Healing
“Physicians should carry on their work of healing
through God’s laws as applied to matter,” Sri Yukteswar
said. But he extolled the superiority of mental therapy,
and often repeated: “Wisdom is the greatest cleanser.”–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Autobiography of a Yogi”
Guru
Guru is He whom God appoints to lead you out of darkness into the land of eternal light.
God uses the Guru to attract and guide lost souls back to God. The Guru plays a part in God’s divine plan for each of us.
The Guru extends His hand to act as a personal guide. He holds a light to guide the way, offering encouragement each step of the way.
We may have many teachers, but only one Guru.
We have to take the Guru’s hand and allow Him to guide us. We have to be ready to accept our Guru.
– Sayings of Paramhans Yogananda also known as Prem-Avatar divine incarnation of love. Prem = love, Avatar = soul who attains union with spirit and returns to earth to help mankind.
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Excerpts from a talk at 2010 Convocation of SRF, August 7, 2010
These notes are not from an official publication of SRF. They were taken by the devotees during talks given by the monks and nuns.
Please be aware that there is a degree of human error involved in taking and transcribing notes.
Said Uddalaka to Shvetaketu: “As bees suck nectar from many a flower And make their honey one, so that no drop Can say, ‘I am from this flower or that,’
All creatures, though one, know not they are that One.
There is nothing that does not come from him. Of everything he is the inmost Self.
He is the truth; he is the Self supreme.
You are that, Shvetaketu; you are that.”
– Chandogya Upanishad
O I will come again and again if need be a trillion times as long as I know one stray brother is left behind.
– Paramhans Yogananda
When the sun is over your head, there will be no shadow. So, too, when faith is steady in your heart, it will not cast any shadow of doubt. Do not talk ill of others; talk only of the good in them. All are good. If you see bad in them, it is because there is bad in you. If you do not like someone, do not mix with them. Grace is the sunlight which will ripen the fruit; Sadhana (spiritual practice) is the sap which rises from earth. Both are needed by the tree of life in order that it may yield the fruit of liberation.
– Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Man is both the inner and the outer, and it has been a fallacy, a very ancient fallacy, to condemn one in favor of the other.
In the East, people renounce the outer in favor of the inner. They escape from the world into the caves in the Himalayas so that they can devote their whole life and their whole time and their whole energy to the inner journey — but they don’t understand the dialectics of life.
In the West, just the opposite has been done. They have renounced the inner so that they can put their whole energy into the outer world and the conquest of the outer world.
Both have been wrong, and both have been right. Both have been wrong because both remained halves; one part grew bigger and bigger,
and the other part remained retarded. You can see it.– Osho
Freedom
Swami Sri Yukteswar to Paramahansa Yogananda:
“Freedom of will does not consist in doing things
according to the dictates of prenatal or postnatal habits
or of mental whims, but in acting according to the
suggestions of wisdom and free choice. If you tune in
your will with mine [the wisdom-guided will of a guru],
you will find freedom.”–Swami Sri Yukteswar, in SRF Lessons
Silence is the sea, and speech is like the river.
The sea is seeking you: don’t seek the river.
Don’t turn your head away from the signs offered by the sea.– Rumi
Do not treat people with contempt, nor walk insolently on the earth.
Allah does not love the arrogant or the self-conceited boaster.
Be modest in your bearing and subdue your voice,
for the most unpleasant of voices is the braying of the ass.– Luqman 31:18-19
Practicing the Presence of God
God is approachable. Talking to Him and listening
to His words in the scriptures, thinking of Him,
feeling His presence in meditation, you will see that
gradually the Unreal becomes real, and this world
which you think is real will be seen as unreal. There
is no joy like that realization.Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
Mahavatar Babaji Commemoration Day was on July 25
Mahavatar Babaji has promised to guard and guide
all sincere Kriya Yogis in their path toward the Goal….
“Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name
of Babaji,” Lahiri Mahasaya said, “that devotee
attracts an instant spiritual blessing.”–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Autobiography of a Yogi
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This is the day when Babaji appeared before Paramahansa Yogananda at his Garpar Road home in Kolkata, responding to his prayer for blessing and assurance for his mission in the west.Babaji told Yogananda:
“You are the one I have chosen to spread the message of Kriya Yoga in the West. Long ago I met your guru Yukteswar at a Kumbha Mela; I told him then I would send you to him for training.”
