All prosperity is measured out to man according to the law of cause and effect, which governs not only this life but all past lives. That is why intelligent people are often born poor or unhealthy, whereas an idiot may be born healthy and wealthy. Men were originally sons of God and made in His image, having free choice and … Read More
Nurture a Stillness of Heart
Baba Hari Dass was a sadhu and spiritual teacher from North India who observed the spiritual discipline of “maun” (complete silence). His was not a life of seclusion but rather one of vigorous activity as an author, builder, and joyful teacher. When circumstances demanded, he communicated with a small chalkboard upon which he scribbled cryptic notes, and though his voice … Read More
The Practice of “Silence is the Altar of Spirit”
Paramhansa Yogananda, and indeed all great saints, lay great emphasis on “practicing” Silence. Swami Kriyanandaji relates the following charming experience with Yoganandaji in his autobiography, The New Path: My first visit to Twenty-Nine Palms was for a weekend. We visited Yogananda at his place. My first recollection of him on that occasion isn’t so much of the things he said, … Read More
Effective Prayer Requires Affirmation, Not Petition
A classic book by Arthur M. Abell, Talks with Great Composers, published in 1955 by Philosophical Library, reports fascinating conversations Abell had with a number of nineteenth-century composers on the question of how they got their inspirations. Johannes Brahms stated that he received his inspirations, always in a prayerful state. During those times of inner upliftment, he said, he felt … Read More
Surrender, When You’re Trying Too Hard
Recently I was meditating and not doing a very good job of it. My mind was wandering, and no matter how often I tried to bring it back into focus, it quickly resumed its wanderings. Plus my body was, shall I say, “not interested” in sitting still. After quite a long time of frustrating reminders, I gave up trying and … Read More
A Fun Experiment for the Technological Yogi
A few years ago, I was being filmed for an advertisement. The clip was a high definition video of me meditating. No problem, I thought, I meditate every day. When the video was released, I was appalled: there was an up-close high definition video of me fidgeting about, instead of meditating! This experience made me wonder two things; one, where … Read More
How to be Happy Always – Part 2: Let Your Body Affirm Your Happiness
Read Part 1: The Search for Happiness Read Part 3: The Role of Gratitude Everything we do in life, and every way in which we behave, affects everything else. Modern way of thinking tends to see situations, objects and people as separate entities which are, to a great degree, isolated from each other. In truth, everything is interconnected in the … Read More
