Dear Friend, “I am ever with those who practice Kriya. I will guide you to the Cosmic Home through your enlarging perceptions.” Lahiri Mahasaya’s immortal promise is engraved on a plaque in the entryway to a meditation mandir dedicated to the great master. Lahiri’s words remind all who enter to open themselves in loving self-offering to receive the blessings endlessly … Read More
Autumn is a time of change: the leaves fall from the trees and the weather signals a time of transformation for nature, animals, and people. With the energetic activity of summer behind us, there is now an opportunity—with encourage from nature—to slow down, calm the mind, and go within. As animals prepare for hibernation, you too can take a mini-hibernation … Read More
Nayswamis Jyotish and Devi recently led two consecutive weekend trips to Babaji’s cave in India. Despite physical challenges some of pilgrims were experiencing at the time, the climb up to the cave went smoothly and many of the pilgrims said that they felt blessed and changed by Babaji afterward. Jyotish and Devi are now in Pune, India giving retreats.
The recent anniversary of Swami Kriyananda meeting Paramhansa Yogananda caused me to pause and reflect on my own, vastly insignificant by comparison, spiritual anniversary. In August, 1981, I found myself walking swiftly down a steep dirt path, rudely bypassing others in order to be the first in line to arrive at Swamiji’s residence. During that period, he hosted weekend teas … Read More
Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi recorded a short video message in honor of Diwali, a major holiday in India, which represents the victory of light over darkness. Watch the video
When I was first embarking on Yogananda’s path about 10 years ago, I was thrilled to be given such effective techniques to relax the body and calm the mind. The energization exercises were of particular interest to me and I dove into them with great earnestness. Having received the lessons through the mail with no personal training, I did my … Read More
Strive always to develop a personality that is derived from living in the continuous consciousness of God. Any other personality will bring disenchantment in its wake because all human expressions have their limitations.
Where your own work is concerned, remember that Maya (delusion) will always try to trick you into seeking self-gratification by ego-affirming means. The way to defeat Maya’s ego-narrowing argument is to remind yourself constantly that happiness and fulfillment come through self-expansion.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that “the heart is to love, the mind is to think of God, and the hands are to serve with humility.” To spiritualize daily life, we need to find a way to bring these three elements—heart, hands, and mind—into everything we do.
Although healings and miracles are certainly wonderful, and are indeed signs of God’s presence, His withholding of such gifts does not mean His love is not there. As Paramhansa Yogananda taught, “Sometimes God works through misdiagnosis, when it is your time.”
