Storm’, one officer wrote about an experience with prayer. His marines were in great danger; they were under heavy artillery fire, and there were landmines all around, with thousands of Iraqi troops just beyond the boarder. On top of that, it was pouring rain and visibility was nearly zero. The officer in charge prayed and prayed for the rain to stop, so they could cross the boarder and advance to a better place. But his prayers went seemingly unanswered, and they were forced to a complete standstill as the heavy rain continued. When the skies finally cleared, they saw to their astonishment that the relentless rains had washed away the soil, revealing Iraqi mine fields just ahead in their path.

Remember, meditation increases our receptivity, our attunement – and that resulting attunement strengthens our faith because it makes God real to us. When we feel His presence, it deepens our connection to Him. The best time to pray is after meditation. Focus your inner concentration on God alone. God’s voice is silence. Only when thoughts cease can we hear God’s voice and receive his answer – through intuition – that is God’s expression.

What should we pray for? Attunement with God’s will, His understanding. It’s okay to pray for what we want, but prayer is better if we pray that His will be done. Trust more in God and you will come to realize that He who created you will maintain you. Gyanamata wrote that in a time when something coming into her life that filled her with apprehension, she prayed and God told her the prayer He would listen to: “Change no circumstance in my life. Change me.”

Master liked to take little trips and he would always take several of the devotees with him on these occasional sojourns to get away from the pressures in his life and the work. Sister said she was

often invited to go on these trips with him, and it was a great blessing to be with him. Master would often go into samadhi.

One day as Sister was working in the office a thought came to her that she hadn’t seen Master lately. Then she thought, “Well of course not, he is very busy.” But later she happened to see two devotees in the hallway and realized they were getting ready to leave on one of those little excursions. Now Sister began to wonder what had happened – why she was no longer included in Master’s ‘special group’ anymore. She became full of worry: “What is wrong? What have I done? What’s wrong with me? Is Master angry with me?” These negative thoughts continued to plague her mind day after day.

Then one day she was outside on the grounds and she looked up at Master’s window. Just then Master’s thought came to her: “Look at you! When you first came here you never thought you would be privileged to go with Master. When you first came you were thinking only of God. And you were happy. Now look at you!”

Sister said at that moment suddenly the top of her head flew back and her whole soul flew into Spirit – and changed her. She was happy again, free from those endless negative thoughts that she had done something wrong. Then another nun came and said to her, “Master wants us to meet him in an hour to go for a drive.” Master asked Sister to sit next to him in the car and he leaned over and said to her, “You finally got my message.” Master was trying to tell Sister, “Don’t depend on me in an outer way. Be in tune with me inwardly.”

The Infinite Power of Love Within Us

Brother Anilananda – Tuesday Evening Lecture

(The written word cannot convey the deep inspiration that flowed through Brother Anilananda to us all during this talk. Later, Brother told several devotees that what came out was completely different from the talk he had prepared to give, and that it was all Sri Yukteswar, and that Sri Yuteswar was having fun with us this year.)

Let us think about developing love for God, and of developing love for our neighbors. Love for our neighbors is like a flower with its roots in our love for God.

In the ‘Autobiography’, Master wrote that his guru, Sri Yukteswar, was seemingly dry of bhakti -devotion, expressing himself only in terms of cold spiritual mathematics. But when Sri Yukteswar met his disciple, Mukunda, he said, “Oh my own, you have come to me, Oh my own you have come to me. How many years I have waited for you.” And Master wrote that his guru said these words again and again, his voice ”tremulous with joy”.Then after 15 years apart from his guru, Master returned to India at the behest of Sri Yukteswar, and Master wrote in the ‘Autobiography’:

"Guruji, I came to you as a high-school youth; now I am a grown man, even with a gray hair or two. Though you have showered me with silent affection from the first hour to this, do you realize that once only, on the day of meeting, have you ever said, 'I love you'?" I looked at him pleadingly.Master lowered his gaze. "Yogananda, must I bring out into the cold realms of speech the warm sentiments best guarded by the wordless heart?""Guruji, I know you love me, but my mortal ears ache to hear you say so.""Be it as you wish. During my married life I often yearned for a son, to train in the yogic path. But when you came into my life, I was content; in you I have found my son." Two clear teardrops stood in Sri Yukteswar's eyes. "Yogananda, I love you always." It is obvious that there is a great hidden reservoir of feeling in Sri Yukteswar.

In ‘The Holy Science’, Sri Yukteswar writes about creation – what makes creation – the vibration -the causal, astral, physical-and explains how the physical comes into being. The Aum vibration presents the idea of change, which is Time. Then comes the idea of division, which is Space. The ensuing effect is the idea of a particle, which is the Atom.

What is vibration? In order to vibrate there must be two forces – they are repulsion -which is ignorance, and attraction - which is love. Repulsion and attraction is vibration.

Later in the Holy Science, “…hence the cultivation of this love,” – the heart’s natural love – “is the principle requisite for the attainment of holy salvation; it is impossible for man to advance a step towards the same without it.” If we cultivate the love quality – if we don’t wander in ignorance, in the mind, in maya, we will be on the right path.

At the end of the Holy Science there is a poem:

“Love rules the court, the camp, the grove,The men below and saints above;For love is heaven and heaven is love.”

Love is God. This poem is not just some noble sentiment of a poet - this is an aphorism of eternal Truth. From the ‘Holy Science’: “To whatever religious creed a man may belong and whatever may be his position in society, if he properly cultivates this ruling principle naturally implanted in his heart, he is sure to be on the right path to save himself from wandering in this creation of Darkness, Maya.”

What does love look like? How can we love God? At the end of the Gita, Krishna says, “Give me thy heart; adore me.” Master said, “The only way to catch God is with love.” But what does love look like? We may have it and not know it. In a way it ’s like a marriage.

Brother told a story about man, a devotee: This man was deeply in love with his wife. He loved to be near her, and even the little things they did together were wonderful, exciting, joyful. Just to be in the kitchen cooking together was for him pure delight, and as time passed their relationship grew deeper and deeper.

But after a few years, after the initial thrill and excitement of the marriage had faded, the man wondered what had happened. The love was still there, but he didn’t realize it was still there– he didn’t recognize what love was supposed to look like. He had mistaken that initial thrill in the marriage for the love, so when that excitement was gone he thought the love was gone too. He didn’t see the deeper aspect of the relationship, didn’t know what a deep relationship looked like….. and so he divorced. So what does a deep relationship with God look like? In the ‘Autobiography’, Master wrote about this very question, when he approached Sri Yukteswar and asked, “I want to know, sir – when shall I find God?” Sri Yukteswar answered, “You have already found him.” But Mukunda said, “Oh no sir, I don’t think so!”

Why did this exchange take place? Perhaps so we could have the answer Sri Yukteswar gave: "I am sure you aren't expecting a venerable Personage, adorning a throne in some antiseptic corner of the cosmos! I see, however, that you are imagining that the possession of miraculous powers is knowledge of God. One might have the whole universe, and find the Lord elusive still! Spiritual advancement is not measured by one's outward powers, but only by the depth of his bliss in meditation.

"Ever-new Joy is God. He is inexhaustible; as you continue your meditations during the years, He will beguile you with an infinite ingenuity. Devotees like yourself who have found the way to God never dream of exchanging Him for any other happiness; He is seductive beyond thought of competition. "How quickly we weary of earthly pleasures! Desire for material things is endless; man is never satisfied completely, and pursues one goal after another. The 'something else' he seeks is the Lord, who alone can grant lasting joy. Outward longings drive us from the Eden within; they offer false pleasures which only impersonate soul-happiness. The lost paradise is quickly regained through divine meditation. As God is unanticipatory Ever-Newness, we never tire of Him. Can we be surfeited with bliss, delightfully varied throughout eternity?"

"I understand now, sir, why saints call the Lord unfathomable. Even everlasting life could not suffice to appraise Him.""That is true; but He is also near and dear. After the mind has been cleared by Kriya Yoga of sensory obstacles, meditation furnishes a twofold proof of God. Ever-new joy is evidence of His existence, convincing to our very atoms. Also, in meditation one finds His instant guidance, His adequate response to every difficulty." "I see, Guruji; you have solved my problem." I smiled gratefully. "I do realize now that I have found God, for whenever the joy of meditation has returned subconsciously during my active hours, I have been subtly directed to adopt the right course in everything, even details."

So having a deep relationship with God is not about excitement, or visions, or miracles. Then what does it look like?

Daya Mata wrote in “Only Love”, a chapter on her visit Babaji’s cave in India, “Never have I asked for or craved spiritual experiences. I only want to love God and to feel His love. My joy comes from being in love with Him; I seek no other reward in life.”

To do this we need a proper conception of God. Dump that judgmental, fearful concept of God. Go deep in the guru’s teachings. Master said, “God is the fountain of Love – heavenly and earthly.”

A good definition of God is: sweetness. A saint said, “God is sweetness.” One time Saint Theresa of Lisieux was walking in the garden of her convent and she saw a white hen on the ground. The hen had her wing out – and Teresa looked closer and there were all her chicks sheltered under her wing. Teresa was overcome by seeing this – she staggered, and her sister nuns had to help her sit down. Later she wrote, "I cannot tell you all that has passed. I was thinking of Our Lord and of the touching comparison He chose in order to bring home to us how tender He is. All my life long He has done that for me—He has completely hidden me under His wing. I can not tell you all that has just stirred my heart; it is indeed well for me that God conceals Himself, only rarely allowing me to see the effects of His Mercy, and, as it were, from ‘behind the latticework.’ Otherwise I could never survive the sweetness."

One time St. Teresa of Avila was teaching her nuns how to say the Lord’s Prayer – instructing them to say it slowly, and not out loud but mentally, and to think about what they were saying and to whom they were praying. She began a recitation of the prayer, but she only got as far as, “Our Father…..” and then she was swept away and could say no more. Teresa later wrote about the experience, “The soul, in a way which has nothing to do with the outward senses, realizes that it is now very close to its God, and that, if it were but a little closer, it would become one with Him through union. The body experiences the greatest delight and the soul is conscious of a deep satisfaction. So glad is it merely to find itself near the fountain that, even before it has begun to drink, it has had its fill. There seems nothing left for it to desire. The faculties are stilled and have no wish to move, for any movement they may make appears to hinder the soul from loving God. It is alone with Him: what is there for it to do but to love Him?”

God is this sweetness.

One time Brother watched the movie, “El Sid”, about a great Spanish warrior who fought for his king. He was invincible -couldn’t be hurt in battle – until the very end – an arrow in his shoulder took him down. His army, feeling that they were being defeated, retreated inside the city and locked the gates, and he was carried to a bed by his officers. All the soldiers, when they heard he had been wounded and carried away, became discouraged, discontent, believing their commander had died in battle. When El Sid learned of their state of mind, from his bed he whispered to his lieutenant that he should go to the soldiers and let them know he was alive. But the soldiers would not believe. The lieutenant returned and told El Sid, “I could not convince them you are alive.”

