The Mystery of Life
Everyone is faced with a long layover at some point or another. One thing I enjoy doing at airports is to find a comfortable place to sit and observe people rushing around. Airports can feel like a microcosm of the human experience, and we can likely see people in every kind of mood going through every kind of situation there. … Read More
Diwali – Bringing the Light into Our Lives
It’s interesting that nearly every spiritual tradition sees God as Divine Light in one way or another. Diwali is one celebration of that Light, which is really in each one of us, and not just ‘out there’ somewhere. Swami Kriyanandaji wrote a ceremony celebrating that Light, called A Festival of Light. While he wasn’t directly addressing Diwali, he was recognizing … Read More
The “Spiritual” and “Social” Celebration of Diwali
Dear Friends, In 1936, right after his return from a year long trip to India, Paramhansa Yogananda had an inspiration to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas in a unique way. On Christmas Eve, he held an eight-hour meditation commemorating what he called “Spiritual Christmas”: He and many of his students meditated deeply and invited the Christ Consciousness to be … Read More
Two Best Friends – Mind and Breath
Bharat and Milind were the best of friends right from early childhood, through teenage years and adulthood. Everyone called them buddies for life. Hand-in-hand they would walk, keeping pace with each other, and just imagine how one of them would feel instantly the other’s moments of pleasure and pain. Their laughter melting into tears of joy would take the two … Read More
Proof of God
We read about God in the various scriptures. We hear of His presence and hear Him praised in the sermons of religious men and saints. We imagine Him behind the veils of beauty in Nature. We think about His existence through the logic within us. But all of these windows through which we try to see God are fitted with … Read More
Shiva, the Great God
In wild and lonely places you may find him even now: Shiva, the Great God. Usually he is absorbed in deep meditation. And you won’t be likely to mistake him for anyone else. His Physical Appearance Well, at first glance he does look something like a beggar. His skin is covered with wood ash. His clothing is poor and skimpy. … Read More
What is the Purpose of Evil?
The following is a written record of the conversation between Yogananda and one of his disciples. “Master,” inquired a disciple, “what purpose does evil serve in God’s creation? Surely the Lord is a God of goodness and love. Is it possible that, as certain modern writers claim, He doesn’t know evil?” Sri Yogananda chuckled. “God would have to be very … Read More
Developing Intuition: Balancing Reason and Feeling
Feminine nature represents feeling; masculine nature, reason. In women, feeling is generally uppermost, and reason, hidden. In men, the opposite is true: reason is generally uppermost, and feeling, hidden. We can bring these qualities into balance within ourselves, as well. This is indeed the ideal condition, and comes about naturally as a person develops spiritually. Calm feeling is intuition. The … Read More