By

Vanisha Uppal

First time I saw death in my family I was 23 years old. Inmy childhood, grandmother made a story that seeing a dead body is a sin. Guess what I believed her too. How stupid of me. She told me “whenever you see something like this on the road or somewhere just close your eyes”.  When my grandfather diedthen it was unavoidable. Watching cricket match on T.V. was my grandfather’s favourite past time. That night he was watching India and Pakistan match alone in the T.V. room. Around 2 a.m. suddenly I heard a lot of noise. Hurriedly I got up and saw panic around me. Grandfather was surrounded by neighbours and family. He was quietly sitting with closed eyes but in tremendous pain. Before anybody could understand the situation and got him to the doctor, he was dead. He had a heart attack. I was standing at a little distance watching him. It put me through a great shock, I thought, this is impossible. Close family members were already there, they were crying but soon they got occupied in some or the other activity like informing distant relatives, arranging food and being particularly concerned about getting the rituals done in this or that order. I thought “what is this?  Are you kidding me?” Nobody was as shocked as I was.

In that state of shock, I looked for a lonely corner at home. I wanted to be alone with my internal turmoil. Many questions arose. Grandfather was here, where is he now? His whole existence, his body, his voice, his presence, his being, his personality? All was gone, evaporated in a minute. How is this possible? How can anyone disappear like this and we can’t do anything about it? I wanted to know, where is he now?

We know how to make big buildings, airports, rockets, aeroplanes and with so much knowledge – yet nobody knows where he is? He must be somewhere!  What are we all doing here in this world? Are we living on the surface, playing with papers, which we call money? Is this what we call life? I felt that we know nothing about life. Why are we running so much after money, if it cannot buy life and true knowledge of life and after life? Suddenly money looked to me like a piece of paper, nothing more than that.

These questions were there in my mind ever since that day. I had no idea where this would lead me in the future.  I was in this state of mind for many years. Grandfather used to come in my dreams, as if he was alive and I asked him; “Why are you hiding yourself for so long from us, where have you been all these years?”

Eight years later, a strange thing happened. God gave a sharp and hard turn to my life. Maybe I asked for it – this is His way of answering questions.  It was painful, but eventually, everything becomes an experience and now I want to share it.

At the time of my pregnancy, I was walking quietly in the corridor of my building. My due date was over. I was very anxious about the process. Two days later I was taken to hospital, where my husband was working. Government Hospital, maternity ward was a living hell. I was shocked by what I saw. Many women were in the same big room, in different degrees of pain. Suddenly I heard a terrible voice from a woman. It was coming from a smaller room, where babies were born. My husband was terrified and tried to console me, “you will be able to tolerate once you are in it”. This line was not so consoling, I was very frightened yet what could I do.

I got a bed in the big hall with many other women. The whole night I was watching others crying and howling in pain. Doctor residents were yelling back to them all around me. I thought that young doctors had no idea what a woman goes through, or, maybe they were used to all these things. This getting “used to” is a very a strange saying. One looses the sensitivity and concern when one is used to something happening everyday. The moment we ourselves are in a secure environment, it does not take long to get ‘used to it’.

I was thinking; would the doctors behave in the same way with me in my labour pain? In such stressful condition, nothing happened with me that night. Some women were moved to a small room to deliver the babies, and new ones arrived in the big hall with me.  I was the only one left from the night batch. By noon doctors decided to induce my baby artificially. The medicine soon showed its effect. That was the beginning of my pain. By now I wanted to get it over and done with.

Soon I realised how bad it could be. Gradually it became intolerable. But I discovered something new in myself. My own reaction towards pain; I became quiet – no complain, no crying, no discomfort on my face. It was the same what I saw on my grandfather’s face before dying.  I never thought I would behave in such a way. I was so much inside myself that I could not hear any noises around me, nor could I feel any one’s presence in the room. It was just me. As if I knew that from this point, things were beyond human control.

I was chanting with every breath. As the pain was building up more and more, my intensity increased. I did not leave chanting for a second. After 5 hours of intense labour pain, a doctor whispered in my ear and asked, “Do you want epidural,” I said “yes”. They took me to the Operation Theatre. After getting epidural, I felt like cool breeze had passed over me. Each cell of my body relaxed. 15 minutes later the doctor decided that I needed urgent operation. They took me back to OT. Epidural made body pain free but I was conscious about my surroundings. Doctor made a cut in my lower abdomen and the baby came out. I had no courage to open my eyes to watch my flesh stained in blood. I heard my baby’s voice and a doctor said “what a healthy baby”.

Suddenly I shouted: “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe”. I was suffocating. To think about this, still suffocates me. I was thrashing my limbs. In restlessness, I removed the oxygen mask so that I could get fresh air but I was unable to breathe. After much struggle – I don’t know how and when – I got into a deep, dark tunnel, which had no light, not even a sign of light. Hitting to the walls of it, helplessly I was rolling down deep into it. The tunnel had no end, I was crying and screaming:  “I want to go back, take me back.” No one felt pity for me. I felt that the tunnel would never end. How to describe the pain, it was incomparable to any other pain. It looked to me as many years had passed, and there was no hope of getting out of it.

All of sudden everything settled. I was no more in panic.  Which place was it, no darkness, no light?  More like blank but still calm. I don’t know how everything was changing, like cut, copy, paste. It was as a movie which flashed in fast forward mode and it was about my life. Some parts were very strange, few events and people were unidentified. I could not recognize all that ever happened in my life. I was not able to comment and question. I was silently watching the movie.