Brother said that is just how the saints feel – they are trying to tell us that God is alive and well – that God is, and that God is sweetness. Brother asked the Great Ones, our gurus, to come and place a hand on each devotee’s forehead and touch them with this sweetness, and Brother prayed that their blessings spread out everywhere, all over the earth. We sat for a time in silence to receive the blessings.

“Thy kiss of immortality is on our brows. The blessing of Thy outstretched hand rests eternally upon us.”

Our guru expressed his relationship with God: “Before Him, I am a babe”. Use this as an affirmation. Go to your meditation spot, sit down, and think this way -“Before Him, I am a babe.”

And think, “God is sweetness.” Being a babe means surrender, letting go of everything but this relationship between you and God.

In the Gita, Chapter II, Verse 7 Arjuna says to Krishna “With my inner nature overshadowed by weak sympathy and pity, with a mind in bewilderment about duty, I implore Thee to advise me what is the best path for me to follow.” The bewildered, doubt-drenched disciple, Arjuna, humbly takes refuge in the uncompromising advice of his guru. Like a babe, he leaves his troubles aside and surrenders, and thus learns to hear the voice of Spirit -and gaining this infallible intuition he is basks in the illumining smile of Krishna.

Perform the techniques of meditation – the gurus want us to use them. Brother told of an experience one devotee had while she was waiting in a check-out line in a grocery store: The lady in line behind her said, “You have a nice aura.” “Thank you.” the devotee answered, trying to be polite.“You have one of those Indian gurus, don’t you.” the lady continued. “….Yes.” answered the devotee, reluctantly acknowledging the odd remark and then turning away from her. “Something like….Yut…Yuktes…..Yukwar…..it’s one of those Indian names I can’t pronounce. ” Now the devotee became curious. “….Do you mean Yukteswar?” “That’s it.” came the reply, “I see him in your heart chakra.” Inwardly the devotee thought, “What’s he doing in my heart chakra? ….and why can’t I see him? ” “He’s smiling at your question.” said the lady, and then she added, “I see you with some kind of wooden thing…. do you have…uhmm …. it’s like two pieces of wood crossed….in the form of a T?” “Why, yes .” said the devotee, to which the lady replied, “Well, he wants you to use it!” (Much laughter from the audience) Then this devotee confessed to Brother that she was meditating and praying three to five times a day, but she hadn’t been doing the Aum technique.

The guru lifts our consciousness through the three dimensions, from the physical to the astral to the causal and then to the soul, and then we can feel the sweetness. We feel, and we realize, “I am a soul. God loves me. What am I to do but love Him?” It is a precious time. The soul is alone with God. We may not be perfectly still – some thought may still be there – but we can simply be conscious of receiving. God loves to caress his devotees. God loves to go to the devotee and love and bless.

One time one of the monks was doing a Kriya ceremony, and Brother was standing nearby as the devotees came forward. He could see the faces of the devotees as they received their spiritual baptism. Some, he could see, were trying very hard to concentrate, their faces all scrunched up as they strained to concentrate. But others came and he could see in their faces just a complete surrender – a complete receptivity as if to say, “Ahh, God is going to bless me.”

Daya Ma’s affirmation – she just repeats over and over again simply, “I love Thee, Lord. I love Thee, I love Thee.” “Affirmation is like trying to light a match”, she says, “You have to strike it several times – and then it lights.”

Brother said that for a time his affirmation was, “I, the soul, love You, Lord. I, the soul, love you, Lord.” Then one day it changed, became true for him, and it was transformed into simply “I love You, Lord. I love You, Lord.” After you have practiced the techniques – receive. Just be. Spirit envelopes the devotee. After deep devotion to God, “the Spirit suddenly falls upon the devotee in

ecstatic embrace.” Now ask yourself….”have I found God?” And say, “Yes, I am finding God.” It’s not the pizzazz; it’s not the sparks -it’s the sweetness -that is finding God.

How to develop love for God while we are acting in the world? The relationship with God is love. When you leave meditation, hang on to that feeling. When you are working, whatever you are doing, when you are walking down the street, every once in a while inwardly say, “I love Thee, Lord.”

Brother said that about 30 years ago when he was new in the ashram, Daya Mata was giving a talk to some of the monastics about love for God. As Brother was sitting there he was thinking, “I don’t have love for God, but I would like to please God.” Just then Daya Ma interrupted her train of thought and she said, “The desire to please God ripens into love for God.” So if you are not feeling love for God, but want to please God, you are on the right path.

“The fountain of Cosmic Bliss, the Joy in all things, must shower you with its spray, and send it trickling through the pores of your thoughts, feelings, bodily cells, heart, nerves, tissues, and face – through your whole body.” (Paramahansa Yogananda)

Notes from Pilgrimage

Mother Center – Wednesday morning

Master prayed to Divine Mother to make Mother Center a heaven on earth. And so it is, for our guru has saturated these grounds with his vibrations. When you come to these places of pilgrimage, think of being immersed in his waves of love that are washing away all impurities.

During the Christmas holidays it was the custom at Mother Center to keep all the Christmas cards that came in displayed on the landing of the staircase. One time as Master was descending the stairs on his way to give a service, he paused for a few moments in front of all the cards. Afterwards, as he continued on to the chapel, someone asked him what he had been thinking at that moment. Master replied, “I am gathering them all into my heart and taking them with me into the chapel.”

Master had a large magnifying glass and he loved to go outside and look at the flowers with it. He said that there is so much we miss, so much to be seen if we take the time. Master said that God is the beauty in flowers and we should look closely using magnifying glasses to see His wonders and that we can see God manifesting in the hearts of flowers.

The library at Mother Center was used as a printing press in Master’s day. It was very noisy, and sometimes there would be competition between the noise from the press and Master’s voice giving a talk. Sometimes he would call for the presses to be stopped so they could all have some peace and quiet for a time.

Letter displayed in the library written by Master in 1949 to someone with health problems:

Please affirm, “I am healed in the castle of Thy presence.” Please do not be discouraged – God tested Christ by crucifying the body itself and often saints with severe maladies. God loves the

child. He beats or tests most. God is testing your determination to wholly love Him and work for Him. Soon it will be over. I will be behind you. Love God more than ever with kindness to all – ever firm in Him.

What is My Role in Life?

Brother Satyananda - Wednesday afternoon Teen/Young Adult Class

Brother began with a little joke: A yogi walked into a NYC pizzeria and said, “Make me one with everything.” The pizza arrived and the yogi paid the waitress with a twenty dollar bill. “Where’s my change?” inquired the yogi. “Change must come from within.” answered the waitress.

Several years ago Brother said he gave a talk and predicted that the science of religion was going to become mainstream. Brother mentioned the August 4th issue of Time Magazine – on the cover is a beautiful woman meditating in lotus posture – and the featured article is ‘The Science of Meditation’. “Meditation,” he said, “is becoming mainstream. Meditation is cool!”

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda is one of five books singled out in the recent Time magazine (August 4, 2003) cover story on "The Science of Meditation." The article reports that meditation is no longer viewed as a new age fad, citing scientific studies that have validated its positive effects on the brain and nervous system. Meditation is increasingly being recommended by doctors and is now practiced regularly by millions of Americans. The report highlights Autobiography of a Yogi, along with four other books, for those who are "interested in pursuing meditation more seriously."

Master was way ahead of his time. Brother took his own poll and has found that seven out of ten people are interested in meditation. So when others ask what kind of church you belong to, say, “I follow a church that teaches meditation.” Now, outwardly, others may react, “eewww”, but inside they will be thinking, “Gee, maybe I should learn how to meditate sometime.”

Now the subject today is “What is My Role in Life?” What do you do with your life? Both those who are young, and those of us in mid-life crisis are asking that question.

Brother said when he was in college he studied both business and art -he was just drifting - he couldn’t make up his mind what he wanted to do with his life. Then in his junior year he fell apart. He didn’t believe in God, but he was looking for meaning in life. He took his junior year off. He was in much inner turmoil, and he was looking for answers. He studied philosophy. He studied the saints. Then he read “Science of Religion” and that’s when he began to connect the dots. In it Master had written, “Everyone is seeking happiness. True happiness is not dependant on outside conditions. True happiness is Bliss, and Bliss is God.” Brother said when he read those three words, “Bliss is God”, something plugged in like a current, and he began praying a constant prayer from deep inside, asking God to prove it – to prove that He exists. The prayer continued for two months, and then one day...…He proved it. He showed Brother what Bliss is all about – gave him a spiritual epiphany. Then Brother found the ashram. When he received his letter of acceptance into the ashram, he took the letter with him up to a bluff overlooking the ocean (that was 25 years ago), and he just sat there and cried.

Brother said, “I was so thankful - so thankful to God for having a place for crazy people like me.” And then he added, “I am a very happy monk.” Brother said, “This is a common theme of us all – our story starts with feeling lost.”

Suggestions:

Get to know yourself. Only you can say who you are. Friends, environment, activities – thinking we will find the answer on the outside won’t work. It’s not enough – it’s not deep enough. And that can be scary for us. Start with prayer and ask God to help you to know about yourself. Who you are now is totally okay. Ask, “What are my qualities, what are my gifts, what are my problems?” But don’t dwell too much on your problems. Discover your gifts.

Actually, you really do know yourself – you just don’t believe you do. Pray, “God, show me my qualities and gifts.” Examine the heart of your aspirations, your thoughts and ideas. This is quality introspection. Ask Master to help you. Ask, “Who am I? Who am I right now?” Asking will help to guide us to what we want to become. Make a list of your qualities. What comes naturally, easily, well? Ask your friends. Ask your parents to help you with the answers. Be objective about it. Discover your gifts. “To thine own self be true.” You can’t be honest with yourself until you know yourself.

Choose something you love to do . Something noble, honorable, true, the right thing, - this is very much akin to “dharma” (righteousness). You will lose track of time when you do what you love. You will become absorbed in it – you may even forget to eat. From previous lives we have brought with us some things that are a natural part of our being, and if we discover them and use them in this life, we will attract success. Pray to God, and be very specific. The more specific, the more the power is focused, and that is when the answers will come from God. When you do what you love, you are pushing the buttons of cosmic law. There is a great power in that energy of enthusiasm, and when you get in this groove, you will feel the power. Others will be attracted to you. When people do something just for the money, that’s not good enough – it won’t work. Do something you love to do, and then….. Find a way to use it to serve others. And then, offer it to God. Can you imagine anything better? It all has to start with yoga – to become a channel of God. Don’t think you can’t become a channel. Involve God in the process. The guidance will come – new opportunities will mysteriously come to you. Master said, “All powers of the angels will stand with you.” Your role may be big or it may be small. Do what your soul wants. But we all have an evil twin inside. It says, “It’s all a dream. Nothing really matters in this world. What’s the purpose? Why should I do anything?” If you listen to that evil twin, you will start feeling empty, depressed, and if you let it continue, you will start getting weak. You may find your spiritual life is not going well. What’s lacking? Positive action. It is very important to use positive action – it’s very easy for the evil twin to take charge. You must connect your dreams and aspirations with positive action. Even truth can become a negative affirmation without positive action. It is more important to do something, rather than wait around for something to happen. Why wait? Do it now. We need positive action applied to truth to get Self-Realization. It’s easy to find excuses to wait for conditions to be perfect. Do you know how long you’ll wait? Forever. So get busy now.

