The Cross and The Lotus Journal · promote God-realization. Our spiritual lineage begins with Jesus...
Transcript of The Cross and The Lotus Journal · promote God-realization. Our spiritual lineage begins with Jesus...
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May my life be guided and con-trolled by Thee!
Thy Presence be ever with me, in me,
And everywhere around me.
I beg of Thee, I prostrate before Thee,
Hearken to this heartfelt prayer of mine.
And make me Thine and Thine only
For ever and ever!
Swami Ramdas
Every day a mental diary
must be kept. In the evening
find out what you have done
that day. Progress is a con-
stant vigil. In the morning I
start my mental machine
and say to it, “You are go-
ing to behave this way to-
day.” That attitude gives me
supreme happiness.
Paramhansa Yogananda
Your concept of God must be such that He is the one indispen-
sable thing in life. If there is any area you feel is out of bounds
for your spiritual practice then you have artificially created
separation. Pray for a yearning heart that seeks God-experience
more than any other. When the mind is purified you realize
that all desires in your life have really been your longing for
the Supreme Consciousness.
Yogacharya David Hickenbottom
The Cross and The
Lotus Journal
March 2016, Vol. 17 No. 1
Dedicated to the Realization of God and Service to Him in All Forms
Mother Hamilton in India, 1968
The cross and lotus symbolizes the unity between East and West. The lotus is the sign of
illumined consciousness, the thousand petal lotus of the crown chakra. The cross is the
symbol of the body surrendered to the will of God. Following the way of the cross results in
the resurrection of illumined consciousness.
The Cross and the Lotus, symbol of man. East and West blended, join hand in hand.
Marching toward the infinite light and life divine. Lift up your eyes and see the star,
descending from heaven where e’er you are. Be filled with the peace and ecstasy of God’s almighty love.
Aum-Amen. The Reverend Yogacharya Mother Hamilton
The Cross and The Lotus Journal is published by
The Cross and The Lotus Publishing Mount Vernon, WA, U.S.A.
Website: www.crossandlotus.com
E-mail: [email protected]
© 2016 The Cross and The Lotus Publishing is dedicated to the publication of materials that
promote God-realization. Our spiritual lineage begins with Jesus Christ and Babaji and flows
down to us through Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Sri Yukteswar, Paramhansa Yogananda and
Yogacharya Mother Hamilton.
The Reverend Yogacharya David Hickenbottom continues this lineage with the help and
support of many sincere devotees. We are dedicated to realizing God and serving devotees of
every race, color, creed and religion.
Mother Hamilton often said she was the product of two fully illumined Masters, her own
Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, and Swami Ramdas. We therefore feature articles about
Swami Ramdas and Anandashram. We bow to the feet of Saints and realized Masters of all
religions.
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 35
Journal Editors: Larry & Cate Koler
Calendar of Events Feb. 26 Yogacharya David’s Birthday (1954)
Mar. 7 Paramhansa Yogananda’s Mahasamadhi (1952)
9 Swami Sri Yukteswar’s Mahasamadhi (1936)
19 Spring Equinox (9:30 p.m. PDT)
25 Good Friday
27 Easter
Apr. 22 Swami Ramdas’ Birthday (1884)
22 Passover
May 8 Mother’s Day
10 Swami Sri Yukteswar’s Birthday (1855)
30 Memorial Day
June 19 Father’s Day
20 Summer Solstice (3:34 p.m. PDT)
Page 34 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
From the Master’s Kitchen One of the recipes originally published in Master’s Lessons
Honey Spiced Cake – A Chocolate Version
Shortening: 1 cup (butter )
Honey: 3/4 cup (agave)
Sugar: 1/3 cup (brown)
Eggs: 2, separated
Salt: 1/2 tsp.
Cardamom, Cloves: 1/2 tsp. each
Cinnamon:1 1/2 tsp.
Nutmeg 1/2 tsp. (fresh grated)
Flour: 3 cups whole wheat pastry
Baking powder: 2 tsp.
Soda: 1/2 tsp.
Nut meats: 1/2 c. (chocolate chips)
Vanilla: 1 tsp.
Milk: 1 cup sour
Cream shortening, add the sugar,
beat in the honey. Add beaten egg
yolks. Sift dry ingredients. Mix 1/2 cup of flour mixture with
nuts and combine the rest alternately with sour milk and shorten-
ing mixture. Fold in beaten egg whites. Stir in nuts and vanilla.
Bake 45-50 minutes in a well greased loaf pan at 350̊ F.
Comments from our C&L chef, Angela Victory
When it’s a Westcoast rainforest down-pour outside, cake bak-
ing is one of the blissful events to warm eve-
ryone’s heart. I have baked this cake before
but felt it was worthy of revisiting with the
twist of adding chocolate chips. Having two
in-house chocolate lovers drooling over the
warm cake as it exits the oven and both
Mike and Aiden with glasses of milk wait-
ing for the call to dive in after it’s been pho-
tographed for the journal, shows it’s a Mas-
ter’s Kitchen favourite. Now we have “little
bits of God” for this week’s lunches.
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 3
Dear Friends,
While giving a talk recently,
“Weaving God into the Fabric of
Life,” I read from Master’s gem of a
book, The Science of Religion. I find
the first pages of this book so inspir-
ing; it has stayed with me, resonating
as absolute truth. Sri Yoganandaji
writes:
We are not necessarily seeking
God when we call Him Infinite,
Omnipresent, All-Merciful, and so
forth. These conceptions satisfy
the intellect, but do not soothe the
soul. If respected and cherished in our hearts, they may
broaden us to a certain extent—may make us moral and
resigned toward Him. But they do not make God our
own—they are not intimate enough. They place Him
aloof from everyday concerns of the world....The very
conception of God should stir us to seek Him in the midst
of our daily lives. This is what we mean by a pragmatic
and compelling conception of God.
