A friend of ours told us that she has always believed in and used the power of prayer. Since childhood, however, her prayers have gradually become simpler and more focused. Now she repeats only a single prayer every day and for every situation: โLord, let Thy will be done.โ This was also the final prayer of Jesus just before his crucifixion. One might call it the ultimate prayer of all great souls.
This prayer provides several profound benefits. For one thing, it allows one truly to follow Yoganandaโs advice to โremain even-minded and cheerful in all circumstances.โ A second, more important benefit is that complete self-offering is the most fertile soil in which deep devotion and faith can grow.
When we are caught in the labyrinth of our ego we see only a very distorted reality, filtered through the lens of our moods, desires, and attachments. The distortions of the mind due to the turbulence of the heart are depicted beautifully in a song, โBoth Sides Now,โ by Joni Mitchell.
Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Iโve looked at clouds that wayBut now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my wayIโve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Itโs cloud illusions I recall
I really donโt know clouds at all
The song goes on to address the themes of love and life in much the same way, with oneโs positive and negative moods distorting perception until the inevitable conclusion is: I really donโt know love at all, and I really donโt know life at all.
Isnโt this everyoneโs dilemmaโclouds get in our way? A blossoming of love, faith, and clarity is the real benefit of the prayer, Let Thy will be done.
โFaith,โ by Nayaswami Jyotish.
Paramhansa Yogananda put it this way: โFaith must be cultivated. It cannot be achieved by mere wishful thinking. If you throw yourself off a mountaintop with the affirmation, โGod will protect me,โ just see if He does! He expects you to use the common sense He has given you.
โHe will take care of you, surely, if you do your best always, act sensibly, and leave the results in His hands. Faith, however, must be watered by inner experience, like a plant. The more you actually experience the care He takes of you, the more you will come to rely on Himโnot fanatically, but naturally, in the divine way.โ
He also said, โGod doesnโt always answer your prayers in the way that you expect, but, if your faith in Him never wavers, He will grant you far more than you expect.โ
Devi and I embark today on our long journey to Italy and India. There are countless unknowns ahead of us, as there are for everyone, every day. Ultimately, anxiety about the future simply takes away our joy. It make a lot more sense to just relax and say lovingly to Divine Mother, โLet Thy will be done.โ
In the loving arms of God,
Nayaswami Jyotish
Listen to Jyotish as he reads the blog, then expands on it, often adding special behind-the-inspiration stories and answers to common spiritual questions. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (8:55):
29 Comments
Relax produce invisible power and the way of reach the god .
Beautiful! Just what I needed to hear! Thank you and have a fantastic trip!
Thank you! Namaste
Let thy will be done.
Aum Guru
Let thy will be done.
Aum Guru
Thank you for this beautifully explained reminder.
Safe travels, and I canโt wait to be in your aura once again!
๐๐โค๏ธ๐
Wonderful reminder for the day. Thank you
Your words are the antidote to so many events happening in my life and around the world.
Thank you for your wisdom. May you and Devi have a very blessed journey. After so long a delay in your travels, you are sure to be greeted with many smiles. In Master’s Love and Light, Nayaswami Prem-Shanti ๐๐น๐
Thank you for these beautiful words!
Thank you …
Thank you …
Thank you …
GOD Bless
I have always loved that song by Joni Mitchell, which I played and sang repeatedly as a teen. Even at that young age, I understood, on a deep level, the duality of life, and how I was swayed by the perpetual ups and downs of the “roller coaster”. It frustrated me no end… thank God I found the spiritual path and the means to “rise above” it all; also, to cultivate the trust that God and Guru take care of everything in our lives. That trust doesn’t come easily or naturally for me… but when I can relax into it, my life is SO much better and happier!
Blessings on your journey! This day and everyday are in His hands and filled with His love. Deep gratitude for you and Devi in this life.
Nothing to comment, except to say, it was nice to read on an early Friday morning in Hawi’i. Mahalo!