During World War II the economy went through some very hard times. People were losing their shirts, some were even committing suicide. And what was our guru doing at that time? Building a

World Brotherhood Community, the Gandhi Peace Memorial, temples in San Diego, Hollywood, Encinitas. Master was on the move! Master was making tracts, building, acquiring property – even though things looked bad. So don’t wait to begin. Charge yourselves with the attitude Master had, “In the midst of trials, danger and I were born together and I am more dangerous than danger.”

Brother told a story: At Mother Center it came time to replace the old tennis court. The whole area was dug up and a new court was put in. Brother was put in charge of landscaping the surrounding area, but he had no idea what to do. So he went to Master in prayer. The next day in the newspaper he happened to read an article about a famous landscaper, and a little voice said, “Call him.” He thought about calling, but didn’t act on it. Later that same day, as he was looking at a picture of Master that little voice came again, “Call him! Call him now!” So Brother picked up the phone and called, and by some good fortune the landscaper answered the phone himself. Brother invited him to come to Mother Center for a consultation -the landscaper was pleased to come. He viewed the grounds with Brother, and was quite impressed, remarking over and over, “Precious, precious, Oh how precious! Look how people here care about landscaping.” He said he would love to do the landscaping on the grounds. Then he told Brother his fee – it was very large, much more than was possible. Brother explained that they were a non-profit organization and could not afford it. But then an idea came to Brother. He asked the man if he would be willing to do the design work and let Brother do the labor. The man thought it over for a minute and then he said, “That’s a great idea - you know, I’ve always wanted a mentor.” The fee for the design work was to be $50 per hour, but the man never sent a bill! Brother thought it would be nice to have a water fountain (where the sundial is now). But the landscaper said, “No, I think it needs a sundial,” and he added, “not a new one – you might find an old one, maybe in a basement somewhere.” Brother was still thinking of a fountain, but the landscaper kept insisting it should be a sundial. Then one day Brother was standing before a window with Daya Mata - they were surveying the tennis court area and Brother was explaining the landscape plan. Brother mentioned the fountain – wondering how Ma would react, hopeful that she would like of the idea, but she made no comment. Then he mentioned the landscaper’s idea for a sundial, and Ma grabbed his arm and said, “Did you say sundial? We have a sundial in the basement!” (Laughter from the audience)

The point is, you may start out feeling lost, but start anyway. A little guidance will start to come. Keep on. It takes vision and guts. Keep on, and you will start to see doors open – things will start to happen when you are a partner with God.

Don’t be afraid of failure. We may work hard, strive hard, but it all falls apart. Maybe you’ve loved, and then been betrayed. Brother asked everyone who has ever experienced a disappointment or a painful experience to raise their hand. Then he had the younger devotees, who were all seated together in the front rows, turn around and look. There was no one who didn’t have their hand raised. (Some had two hands raised, and some were waving them too!)

Brother said, “Now everyone here is a really, really, really good person – and yet all of us have experienced something painful in our life. This is maya- this is duality, and it happens to everyone. You may be thinking, “Oh, but the monastics live in a monastery, so they have it made.” No - it happens to everyone.

There is a purpose. When a good thing fails, you feel alone – and all anyone else can do for you is offer sympathy. But at that time, you will see a choice. You will see a fork in the road – to take the road towards God, or to wander away in darkness, maya. In our past lives we’ve taken the wandering road of darkness, and we’ve ended up bitter. If you choose at that time to follow the way of God, you will find what you most need.

Failure is a call from God and He is saying, “Be with Me. When you are alone, you are alone with Me.” Be with God - and you will see a quantum leap in your spiritual progress. Sometimes the only way out is through - through accepting, forgiving - accepting God one hundred percent. We will all have to go through failure to become strong – to realize that we have that strength within us. We have to be threatened in order to bring that quality of strength out. This is the ‘fire of purification’. You may think, “This feels wrong, unfair.” But just chose God and you will come to see the Christ-like strength in yourself.

Daya Ma says, “Suffering is the greatest teacher….if you don’t let it get to you.” (Laughter from the audience) Say to God, “I don’t care. I only want You.” Then you will contact God. Then the great, powerful presence of God will slip in to comfort you when there is no one else who can. He’s been waiting for this – waiting for the right time to come. What is on the other side of the chaos is Bliss. The worst thing about failure is the fear of failure. It’s worse than the failure itself.

Brother ended his talk with a story from the scriptures about Krishna and the healing of Trivakra: Krishna and his brother Balarama traveled to a city festival. There in the city streets they came upon a girl named Trivakra. Her face was very beautiful, but she walked bent over like an old woman, for her spine was bent in three places. (Trivakra means “thrice bent”) She was carrying a pail, and in it was a fragrant, scented sandalwood paste that she had made upon the king’s special request. Trivakra was on her way to deliver the paste to the king, but when her eyes fell on Krishna she immediately recognized him as a great soul and knelt before him in devotion.

Now Krishna had a very playful nature, and he decided to have a little fun with Trivakra. He asked her if she would give them some of the sandalwood paste. So full of devotion was she, that without hesitation she offered them as much as they would like, though doing so would jeopardize her own life, for the paste was meant only for the king. Krishna and Balarama dipped their hands into the pail of paste and rubbed generous amounts of it all over themselves. The paste was so wonderfully fragrant that they kept taking more and more until they had used it all up. Krishna apologized for using all the paste, but Trivakra was not in the least bit troubled. Instead she told him what a blessing it had been for her to have been given the privilege of offering this gift to him.

Then Krishna said, “You have unselfishly done something for me. Now I would like to do something for you.” He came very close to her, so close that she could smell the fragrant paste on his body. And then he very softly, very gently, stepped on her toes, and now he was so close that she could feel his breath upon her head. Then he took two fingers and very gently placed them under her chin, and he very slowly lifted her chin, lifted her whole body, until her face was level with his. Thus was Trivakra healed, and she was given a new name which meant, ‘One who has been made beautiful by the Lord.’

So let the guru come close. Let him heal you. Let him lift you up. It’s not a matter of us drawing close to him – let him come close - so close that you can feel him standing on your toes…(and he will -laughter from the audience) Let him come near, smell him, feel him breathing on your head and down your spine. Let his life force work within you. Let him get that close, and he will lift you up – lift you into greater consciousness of God. It is why we have come.

The Ennobling Qualities of the Soul

Sister Priya – Wed evening lecture

“Well, here we are again,“ Sister began, “one year older, and hopefully one year wiser.” (Laughter from the audience)

In Master’s interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter XVI, we are given the 26 soul qualities that make man God-like. Study them, for your own freedom and joy. There are three types of behavior – three gunas, or qualities. The first is sattvic, which is the spiritual quality. The second is rajas, the active quality. The last is tamas, the ignorant, evil quality. One of these gunas predominates in every person. The predominant guna may change in a person during the course of their life. Master said that at this time, the planet is predominately rajasic. For the most part, people are active and absorbed, but it is generally somewhat selfish activity. It is all in how we choose to behave – that is what we become. Those who are seeking God - divinely inclined persons - are manifesting more and more of the sattvic quality, and it is the sattvic which leads man to Self-realization.

The 26 ennobling qualities are: fearlessness, purity of heart, perseverance in acquiring wisdom and in practicing yoga, charity, subjugation of the senses, performance of holy rites, study of the scriptures, self-discipline, straightforwardness, noninjury, truthfulness, freedom from wrath, renunciation, peacefulness, nonslanderousness, compassion for all creatures, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, lack of restlessness, radiance of character, forgiveness, patience, cleanness, freedom from hate, absence of conceit. These twenty-six qualities are all divine attributes of God; they constitute man’s spiritual wealth.

Sister said, “Even to repeat them is peace-producing, isn’t it? – because they are within us – all of them. Study them and incorporate them into your daily living. This will help us to avoid unnecessary reincarnation.”

These twenty-six soul qualities are a wonderful resource for child rearing. With these teachings, children will be better guided. All SRF families should take one quality a week – talk about it with their children let them practice that quality - and then come back and talk about it. However, these pearls of wisdom should not be cast before mentally rebellious and unappreciative people .

Fearlessness is the impregnable rock on which the house of spiritual life must be erected. So how to be fearless? Fearlessness means faith in God; faith in His protection, His justice, His wisdom, His mercy, His love, His omnipresence. He will protect us if we put ourselves in his protection. We can trust his justice. He created mercy. He is always aware of us and we have only to turn to Him and ask for His help. If we do that we can no longer be overwhelmed by what happens in our life. Try it

for a year – see what freedom and fearlessness it brings. Even in death, affirm, “I am ever safe in the fortress of Thy loving care.” Remain tranquil in that faith.

Purity of Heart means transparency to truth. One’s consciousness should be free from the distortions of attachment and repulsion to sense objects. Likes and dislikes for externals taint the heart with gross vibrations. Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” With that undistorted vision, they see God. We need not be influenced by anything less than the truth. Always seek the truth.

Steadfastness in seeking wisdom and in practicing yoga is essential for reaching liberation. That is the key – never give up. “A saint is a sinner who never gave up.” Abraham Lincoln experienced many failures in his life, but persevered in the good, and now he is considered to be one of our two greatest presidents. God will show us the way to serve.

Almsgiving or charity expands the consciousness and links the soul to the presence of God within all other souls. All we have been given is on loan from God. Jesus said “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God”. By ‘rich man’, Jesus meant one who is selfish and does not share his wealth.

To give money to people who would use it for drugs or other evil is wrong, harmful, weakening. But the discriminative devotee who wisely shares his wealth, knowledge, and spiritual treasures to the benefit of those who are needy, worthy, and receptive fits himself for liberation.

Self-restraint is the power to control the senses when they are excited by the pleasant sensations of sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch. He who succumbs to temptations will remain entangled in sense objects, far removed from soul knowledge. Every indulgence in any form of sense-lures reinforces the desire for that experience. Repetition leads to the formation of nearly unshakable bad habits. With every effort to resist, we will strengthen the ability to do so. Any time we say “no”, we become stronger - we will be closer to overcoming. Every time we ask God and guru to help us, we are closer. A devotee who is master of his senses is ready for emancipation.

Renunciation – the word seems to denote some lack, but Master’s definition is much more enticing: “Renunciation is the wise path trod by the devotee who willingly gives up the lesser for the greater. He relinquishes passing sense pleasures for the sake of eternal joys. Renunciation is not an end in itself, but clears the ground for the manifestation of soul qualities. No one should fear the rigors of self-denial; the spiritual blessings that follow are great and incomparable. To engage in actions without desire for their fruit is true tyaga (renunciation). God is the Divine Renunciant, for He carries on all the activities of the universe without attachment to them. Anyone aspiring to Self-realization – whether he be a monastic or a householder – must act and live for the Lord, without being emotionally involved in His drama of creation.”