Having direct God-experience teaches you that God is the
breath of your breath, the thought behind your thought; He is the
Life beating in your own heart. There is not a moment when God
is not creating you, sustaining you, and when the time is right,
withdrawing you back into His Being.
However, what makes God-experience absolutely compelling
is the bliss and wisdom you have when in His Presence. Bliss is
far superior to pleasures of the senses. Bliss lifts you into its own
purity; there is literally no end to it. You are enraptured with its
power and there is nowhere else you ever want to be. Bliss an-
swers the yearning of every human heart for completeness, and it
is found right within you.
The wisdom of God makes ordinary knowledge gained
through reason look like a candle when compared to the sun.
Page 4 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Wisdom is gained spontaneously, and like an activated tuning
fork it vibrates its truth through every cell of your being. God-
wisdom connects you with a higher intelligence that is clear and
unbiased by your past human experience.
Imagine going through life feeling intimately connected with
the bliss and wisdom of God. In good times and bad you feel the
bliss of God that makes you know that all is well. Your thoughts
are guided by a superior wisdom that directs your actions in the
smallest and greatest of ventures, in which you know that what
you are doing is for the highest good of all.
Far from making you arrogant, God-experience humbles you
to dust. Jesus once said, I of myself am nothing; it is my Father
who doeth the works. And this becomes your truth, and you know
with every cell of your being that it is the truth. You do not need
to wear a false mask of humility that covers a secret life of pride,
rather it is a simple truth that frees you from all masks and false
pretenses.
Your conception of God must, then, have these intimate ele-
ments of realization in order for it to fulfill the deep yearning of
your heart and soul; anything less is a “false prophet.” It is a
hallmark step in evolution when you yearn for this all-
encompassing experience that merges your whole sense of self
into your greater divine Self. Just think, the seed of this experi-
ence is already inside of you, it needs only to be watered with
your attention and fertilized by the power of your love. The seed
then awakens, sending out roots deep into the ground of human
experience and branches that reach into the blue sky, the light of
transcendent freedom and expansion. It is all yours to realize
when you have the compelling conception of God.
Lord! How in darkness can I see aright?
Child! All the universe is filled with light;
Be true within, and truth shall cleanse thy sight.
– Charles Gordon Ames
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 33
change sides, bring the arms back
down and replace the hands first to the
knee, and then the fingertips to the
floor. Step your right foot back to the
standing kneel.
Re-balance and then move the left
foot forward for the other side. When
you have completed both sides, release
from the standing kneel into child’s
pose by bending the knees all the way
and lowering your forehead to the
floor. Wrap your arms around the sides of your body and release
them against the floor. Become like the quiet seed and rest with
“santosha”—contentment.
Modification for chair yoga: For more ease, try this similar
posture by sitting in a firm, upright
chair and moving towards the edge of
the seat. Plant your feet firmly against
the floor, hips width apart. On an inha-
lation, open your arms wide and slowly
lift them above your head, lightly
pressing the palms together. Open your
heart and gaze upward into a very gen-
tle arch. Breathe comfortably and re-
lease the arms back down when you
are ready. For a counterpose, place
your hands on your thighs and gently
fold the torso forward over your thighs
to your own comfort level, letting your
head hang down. Feel any tension
simply slide off your spine.
Benefits: Opens and stretches the hip
flexors, stabilizes the pelvis, and
strengthens the thigh muscles. Opens the heart, lungs, rib cage
and shoulders. Creates a positive current of upliftment and confi-
dence, balanced with grounded-ness and strength. May the bless-
ings of the inner and outer light be upon all. Namaste.
Page 32 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Yoga and Health Anjaneyasana (Low lunge pose)
By Briana Jones
Props: Even, firm floor , yoga mat
Practice: Begin in a standing kneel, with your hips aligned
over your knees. Take a moment to ground yourself with a few
deep breaths. On an exhalation, step your right foot forward to a
low lunge, using your hands lightly against the floor on either
side of your right foot for balance. Check to see that your right
knee is directly over your right ankle. If you feel steady, lift your
torso up and place your hands on your right thigh. Breathe here,
again feeling a sense of grounding in the lower body. Imagine a
center line running through your body and engage your inner
thigh muscles towards this center line, allowing this subtle
movement to create a lift in the torso, and a downward tilt in the
tailbone. Keep your pelvis level to protect your lower back. With
a sense of lightening, allow the heart center to lift gently up-
wards, looking up if this feels alright. You may remain here, al-
lowing soft and steady breath and flowering your being upwards.
If you would like to move into the final variation of the pose,
open your arms wide on an inhalation and lift them overhead,
bringing the hands
together in a pray-
er mudra. Allow
the heart to lift
even more, mov-
ing you into a
slight back-
bend with the gaze
upward towards
the heavens.
Breath and enjoy
the bliss of this
creative and uplift-
ing posture. When
you are ready to
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 5
Letter to a Devotee Dear ____________,
Oftentimes I do not think we acknowledge what a powerful
thing food is in our lives.
For many of us these past couple of thousand years has been
rough; deprivation and starvation has not been unusual. Whether
unresolved issues of food have been passed down to us through
our own previous experience, through intergenerational family
ties, or the influence of generalized world consciousness, we are
all the recipients of what has gone on before and the world into
which we have been born. And now, it is our duty to change un-
healthy patterns to positive ones that produce perfect health.
