The cedar beams framing the large, picture window were old and rough, filled with tiny holes and cracks. As I began to apply a wood stain to seal the beams, I could see that many coats would be needed to make them look finished. Standing high on a scaffold, I dipped my brush in the can of stain and began.
What led up to this moment was this: One morning in about 1972, Swamiji entered the dining room at the Meditation Retreat, and asked those of us finishing breakfast, “Is anyone free to help me paint the inside of my new dome?”
The Ananda construction crew had just completed his home. Although some finishing work such as interior painting was still needed, Swamiji was eager to move in. A group of us happily volunteered and drove over to Crystal Hermitage, ready to begin.
This launched one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. It was about ten o’clock in the morning when each of us started our painting tasks, with Swamiji working alongside us. I chose to stain the beams framing the windows.
Though the building was new, the carpenters had chosen to use a rough cedar wood for some of the dome’s trim. After a few hours of work, Swamiji said, “Let’s take a break for lunch, and then come back and do some more.”
The real magic began to happen after the lunch break. I climbed back up onto the scaffolding, and continued to stain and restain the rustic beams. Glancing at the clock as we started up after lunch, I saw that the time was a little after one p.m.
Being focused on our painting, we were oblivious to the passing of time. We painted and stained, and rather than feeling tired, we were increasingly joyful to be helping Swamiji. Finally he said with his usual magnetic enthusiasm, “Well, everyone, let’s call it a day.”
We were surprised to see that since it was dark outside now, time must have gotten away from us. Again I glanced at the clock, and to my amazement it wasn’t evening, but two a.m.! We had been so concentrated on what we were doing that we were totally unaware that more than twelve hours had passed.
I think Swamiji blessed us that day with the experience of a deep, prolonged state of concentration. That was probably how he approached everything he did, but for us it was a revelation to see how a sense of timelessness accompanied our absorbed concentration.
For time and space are not real in themselves, but are divisions that belong to the realm of maya, or duality. In fact, the Sanskrit word “maya” means just that: “the measurer.” With a deeply concentrated mind, we can enter the state of superconsciousness, which transcends such dualities. I believe that is what happened as we painted Swamiji’s dome that day.
Kriyanandaji often spoke of the importance of bringing “keen, alert attention” to everything that we do. The next step is deeply to focus our attention not only on what we’re doing outwardly, but inwardly on God. This is essential for deeper meditation and spiritual awakening.
Paramhansa Yogananda said, “The minutes are more important than the years. If you fill the minutes of your life with thoughts of God, you will find the years of your life automatically saturated with the consciousness of God.
“Never think of tomorrow. Take care of today and all the tomorrows will be taken care of. Do not wait until tomorrow to meditate. Do not wait until tomorrow to be good. Be good now. Be calm now. It will be the turning point of your life.”
There lies within us the latent power to focus our mind totally on God or on one of His qualities, such as love, joy, compassion, selflessness. When we do this, the rough exterior of life begins to melt away, and the heavenly gardens of the “Eternal Now” open their gates to us, changing our perspective on reality forever.
Doing, doing, one day done,
Nayaswami Devi
Listen to Devi as she first reads the blog, then expands on its meaning and messages for readers with behind-the-blog commentary. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (7:42):
22 Comments
🙏 So beautiful and inspiring! Thanks Devi
Wonderful, magical story.
Thanks so much, Nayaswami Devi.
Thank you, beautiful
Very intense and a beautiful share🙏💕Thank you💞
Thank you so much. Many blessings.
Beautifully said.❤️
🙏😎❤️🥰😘☺️
Thank you for high lightening the words to bring true Peace and the light of Love which has been so lovingly been given to us by our beloved Paramahansa Yogananda….bringing us enlightenment to Oneness
All the Ascended Masters
the saints of all religions
The masters of India
And through me…
Peace Joy Cheerfulness
Thank-you so much for these inspiring words of wisdom!
Peace and Joy, Love and Light,
IDF
Thank you, Devi! This must have been an amazing experience, and a great lesson in being in God’s time! Blessings, Elaine
Just what I needed to hear Now to help me in my practice. Thank you Devi ! In Joy, Ilse
JAI GURU!!!
Thank you SO much Devi, for sharing this experience! To imagine that almost 12 hours passed while everyone was so deeply concentrated with their task at hand, and no one said, hey, it’s dinner time! Our hearts beat to the rhythm of the Universe, and when we let go and ride that wave, there is no time, just energy directed at what’s before us.
Namaste, Aum Aum and uncountable more, Aums!
As always a joy to read the messages I receive.Thank you .🙏
Great lesson. Don’t wait for tomorrow, do it now, tomorrow will automatically speak itself. Feel Almighty every time, try to meditate now if you want to get the touch of Him.
Thank you very much Respected Deviji.
May Babaji bless us all for our spiritual upliftment.
“Mihaly Csikszentmihályi and others began researching flow after Csikszentmihályi became fascinated by artists who would essentially get lost in their work. Artists, especially painters, got so immersed in their work that they would disregard their need for food, water and even sleep. The theory of flow came about when Csikszentmihályi tried to understand the phenomenon experienced by these artists. Flow research became prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s, with Csikszentmihályi and his colleagues in Italy still at the forefront. Researchers interested in optimal experiences and emphasizing positive experiences, especially in places such as schools and the business world. They also began studying the theory of FLOW at this time. The cognitive science of FLOW has been studied under the rubric of effortless attention..”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)
Live in the present moment.Wonderful message ji.It is always joyful to read your messages
Thank you for sharing. 🙏🏽
I was going to skip my evening meditation because I needed to sleep….there are only 5 hours left before my alarm wakes to go to work. To alleviate my guilt, I decided to read this blog before closing my eyes. The moment I was finished with the read, I jumped out of bed to meditate. Thank you for being a channel for God’s voice.
In this, you quoted Master perfectly: “ Do not wait until tomorrow to meditate. Do not wait until tomorrow to be good. Be good now. Be calm now. It will be the turning point of your life.”
Wow! You must have written it for me…
Thank you for your devotion and love
Hello Devi,
What a pure example of righteous concentration.
“You should transfer your attention ……from mental wanderings to concentration”
I’ve been working on this affirmation from Master for years. It will take some more years to get this one in hand…..
For an every day affirmation, I use, “Are you in your head … or in the moment”?
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you for sharing the inspiring message through this blog.
A useful and helpful reminder
Joy,
Prem
Thank you Devi ji for sharing your experience.Swami ji ‘s presence was magical.
Thanks a lot to take me to the memory lane.