Straightforwardness denotes sincerity. The eyes that see God are honest and artless. He who is free from deceit may gaze on the Utter Innocence. The aspiring devotee strives to be free from guile and crookedness. To regain the shahja or natural state of his true being he makes himself as open and candid as the sun.

Sister told of a cartoon she once saw of a man in a tiny boat in a vast ocean with shark fins circling and surrounding him. The man is saying, “What did I do to deserve this?”, and the answer coming from above was, “Do you want a list?” (Laughter from the audience)

Master never gives up on anyone. He promises us more than the moon and the stars, and without even meeting him in the flesh, because of his sincerity and straightforwardness, we know we can trust him.

Forgiveness in the man of God consists in not inflicting, or wishing to inflict, punishment on those who harm or wrong him. He knows that the cosmic law will see to it that all injustices are rectified; it is unnecessary and presumptuous to attempt to hasten its workings or to determine their form. Retribution at the hands of the immutable law of karma has for its proper and far-seeing purpose the eventual spiritual redemption of the sinner. Even if justice does not seem to prevail, the karmic law will not fail to balance the scale.” Evil persons, after death, go to astral realms where they are not given the same freedom of those who are good.

A passage in the Mahabharata says, “One should forgive, under any injury. It hath been said that the continuation of the species is due to man’s being forgiving. Forgiveness is holiness; by forgiveness the universe is held together. Forgiveness and gentleness are the qualities of the Self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue.”

But total forgiveness is not easy. Jesus said that we should forgive seventy times seven – that’s four hundred and ninety! Sister said, “I remember thinking that four hundred and ninety seemed a bit unreasonable, but then I decided by then it would have become a habit.” (Laughter from the audience)

God says, “How many times do I forgive you every day?”

Gentleness is characterized by spiritual patience. God is ever gentle with His erring children and, unoffended, remains quiet when they revile or ignore Him. All men who are in divine attunement are kind and forbearing. A gentle person attracts friends on earth and also, more importantly, attracts the Lord, the Friend of all Friends. A spiritually patient man does not feel ill will toward anyone, even the most evil.

Make these twenty-six soul qualities your lifetime study. Incorporate them into your own being until there is no room for the negative opposites. If you are having trouble meditating, check your conscience – check your adherence to Yama/Niyama and to these soul qualities. “The greatest thing in life is to live in the castle of your own clear conscience, knowing you are pleasing God.” (The Divine Romance, pg 55)

And always remember the personal element – the ever-present and unconditional love and help of God and guru. Babaji and Christ planned this special dispensation as the spiritual salvation for this age. Lahiri Mahasaya said, "Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji, that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing." Follow the teachings, use the techniques - and let us determine that we will never, never, never, ever give up.

Satsanga

Brother Jayananda – Thursday morning

Part of our sadhana, our spiritual training, is to study the guru’s teachings. But it is not necessary that you understand everything, or even believe everything. The only dogma we have is Kriya Yoga. Just practice the teachings, practice the techniques, and you will come to understand. You will come to know the truth of the teachings by realization. Rajarsi Janakananda said, “He knows he knows because he experiences.”

Brother worked with Daya Mata for many years, taking dictation as Ma responded to letters from devotees. It was very interesting, how she would respond. Brother remembers one letter in which the devotee asked for information about the different forms of samadhi, and Ma commented to Brother, “You know, I would have been more impressed if he had asked about developing devotion.” So try to ask questions that our on our own level – many questions devotees have are esoteric information that is way beyond us.

Q. If everything that happens, every event, is meant to be a lesson, what do you do when you don’t understand the lesson? Ho do we figure out what the lesson is? A. Brother said, “I hate when that happens.” (Laughter from the audience) Many things we don’t understand, but we don’t have to rationally pull it apart. That giant boomerang called karma, which is just stuff carried over from another life, may come around and hit us in this life, and because we don’t usually remember our past lives it may be very difficult to see clearly why it happened. Master wrote, “The equilibrating law of karma, as expounded in the Hindu scriptures, is that of action and reaction, cause and effect, sowing and reaping. In the course of natural righteousness (rita), each man, by his thoughts and actions, becomes the molder of own destiny. Whatever universal energies he himself, wisely or unwisely, has set in motion must return to him as their starting point, like a circle inexorably completing itself.”

So what can we do? We can pray for understanding. Pray, “Help me, Lord. Help me to understand.” This life is a school and we are here to learn our lessons for our own evolutionary growth. And practice surrender. “I don’t know why this is happening to me, Divine Mother, but you do and that’s good enough for me.” The guru gives us only what we can bear. Accept it with surrender and devotion, and you will come to a deeper understanding.

Q. How does one come to know in every instant what is the right thing to do? Sometimes we can seem to be caught in a moral paradox. When to resist and when to surrender? When to speak up and when to be silent? A. This is a very difficult question to answer. Guruji called it the ‘golden middle path’. It’s also known as the ‘razor’s edge’. We are asked to walk a very fine line between two extremes. Nothing is ever black and white – it’s always shades of grey. There is no absolute formula. In each particular situation we must use discrimination and wisdom – we must develop deeper and deeper ability by meditation to feel intuitively what we should do. That intuition is what will guide us to the right thing we should do. Q. I am a competitive person by nature. But I’m thinking that it’s not always a spiritual quality. How can I use my competitiveness in a spiritual way?

A. Competition can be the opposite of cooperation. Our guru was certainly competitive! Master loved tennis – and he didn’t lose! (Laughter from the audience) It’s not necessarily wrong, but if it permeates everything we do, we need to ask why. Is there insecurity? The Tiger Swami story in the ‘Autobiography’ is a good example of competition. The overriding lesson is that there are other ways to use competition. Why not use it in learning how to meditate more and feel God’s presence more and more in your life? When finally the Tiger Swami became spiritually receptive, his guru appeared and called him to the ultimate challenge, “Enough of tiger taming. Come with me; I'll teach you to subdue the beasts of ignorance roaming in jungles of the human mind.”

In the Gita, Master wrote, “Every devotee who at will can command his attention to retire from the territory of the senses and to enthrone itself within is an object of admiration in the eyes of his own thoughts.” Nowadays we hear so often about self-esteem. Listen to this quote, understand this quote from Master, and you will learn what self-esteem is all about.

Q. I have a friend, a Christian, who says that he will never reincarnate because he has accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and so he has been “saved”. He believes that believing in and accepting Jesus is all that is needed. How to respond? A. You probably can’t. Don’t worry about it if you can’t communicate. Just say, “Bless you, follow your path.” Daya Mata once wrote to a devotee that this concept is a great distortion of the teachings of Jesus. We must get back to the spirit of what Jesus taught. Each one must save himself by adhering to those principles. That is what will redeem you. It is knowing their truths. Our teachings are based on original yoga as taught by Bhagavan Krishna and original Christianity as taught by Jesus Christ. Master came to redefine and clarify Christianity. So when anyone asks you if you are Christian, say, “Oh yes, more than you know!” Master didn’t put Christ on the altar just to make Western people happy. The teachings are also a Hindu religion -and they are the essence of all the true religions. Master put these two, the Bible and the Gita together in the teachings and so we have a broad spectrum of truth. But we don’t quote or expound from all the religions, for example, the Koran.

One time Brother overheard another monk ask Daya Mata about Master’s book, ‘The Second Coming of Christ’, asking about who was working on it and so forth. Master’s interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita had just recently been released, and Brother was so impressed and so inspired with it that he said, “Oh Ma, I don’t think we even need the ‘Second Coming’. Then Ma replied, “You wait and see! It will be more of the same!” -meaning, the same high level as Master’s Gita translation.

Q. Please explain why Sri Yukteswar sent away his favorite disciple, Kumar. How can this be unconditional love? A. From the ‘Autobiography’: “Kumar set out for a visit to his childhood home. He ignored the quiet disapproval of Sri Yukteswar, who never authoritatively controlled his disciples' movements. On the boy's return to Serampore in a few months, a change was unpleasantly apparent. Gone was the stately Kumar with serenely glowing face. Only an undistinguished peasant stood before us, one who had lately acquired a number of evil habits. Master summoned me and brokenheartedly discussed the fact that the boy was now unsuited to the monastic hermitage life. "Mukunda, I'll leave it to you to instruct Kumar to leave the ashram tomorrow; I can't do it!" Tears stood in Sri

Yukteswar's eyes, but he controlled himself quickly. "The boy would never have fallen to these depths had he listened to me and not gone away to mix with undesirable companions. He has rejected my protection; the callous world must be his guru still."

The boy had refused the guru’s help. Sri Yukteswar could not even bear to tell Kumar himself that he had to leave. Was it unconditional love? Certainly. Sri Yukteswar realized he couldn’t help Kumar and that he had to leave because he wasn’t able to follow the guru’s teachings. He knew that Kumar first had a few more lessons to learn in the world.”

Q. In ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, we read how Sri Yukteswar gave such harsh discipline to Master. And then Master gave the same harsh discipline to Daya Mata. Why the same meanness? A. Sri Yukteswar explains why to Master: “The hard core of human egotism is hardly to be dislodged except rudely. With its departure, the divine finds at last an unobstructed channel. In vain It seeks to percolate through flinty hearts of selfishness.” Master openly displayed more love than Sri Yukteswar – he had that motherly quality. But with Daya Ma -he was very harsh with her. Why? The guru realized his role in their short time together – and he knew she could take it. He realized that by such harsh discipline she would have the capacity to withstand tremendous difficulties later on.

One time Ma was feeling sorry for herself and she said to Master, “Maybe I don’t belong here.” And what was Master’s response? “Then get out!” (And he meant it!) “By saying that you break the divine bond.” And Master meant get out of the ashram! Then Ma realized her error, and apologized. The guru gave Ma that strong discipline because he realized that she could take it and that she wouldn’t run away.

Q. We have seen a resurgence of interest in Vedic astrology. What was Master’s advice about consulting an astrologer? A. We read in ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ that Sri Yuteswar told Master to wear an astrological bangle. There is tremendous truth in astrology. But it is too vast to grasp unless one has profound realization. It is from a higher age. It is not necessarily based on wisdom unless you find someone with tremendous understanding. Master wrote in his Autobiography, “Faith in divine protection, and right use of man’s God-given will, are forces more formidable than are influences flowing from the heavens. “ We can overcome whatever is flowing toward us. Putting those negative destiny thoughts in your mind – be careful – don’t become sidetracked in these little offshoots. We are seeking God, and we must believe in our God-given will. Relying on astrological forecasts may put negative thoughts in your mind. Don’t get side-tracked. Instead give importance to keep going toward the goal.

Brothers told a story: His job for a time was to take dictation from Daya Mata. One time Ma was at her desk reading a letter. Brother had seen the letter beforehand and was wondering how Ma would react to it. The letter was from a well-known astrologer. He asked for Ma’s date of birth and offered to do an astrological reading for her. Ma finished reading the letter and then she threw it across the table at Brother and said, “You tell him I will not be bound by my astrology!”