Rather than try to hide out of control eating in a closet of se-
crecy, we should bring it into the light and acknowledge eating
patterns as part of our sadhana, our journey of self-mastery. Eve-
ry soul has their field of battle, and with many that includes the
mealtime skirmishes of the fork and plate.
Pray deeply to God to help you find balance in your eating,
giving sincere thanks for every meal. It has been written that the
yogi ends his meal with his stomach half full of food, one quarter
full of liquid and one quarter full of air. You then get up from the
dinner table feeling light but satiated. Make a clear declaration
that you are master over food and appetite, not the other way
around!
One other note, as Hippocrates (460-370 B.C. and known as
the “Father of Western Medicine”) said so many thousands of
years ago: “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Eat those foods in quantities that are known for producing good
health, and avoid those foods that produce illness and discom-
fort. It is a simple statement, but if followed more rigorously
many, many lives would be vastly improved.
May you be graced in your journey of self-mastery through
your relationship to food and eating!
Page 6 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
The Ascension An Excerpt from a Talk Given by
The Reverend Mother, Yogacharya M. Hamilton
in Seattle on April 22, 1981
[Bible reading is Ephesians, Chapter 4, Verses 1-16]
The Mystical Crucifixion and Resurrection
I want to talk to you evening about “The Ascension.” On Sun-
day, we talked about the subject “He is Arisen.” Jesus had been
through the tremendous spiritual experience where, all of a sud-
den, the ego was being put to death, and he had descended into
the hell or the subconsciousness of his own being. He had been
made to go through every experience of life and face all of the
things that had happened as he had been Jesus, the son of man,
even as each and every one of us must do. There must be the
confession of sins, the repentance for sins, the paying for sins—
the sin of separation from God because we have not thought of
Him as being one with us, being ourselves. And that we are eve-
ry moment of our lives. This idea of separation must go.
Having risen on the third day, or after the third experience
which he had gone through—where the consciousness is ready
to be released from the third bodily jar—then it is said that he
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 31
Memories of Mother
This is a prayer of Mother’s which she encouraged us to use
when we had problems. She gave me this handwritten copy one
time when I was dealing with a lot of family concerns. – Cate
Page 30 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
“Oh, please come in,” Master said trying to suppress his
laughter. I clambered into his room. Turning to the window, I
found that the man behind me had run away. “Fine fellow,” I
grumbled.
I found the Master searching for something. “I hope you don’t
mind. But I’m a little busy,” he said sweetly. “Are you looking
for something? Can I help you?” I asked eagerly. “Yes, if you
like. I’m looking for a book. It isn’t on this rack, perhaps it’s
over there,” he said pointing to a book-rack near me.
He told me the name of the book and elated at this opportunity
to do some Guru-seva, I started to search. Hardly had I read the
names of the first three to four books, when I realised that I’d
forgotten the name of the book that I was supposed to look for.
“Found it?” asked the Master when I looked towards him. “No.
Could you tell me the name again?” I asked him and he repeated
the name saying that it was probably in the first two shelves.
Going back to the rack I was startled to find that the same
thing happened again. “It isn’t there? Well don’t bother. I’ll find
it,” Master said coming towards the rack.
“Oh no! Please let me find it,” I said hastily and asked him for
the name yet again. This time I kept chanting it mentally like a
mantra so that I would not forget it (it was a simple name really.)
But to my bewilderment I found that my mind soon went
blank—even before I reached the shelf. When I turned to look at
the Master helplessly, I found that he was looking at me keenly
from the corner of his eyes with a mischievous smile on his face.
Seeing my helplessness he then turned to look at me with his
eyes overflowing with compassion as I realised with a start that
he was the one who was responsible for my sudden bouts of am-
nesia. I’d had the egoistic feeling that I could be of service to
him. He made me realise that as long as the egoistic feeling that I
could or could not do something persisted, I could never do any
Guru-seva. In order for me to be used as His instrument, the feel-
ing of ‘I’, the ego had to leave so that He could take over. With
that the dream ended and that wonderful, wonderful face was
forever imprinted in my heart. Hari Om!
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 7
rose from the dead, that he met his disciples, the sepulcher
(which is the heart center) was opened and he came forth and
they knew him not, because he was filled with light, with radi-
ance, with glory. They met him on the road and they knew him
not. But finally he convinced that indeed it was he, and he even
said to Thomas, who doubted, he asked him to see his hands and
his feet where the nails had been in, the place where he had been
pierced in the side. All of this is symbolic, because he had also
worn a crown of thorns on his head, you will remember, that
pierced him.
The Kundalini Force
All of you who have begun to go through this spiritual experi-
ence have had the experience of having the Kundalini force rise
in the spine. You know that it causes a great deal of heat. Some-
times it is like a burning fire inside of you. Then there is a prick-
ly sensation in the brain; the brain is constantly expanding to re-
ceive the increased consciousness of God. All of these things
you have done. You have been nailed to your own cross by the
two thieves, the forces of good and evil within yourself. Finally,
you have arisen wherein you have given up the ghost; now you
begin to be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. You give
this power to your 12 disciples, or 11 which are left because Ju-
das betrayed the Christ. You give this power of the Holy Ghost
to all these powers within yourself, because indeed that is the
true meaning of it. The whole world exists inside of yourself.
It is said that Jesus supped with them, he drank with them, he
gave them his blessings, he told them to go out and preach the
Gospel, or put God’s spell upon the people, and then he gradual-
ly ascended into the heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Now,
the ascension, just like the descension into hell, does not occur in
one day. He is just newly risen, newly born as the Christ, and he
must go through three more experiences that are vital, but
they’re very, very subtle because they have to do with the
memory of those things which the senses enjoyed while it was in
the state of human consciousness. And they are so subtle some-
times that you have difficulty in dealing with them, but go
through them you must.