Bless you, dear Jyotish.
Beautiful!
Oh this is so beautiful dear Jyotish ๐
So simple you showed how to love God and pray โThy will be doneโ God never forgets anyone and loves everyone. Thank you for teaching such difficult lessons so simply that I can understand them so completely. And teaching how to do our best in taking care of ourselves and knowing that Divine Mother will do the rest . . . as She is in taking care of you and dear Devi๐๐ Have a blessed beautiful time in your wonderful journey ๐
Buon Voyagio great souls. Thank you both for your guidance, mentoring and examples of Divine Discipleship. Thank you for sharing this path with us (again). God and Guru Bless you now and always and help us to remember…”THY WILL BE DONE”. Namaste
Jisah Yu Holem Hand Blom Mi on Piano by Cechinho
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Take my intellect and use
Every powโr as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee..
This inspired song was written in 1990 by Benjamin Tekulu, one of my students at King George VI School in Honiara and was recorded at the SIBC studios in the same year by the KG6 King’s Kids. Sony Pictures paid Benjamin a modest fee for using the song in the 1998 movie “The Thin Red Line”, although obviously the song was not yet in existence in 1943 when the movie was set. Since that time the song has become popular worldwide especially with expatriate Solomon Islanders but the songwriter is largely slated as “unknown” – just thought I would correct that.
The original lyrics in Solomon Islands Pidgin-English (Anglicised spelling for international audience) are:
“Jesus you hol(d)em hand blong me, take-em heart blong me, heart blong me cry out for you
Me no findem any good something long thisfala world, heart blong me cry out for you
Jesus me come long you now (oooh) you take-em me thistime (oooh) (REPEAT)
Papa mi talk thankyou long you, you send-em son blong you, for die, for sin blong me
Whichway (Waswe) you re-ready for him, by-by him he come makey-two time more.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn-gtjR3Plw
Dear Jyotish,
Thank you for this loving and simple way to say goodbye when leaving on this long journey.
And for reminding us that, “A blossoming of love, faith, and clarity is the real benefit of the prayer, Let Thy will be done.”
….. Amen.
Dear friends.
In a simple straightforward way you show me and I am convinced many of your other followers the real truth about believing and trusting in the Almighty Creator of all life in the Universe to guide us in our life journey no.matter what we may encounter . Not easy but to.me there is simply no other choice. Whether you like it or not it’s a decision of the Creator .Respect that always with Love.
blessings to all of you
Have a wonderful trip!
“Let Thy will be done”
Dear Jyotish! I wish you much success in your journey, joy is passed from hand to hand, lectures and positive vibrations of AUM.. In this video of the celebration of the 50th year of Ananda, everything that symbolizes the community of Ananda, joy in the community, chanting and spiritual progress. Many hands create a miracle of joy in the communities of Ananda, which we need in these challenging times in the world..
Watch the beautiful Temple of Light Dedication celebration at Ananda Village, Saturday evening, July 6th, 2019. It begins with a joyful procession, a special blessing for the temple and the world, choir music and a beautiful arati ceremony of celebrating the Light. With Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi and many hundreds of devotees..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE0V6_Cxihc
Let thy will be done
Jai Guru ๐๐๐
Beautiful! Thank you!๐ฆ
Wish you a very relaxed journey and you are safe in the Light of the Divine.
I’m sorry that we cannot meet in Assisi but I hope to see you ad Zoom.
in Joy, Gyandevi.
Beautiful sentiments!
Thank you for the gift of a must direct prayer of the heart!
May your travels be full, safe in the cradle of Master’s infinite arms..
re-affirmrm throughout the day. I enjoyed reading these lines “Ultimately, anxiety about the future simply takes away our joy. It make a lot more sense to just relax and say lovingly to Divine Mother, โLet Thy will be done.โ
We are looking forward to meeting you and Devi Ji soon in India. Safe Travels!
Joy,
Prem
Thank you for sharing ji.beautiful.
With Joy
balaa