That is the guru’s teachings – it’s not going to affect me. Brother said the force from Ma was so strong – it reminded him of a little cartoon that was posted for a while on a bulletin board at Mother

Center that showed a fellow sitting in an easy chair next to some audio speakers – his hair was flying back and his tie was flapping behind him from the force of the speakers. Brother said, “That’s how I felt sitting in front of Ma.” (Laughter from the audience)

Q. Please explain the rule of Yama/Niyama involving gift-giving and non-receiving. A. Master translated this in the Gita as not to receive gifts with strings attached. Don’t get involved if there are commitments because it leads to karmic ties. Learn how to give and receive gifts. If a compliment comes our way, don’t say “I’m not worthy.” Tara Mata said, “The only way to accept a compliment is to say ‘Thank you’.” Period. There is nothing inherently wrong with gift giving. Gift giving is a way of saying, “You mean something to me.” The monastics give gifts to one another in the ashram.

Q. Why do obstructions come in the pursuit of God? A. Master said, “A smooth life is not a victorious life.” The guru will see to that! (Laughter from the audience). Along the way we will see obstacles coming into our life. We are here to learn the lessons we need to learn, and often we learn best when struggling. But it’s never more than we can bear. There was a Belgian physicist, Prigogine, who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery that, without friction, things don’t change – they become stagnant and die. Friction is a necessary component of growth – our spiritual growth accelerates when we are pushed past insurmountable obstacles.

Q. What is the right attitude to have toward someone who leaves the path? A. No one really gets off the spiritual path. (Laughter from the audience) Life is a spiritual path. We must guard against becoming self-righteous. Remember, everyone attracts the experiences they need. If it involves a family member, you can let them know of your concern and perhaps express that you were hoping to travel the path together with them, but be non-judgmental. There are no absolutes. Become an example yourself – this is the most effective way to influence people. Gandhi said, “We must become the change we wish to see in this world.” It’s about me changing me. Even in the ashram, we see people leave the path. We cannot judge others. Everyone has their own karma – their own relationship with Master.

One time there was a man in the ashram – he was not exactly a model devotee – and eventually he left the ashram. Then came a time when he was in the hospital - his final illness. There was one monk who visited him a lot, and after the man passed this monk told some of the others, “I couldn’t wish for anyone to go through what he went through - you can’t imagine. But what he became because of it – what happened and all that he went through was right for him.”

Q. How can we feel safe in this era of violence in our society? What is the proper attitude? And what precautions should we take? A. Master said to be practical but have faith in divine protection. Don’t expose yourself to unnecessary risks. Everything is karma – we have to realize that things happen for a reason. Our lives are in higher hands than ours. Karma is always involved. If you are fearful, cultivate friendships with spiritual people – that will help us – and try to develop faith in God and guru’s protection. A woman chela once asked the Lahiri Mahasaya for his photograph. He handed her a print, remarking, "If you deem it a protection, then it is so; otherwise it is only a picture." The guru is with us and we are always protected.

Q. Is Joy an emotion, a feeling, or what? A. The joy our guru refers to is Sat-Chit-Ananda – ever existing, ever conscious, ever new Joy. Joy is an attribute of God – an expression that comes from within through deeper and deeper meditation. Master wrote to Rajarsi Janakananda: “Last night I was in samadhi. My pulse, my heart, stopped; my body was dead and my life force like a comet sprang through the spinal tunnel and head into the blue heavens. Oh, such joy! I don’t feel any sensations making any permanent impression in me. The ordinary man walks, sleeps, works, earns. I find I am settled in Bliss. I am awake in Bliss, ever watching the states of the body and mind when they are awake or asleep or dreaming. Last night I ate, and when I finished I didn’t know I had eaten. All I knew was Bliss Eternal and Light ever spreading. Even now Aum is bounding over my head, tying it with the starry firmament. It is all very strange, all very secret. By meditation He makes the servant sit on the throne.”

The Guru’s Unconditional Love and Friendship

Brother Santoshananda – Thursday evening lecture

Brother pranamed to us and explained that the meaning of a pranam is, “I greet your soul.” It is acknowledging the God in others. Literally, pranam means ‘complete salutation’. It is a complete greeting as a soul, in body and mind. When we greet others with “Hello, how are you”, etc., this is only a partial recognition of the divine within. Richard Wright, (Daya Mata’s brother), used to always start his letters to Master with, “Pranams, Holy Dad” (Laughter from the audience)

‘Jai guru’ means victory to the guru – victory over darkness -- and the guru is always a victor! (Laughter from the audience) -victor over us, over our ego, over our karma, delusion, maya. “Gu” means darkness, and “ru” means that which overcomes. So pranam mindfully to the guru, not out of habit. Be present in what you do. Pranam mindfully to the one who is going to create victory in your life.

When the disciple is ready, the guru appears. How do we know we are ready? It is when the soul begins to awaken itself. We start with a yearning. We want something more. We are looking, searching, but not outside – it comes from within. When that searching becomes very strong, an inner awakening occurs. Master said, "Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that 'something else' he hopes will bring him happiness, complete and unending. For those individual souls who have sought and found God, the search is over: He is that Something Else."

When it happens depends on our karma. It may happen just by listening to someone else, or by some other occurrence in our life. Thousands have been awakened by reading the ‘Autobiography’. How long have you been searching? It may have been since early childhood –something may have happened that caused that initial awakening. The ‘Autobiography’ is a great awakener for many, including Brother, and he told the story of how he found the path: One day he went to visit a friend at a restaurant which was owned by the friend’s parents. (The friend later became Brother Turiyananda) He found him seated in one of the booths, with a beer (Laughter from the audience), smoking a cigar. (More laughter) He was reading a book, and Brother S. asked him about it. Turiyananda answered, “Oh, it’s a very deep book. When you’re ready, maybe I’ll lend it to you.”

“What do you mean, ‘when I’m ready’?” asked Brother S. Brother T. answered, “Yes, I drink beer, I’m smoking a cigar…… but I just found my guru.” When the disciple is ready, the guru will come.

So an awakening comes, and we know we want something else. And when we find God, the search is over. Many preachers teach that God is far away, that He will punish you if you make a mistake, that you will go to a barbecue place. (Laughter from the audience)

Brother said he knew he just wanted to be happy -all the time. When that urge comes, it stays with you, and you will find the answer to ‘Who am I?’ For most, we are born, we live and we die, and we don’t know who we are! We may think, “I want to be somebody”. And we hope to accomplish it through money, or fame, or name. Then we become ”somebody”, but we discover…..it’s not me!

The guru comes to awaken us to who we really are. Master said the guru comes to awaken the sleeping God in his disciples -and you awaken yourself to a different reality. The answer came in three words for Brother – ‘You are Bliss’. Master wrote, “I came to arouse your sleeping memory of immortality. I suffer for you. I will do everything to help you realize that illumination is within. Awake! Sleep no more. You are Bliss.” That’s what Master says who we really are. We are Bliss, and here we realize the unconditional love of our guru.

We all go through ups and downs, we may feel discouraged, we may feel a lack of progress, we may feel, “Why am I not yet in samadhi?” (Laughter from the audience) But Master said don’t worry. You are already blessed because you are already on the path. You already have some awakening in you. You are not indifferent to that which is divine in you.

Master said that if you have even a little conscious or unconscious wish to know God - you are far ahead of the crowd. “So,” Brother said, “we are in good shape so far!” (Laughter from the audience) That is a blessing by itself. Krishna said, “Only one in one thousand seeks Me.” Realize that you are the one in one thousand seeking Him.

When Master was in India, some of the disciples were complaining to him about their seeming lack of progress. Master told them, “Don’t worry, your head is already in the tiger’s mouth.”

The problem is with us – we are so conditioned in the West, so goal oriented. We want instant satisfaction, instant success, instant samadhi. We project our ideals so high, and then when we don’t achieve them we think we have failed. We give too much attention to the goal, but the process is more important than the goal. We need to focus in the moment – this is so important for reaching the goal.

Brother told a story: One time he was riding his bicycle and he came to a big hill. He looked way up to the top of the hill, and suddenly he felt very tired. An inner dialogue began - the monkey mind was at work – and he began to wonder if he would ever make it to the top. Then he realized he was too focused on the goal, and knew he needed to change his attitude. So he just kept on pushing the pedals, left, right, left, right, not thinking about the faraway goal, and in no time he found himself on top of the hill.

So whenever we meditate, we need to remember to concentrate and focus on the process, not on the goal. One of Lahiri Mahasaya's favorite remarks, given as encouragement for his students' perseverance, was “Banat, banat, ban jai”, which means “Striving, striving, one day behold.” Brother added, “Notice that he didn’t say, ‘striving, behold, behold’.” (Laughter from the audience)

The poet William Blake wrote, “You are the veil that hides the Paradise you seek.”

Brother said, “I would like to read part of a letter Master wrote to Daya Mata’s sister, Ananda Mata. In truth it is addressed to each one of us.” (Complete letter is in Summer 1984 SRF Magazine)

The letter begins: “You must never lose courage. Divine Mother sent me to pilot you out of the clouds of your mind.” Master was so spiritually poetic and he goes straight to the point. Our mind is clouded -it’s like looking through a cobweb. Our mind is like a restless, drunken monkey who has been stung by a scorpion. (Laughter from the audience)

The guru comes to free us – free our consciousness. Master said that ninety percent of our thoughts today are the same ones we had yesterday, and they will be the same thoughts that we will have tomorrow. The guru comes to get us out of here. He says, “I want to help you.” Gyanamata said, “The spiritual path is nothing else but to free ourselves from our own mind.”

We all have our own difficulties, our own karma. We can’t deny that karma – we have to face it – it is the will of an avatar! We are not punished for our sins, but by our sins.

Master said, “Divine Mother is testing us. But She cannot delude me anymore – I know all her tricks.” She is challenging you – saying to you, “What do you want? Me or My gifts? The Giver or the gifts?” We have freedom of choice all the time.

One of the scriptures of India, the Isha Upanishad, says, “The whole universe is nothing else but the garment of God. Renounce it, then. Detach yourself from the garment, and receive it back as the gift of God.” Our family -our wife, husband, sons, daughters, are all gifts from God. And our most special gift is our guru. So instead of complaining, if we say thank you - thank you for these gifts from God -our attitude changes. Be grateful. There was one saint, and his mantra was simply, “Thank you”. He thanked God for anything and everything that came to him.

Letter continued: “Your troubles I do not mind. I will never give up my job about you.”

Are we acknowledging that? Do we acknowledge that we are never alone?

Letter continued: “Never for a moment identify yourself with momentary flashes of error.”

Master used the word ‘never’ so many times! A true guru sees our mistakes as ‘momentary flashes of error’. Nothing is permanent, so we mustn’t identify ourselves with our mistakes – or we become the problem! Daya Mata says, “No one can keep you from God except yourself.”

Letter continued: “Do not make life discouraged and tired, but be ever interested in doing for Divine Mother, no matter if wars, sickness and death dance around you. That is the secret of victory over delusion and all troubles.”

