For more than a year now we have been having online meditations led by monks of Self Realisation Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. These have been God sent during this period of social distancing and lockdowns, when group meditations were suspended.
My guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, has written so much about God as Divine Mother; and has also composed some beautiful chants around God as Divine Mother.
During last Sunday morning meditation we were chanting: Mother I give you my soul call, you canβt remain hidden anymore…and my thoughts went to my mother and I started to cry. I thought if our mother was such pure love, how loving Divine Mother would be. How loving God would be. Guruji has said that if we could see God once, all of us would leave this world and go to Him ππ
We have been so blessed to have had parents like ours. They were poles apart and yet lived lovingly together for 71 years! The only thing they had in common was β Goodness and immense love for their children. And they loved my wife, their daughter in law, equally or more.
Our parents in years – 1937, 54, 78 and 96
Our parents represented God so beautifully: Our father as Heavenly Father β Wisdom; Our mother as Divine Mother β pure Love.
It saddens me no end when I hear of children, who are deprived of this divine parental love and care; which is their birthright. And the worst is to hear so much of child abuse. I hope and pray that no child is ever deprived of the love of his parents. And that we learn to love all children as our own.
When I had published Small Joys Tag with 15 day to day small things which bring me joy, Sujata had mentioned a few small things which bring her joy. I had realised that those things brought me joy too but I hadnβt mentioned those: I had to list 15 things only and my list was hundreds! But more significantly: I think of many such joys with gratefulness. I am grateful for π― things everyday π
And this realisation made me think: how closely related Joy is to our feeling of Gratitude. Once we become grateful for every circumstance, every situation, every happening in our life: we shall always be joyous and at peace. And that this gratitude should not be kept only for big and momentous happenings of our lives, but should be expressed in our day to day blessings. We take so many of our blessings for granted, as our birthright!
Always be Grateful to everyone, everything and every circumstance. That’s what our Holy Books say too:
Every living entity, especially persons in the human race, must feel grateful for the benedictions offered by the grace of the Supreme Lord β Srimad Bhagavatam 3.19.36
If you give thanks, I will give you more; but if you are thankless, My punishment is dire β Quran 14:7
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is Godβs will for you in JesusChristβ Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pic of last October near Toronto. Am Filled with joy and gratitude ππ
HAPPY THANKSGIVING β It is Thanksgiving time in Canada!! Being thankful to God all the time would always keep us happy πππ
Thank you so much for your continued support, encouragement and love π π€π
It was on the 6th of October 1920 , one century ago, that Paramahansa Yogananda had addressed the International Congress of Religious Liberals in Boston, as a delegate from India, and the subject of his talk was – The Science of Religion.
His only desire, as a youth, was to be with his guru, Sri Yukteshwar, and commune with God. But he was chosen by the Masters to spread Kriya Yoga, the scientific method of God realisation, in the west. A very reluctant Swami Yogananda left the shores of Calcutta on 2nd August 1920. He was only 27 years old! One can only imagine the multitude of feelings in his heart as he watched his loved ones fade away from view: apprehension, excitement and aloneness!
Guruji was very insecure about his English but Sri Yukteshwarji (his Guru) had assured him all shall be well! His skill was put to test when he was urged by the captain of the ship to give a talk to his fellow passengers. The topic was – The Battle of Life and How to Fight it! When the captain introduced him to audience, he was stuck mute. He has said that his mind went blank for ten minutes. Some of the audience chuckled. Then the voice of guru came to him: βYou can! Speak!β He did and did a great job of it!
And just a few weeks later he received standing ovation from hundreds of delegates to the International Congress in Boston!!
Paramahansa Yogananda had said: God is one, necessary to all of us, so religion is one, necessary and universal. Only the roads to it may differ in some respects at the beginning. As a matter of fact, it is illogical to say that there are two religions, when there is but one God. There may be more than one denominations or sects under that one universal religion.
And it is that Universal Consciousness that he, and the organisation (Self Realisation Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India) he set up, have been teaching and spreading for π― years. Paramahansa Yogananda was Love Incarnate and that is what his legacy to the world is : Love π
After this memorable day of 6th October 1920, Paramahansa Yogananda traveled length and breadth of USA and many other countries to spread his message of universality of religion and his love for God.
I am truly blessed that I have two of his traits – Love of travel and nature. And even if I can get 1% or less of his consciousness, my life would be worth its while. It is going to happen only with His grace ππ
He wrote, composed and spiritualised about 60 chants. Ever changing and evolving faces of love The last smile – the day he made conscious exit from the body – 7th March 1952 He looked so different every few years that one would have failed to recognise him if seen after some gap. But to me he looks similar in these two pics – when he was 6 & 42! I have these on my study table and are my constant source of inspiration and love.
God is Love. My Guru is Love. Love is all there is ππ
Wake up early β‘οΈ Spiritual Reading β‘οΈ Beautiful Dawn β‘οΈ Fruits β‘οΈ Walk β‘οΈ Bathe β‘οΈ Meditate β‘οΈ Breakfast β‘οΈ Calls β‘οΈ Social Media β‘οΈ Writing β‘οΈ Lunch β‘οΈ Chat with princess β‘οΈ Siesta β‘οΈ Walk β‘οΈ Tea β‘οΈ Meditate β‘οΈ Social Media β‘οΈ Dinner β‘οΈ Chat with princess β‘οΈ Meditate β‘οΈ Sleep
TUESDAY π
WEDNESDAY π
THURSDAY π with Silence and without Chat
FRIDAY π
SATURDAY π
SUNDAY Morning Long Meditation and π
MONDAY π
AM I A ROBOT or what π π
WHAT AM I WAITING FOR π€
It has been going on for months now π and 6 months have passed in the blink of an eye π π
Grateful for a loving and caring family, friends (including virtual), my princess – virtually real ππ€π