In a vision he had as a boy, Paramhansa Yogananda found himself standing in a crowded, noisy marketplace in an Indian village. The day was hot and dusty, as people crowded into dirty stalls and elbowed out with their purchases.
From time to time, someone would pause and gaze wistfully up at something in the distance behind Master. Then they would turn away with a sad sigh, say, “It’s much too high for me,” and turn back to the press and clamor of the marketplace.
After watching this repeated several times, Yoganandaji turned to see what they’d all been looking at. He found rising behind him a beautiful mountain: tall, serene, and utterly removed from the world of the marketplace. His first thought was like all the others’: “It’s much too high for me.” But then, scorning that thought, he affirmed instead, “It may be too high to ascend with a single leap, but I can at least put one foot in front of the other!”
With great will and determination he set out, and at last he reached the heavenly heights. For Master, this vision symbolized the plight of all humanity, who catch glimpses of a higher reality, but lack the resolve to rise above the material world.
What stops us from starting the “ascent” to greater awareness? Most people are simply engrossed in the marketplace. Others often give up before they begin because they think, “I’m not good enough.” Swami Kriyananda gave us helpful advice in this regard: Anything that makes you feel spiritually inadequate is the influence of Satan, the conscious power of darkness that seeks to keep souls forever bound in delusion. Forget about what you are or aren’t, and remember Yogananda’s oft-repeated words: “A saint is a sinner who never gave up!”
We’re deterred also because we think that the climb will take more energy than we have. Basic to Yoganandaji’s teachings, as practiced in the Energization Exercises, are the concepts of will, energy, and magnetism: “The greater the will, the greater the flow of energy.” And, “The greater the flow of energy, the greater the magnetism.” By using our own willpower, we can draw on the cosmic energy all around us to enhance our own strength. With greater energy, we can magnetically draw everything we need to accomplish our goals. If we put out whatever energy we can, God will match it a hundredfold.
Another attitude that holds us back is the fear of failure. “What if I try, but don’t achieve my goal? Are all my efforts lost?” In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna asks Krishna these very questions. The Lord’s reply brings great reassurance: “O Arjuna, My son! One who performs right actions can never be destroyed. He is reborn on earth in a good and prosperous home. He recovers the yogic discrimination he attained formerly, and sets himself with even greater zeal to achieve final spiritual liberation. The power of former yoga practice is sufficient to impel, as it were, the reborn yogi on his upward path.” (from Ch. 6, 40–44)
“Discipleship,” by Nayaswami Jyotish. Within each of us live deeper-than-conscious memories of higher states of awareness.
What are some factors that motivate us to climb the mountain to Self-realization? First, there is the inherently unfulfilling nature of the material world. Based as it is in duality, this world offers us constantly rotating cycles of pain and pleasure, success and failure, happiness and sorrow. Master spoke of the “anguishing monotony” that, after many lifetimes, comes eventually to us all.
Then we begin to think, “There must be something better that brings true, lasting fulfillment.” This is the prod from below, but there is also the pull from above.
Within each of us live deeper-than-conscious memories of higher states of awareness. We may have had touches of memories, flashes of a time when our soul was free and filled with joy. For in the words of a beautiful song of Swamiji’s, God ever calls to His children:
Listen! Listen!
Whispering within your soul:
Hints of laughter, hints of joy;
Sweet songs of sadness, of quenchless yearning
For the Light,
For My love, your true home.
The choice is before us daily: to remain in the crowded, but spiritually empty, marketplace, or to begin the climb up the mountain to God. Kriyanandaji wrote: “The spiritual path requires courage, dedication, and the absolute conviction that only God can ever satisfy the soul’s yearning for true happiness.” The choice is really not as hard as it seems.
With joy,
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 (9:06):
29 Comments
Truly inspiring 🌷💕🙏
A best encouragement to continue on the PATH.
Thanks Devi ji 🙏
Oh, thank you. A beautiful reminder delivered with great encouragement.
Thank you as always for your great inspirational messages ,I am progressing forward with my self realisation, your insight is always very welcome and well received.🙏
God is truly inspiring each one of us in his own unique ways,Thank you for this Article God ,for I know you stand beside me ….. holding my hand to overcome the worldly obstacles
Thank you for this inspiration article. I read a lot of spiritual articles but your articles are always inspire me in abundance. May you have a long life to be an inspiration to all. Thank you. 🙏🙏🌹🌹
Grazie ,un invito ad elevarci con amore e gratitudine perchè siamo figli della Luce . Immensa gratitudine 7
Inspiring and beautiful reminder! Thank you! 🙏
INSPIRING !
wonderful, thank you, many insights and inspirations. I could not understand “A saint is a sinner who never gave up!”: so could you please explain this more, I thought if a saint gave up then he is a sinner but here it is other way, please help to understand
Dear Sandeep,
Yogananda said that every Master is just like us. They persevered in the spiritual journey to freedom with deep dedication, never getting stuck in mistakes. These incredible souls show us a perfect reflection of our own hidden divine greatness. We need to take it one step at a time, and with our determination and love, we’ll also reach the summit of Self-realization, guided by divine grace.
Deeply grateful! Your words always come at the right time!
Love and blessings to you Nayaswami Devi and you all at Ananda working in the name of God <3
Shanti Peace Amen
Beautiful, helpful, and deeply encouraging and inspiring! in gratitude and love🙏
Thank you.
very very encouraging words ..it seems like my master is guiding me thrugh these words..sometime i feel so low that despite my spiritual practice and my professional dream im nt able to achieve any of them ..bt reading these lines ..i feel better
😊🙏
Thank you 🙏🏼 ❤️
This article is beautifully written and really speaks to me. It perfectly encapsulates the human condition. It also encourages us to keep striving for God, no matter how small our footsteps, and to never give up. .
Thank you. Beautiful, helpful piece.
What a beautifully encouraging, uplifting reading to wake up to this morning! Thank you so much, dearest Devi🙏🏼🕉️💕
Very helpful, realistic and laid down in small steps.
My heart soars up the mountain on the wings of your words of wisdom.
Perceptively powerful persuasion
Dear Nayaswamio Devi Ji,
Thank you for sharing this blog. Encouraging!
It can be applied in every aspect of life – If we put out whatever energy we can, God will match it a hundredfold -. Very useful guideline
Joy,
Prem
Dear Devi ji
Very motivating message. Thank you for guiding us through your wisdom to climb the mountain.
With joy
Balagurusamy
What a lovely way to begin my day. Always thankful.
Yes great reminders! I think the first step is to claim your Divine Inheritance with Jesus words “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, Father and I are one!” And so it is with everyone is the part they left out! So begins your journey to Self Realization! Walk with God and always mindful that we exist in his Omnipresence so even when you are in the market place you can greet all those around as Om, as everyone has the Divine Spark and your knowing will raise the vibration wherever you are! Simply chanting the name of God is a great one and will lead to many great insights!
Thank you for always reminding us to never give up . Blessings and love ❤️ ❤️🙏🏽
I needed this message today as a reminder. Thank you.