Keep serving God and guru, no matter what happens out there. We are constantly bombarded by the things of the world – by TV, newspapers, Internet – and we become identified with what’s out there. Don’t be distracted. Do all for Divine Mother for victory over delusion– that is the secret – that is the key. No matter what, stay tuned to Divine Mother.

Letter continued: “I will give you lots of good karma, so you will get through. I will not only ever forgive you, but ever lift you up no matter how many times you fall. Be cut to pieces, but never give up. Be a divine leech – suck at the blood of wisdom even though torn to bits. A smooth life is not a victorious one. I am not building a mansion for you, or giving you riches that will perish; but I am making an imperishable home with all riches for you in my Divine Mother’s mansion.”

Master is saying, “I am here for your soul. Only your soul no matter what– nothing else. My only role is that I am your guru – I will be here for you no matter what – to help you go back home. Indeed, the blessings of our guru are unceasing. We see that through this work his spirit is moving all around the world. His spirit is what animates it and keeps it alive, even through the ups and downs of the world. Daya Mata is a beautiful example of compassion and of keeping his spirit living, keeping it alive. No one would be here tonight if Master hadn’t touched our lives – this evening would not exist. Master’s teaching is kept alive by his spirit.

One time Brother was working at Lake Shrine with Brother Mokshananda. There was also another woman, a devotee, working near the houseboat. This woman noticed devotee in a wheelchair trying to make her way to the lake and she dropped what she was doing and ran to help her. Brother Mokshananda saw the woman too, and he also ran to help her. This is Master in action. We will be motivated to do the right thing when we stay attuned to the guru. Practice the presence of the guru and you will be able to unfold Master’s spirit through you.

There is a familiar story called ‘Footprints in the Sand’. It’s a story about the guru/disciple relationship and about our doubts about his presence, his guidance. He is ever on our side with us. We are walking with the guru.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with his guru. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life, and for each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him and the other to his guru. But he noticed that during the very lowest and saddest times in his life, there was only one set of footprints. This really bothered the man and he questioned his guru about it. "Master, you said that you'd walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed you most, did you leave me?" His guru replied, "My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints in the sand – those were the times when I carried you.”

Krishna said, “O, Arjuna, I am also Arjuna.” This must have been shocking to Arjuna. Then the veil was removed – and Arjuna had the ‘vision of visions’ of seeing the Lord Krishna in His cosmic

form. Arjuna, trembling and awestruck by the sight of the Lord’s omnipotence replied, “O, guru sublime, forgive me for irreverently thinking of You as friend, as a familiar companion, and I even gave You nicknames!” (Laughter from the audience) But Krishna said in return, “I am still your friend, and I love your nicknames.” (More laughter)

Often we don’t know that Master is with us – we don’t acknowledge it. But Master wrote in one of his poems, “I will walk by your side invisible and unknown, and guard you with invisible arms.” (From ‘When I am Only a Dream’)

And there is a second part of the story of the footprints: The footprints kept going, and in time they came to some sand dunes. The man saw that now there were footprints all over, everywhere, and he asked the Master, “Why so many footprints?”, to which the guru answered, “Because that is when we danced!”

Jai Guru.

Spiritual Maturity: Nurturing Our Soul Awareness

Brother Achalananda – Friday evening

This is a very interesting subject, because one thing we continue to do is grow older. (Laughter from the audience). Now, how can we grow older and also grow up? As egos, we may have grown older, but we may not be very mature. The dictionary’s definition of maturity is “having completed natural growth and development; having attained a final or desired state”. The definition says nothing about spiritual maturity. Master gave us the most comprehensive phrase for spiritual maturity: “One who knows how to behave in all situations.”

What does it take to do that? It takes intuition – to look at a situation and know what to do. And it takes common sense. Common sense is often uncommon because it requires intuition. And one must meditate to develop that intuition.

Proverbs 4:7 says it well: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Why do we need understanding? So we can live as we want to live – as happy individuals. Think about this – have you ever known anyone who wanted to be unhappy? But if we are not spiritually mature, the opposite thing occurs - we cannot be truly happy. Sri Yukteswar told Mukunda, “Learn to behave.” It sounds simple until you try to do it. Soon we realize that we can have an intelligent grasp of what needs to be done, but due to past habit, we haven’t matured enough – and so we don’t behave.

Master said, “You must live differently than the ordinary man, who is in touch only with sense consciousness. Spiritual consciousness lies in absolute victory over human consciousness. To meditate, on the one side, and be angry or lead a desultory life on the other, is like putting your feet in two boats going in opposite directions.” Obviously, we will be faced with a decision fairly quickly! (Laughter from the audience) And Master said, “You must not only meditate, but also learn to behave. To have spiritual consciousness is to be able to do those things that are in your highest interest. Ninety-nine percent of the people do not know in what lies their own highest

good.” We as devotees have some idea, or we wouldn’t be here on this path. That’s nice to know! But we need to keep on growing – there is always more to do. Learning to behave requires right attitude. Sri Gyanamata once wrote to a disciple: “What does good behavior consist of? In the careful, watchful regulation of our daily conduct to each other when we do not feel like it; for ofcourse if one feels like it, such right conduct becomes natural and automatic. Since we are human beings and not machines, it becomes necessary for us to be vigilant in the exercise of self-control. It can all be put into a few words: We must do what we know to be right, whether we feel like it or not….Let the little self whine if it will. Turn your back on it. Concentrate on your behavior."

Set an example for others by your own life. You are a divine being – learn to behave like one. If devotion fails us then that is where duty steps in. Usually when we think of people changing, it is wanting other people to change to suit us. In ego consciousness you are engaged night and day in the thought of self. Do you expect the whole world to change to suit yourself? That’s what we might call “mosquito consciousness”, and we have to get rid of it.

Brother told a story: In 1993 at the Council of World of Religions, he and another monk were serving at an SRF booth book sale. They had a good chuckle because the most popular booklet they sold was ‘How to Change Others’. (Laughter from the audience) Brother thought, “Boy, what a surprise they’re in for when they read it!” (More laughter)

Sri Yukteswar told Mukunda that to learn to behave was a most difficult thing to do, and said, “Allow me to discipline you.” It takes tremendous willpower to become attuned to wisdom – it takes much willpower to overcome our own bad habits and thoughts. But when you attune yourself with a true guru you will be guided by wisdom. And the guru will provide plenty of opportunities for us. (Laughter from the audience) It’s hard to follow wisdom, even when it’s there. Master will help us overcome our lower nature. He will use other people – so keep your eyes open – and you will see this happening in your life.

Once Brother went to Twenty-nine Palms with Brother Premamoy to deliver some items there. Brother began to notice that it always seemed like the same three monks were invited to the retreat there for satsanga. He wondered why it was always the same three monks, and he became a little jealous. Then one day Daya Mata said to him, “Never be envious of anyone else.” Brother thought, “Well, that’s easy for you to say,” (Laughter from the audience), “but I am envious.” But her words nevertheless started something happening inside, and Brother began to introspect and analyze. Finally he came to realize that those who are going are there because:

They need it, or They deserve it.And those who don’t go – same thing… They need it, or They deserve it.

His conclusion was “Okay, I can deal with that”, and then there was no more problem. Then one day Brother was talking to Brother Turiyananda, who had been one of the monks who got to go to all those satsangas. He told Brother A, “You thought that going to those satsangas was such a goodthing – but boy! were we ever getting hammered with heavy duty discipline!” So sometimes we are envious and we don’t even know what’s really going on – and if we did, we might run the other way! (Laughter from the audience)

Practice self control or you will find yourself carried away by waves of emotions. All experiences are always neutral, but we put emotions on and then they affect us more. Try to look at likes and dislikes in a more neutral way. Then you will come to understand.

We must learn to take personal responsibility for our lives. Don’t blame others. Don’t take the role of victim status, or you will have spiritual stagnation, and a feeling of unworthiness. We all want to feel worthy – this is intuitively seen in children - they want to do what Mom and Dad do. Yes, part of it is that they are emulating their parents, but they also want to feel needed and worthwhile. We all want to feel that our lives have meaning.

American social philosopher Lewis Mumford said, “The test of maturity, for nations as well as individuals, is not the increase of power, but in the increase of self-understanding, self-control, self-direction, and self-transcendence. For in a mature society, man himself and not his machines or his organizations is the chief work of art.”

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Tuchman said, “Personal responsibility means taking responsibility for your behavior and your expenditures and your actions, and not forever supposing that society must forgive you because it’s not your fault.”

Remember, we are all souls in the ‘forest of destruction’ (Brother was referring to the story of the three robbers told by Brother Anandamoy). We have to deal with these three gunas in everything we do.

To become God-like - Paramahansa Yogananda expressed it so clearly in the Gita when he gave the twenty-six ennobling qualities that make man God-like. Great Masters always speak in absolutes, not to describe what is beyond the aspiring devotee, but as a measure for striving. We can attain it.

Number one is fearlessness. Brother found it fascinating that Master put fearlessness as the very first quality. Master wrote, “Fearlessness is mentioned first because it is the impregnable rock upon which the house of spiritual life must be erected. Fearlessness means faith in God.” If we have full faith – full trust in God – we will be fearless. How could we have any fear if we have faith in God – His protection, His justice, His wisdom, His love, His mercy, His omnipresence?

The Bible says, “Perfect love casteth out fear.” And Master said, “Fear ties the mind and heart (feeling) to the external man, causing the consciousness to be identified with mental or physical nervousness, thus keeping the soul concentrated on the ego, the body, and the objects of fear. The devotee should discard all misgivings, realizing them to be stumbling blocks that hinder his concentration on the imperturbable peace of the soul.”

It is easy to say, but hard to put into practice. Some eleven years ago Brother Achalananda and Brother Dharmananda were on retreat together. Brother D. told him that when they returned, Brother A. was going to be put in charge of the SRF printing press. Brother said his initial reaction was, “No way!!” and there ensued a tussle of wills that went on for four hours. Finally Brother agreed to assume the responsibilities. But he had difficulties in dealing with the problems and the

pressures that followed, and he actually felt a tightness in his heart. This was because he was not spiritually mature enough at the time.

Then one day an envelope came, and in it was a copy of a letter from one of the gurus that told of a technique to overcome fear: Put your hand over your heart, next to the skin. Rub from left to right and repeat, “Heavenly Father, I am free. Tune out this fear from my heart radio. Master said, “Just as you tune out static on an ordinary radio, so if you continuously rub the heart from left to right and continuously concentrate on the thought that you want to tune out fear from your heart, it will go; and the joy of God will be perceived.” Brother practiced this technique repeatedly, and after a few weeks his fear left him completely and never came back.

Another quality is patience, or fortitude, which, “enables the devotee to bear misfortunes and insults with equilibrium. Outward events cannot shake him, nor can occasional inner turmoil serve to deflect him from his chosen path and goal: Self-realization. By stability the God-seeker learns to adhere under all circumstances to noble activities in the outer world and to retain the perceptions of truth that come to him during his meditations. He clings tenaciously to his experiences of soul bliss and never dims their reality by diverting his mind to lesser interests. This endless patience ultimately gives the sage the power to comprehend God. Patience, or fortitude expands the cup of his consciousness until it can hold within it the ocean-vastness of Divinity.”

