Swami Kriyananda once said, “Self-transformation is the first and foremost thing that has to happen…” Many people wonder, “Is it really possible to change ourselves in a fundamental way? No matter what we do, do we eventually revert to where we started, to our old habit patterns—like the dieter who loses weight and then repeatedly gains all of that weight … Read More
A Tale of an Ancient Monastery
Once upon a time there was a remote monastery in the desert. The temple was carved out of the stone. There were a dozen simple monks who spent their days in prayer and meditation. One evening they were having dinner in silence as usual. Suddenly the silence was shattered with a cry of agony from the head monk. His eyes … Read More
Overcoming Harmful Emotions
Emotions are harmful if they keep us from what we really want. Very often jealousy destroys love. Very often fear destroys the ability to succeed. All emotions in a sense are harmful if they upset the mind. Therefore, what we need to understand is that emotions themselves are upset or ruffled feeling. Feeling is the intuitive part of our nature, … Read More
Live like Yogananda Series: Generosity
We are discussing the chapter on Salient characteristics of Yogananda from Swami Kriyananda’s Biography of Paramhansa Yogananda. We are calling it ‘Live like Yogananda Series’ and will be discussing Generosity today. What Swami writes here is “Master’s generosity extended far beyond mere money or material gifts. It included, also, for example, allowing others to have the last word, deferring to … Read More
Attaining the state of Jeevan Mukta
I bow to that infinite guru, in all forms including your forms because that infinite one, although playing at being a man or a woman; playing at being a certain age; playing at having a certain role in life; it’s all a play. Who you really are; is the infinite Brahman. You are that supreme spirit, dwelling momentarily in this … Read More
Rajarshi Jankananda – A Modern Saint (Part 2)
This week has been a very inspiring week for me, because in the last few days I have been reading from Rajarsri’s life. And I have felt deeply moved not only for what he brought to the world, to the work, to Yogananda’s mission, but for what he brought personally to Yogananda. We know that we are all equal in … Read More
Rajarshi Jankananda – A Modern Saint (Part 1)
There’s a very standard pattern most lives of most Saints kind of take. And it’s that romantic pattern that we all know. What is it? From a very early childhood, they’re already different. They’re already tuning inward. They’re already not interested in many of the things the world has to offer. And then at a very young age, they find … Read More
Ressurection of Sri Yukteshwar
Today we’re honoring Sri Yukteswar’s resurrection and it is an extraordinary event. It’s an extraordinary thing. Why Great Ones come When you think about it, our Guru through the ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ has shared a supernatural experience that no one else has been able to write about; to help us to understand the power and the spiritual greatness of … Read More
O God Beautiful
Today’s topic is one that I have to confess is not my forte perhaps. The title is ‘O God Beautiful’ that I can relate to but we are going to talk about beauty and expressing beauty. Something I can say is since I got married, people who know me started to say “Ah Bara! Now that you are married, suddenly … Read More