Page 8 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Not Yet Fully Risen
So there is a gradual ascent into the heaven of your own being.
You must realize that you are not yet risen all the way to God,
yet. You have not yet experienced the kingdom of heaven, and
that’s quite a journey, too. Until you go over the top, go through
that sixth center into the seventh day, then you cannot have the
fullness of God within yourself. You cannot rise above all duali-
ty into that which is the nothingness and the everythingness of
God. You have a great deal of difficulty returning back to earth
or into the conscious field of being, after you have been through
this crucifixion and have arisen from the dead. It is a very diffi-
cult thing to do. The tendency, you see, is to stay in that high
state, to maintain the bliss which has come to you. You have
been taken out of this world into a totally different world and
now you’re going to have to descend down into this world of
matter again, working with people (and particularly with your-
self in the beginning) that are still engrossed in the kingdom of
the five senses. You have paid the full price under the law; you
have risen above it. And yet you are not totally risen. Jesus
makes that remark. He said, “Touch me not for I am not yet fully
risen.” Remember that.
Mother Experienced the State of Death
And so it is that you go through all of these experiences—the
ascension—until in truth you open the gate to heaven within
your own being and become one with your Father. It takes perse-
verance, it takes prayer, it takes meditation. You gradually come
to realize that you have experienced the state of death. I have
told you how that came to me as a tremendous shock that sent
the cold chills up and down my back when, all of a sudden, I re-
alized one day that this body had actually died, been through the
state of death, and had arisen. That’s why people were shying
away from me because they could feel this death state. People
always shy away from a corpse, it seems. Even though I was
able to still move and breathe and have my being, this aura of
death was still around me, and I had to work out of that. There
was total paralysis of the nervous system which was the rigor
mortis that set in later.
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 29
me was that I should be more humble, receptive and not be
judgemental. Point noted, Mother but I need your blessings for
this too!!
A Dream of Yogananda
I had this vivid dream of Swami Yogananda (whom I’ll refer
to as ‘Master’ like you all do.) Some years ago I was sitting in a
hall on the ground floor, along with some others who were all
sitting on the floor—some were meditating and the rest were
simply waiting when a voice announced that the Master was
busy and so was unable to come and that they would play a talk
of his instead. I was not interested in listening to a recording
when the real person was around and so I thought I could try my
luck by hanging around in the courtyard—maybe I could catch a
glimpse of Master as he went about his work. I headed towards
the building behind the hall and looked at the window (I think it
was the 2nd floor), which was his study room. I found that the
window had no glass in it and there was a big ladder which end-
ed just there. “The person who is going to change that glass is
surely luckier than me since he can have Master’s darshan,” I
thought wistfully.
Aren’t you going up?” asked a man who suddenly appeared
beside me. “Certainly not. It isn’t allowed,” I said. “But why
not?” he asked. “I’ll get into trouble and moreover, Master may
also get angry with me,” I replied. “Nothing of the sort. He
won’t be angry. I have done this quite often. Go ahead,” he
urged me. Looking at the tall ladder, I was a little nervous.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you. Go ahead and climb,” he
said.
I climbed up and peeped into the room timidly. Master was
sitting at his table. “Go on, climb in,” the man behind me said.
By then, the Master noticed me and walked up to the window.
He had a look of surprise and amusement on his face (as if to say
‘Oh, if I lock the door, I have ladies climbing in through the win-
dow. What next!’)
Page 28 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Dreams of the Masters These beautiful and instructive super-conscious dreams were related to me
by an Anandashram devotee and later written down for me. I received per-
mission to publish them but the devotee wished to remain anonymous. – C.K.
A Dream of Mother
This is a vivid dream of Mother [Hamilton] which occurred
some years ago. I was standing on the veranda of Swamiji’s
[Satchidananda] room along with a couple of other devotees.
The door and windows were all open and we could see what was
going on inside his room. Swamiji was seated on his wheelchair
facing the Centenary Hall and standing in front of him, facing
him was this lady with light hair and western clothes. She was
bending over him and talking to him as he was a little hard of
hearing. They had a short conversation which ended with Swa-
miji folding his hands in pranaam.
What happened next took me by surprise. She placed her right
hand in blessing over Swamiji’s head! I was completely shocked
and wondered, “Oh my God! Who does she think she is to bless
Swamiji!” I mistook her for a blundering westerner. In the
meantime, she straightened up and turned towards me as she
headed for the door. It was then that I realised she was Mother
Hamilton! I was totally confused and stared at her in stunned
disbelief—how and from where did she come? I was told that
she had dropped the body years ago and here she was looking so
radiant, vibrant and healthy.
As I stood staring at her in utter disbelief, she emerged from
the room and approached me. While the other two persons next
to me folded their hands in pranaam with bent heads, I contin-
ued to gape at her in astonishment. “Will she put her hand on
my head and bless me like she did to Swamiji?” I wondered
wistfully. Giving me an exasperated look of a much harassed
mother of a naughty child, she scolded me. “How can I bless
you if you won’t bend?” In a hurried attempt to bend my head
and do pranaam I woke up.
When I pondered over her statement I realised that she wasn’t
asking me to bend my head physically. What she wanted from
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 9
It’s a very, very difficult state to go into, to come out of, and
gradually to rise, but you can do it. You can do it through love of
God because through the experiences which you have had, you
have attained such a love for God that He fills your whole being,
every part of you, and you feel the bliss of His Infinite Presence.