One time Brother was in India traveling on a train – a 25 hour trip. He was trying to sleep on the seat that had been reserved for him – a short, thin bunk. The ticket master noticed his discomfort and offered him a bigger bunk, which he gladly accepted. He fell asleep for a time, but was awakened by loud voices and a poke in the ribs. A man was yelling at him with fire in his eyes, “You have my seat!” Brother gave no argument – he apologized and returned to his old seat, but the man continued muttering to himself, still enraged, as if he couldn’t quite believe how easily he had regained his seat. The point is, don’t be disturbed when these kinds of experiences happen.

Another quality is forgiveness. “Forgiveness is holiness; by forgiveness the universe is held together; forgiveness is the might of the mighty; forgiveness is sacrifice, forgiveness is quietness of mind. Forgiveness in the man of God consists in not inflicting, or wishing to inflict, punishment on those who harm or wrong him. He knows that the cosmic law will see to it that all injustices are rectified; it is unnecessary and presumptuous to attempt to hasten its workings or to determine their form. Retribution at the hands of the immutable law of karma has for its proper and far-seeing purpose the eventual spiritual redemption of the sinner. Even if justice does not seem to prevail, the karmic law will not fail to balance the scale.”

The Mahabharata says, “One should forgive, under any injury. Forgiveness and gentleness are the qualities of the Self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue.” In reality, this is hard to do. It takes some effort on our part. You may try to forgive, but later find you haven’t. What to do? Do it again and again and again, until the inoculation takes and you are immunized. (Laughter from the audience) You will find the freedom that comes with forgiveness is unbelievable!

Why do we forgive? Because in forgiving someone, we forgive ourselves. Otherwise, it churns in us like a corrosive acid. We need also to learn to forgive ourselves.

Brother had a difficult period practicing forgiveness. Someone, in a cruel way told him something that another person had said of him. He was very hurt. But then he got to thinking, “Well, but that person is a great soul.” Then he thought, “Perhaps the person delivering the message may have changed it to fit his own desires.” Later he saw the “great soul”, and she simply gave him a clunk at the spiritual eye and said, “What took you so long to figure it out?”

Another quality is modesty. We don’t see much of it in this age in this country. In India it is considered, especially of ladies, to be a great virtue.

Another quality is self-discipline. This doesn’t mean going to extremes. It doesn’t mean sleeping on a bed of nails or holding your arm up in the air until it’s frozen there. (Laughter from the audience). It means, for instance, not eating too much when you want to – it means overcoming little things.

Brother told a story about an almost-saint in medieval times. Beating up his body was his form of self-discipline. He wore a shirt that was covered with tacks and screws woven into it – a very drastic thing to do. One day he had a vision of Divine Mother, and she told him, “Take that thing and throw it in the river.” And so he did.

Another quality is compassion toward all beings. Develop more compassion for others. Daya Mata is a true example of this – a true mother of compassion. Brother said that when he first came to the ashram he didn’t have a clue that quality even existed. (Laughter from the audience) One time, before he came on the path, his friend, (now Brother Dharmananda) called him - it was a collect call and Brother almost didn’t take it! (Laughter) He was calling from a hospital in New Orleans. He had been in a car accident – he had broken bones and was all banged up. He was asking Brother A. to pick him up and take him home. Brother was feeling pretty reluctant – he had other things to do! – but he finally came for him, full of reluctance. It was a painfully slow ten minute journey as Brother D. limped to the car, with Brother A. impatiently following behind – to him it was like watching someone in slow motion and seemed to take forever. Finally they made it to his apartment and Brother A. said, “Okay, I’m outta here.” But Brother D. said, “But aren’t you going to help me into bed?” Brother A. sighed, and impatiently helped him get ready for bed. Then Brother D. tried to get into bed. He bent half-way over and found he couldn’t get all the way in – he was stuck half bent over and couldn’t stand back up straight either! By then Brother A. was totally frustrated and he took one finger and gave Brother D. a little push!! (laughter from the audience) Brother said, “It’s been a thing I’ve really had to work on – compassion for others.”

There are three major problems confronting all of us – Brother calls it “the three E’s”. economy, Environment, ethics

Ethics – are the specific moral choices people make. Being moral and ethical does pay, although it’s not always immediate. Once there was a devotee who was hired as an accountant for a big company. He attended all the big management meetings and one time at a meeting a decision was being made that the devotee did not think was ethical, or even legal. Although he was obviously outnumbered by all the others in the meeting who wanted to go ahead with the plan, this devotee’s sense of ethics gave him the courage to speak up about it. Then he asked for time to look into other ways that it might be accomplished in an ethical and legal way. Sometime later the same scenario happened a second time, and the devotee spoke up again. The next day the president of the

company called for him and he thought, “Oh boy, this is the end of my career.” But when he walked into his office, the president embraced him and said, “I’ve been looking for you for twenty years. You are more ethical than I am! You are a man I can trust – you won’t stab me in the back.” …. and he made him vice president of the company.

Environment – we are the cause of serious problems for Mother Earth. The Bible says that man has been given stewardship over the earth, but people misinterpret this to mean they can do whatever they want – misuse and abuse and exploit – but no, we must protect our Mother Earth.

Economy – This world needs spiritually mature people, particularly in leadership. What to do? Change ourselves. We get the leaders we deserve. Thomas Carlyle said, “Change yourself and then you will know at least there is one less rascal in the world”.

Guruji said, “Change yourself and you will change thousands.” We must never give up our efforts. No spiritual effort is ever lost. Keep on keeping on and all will be yours in time. Invite the guru into your life in an ever greater way. Ask for his guidance. Ask for him to flow through you in everything you do. Mold your life into his. Anandamoy Ma said, “The disciple merges his consciousness in the guru’s consciousness, and then is merged into God.” Lahiri Mahasaya used to say, “Striving, striving, one day – the divine goal.”

Taking Convocation Home with You

Brother Bhaktananda – Saturday afternoon

Master said there are three practices we should not miss: Meditation Practicing the presence Energization exercises

The Energization exercises are not just for the body – they are spiritual – they are not just for health. Master said we have to learn to control the energy. In time the mind learns to control the energy and we take it up the spine and into the brain and go into samadhi – it’s that easy. (Laughter from the audience) God will reveal Himself. Practice the presence to keep in tune during the day.

Brother added a fourth principle – read a few pages of the lessons every day. As people come to the monastics for counseling, they see that the questions being asked are all answered already in the lessons it’s all there. So study the lessons and you won’t need counseling – because it will all be within you – and you can call it forth. Try to remember the inspiration of Convocation – the meditations, the chanting, the classes. Try to recall the experiences from time to time to have that inspiration return to you. It takes perseverance, but whenever we think of God we are blessed.

This is Brother’s 56th Convocation. 1947 was Master’s first Convocation. Master has this annual event for us to come to Mother Center and the other places of pilgrimage to feel the presence of Master, and to take it home.

Master said, “Carry a portable heaven wherever you go.” That portable heaven is right in your heart. For women it’s easier to feel it in the heart – men must work on developing it. Try to feel more in the heart, and turn it into devotion.

Master is with us all the time. Master said, “I will be more with you when I am gone because the body will not be in the way.” When he first heard Master say this Brother thought, “Well, Master has to take care of his body and so he can’t think of us all the time.” But that was not his meaning. Master meant it is because his disciples were thinking of him as only in the body and that made it harder to think of him as Spirit, as within. Master is with us astrally - intuitively. We must have faith.

Master said, “Make your heart a hermitage” -a place where spiritual people live, meaning the heart must be spiritualized by thinking of God and guru as often as possible. If you can’t chant all day long, then try to offer a prayer five or six times a day, wherever you are. When Brother was only five days in the ashram he was in the garden working and Master came and said to him, “From time to time, stop work, lift the gaze to the Christ Center, and say, ‘For God and guru. For God and guru.’”

Master will be there, and we will come to know it. At home, try to have a picture of Master in every room. One woman wrote to Brother and told him that she keeps a picture of Master in her kitchen where she can see it all day long. She wrote, “His picture shines down blessings in our home” and she said others who come to visit feel it, and they tell her so.

Brother told some stories:

There was a devotee, a Hindu man who lived in Africa and one time he traveled to India. He visited Anandamoy Ma’s ashram and spent two days there, after which he planned to visit SRF in Los Angeles. He sat at Anandamoy Ma’s feet and asked for her blessing before he left for America. Ma started to laugh and the man wondered why. Then she said to him, “You don’t need my blessing. Your guru is with you all the time.” Later this man told Brother that he didn’t realize it at the time, and that he needed to hear it.

Realize when you hear these stories that they pertain to you too. Learn the lessons in these stories. As you develop devotion you will see little miracles happening around you. This is the guru notifying you, letting you know he is there.

Master had divine contact with Divine Mother. He had an intimate relationship with Her and sometimes he would tell of his experiences. One time Master was invited to Phoenix to give a lecture. But he didn’t have any money for the trip, so he talked to Divine Mother and asked to receive the needed funds. Immediately Divine Mother answered, “Ask Mr. so-and-so for the money.” Master emphatically answered, “You ask him.” (Laughter from the audience) A few hours passed and then this man came and said, “God asked me to give you this money.” So Master went to Phoenix and gave a lecture in a large hall. Divine Mother was like a human mother, loving her son. So offer God and guru your love after every meditation.

Master knows us very well – we are an open book to him. Nothing is hidden from him. He knew our every thought, every feeling, every action and at times he would let the disciples know, but always in a very gentle, kind way.

Brother lived for a time in the ashram in Encinitas. There was a greenhouse there at that time and Brother’s duty was to deliver the flowers to the florist. One morning he looked in his drawer and saw that he was low on socks. He thought to buy some but he was so busy with the holidays approaching that he didn’t have time. The next week he traveled to Mother Center and when he arrived another monk said, “Master wants to see you.” So Brother sat down in the room to wait for Master and closed his eyes to meditate for a few minutes. Then he heard Master at the door. Brother opened his eyes and saw Master swing his arm at him and the next thing he knew there were little black balls coming at him, hitting him on the face and chest - they were socks. (This said, Brother hurled a couple of black balls of socks into the audience, which drew much laughter). Brother took the dust of his feet, picked up the socks, thanked Master, and slowly left the room – no talking, no need for questions.

Master wanted Brother to practice silence. Brother said he found out why after Master’s mahasamadhi – to get his guidance from within. Master had a great sense of humor. And he has our thoughts – you too are in that position – and he will guide you if you have faith. Master would sometimes do little things, like socks, or some other need a devotee might have. Master lots of times gives us things, but unless we are attuned it may pass unnoticed – we may miss it. He often uses others as instruments – as channels.

