We feel inadequate when we start comparing ourselves to others. Comparing ourselves to others can detriment our growth instead of helping. We must understand that every person is unique and it’s important to accept oneself for who we are and be happy with it. Nayaswami Jyotish shares a wonderful story to illustrate how our imperfections too can be a blessing.
Can I Overcome My Karma?
If all the windows of a room have been closed and the light shut out for a hundred years, and then, one day, suddenly the light is allowed to enter, there will no longer be any darkness, of course. Obviously, therefore, we cannot say that it will take one hundred years to bring light into the room just because the … Read More
Why Doesn’t God Stop Wars?
The nations of the world create war or desist from it, according to their understanding and the quality of their civilizations. War among nations shows that civilization is imperfect and that various nations are misusing their free choice by using brute force to solve problems, instead of parliaments of mutual discussion. Since God, as the Creator of the universe, has … Read More
Dealing with Restlessness and Worldly Desires: The Fifth Chakra Challenge
Recently a fellow-disciple asked me, “What should we do when we feel restless, spiritually ‘dry,’ out of tune, or when we feel strongly drawn back into worldly desires?’ I will discuss in this blog what I did when these kinds of feelings first “ambushed” me, and also, what others have done when finding themselves in similar situations. For I believe … Read More
What Is Faith?
The Christian Bible says, “Faith without works is dead.” Faith, or the intuitive experience of all truth, is present in the soul. It gives birth to hope and the desire to achieve, but it also hides behind the wall of ignorance. Many people know almost nothing about the intuitive faith which is latent in the soul, and the secret spring … Read More
Six Strategies for Challenging Times
This article is unique in that it has been drawn from articles published by several authors: Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda, and Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi. Sources are listed at the end of the article.
Life is a Battlefield
Have you ever felt like life kicks you when you’re down? That’s because it does! Humanity is at war between the forces of light and of darkness in the consciousness of man. Swami Kriyananda dedicated an entire chapter of his book The Art & Science of Raja Yoga to this topic: Life is a Battlefield!
Transcending Physical Pain
When we can accept equably whatever suffering comes to us, we are able to remove ourselves from the sphere of pain altogether. Remember these words of my Guru: “Circumstances are neutral. They seem good or bad, happy or sad, depending entirely on our reaction to them.”
Malala: An Example of Boundless Courage
On October 9, 2012, fifteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai was shot in the face at point-blank range by a Taliban gunman in retaliation for her public work on behalf of education for girls. Malala gave all credit for her miraculous survival to the enormous outpouring of prayer from her worldwide family of well-wishers.
