After every happiness comes misery; they may be far apart or near. The more advanced the soul, the more quickly does one follow the other. What we want is neither happiness nor misery. Both make us forget our true nature; both are chains–one iron, one gold; behind both is the Atman, who knows neither happiness nor misery. These are states, and states must ever change; but the nature of the Atman is bliss, peace, unchanging. We have not to get it, we have it; only wash away the dross and see it.

-Swami Vivekananda

It is so wonderful to be in tune with God and to
trust in Him implicitly, being content wherever He
places you and whatever He makes of you, accepting
all with humility and devotion.

–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Self-Realization Magazine”

Children tell stories, but in their tales are enfolded many a mystery and moral lesson. Though they may relate many ridiculous things, keep looking in those ruined places for a treasure.

– Rumi
(researched by Sukhwani)

Simplicity

We make too much of feeling, even admitting that
the right kind of feeling is very enjoyable. What does it
matter how you feel? Bear your lot as long as it is the
will of God that you should do so. Act rightly, and in
due time the right feeling of peace and joy will come.

–Sri Gyanamata, “God Alone: The Life and Letters
of a Saint”

All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that. Do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as most of us do nowadays. Stand up and express the divinity within you.

-swami Vivekananda

You are there behind your eyes, just standing as if someone is standing behind a window and looking out. The man who is looking out of a window is just like  you, looking out of the eyes towards me. But you can get identified with the eyes, you can get identified with the seeing. Seeing is a capacity, a vehicle. Eyes are just windows; they are not you.
Osho

(Your) mind gives you a sort of stupor. Burdened by the memories of the past, burdened by the projections of the future, you go on living — at the minimum. You don’t live at the maximum. Your flame remains very dim. Once you start dropping thoughts, the dust that you have collected in the past, the flame arises — clean, clear, alive, young. Your whole life becomes a flame, and a flame without any smoke. That is what awareness is.

– Osho

If you can live this moment, if you can be here this moment, then everything takes care of itself. Then you need not be anxious. Then there is no need to ask — before you ask, the answer is delivered. The answer has been always there, but we are not aware. So the whole effort of Zen is how to bring awareness to you.

 

– Osho

In the spiritual life one becomes just like a little child–without resentment, without attachment, full of life and joy. –Paramahansa Yogananda

A seeker once asked Bayazid: “Who is the true Prince?”
“The man who cannot choose,” said Bayazid: “
the man for whom God’s choice is the only possible choice.”

– Bayazid al-Bistami

Paramahansa Yogananda on Spiritualizing Family Life

The greatest of all happiness, next to divine happiness, is to be at peace with one’s immediate relations, those with whom one must live every day in the year. When people try to handle the extremely complicated machinery of human feelings without any training whatsoever, the consequent results are often disastrous. Very few persons realize that most of our happiness lies in the art of understanding the law of human behavior.

The greatest thing a husband or wife can wish for the spouse is spirituality; for soul unfoldment brings out the divine qualities of understanding, patience, thoughtfulness, love. But each should remember that the desire for spiritual growth cannot be forced on the other. Live love yourself, and your goodness will inspire all your loved ones.

We should make ourselves attractive by wearing the fine garment of genuinely courteous language. We should first of all be courteous to our immediate relatives. When one can do that, he will be habitually kind to all people. Real family happiness has its foundation on the altar of understanding and kind words. It is not necessary to agree on everything in order to show kindness. Calm silence, sincerity, and courteous words, whether one is agreeing or disagreeing with others, mark the person who knows how to behave.

I have joined my heart to thee: all that exists art thou.
O Lord, beloved of my heart, thou art the home of all;
where indeed is the heart in which thou dost not dwell?

– Jafar

As I say to devotees all the time, if you would win Daya Ma’s love, love my God. That intoxicates me. When I see devotees who love my Beloved, I am drunk with joy. Nothing else can reach Daya Mata’s heart, in that sense—nothing personal. I love those who love my Beloved. I love those who are striving on the path. I don’t care what their weaknesses are—a thousand million weaknesses can be there. That is not important to me, for I know that if they are sincere in their efforts to love God and follow Guru’s guidance, they will surely overcome those impediments and find that perfect freedom that is our birthright as souls.

–Daya Mata (‘Finding the Joy Within You’, p255)

HAU BAL BAL JAAU RMAIA KARNE II
KARN KRN ABOL II
‘Gurbani’ in Punjabi

“There is none as forlorn as I am, and none as Compassionate as You, what need is there to test us now? May my mind surrender to Your Word, please, bless Your humble servant with this perfection. I am sacrifice, a sacrifice to the LORD. O LORD, why are You silent? For so many incarnations, I have been separated from YOU, LORD, I dedicate this life to YOU. Says Ravi Das (BHAGAT), placing hopes in YOU, I live, it is so long since I have gazed upon the Blessed Vision of Your DARSHAN

If you want to be sad, no one in the world can make you happy. But if you make up your mind to be happy, no one and nothing on earth can take that happiness from you.

– Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda

Do not look at your own form, be it beautiful or ugly;
look at the true object of your love, and the goal of your search. Do not look at your own state, which is feeble and vile; look at the true object of your hopes and aspirations.
In whatever state you are, seek God. Seek God as if your lips were dry and you were seeking water. Dry lips are a sign that you will eventually reach a spring. Dry lips are a message from the water: ‘If you keep searching, you will find me.’
To seek is a blessed activity; it destroys the obstacles on the path to God. If you seek, you will find.

Wisdom

Every day you should sit quietly and affirm, with deep conviction: “No birth, no death, no caste have I; father, mother, have I none. Blessed Spirit, I am He. I am the Infinite Happiness.” If you again and again a again repeat these thoughts, day and night, you will eventually realize what you really are: an immortal soul.

—Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s EternalQuest”