You gradually feel the light which is coming into you, the uplift-
ment, the purity. But it takes a long time—three separate days or
three separate periods of time again, before you come to that fi-
nal conclusion where you can truly say, “I and my Father are
one. Blessed Spirit, I am He.”
Temptation Can Still Come
We are still prone to be drawn back down, and it has been said
by the masters of the East that until we reach that final state and
have gone over the top that there is always the chance of falling,
of being tempted. The reason that you are tempted is because
you still have a remembrance of the things that you enjoyed in
the senses. You may even fall once or twice, but Master told of a
great saint who had been tempted and who had fallen, but he said
God was all merciful and the man repented and again he was lift-
ed up and finally he attained his complete God-realization, his
realization of God within himself. This didn’t make him differ-
ent in any way in outer appearance, and the fact that he still had
to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to feel. It didn’t make any dif-
ference that he still had to wear clothes and go about the world
and to eat and to take his place in life. Rather, it made him a spe-
cial person, master over himself.…
Three Separate “Days” to Ascend to the Father
…Gradually, as you ascend into the kingdom of heaven within
your own being, as you go through this crucifixion experience,
as you are interred in the sepulcher of your own heart, as you
rise from the dead, and then the graves open inside of yourself
and all those that were killed with the Christ rise up, all of these
that have been dead with the savior who has been killed on your
own cross, arise from the dead and then you start the ascension
into heaven. Just as it has taken three days, or three separate pe-
riods of time, in order to take care of this, then also it takes three
Page 10 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
days or three separate periods of time to ascend into the heaven
of your own being. When you make the effort to do that, if you
will only use the techniques that have been taught to you; if you
will only put God first and foremost in your life and in your
mind, and in your heart, and do everything to serve Him, not
yourself, then you will find that many of your troubles vanish
and you will never be the same again.
Becoming the Master of Yourself
This world is a world of duality, and you will never have uto-
pia here, on the outside. There will always be things to face.
There will be problems to overcome. There will be dissension on
the outside, but the important part is that you have got yourself
together in one piece, that you have faced yourself and that you
are willing to admit your own weaknesses, your own failings and
not to blame them on somebody else. That must be done if you
are to rise out of the dead into the great light of God within your-
self. Until you realize that finally, at long last, you have become
the master, not of other people, but of yourself. And that is why
people call many people “masters.” Of course, in the Christian
world, the Christians believe only in one master. But the Christ
himself didn’t say that. He said no disciple can become greater
than the master, but the disciple, if he measures up, can become
as great as the master. As we have said many times, quoting him,
“All of these works that I do ye may do also, and even greater
works than these that I do ye may do.…”
Liberation—It is Worth It
…This is what we are beginning and every single soul here
and all that we can gather to us is needed in order to accomplish
this great purpose. I can work myself to death, but I can’t do it
all alone. I’m only one person, and it is through God’s grace that
I am able to do whatever I do, even as it is His grace that you do
whatever you are able to do. But every moment my heart is with
Him. Every moment I am listening inside, “What do you want
me to do next, Lord? What shall I think? What shall I say? How
shall I handle this?” And sometimes I don’t even need to stop
and think because this body, this mind, this soul belongs so com-
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 27
incarnated for you alone.” The thought of that love overwhelmed
me and I wept tears of gratitude for Mother.
I also began to become more and more aware of Papa’s
Purushottama aspect—“Lord of the Universe Papa.” Whether it
was gazing into the eyes of Papa’s picture in his room in the
Bhajan Hall, thinking of Mataji as I did pradakshina in the Sa-
madhi Mandir, precious meditation times in Swamij’s room,
pronamming to Mother’s picture in the canteen, or writing to and
speaking about Davidji, the immensity of their Beings expanded
my heart. I also felt so thankful for this amazing ashram, this
place where people from all over the world come and are in-
spired, where Mother underwent her spiritual experiences, and
where we have received so very much. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram.
Ashram inmate Mukta, and Sw. Maitreyi & Gargi from Brindaban.
Papa, Mataji and Mother at Anandashram in 1957
Page 26 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Our Beloved Anandashram By Cate Koler
One can look forward to a pilgrimage but one never knows
what it will be like, what the focus will be. For years I went to
Anandashram mostly to see Swami Satchidananda; subsequent
visits I mourned his absence. What would this one be like?
Initially there was the wonderful homecoming, as always, the
rekindling of friendships—with ashram inmates and visitors who
I “happen” to see again and again. Swami Muktananda was only
there for the first week of our stay; I missed him when he left
and then Larry departed too. I settled
into my sadhana schedule. At one point I
began to work on a particular sadhana,
noting in my diary when I saw a particu-
lar fault in myself.
But it was not destined to last. Not be-
cause I became faultless but because
God had me focus elsewhere. I noticed
that I only wanted to write in my diary
about gratitude, about joy, about grace,
about fellowship, about heart-expanding
love. “A devotee should think this way,”
Swami Maitreyi told me, “your guru has
Inmates or visitors, from East or West, Anandashram is home to all.
Sw. Muktananda reading
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 11
pletely to Him that it just flows through. He just uses it in what-
ever way He wants to. Then I stand there afterwards sometimes
wondering how that happened. What came out of my mouth
wasn’t what I would have meant to say or what I had decided to
say or anything about it. It was taken away from me. In other
words, I was lifted up. I was used for God’s own purpose. We
aren’t just here to cater to ourselves and our own egos. We’re put
here for His purpose. We are put here to manifest His light and
His love and His power and His intelligence in the highest way
possible.