Practicing the Presence of God
When your mind wanders in the maze of myriad
worldly thoughts, patiently lead it back to remembrance
of the indwelling Lord. In time you will find Him ever
with you–a God who talks with you in your own
language, a God whose face peeps at you from every
flower and shrub and blade of grass. Then you shall
say: “I am free! I am clothed in the gossamer of Spirit;
I fly from earth to heaven on wings of light.” And what
joy will consume your being!Paramahansa Yogananda, “Sayings of Paramahansa
Yogananda”
Right Attitude
These three instructions, plus meditation, contain
the only rule of life that any disciple needs:Detachment;
Realization of God as the Giver; and
Unruffled patience.
As long as we fail in any one of these three, we still have
a serious spiritual defect to overcome.–Sri Gyanamata, “God Alone: The Life and Letters of a Saint”
Without love in the heart, Life is like a sapless tree in a barren desert. What good is a body perfect in outer ways, If inwardly it is impaired by lack of love? With love enshrined in the heart, one lives.
Without it, the body is but bone encased in skin.– Tirukkural 8:78-80
Practicing the Presence of God (Madhu Vidya)
Although I am planning and doing things in the
world, it is only to please the Lord. I test myself: even
when I am working I whisper within, “Where are You,
Lord?” and the whole world changes. There is nothing
but a great Light, and I am a little bubble in that
Ocean of Light. Such is the joy of existence in God.–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
When you forgive, you in no way change the past
but you sure do change the future.~Bernard Meltzer
Japji Sahib:
This bani controls one’s “ji,” one’s soul. When your ji, your being, is endangered, when the radiance of your soul is weak, recite Japji Sahib.
Guru Nanak Ji said that the thirty-eight pauris of Japji would liberate the humanity from the cycles of birth and death.
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Shabad Hazare:This is the highest love letter by a disciple, written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji to Guru Ram Dass Ji. Its gift is that it gives the benefits of a thousand shabads, and one’s soul will merge directly with God. It makes the separated ones come home with grace. One who recites this shabad will never be separated from their beloved.
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◆Jaap Sahib:
The naad of Jaap Sahib rouses the soul and the self of the Being. “Sahib” also means grace. Recite it when your position is endangered, or when your authoritative personality is weak. This bani brings grace and greatness. It will also give you the ability that, whatever people say, you will automatically be able to compute what they are actually saying. Once you are able to recite it correctly, it will give you the power, the siddhi, that whatever you say must happen. Man can direct God, and God can direct man Guru Gobind Singh Ji recited Jaap Sahib so we won’t become beggars at the doors of others.◆Tavprasad Swaiye:
This baani was spoken by Guru Gobind Singh ji. When you are not getting any satisfaction out of life, this is the bani to recite.
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When we celebrate the 7th Century i.e. when we complete 700 quotes we shall rename the Spiritual Diary as ‘MYSTIC TRAIL’
âAnand Sahib:
Whoever recites the forty pauris of Anand Sahib will have endless bliss, because the Guru is limitless. In this bani, mind and body are explained in relation to cosmic divinity. Guru Amar Das ji gave us the song of bliss, which is Anand Sahib, to qualify the mind and to understand the depth.For husband and wife to get together, recite it together,alternating sutras (lines).âRehras Sahib:
This bani is recited after one has worked and is tired. It adds energy (raa-hu) to one’s being, to one’s total concept. Also, recite it when your principle worldly wealth is endangered. In naad, reh means live, and raas means commodity, so Rehras means living commodity. Rehras Sahib helps you when you are physically weak, or weak in money, property and earthly goods.âKirtan Sohila:
This bani is done before sleep at night. It is the most harmonious naad ever uttered. It multiplies the aura to the sensitivity of protection That it eliminates any negativity for miles and miles.
When you are endangered by any species of direct or indirect source, and when you want to protect yourself with the surrounding of the entire magnetic field of the earth, recite Kirtan Sohila.
Many of you often come to Puttaparthi or visit other holy places. You hear
scholars expounding the scriptures. You have observed great and noble souls.
What is the benefit? How have you improved by all this? Have you succeeded in at
least recognising your Rajasik (passionate) and Thamasik (dark) habits and
tendencies? Recognizing them as deleterious is the first step in removing them.
Have you become more and more serene and poised (Sathvik) as the years go by, or
are you the same dull or perhaps fiery individual? If you must know the Lord,
you must love the Lord and lead your life with good conduct. Hatred or even
indifference will result only in misunderstanding. Develop close association
with the Lord and He will reveal Himself to you.– Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Kaha bhayo jo dou lochan mund kai baith rahio bak dhian lagaeo.
(What happened if one) shut both eyes, sat and meditated? Nothing!Nhat phirio leeai sat samundran lok gayo parlok gavaio.
(What happened if one) bathed in seven of the holiest oceans? Time is lost on the earth and chances are lost beyond earth.Bas kio bikhian so baith kai aise hi aise su bais bitaio.