Brother said, “Now I want to tell you how Master held up a train.” (Laughter from the audience) Brother said this story was told to him by one of the devotees present at the time. In 1935-36, Master attended the burial of Sri Yukteswar. Just prior to that he was on a lecture tour in Hardwar and had visited some devotees. They took him to the train station to say good-by and Master was ready to board the train, but was still talking to the devotees. The train whistle blew, and the wheels started to spin but the train wasn’t moving! The conductor looked to see what the problem was, could see nothing wrong, and then proceeded to try again. Again the wheels started spinning but the train didn’t move. People were staring in awe. Finally one man hollered, “Holy man, holy man, please let the train go! We want to go home.” So then Master slowly and casually said good-by, boarded the train, and the train finally left.

Master always had a reason for any miracle he did. There was probably a skeptic in the group who needed a particular lesson – perhaps to remove a doubt from his consciousness.

Master had five books to write: Autobiography of a Yogi, the Second Coming of Christ, and his interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita, Revelations , and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. At a time when Master was away in the desert, writing prolifically all day and through the night, Brother realized that it had been a month since he had seen Master, even though he always practiced the presence. An urge came to Brother that he longed to see his guru, but then he put it out of his mind. At that time, Brother drove a panel truck between Encinitas and Mother Center, transporting produce grown by SRF, and sometimes even to places to be sold. A few days later Dr. Lewis called him in Encinitas and said, “Master wants you to drive out to the desert and take supplies out.” Brother made the trip and when he arrived, there was his guru standing there. Master held up his

hands and said, “I’m not the body - I’m everywhere - I’m not the body - I’m everywhere!” In a way, he was scolding Brother, trying to help him understand that you don’t have to be with the guru in the body. Master asked him to sit at a picnic bench and lovingly prepared a sandwich and a drink for Brother, and then he said, “Now you’ll be going home?” Brother said, “Yes.” Master’s discipline was gentle, soft, caring, always with love.

Brother said that he hardly ever had conversations with Master, in all the years he was there; there was no need really, except when Master needed to give instructions or the like. It was just enough to be in his Presence. Master wanted to teach him and all the devotees to attune themselves to his spirit for inner guidance. He said that he will be with us more when he is gone, not because he was with them less because of his physical body, but because people who limit him to his body limit his spiritual presence within them.

Brother continued to explain the story by saying that Master showed that he knows every thought we have and everything that we are going through and that he is always with us - that we don't have to see him. Brother further went on to explain that in the beginning Master sometimes 'shows' himself to some devotees to get them on the path, but that after that he does not show himself to us. He does not want devotees to desire phenomena, but to seek the inner attunement with his consciousness, his joy and his love.

Brother said, “Now I want to tell you my experiences in learning to practice the presence.” Master said, “Those who meditate deeply, God will come to them, but those who meditate and practice the presence, God will come sooner.” Practicing the presence keeps us in tune with God and guru. Master did not conduct classes for the monastics, but sometimes they would have little informal meetings in the hallways on the 1st floor at Mother Center. Afterwards, when Brother went to work, the results of being with Master would last for about two hours and then they would fade away. Brother wondered why.

Another meeting came, and the guidance from Master gave was to always keep God in the back of our minds – to think of Divine Mother all day long and to chant to Her. It took Brother a while to realize this in his consciousness – how this would work – for inwardly he thought it was kind of a strange thing to do. But he thought, “I’ll try it for a week.”

He began to chant “Om, Divine Mother, Om, Divine Mother.” After a bit he started to feel good. He continued two more weeks and started to feel a little bliss. Then it grew stronger and stronger over time, until it became great joy and bliss, greater than Master ever said. Brother said Master didn’t always tell us the results that would come because he wanted us to have faith.

Master said that the heart is the center of love and feeling – not only good feelings, but also negative emotions. We have to get rid of those negative feelings so God can come in. Don’t say you can’t do it. Now Brother was not chanting from the heart – he was chanting from the mind. He wondered how he could chant from the heart. Then he thought of imagining the heart has a mouth. When he started doing that – with the chanting and the words coming from the mouth of the heart - the joy he was feeling became love (they are different from each other).

One time for a few days Brother forgot to chant – he was too busy with other thoughts – and he noticed that he felt very dry and empty - the joyful feeling was gone. Then Brother realized that he had to chant all day long. So he made it the highest priority in his life. “That’s what we have to do,” he said, “because we are such good forgetters.” (Laughter from the audience).

For two years he continued to chant “Om, Divine Mother”. Then one day a Hindu visitor came to Mother Center, and as Brother was hosting him around the grounds the man told him, “In India they say ‘God is guru and guru is God’.” So Brother decided to change his affirmation to “I love thee Master, I love Thee God.” Greater joy than ever before came. It started Brother wondering why Master never said to chant, pray, or sing to him. It was because Master was too humble. Master would always say to chant to God, to Divine Mother. Brother said the Hindu visitor was a channel of Master – that Master had wanted Brother to chant that way.

And Brother is still chanting to this day. Master said, “Have that love that sings His name all day long.” In his younger days Brother used to hum symphonic tunes and classical numbers. So Brother thought to chant “Om guru” to the tune of “O God Beautiful”. After some time he noticed that even when he stopped chanting, the chant was going on automatically within, and that if he forgot, he could just pick up in the middle of the chant that was always going on inside. Brother said that from this ongoing chanting within, you will have attunement with the guru all of the time – you will be guided and you will receive divine answers from Master.

When the monks were working on the Golden Lotus towers in Encinitas, sometimes Master would come to see how they were doing. The monks would stop their work and gather around him – and Master didn’t mind, because he was teaching them. One time Master said, “It is love that touches God. It is love that makes God respond.”

So that got Brother thinking, “Well then, ‘love’ is a word to use in my chant.” So for eight months he chanted “I love you, Master”. Then one day a monk came and said, “Master wants to talk with you on the intercom.” Brother picked up and said, “Hello, Sir” and Master said, “Hello Michael. Are you happy?” “Why, yes Sir”, came the answer. Then Master said, “I’m glad to hear that. God bless you”, and he hung up. Brother thought, “That was a strange conversation.”

He continued chanting, “I love you, Master” and then soon after when he was at Hollywood Temple and getting ready to drive back to Encinitas, he saw the guru walking toward him and Master said simply, “I love you.”, and then walked away. Brother said it was the first time he’d had any verbal communication with Master about his chanting. Master was omniscient and that he knew he was doing this chanting. Brother said all the monastics came to know that if Master said nothing, then everything was okay.

Then one day Brother thought to use a new chant. Master had said “Saints are full of joy, like a water fountain that never stops bubbling,” so Brother thought to change his affirmation to, “I want to feel your presence.” He was not expecting more joy – he was already feeling joy, but after two weeks, one evening he felt a special vibration. He was feeling really good – more joy than ever before. A monk noticed, and said to him, “Why are you so happy?” Previous to this, Brother had tried to hide his joy because Master had said not to talk about all our experiences – to keep it all

within. But now, like the disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost, he couldn’t help expressing it, so strong was his joy.

Lunchtime came and Brother came into the room to eat with the other monks – he came to a chair and suddenly, without thinking, he hopped over the top of the chair! He had no intention of doing that – it was just an impulse that came over him because of all the joy he was feeling. After lunch he went out to work in the peach orchard in Encinitas, and as he was walking, still chanting within, he came to a fence and levitated right over it. Brother, in is understated way said, “I was surprised at that.” (Laughter from the audience). “I guess Master wanted me to get there quickly.” (More laughter) Brother said he wasn’t hopping – it was a four-foot fence. He knew it was his joy and Master making him levitate. And so that joy continued, all day long. Brother said that Master had told him, “Peace is fine, but it’s not enough. You need that joy of God.”

Practicing the presence begins in the mind – so resolve to meditate and then mentally chant all day long. In the power of thought lies the land of God. Always remember the great power of the mind. It is the mind that creates disease and it is the mind that heals.

If you want to progress spiritually - meditate. If you want to progress fast - meditate and practice the presence all the time. When you are back home, continue with your chanting. When you are working, only part of the mind will be chanting, keeping God in the background of your mind, just like when you have a song playing over and over in the background of your mind. Then when you are alone you can chant out loud, keeping more full attention on the chanting, keeping your whole mind on God. Keep reminders at home to remind you to practice the presence.

Brother concluded his talk with a chant, and we all chanted “Om guru, Om guru” to the tune of “O God Beautiful”, just as he had done for so many years. Then he quietly and humbly got up and left the stage..... he left people thinking of the Guru......

Closing Remarks of Convocation Brother Vishwananda

Brother said, “Here we are at the end of another Convocation – but really it isn’t the end, is it? It’s just another chapter in our journey toward God. It is a very special thing, to dedicate a whole week to intensely seeking God with your spiritual sisters and brothers from around the world. All the monastics see the wonderful love and devotion expressed, and we bow to the divine soul we see in all of you. Convocation is very special – we have 500 volunteers this year – and many have been serving 20 years or more. For them it is a great sacrifice of time - missing classes – why do they do that? For the same reason we attend the classes. We are all on our own spiritual journey, and each of us has a part to play. We are like a beautiful flower - but that flower needs all the petals – each one is necessary to make the flower.”

Brother read a heartfelt message from our president and sanghamata, Sri Daya Mata:

Dear Ones,

What a blessed and joyful week this has been! I have been thinking of all of you and following closely the various activities of Convocation. And in my meditations I have asked God and Guru to help you recharge your lives with renewed spiritual enthusiasm and determination. Your messages, notes, and gifts have deeply touched me, and I appreciate your many sweet expressions of divine friendship. Also, a special thank-you to each one of you who have served so selflessly at Convocation. We truly could not have done it without you, and I know how pleased Master would be with your beautiful spirit of dedication. God and Guru have drawn such wonderful souls to this path, and the devotion and sincerity you have all expressed warms my heart.

During these days you have drunk deeply of the wisdom in Guruji’s teachings and have felt his transforming love. As you now return to your homes, filled with renewed confidence that God and Guru are ever by your side, you have an opportunity to take the divine truths that have inspired you and make them your own by putting them into practice, in your family, your workplace, and your community. Wherever God has placed you, be a peacemaker, a giver of understanding; be someone who exudes calmness and kindness. In living those divine qualities you will also bring them out in others, and will carry into the world the light and joy and spiritual strength you have gained. You do not know how far-reaching the influence of your positive thoughts, actions, and prayers can be when you strive to live each day with God in your heart.

The pull of the world is strong, but you need not let it rule you. Fulfill your responsibilities conscientiously, and resolve that you will also make time for Him, who is the very Source of your being. When you deeply commune with God, all your experiences fall into perspective. Your mind grows in understanding, your heart expands with His all-encompassing love, and you realize that upholding your life is the vast supporting ocean of His presence. That is the greatest security one can have, and the firmest foundation for lasting fulfillment. Guruji said: "Wherever you are, carry within your bosom a portable heaven of joy….Be strong inside, with full faith in God. Then you will conquer all the limitations of the world; you will be a king of peace and happiness." That is what I want for all of you, my dear ones. Know that my love goes with you, and that the boundless blessings of God and Gurudeva surround you now and always.

God love you, Daya Mata