Sure, it’s difficult to get there, but isn’t it worth it? Would you
rather carry a burden on your back all the rest of your life and
always be caught in between these two forces, never once being
free to be yourself, to succeed in rising above all of these trials
and troubles and tribulations? Believe me, it is worth the effort.
Regardless of how long it takes you, eventually you are free.
And when you have once been liberated, when you have once
risen up, you are liberated then from this world. You can go on
to higher and higher worlds until you reach the light world, then
you are absorbed into that Source of all life which is God Him-
self, which existed even before a word was spoken, which is
pure and absolute Spirit and is beyond anything that you can use
to describe it. You have to experience that.…
Seek Him First
…If all of us could be that how wonderful it would be. We
would get away from fear. We would get away from always
worrying about where our next day’s meal was coming from and
what we’re going to do about this debt or that debt or the other
debt because God would take care of the whole thing, and He
does. If you seek Him first and His kingdom of heaven, then and
then alone all the other things are added unto you. But every-
body wants to do it backwards. “Lord, you give me this and then
I will do that for you.” And when He does give it to us, before
we have done what He has asked us, we forget our promises to
Him and we think, “Well, I’ve got it now. I’ve got it made. I’ll
go out and do the same thing again, and who’s going to know the
Page 12 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
difference.” But who does know the difference? God, because
He is your very Self, and whatever you do, whatever you think,
whatever you say is known to Him because He lives inside of
you. He is that Great Spirit; that life force within you; that Su-
preme One who is wearing this body that you call your own and
you feel separated from Him? No way are you separated from
Him. He is your Real Self.
Be the Example for the World
So from now on realize that. Make the supreme effort. I’d like
to see the face of every single one who comes into this congre-
gation filled with the light of God. I want to see each one loving
one another, serving one another and to a great sense, that is now
being done. But let us do it even more until we become the ex-
ample for a world, no matter what happens to us, what persecu-
tion we have to go through. And we may well get into it, and we
may well have a war, because there are people who will hate us.
The dark forces always hate the Light. They try to destroy it be-
cause it threatens them. But love God so much that it doesn’t
make any difference to you, that you’re willing to lay down your
life for Him, which is His anyway, in order to change this world
from the darkness that it now is in, into a place of peace and
wonder and glory and beauty.
We are the pioneers. Let’s make a good start and build a firm
foundation. Let us be the examples for a world. Not in pride, not
thinking that we’re better than anyone else, but just the love of
God. And the glory and the wonder and the beauty and the bliss
of what comes to us will be payment such as you have never
dreamed about. It will be poured upon you until sometimes that
bliss comes to you so greatly that you can scarcely stand to hold
it within yourself. I know for I’ve been there. Believe me.
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
he with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
– Rev. George Duffeld
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 25
time of greatest duress Papa came into Mother’s room in the L
Building and said, “This is what it takes to kill an ego.”
Mother lost weight, she suffered through a throat fungus,
doubts assailed her and all that she had gained spiritually seemed
to avail her not at all. She came to distrust Papa as she knew that
he was responsible for these expe-
riences. It all started from her asso-
ciation with this great Godman.
Mother voiced her doubts about
him, telling others that Papa was
the devil. This was the extent of her
experiences at that time.
Salvation
These doubts lasted for two years and finally God relieved her
mind and she found that the result of the ordeal was that she
stood on firmer spiritual ground than she had ever experienced
before. She had come to know God more fully through inner di-
rect experience. He was the only refuge in the end and ultimately
more substantial than any ephemeral foundation of before.
Mother’s presence in the years that I knew her was very male
in some ways and I know that it’s because this is the aspect of
God that had saved her and that she had come to know intimate-
ly. I knew Mother to be a tower of strength. Her guidance was
sure and wise. She had been to the mountaintop and returned to
tell us all that: “God is Life and Life is God.” So get on with it.
Anandashram as viewed from the East (Google Earth)
Page 24 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Anandashram, A Dangerous Place By Rev. Larry Koler
Warning:
Before you set foot on
the grounds of this ash-
ram it would be wise to
make sure that you are
ready to be changed. If
you like things as they
are in your life then give
some consideration to
the likelihood that you will be changed forever after visiting this
seemingly calm and serene place.
This site is a tirtha which is a “spiritual crossing where the riv-
er of this earthly life may be safely forded to the far shore of im-
mortality” or alternatively, “‘a ford, a shallow part of a body of
water that may be easily crossed.’ [It] has come to connote plac-
es of pilgrimage associated with sacred water.” [Wikipedia]
When Mother Hamilton first went to Anandashram in 1957
and upon seeing Papa there to greet her, she “came to Papa al-
most in ecstasy, took his arm in hers, asked him how he was, and
expressed how happy she was to be here.” [Gospel of Swami
Ramdas, Section 560]
This is what it takes to kill an ego
It is certain that her soul was prepared for the experiences that
she would have there in the next few months. Mother knew that
she had personally gone through many deep and arduous spiritu-
al experiences in America that were given to her by her great
guru, Paramhansa Yogananda. She had attained the state of Nir-
vikalpa Samadhi in 1954 and soon after met Papa. She wanted
confirmation of this fact and Swami Satchidananda recounts that
Mother asked Papa about her attainment but Papa demurred. Lat-
er in early 1958, she learned why: God had brought her to India,
to Anandashram, to Papa for a further trial and further steps that
took her through a universal mystical crucifixion. During her
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 13
Easter Awakening By Paramhansa Yogananda
The little wavelet of Christ Life played helpfully over the
bosom of the Cosmic Life for a while, and then it vanished
within the ocean’s tenderness, not to die, but to be fed with
eternal Ambrosia, and to come back again to declare the im-
mortality of its tiny existence. The ocean of God throbbed
once more in the resurrected Prince Jesus.
