Recently, a long-time friend shared with me that they are not doing their spiritual practices; they are without faith, and even losing their belief. This person explained to me that they know what needs to be done but do not have the energy to do it. It saddened me deeply to hear this. The only door open to me was … Read More
This quotation of Muir captures the essence of his love for the California Sierra Nevada mountain range and passionately attests to the inspiration that enabled him to strive tirelessly to preserve their beauty. As I read these words colorfully painted on a bench alongside the forest path at our Meditation Retreat, I was immediately struck by their powerful relevance to … Read More
A lot of people decide to learn meditation but far too many do not stick with it nor decide to make it a practice for life. I suspect that to these individuals meditation seems too much of a labor, an investment of time they don’t think they have, or as some may call it — a selfish pursuit. There are … Read More
Devotion is an essential ingredient of one’s meditation practice. It sparks the initiative to meditate, sustains our practice, inspires depth in our practice, and magnetizes God’s response. I like to think of it as the language of Love between Guru and disciple. Devotion is not a commonly used word in the West but, in fact, we express our devotion in … Read More
Who are you meditating with? This is a very important question because we are very much influenced by the company we keep. Throughout his life, Paramhansa Yogananda always sought out the company of saints. He wanted to be in their presence, treasuring the inspiration that he received through their states of consciousness. When we meditate, we should begin by feeling … Read More
In his poem “Samadhi,” Paramhansa Yogananda ends with these words: “A Tiny Bubble of Laughter, I am become the sea of mirth itself.” One has to wonder at these closing words to a poem that addresses a higher consciousness beyond what most can even imagine. Certainly, joy is a key expression of this exalted state. If asked to characterize the … Read More
The subject of physical pain oftentimes comes up when sharing with people about their meditation practice. While each person’s circumstance is very different, a few simple adjustments to our perspective and attitude can make a big difference. “God, let’s do this together.” Swami Kriyananda wrote the following about overcoming pain: “A few years ago I had been working very hard, … Read More
The following account by Swami Kriyananda holds a number of keys that can turn a fruitless meditation into a joyful experience. Recently I was in Rishikesh, India, where I was meditating and having a period of seclusion. It was a strange time, however. Many people doubt, or even flatly deny, the existence of Satan, but all saints have said that … Read More
“You don’t have to try” played on the speakers as I sat in the dentist’s chair recently. Although in all fairness the song was about not trying to be someone else, it concerned me to hear those words. Because “You don’t have to try” was the repeated refrain of the song, it seemed to me that these words would be the ones to stick in the mind of the listener and possibly exert a negative influence. I thought to myself how important it is to try—even to try very hard.
I grew up in the Los Angeles region, Pacific Palisades specifically. I wanted to learn to meditate while in college at Lewis & Clark in Portland, Oregon in 1976. I was directed to Ananda as a legitimate place to learn how to meditate. People at Ananda, I was told, meditated as a way of life, fully integrating it into daily … Read More