(What happened if one) wasted time in endless arguments over what is right and wrong? Nothing!Sach kahon sun leho sabai jin prem kio tin hee prabh paio.
I speak the truth, everyone Listen! Only those who love, realize God. (9)– 9th stanza of Tav-Prasad Savaiye
Following is a poem based on this shabad written by Simer Kaur
Doesn’t matter how long
my shut eye meditates
and howsoever long
my open mind contemplatesHow far I rummage
from place to place;
every holy pilgrimage
just goes to waste!Or have down deep
many scriptures dug,
but still fail to be
ONE like the lovebug*.The plain truth remains
the eternal life of spring
that I wish to attain
only true love can bring
“The Lord of Love is one. There is indeed No other.
He is the inner ruler In all beings.
He projects the cosmos From himself, maintains and withdraws it Back into himself at the end of time.
His eyes, mouths, arms, and feet are everywhere.
Projecting the cosmos out of himself, He holds it together.– Shvetashvatara Upanishad
Sacred speech is the manifestation of divinity. God exists in the form of Sabda Brahman (the divine principle of sound). Under any circumstances, do not let your speech be tainted by harshness. Never become agitated. When you understand that all are one, there will be no reason to get agitated. All bodies are like mirrors, and what you see is your own reflection. How then can you become angry with your own reflection? Understand that there is nothing greater than love. When you fill your heart with love, your thoughts, vision, words and deeds will all be suffused with love.
– Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Shabad Hazare:
bilap karay chaatrik kee ni-aa-ee tarikhaa na utrai saaNt na aavai bin darsan sant pi-aaray jee-o ha-o gholee jee-o ghol ghumaa-ee gur darsan sant pi-aaray jee-o.( My heart longs for the guru as a thirsty pied-cuckoo longs for water…My thirst is not quenched, and I can find no peace without seeing him…I, my soul is a sacrifice to my loving guru.)
Shabad Hazare:_________________________________
This is the highest love letter by a disciple, written by Guru Arjan Dev Ji to Guru Ram Dass Ji. Its gift is that it gives the benefits of a thousand shabads, and one’s soul will merge directly with God. It makes the separated ones come home with grace. One who recites this shabad will never be separated from their beloved.
chakar chehun ar burn, jati ar pati nehun jeh
roop rung ar raikh, bhaikh kohoo keh na skut keh
achul mooret anbho parkas ametoje kehjai
koti eindar eindran saho sahan gnejai
tirbhavn maheep sur nar asur naiti naiti bun tirun keht
tav sarb nam kathai kavan karm nam barnt sumati. (1)-Jaap Sahib
(No one can give any explanation of His form, dress, outline and complexion.
God’s form is stable, He is self-illuminated, with immeasurable power.
God is the king of millions of kings, and the King of kings of gods.
God is the Lord of three worlds (land, air, water) not only gods, men and demons, but the whole vegetable world announces that none is equal and alike God.
None can utter all of Your names. Wise men who realise Your virtues, call You in the same way.)
In the path of devotion, for those who bargain and crave for profit, reverence is equated with returns; they sell homage at so much per unit of satisfactory response. They calculate how much they are able to extract, like paid servants clamouring for wages, overtime allowances, bonuses and so on. One must be a member of God’s family, a kinsman, a friend of God. You must feel that you are the Lord’s very own. Then your work will not be tiring, you will be able to carry it out in a better manner and it will yield more satisfaction too. In return the Lord Himself will maintain you in bliss. Leave the rest to Him. He knows Best. The joy of having Him is enough reward. This is the secret of human happiness. Live out your lives on these lines and you will never come to grief.
– Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Purification
The aspiring yogi of the West as well as of the East must discipline himself… He should refrain from making too much fuss about the body. If he sees he is finding time for everything else but is too busy for God, he should take the whip of discipline to himself. Why be afraid? There is everything to gain. If a man will not himself cry and struggle to attain his own salvation, will anyone else do it for him?
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
Purification
…You cannot make steel until you have made the iron white-hot in fire. It is not meant for harm. Trouble and disease have a lesson for us. Our painful experiences are not meant to destroy us, but to burn out our dross, to hurry us back Home. No one is more anxious for our release than God.
–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
Purification
Kriya Yoga is the real “fire rite” oft extolled in the Gita. The yogi casts his human longings into a monotheistic bonfire consecrated to the unparalleled God. …All past and present desires are fuel consumed
by love divine. The Ultimate Flame receives the sacrifice of all human madness, and man is pure of dross. His metaphorical bones stripped of all desirous flesh, his karmic skeleton bleached by antiseptic suns of wisdom, inoffensive before man and Maker, he is clean at last.–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Autobiography of a Yogi”