Flowers fade never to return, but Jesus only slept to obey
the sweet command of Nature, and woke again to declare
His mastery over Her.
Jesus has silenced the laughter of unbelieving eyes and
the audacious poetic assertion that no traveler has ever re-
turned from death’s bourne, by coming back from the place
from which no one ever returned before.
With the return of Jesus to this mundane domain, a hope
was resurrected in the hearts of a thousand million mor-
tals—the hope that they, too, could wipe away the sting of
death from their breasts of everlastingness.
Christ hid Himself again to show that He could not only
resurrect His eternalness in the body of Jesus, but also in
every blossom, and in every living Being that would ever
smile in the garden of Creation through endless eons.
Christ was resurrected not only on Easter Morn, but He
reanimates Himself in the dawn of each Soul’s awakening.
Our Souls die every day, whenever we are buried in the
tomb of ignorance, and we resurrect ourselves again in Cos-
mic Wisdom.
Banish the death-consciousness perceived during the
sleep of delusion, and resurrect your Soul in the ever-
reigning Light of Immortality. Let this be your Easter
Awakening.
Page 14 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Rajasi Janakananda By Rick Bohr
This is a condensed version. Read the whole article on the website.
David asked me to “write an arti-
cle for the journal about Rajasi
[original spelling that Master
used] and the effect he has had on
you as an aspirant and business
man.” This request was a result of
comments I had made to David as
I was part way through my second reading of the book Rajarsi
Janakananda: a Great Western Yogi. My first reading, which
had a major impact on my path at the time and has benefitted me
greatly ever since, was more than 10 years ago.
One day, Peter offered to loan me his book about a man who
had been a close disciple of Master. He said it was a pretty easy,
interesting read and he thought I would enjoy it. OH MY GOSH!
By the time I had read only the back cover of the book and the
first several pages I was already thinking, “Maybe it is possible
to advance on this path to being very connected to God and not
have to give up all of the worldly things I always thought I want-
ed. Maybe I can have some of what I had been working toward
since I was in junior high, when my earliest entrepreneurial and
salesmanship efforts had begun.” As a person who had pretty
much framed all of life in the context of business, entrepreneuri-
al ideas and efforts (and money and stuff that goes along with
success in that arena) and wanted to get much more connected to
God, the details about Rajasi were an awesome God-send.
I was so happy to learn about a God-focused, highly spiritually
advanced man who was born in America, like me—and he was a
Caucasian, like me—and he was entrepreneurial and had an ad-
venturous approach to business—like me. And he had a very
substantial degree of material success, which was not like me,
but I had always aspired toward that. He was and is my greatest
example of what is possible regarding a life of material, finan-
cial, business success, combined with leading a highly God-
Master & Rajasi
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 23
The Sacred Mountain—Arunanchula
Arunachala! Thou dost root out the ego of those who meditate
on Thee in the heart, Oh Arunachala.
- Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
An Elixir Unending
Behold the rising summit emerging from the rubble of scat-
tered dreams.
The Light has cast illuminating rays straight to the citadels of
Remembrance.
The Truth reigns, unvanquished, austere in splendor over all!
Behold the beginning, ever pristine and unsullied. In this Light
you are forever enthroned, with everlasting blessings from on
High. Deeper and deeper still the roots hold fast.
I walk with you now, night and day—an elixir unending!
– Received in obeisance by Rebecca Barnowe
Page 22 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
28 Days Around the Hill By Rebecca Harvey
In November, I had the privilege of returning to Ramana Ash-
ram, in Tiruvannamalai, South India. I had been there twice be-
fore, first for a couple of days, then for two weeks. On this third
trip, I determined to devote the entire month to renting a room
near the ashram, and visiting it daily.
To stay in one place, keeping the same routine, alone and quiet
was not an easy time for me. I am used to variety in the week,
lots of activity to engage in, and many comforts to prop myself
up with. It proved both informative and quite unpleasant to be
faced with my self, apart from the usual buffers.
The grounds of Ramana Ashram are very beautiful. The most
outstanding feature is a spacious granite temple housing Sri Ra-
mana’s samadhi mandir. Hundreds of visitors, from India and all
over the world come daily to pay homage to the great saint, and
absorb the grace of his vibration which radiates out to all, with-
out distinction. The backdrop for the ashram is the holy hill of
Arunanchala. The mountain was beloved of the Maharshi. He
lived on its slopes for many years, and declared it to be “the spir-
itual heart of the earth!”
Ramana Maharshi encouraged devotees to walk around the
eight-mile circumference of the hill, a practice believed from
ancient times to be a potent spiritual exercise. Before setting out
on my journey, I pledged to make this walk every morning, as
part of my daily routine. That vow was truly tested as it turned
out to be a record-breaking monsoon season in South India! I
completed 28 walks out of the 30 days I was there, missing two
days on account of blisters caused by walking in wet shoes!
I returned home having had useful insights into my personal
fears and resistances. Above all, I felt a deep well of gratitude
for the abundant blessings which constantly pour out from God,
from each other, and from our beloved Gurus.
Jai Guru!
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 15
focused life that could please God and Gurus.
Here are some examples of details in the book that inspire and
motivate me, regarding his business and academic life—I espe-
cially love this sweet comment from the bio portion:
Conditions at his home were not favorable, so he arose ear-
ly each morning and went to his office to meditate. To insure
that he was not interrupted, he would leave a note on his sec-
retary’s desk, which she would see when she came to work:
“I am in conference. Please do not disturb.” He smiled when
he once said “of course, I never let on that I was ‘in-
conference’ with God.”
As I read about Rajasi I developed a realization as to how in-
strumental he was for carrying out Master’s material dreams.
Here is a quote from Master, about Rajasi:
I asked Divine Mother—I tell you actually, I prayed—for
a saintly businessman who would act as a divine comrade to
serve this work as his own work. Divine Mother consented,
for you had been born for this purpose.
By the time I reached the end of the book it was clear that he
not only supported Master in material ways in America and In-
dia, but he was also held in the very highest regard personally
and as a God-focused man by Master:
You have served as one of the greatest instruments to bring
East and West together, and I have made a place for you in
heaven where you will sit by me and Lahiri Mahasaya.
As David has taught me, it is possible to have a clean, honest,
helpful business with a mind and heart toward service and to
earn a decent or very good income and have some level of com-
fort, fun and pleasure. The fact that Rajasi had achieved a quali-
ty, highly profitable business, while simultaneously being close-
ly connected to Master and being his biggest financial supporter,
has helped me so much.
Rajasi is my mentor in business and regarding my intention
and desire for becoming increasingly connected to God, while
owning and operating a business. If this article has inspired you
to read the book, Carla has some free copies available.
Page 16 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Padre Pio By Travis Raney
Francesco Forgione, was born May 25th, 1887, in Pietrelcina,
Italy. At age 23 he had completed the seven-year studies neces-
sary to become a priest and was ordained. Padre Pio was a
devout disciple of Christ from an early age, and exemplified the
virtues of obedience, humility, and charity. His compassion and
fervent prayers for the poor were so ceaseless that his petitions
were answered by a vision of Jesus. In this vision Jesus appeared
to him with fire emanating forth from the marks of the
crucifixion. This divine fire touched Padre Pio’s hands, feet and
side, along with the unspoken words “I unite you with my
passion.” The marks of the crucifixion would remain for the next
50 years. In addition to the physical pain he bore, the psycholog-
ical difficulties associated with the stigmata would prove to be
an equal burden; a burden he would carry for those he loved so
dearly.
Fr. Charles Mortimer Carty’s biography of Padre Pio* made it
into the list of top three books I have read. And the movie “Padre
Pio—Miracle Man,” is one of the only movies that I liked better
than the book. Produced in Italy, in Italian, with a wonderful cast
of actors, and with the most beautiful landscapes and sound-
tracks, make this my favorite movie of all time, hands down.
The day I graduated as an RN the daily devotional that I re-
ceive from Franciscan Media was entitled “Medicinal Love.”
This was an excerpt from The Joyful Spirit of Padre Pio and
reads as follows: “Lord, when I help someone who is ill, let me
never forget that love is the most important medicine. And when
I am ill, Lord, please send me medical men and women who are
not only wise and skilled but filled with love.”
It is a great mystery to know that God is with us at all times;
whether we feel close to Him or not, He is present within us, as
are the saints who are in Him, cheering us on in our victories and
expressing compassion towards us when we forget who we
really are. * Padre Pio: The Stigmatist by Charles Mortimer Carty published 1992.
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 21
At Anandashram, India
I was very grateful that the Swamis at Anandashram gave their
blessings for a celebration of Mother on her Mahasamadhi Day.
As plans were made more opportunities for her to be honored
were presented until my day was full from morning until evening
in that service—a perfect way for me to keep my mind on my
beloved guru and my heart filled with her divine love.
Early in the morning
of January 31 Moth-
er’s picture (which
usually hangs in the
canteen) was installed
between Papa and
Mataji’s images in the
Bhajan Hall, a beauti-
ful arrangement of
flowers placed before her and her photo garlanded. Devotees
paid their respects during the morning flower offering. Prasad
was distributed in her honor at lunch, in the afternoon to the chil-
dren and workers, and in the evening after the Arati. The cards
we had printed were also handed out. I lit the lamp during the
noontime Arati and led the evening Ramnam session in the Bha-
jan Hall. Two days before, during the afternoon satsang session,
I read a writing of David’s, talked about Mother and answered
questions. Many said that they felt Mother’s presence and
learned more about her life and teachings.
Page 20 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
Mahasamadhi Day Celebrations By Cate Koler
On Camano Island, USA
On January 31, devotees gathered at the home of Yogacharya
David and Carla to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of Mother’s
Mahasamadhi. David gave a talk and then all enjoyed a potluck
lunch. Here is an excerpt from a post by Davidji:
…What stands out most for me from the day is the
feeling of Mother’s presence; her thoughts and her love
pervading the Service and the day. I had the thought that
I should say something about Mother’s place in history
and her role in the evolution of world-consciousness, but
in the moment that seems distant compared to her loving
intimate divine presence, the cherished merging of Guru
and disciple.
This memorial card was given out to devotees here and in India.
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 17
Whoever does not meditate, is like someone who
doesn’t look in the mirror before going out, doesn’t bother
to see if he’s tidy, and may go out dirty without knowing
it. The person who meditates and turns his mind to God,
who is the mirror of the soul, seeks to know his faults,
tries to correct them, moderates his impulses, and puts his
conscience in order. – St. Padre Pio
Padre Pio - Pencil drawing by Travis Raney, 2015
Page 18 The Cross and The Lotus Journal
25th Anniversary
of Mother’s Mahasamadhi January 31, 1991—January 31, 2016
Dearest Mother,
You left the body 25 years ago but live forever in our hearts!
The Cross and The Lotus Journal Page 19
The Cross and The Lotus
Uniting East and
West: “All religions
are the story of man’s
evolution from the
human to the divine.”