After the movie finished I heard a firm and clear male voice. He asked me “Do you regret anything” I spontaneously said “yes once I broke the heart of a boy. I should not have done that”. “Anything else”, I said “no”. The questions and answers were so direct and straight. No thinking, no confusion, even no explanation. Only truth as I had no choice.

A long silence after that. I could not utter a word, could not open my mouth without permission. I felt many years has passed again but this time I was not restless. I was calm and peaceful. Suddenly the deep silence was broken and I heard the same voice again, “Do you want to go back?” A vision appeared. I was lying on a bed in the hospital with a few people around me. I felt no attachment to my family and for the one lying on the bed, me. I did not feel any desire and longing at that point of time. From there it all looked so meaningless. I said “No”. I was at peace. But He said “You have to go back”.

I had no choice. I saw another vision of myself working in my kitchen towards the end of the ninth month pregnancy. After pondering over it for 10 years, now I feel that it was a glimpse of me being present in that moment. The importance of an ordinary moment. How important it is to be relaxed while working. Even a single moment counts and has much value. God gave me many clues in that experience. How wonderfully He was projecting the whole scenario, it was amazing. He presented everything according to my understanding and gave hints for my future level of consciousness. What a masterpiece! It needs lots of contemplation to explore the hidden truth behind these events. Many small details are still unexplored. Just like work done by Lord Krishna in Bhagavat Gita.

Finally I experienced something which I call return gift from God before leaving His home.  I saw splendour of light everywhere. There was no sun yet such strong light. I was sure it was thousands of suns shining together, in unlimited space and brightness. I can never forget what I saw. Nobody will ask for anything more after seeing that.  Everyone deserve to see and be there. At that point suddenly I realised I was not in my body, still I was present, seeing and experiencing it all. Where was my body? Where were my eyes? How did I see everything? How do I remember all this? I still don’t know. This lasted for a very short time.  I thought, I will not leave this place!

Why did God ask for my opinion when my decision did not matter anyway? Why did he want to send me back? These questions still bother me but I feel there is something good in it. Now I feel there are many higher levels as I have experienced later with the grace of my Master and God.

Next moment I found myself on the bed in ICU ward of the hospital, full of wires and tubes all over my body, unable to move and talk. I was very weak, lost 15 units of blood. Irrespective and unaware of my external condition I wanted to tell to the whole world that I had a talk with God and I had been there. Listen to me, talk to me, I am here now.

It was midnight. A resident doctor was on duty. I did my best to tell him about my visit but could only manage to say very little. He was not interested and went back to his seat. Next day I was moved to a private ward. I told my husband the whole story. No one believed me at that point of time. He also did not pay much attention to it. I understood it would not be easy to convey this message to others. I got myself engrossed in bringing up my child, Vrinda.

Many new reflections arose: Accumulation of wealth, land and money – where does it leads us? Are we fearful and insecure?  Does fear have any substance?

Is saving a bad thing to do? Are we saving for our children, to maintain a good life style, or, for our old age?

Maybe we should stop and ponder upon these questions?  Yes we are fearful and insecure of an unseen future. An accident might happen someday and then I should have good money in my account to pay my bills!

Imagine you are in the best hospital but no one visits you. Even if they do, they are not much bothered because of the way you priorotise them in your life. Our children and spouses have probably not been our first priority for our own reasons.  It is a manipulation to justify your own action which is not done so consciously. But why do we expect a different treatment from others?

Are we saving money for a better life style? There are multimillionaires. Are they happy? Money in itself cannot improve the quality of our inner condition. The most of joyful things in life have least money transactions involved.

Are we saving for our children?  Will not own efforts rather than easy money bring more good to them? How much money is needed to support them? I think the answers are clear.

That leaves us with old age. What is the reasonable amount of money required for old age. Eat simple food, exercise daily and do some mediation to stay happy. And most important of all; give unconditional love to your family. God will take care of rest.

Accumulation of too much money leads to restlessness if not used for a good cause. And the restlessness is naturally transferred to our children unknowingly and unconsciously.

How often do you think about the only certainty happening in your life – death? Is it possible to prepare ourselves for it? We are preparing ourselves for all kinds of uncertainties, but death we ignore.

At the time of death, there is a transition of our soul from this world to where? No one knows. Our inner condition when we leave this body, will that condition still be a part of us? Some subtle indications are there.

Do you know how long you would be travelling in that breathless and total dark state? How suffocating it would be? You have no idea. If you think transition is going to be easy then sorry dear, you are wrong. It might looks easy to others but one who goes through it, can give up anything to make it easy.

Let’s do a small experiment. Stand under the showerwhile bathing. Hold your breath and close your eyes. Don’t take your head out of it. Stay as long as possible.  What do you feel? Chant any Vedic mantra or try to remember what all you have read so far in the books and Vedas. Think of any Gods and Gurus. Hold it, keep holding your breath……..not so soon……hold…..little more…….10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2……….2……….  Where are the thoughts now, which trouble us all the time? Can you think of any material desire? Then how they all appear in our daily life and make us forget the purpose of life?

Life is an inner travel. What we realize of inner peace we bring with us wherever we are in the physical existence and beyond the physical?

The secret is, the death will be same as we lived our daily lives.  “Silence in activity” is the key. Each moment is important.

The purpose is to live a natural simple life in awareness, established in inner silence. This improves everything.

Later when I met Master and heard his experience “I am not there, only an unlimited space and the experience”, I understood immediately. He says we all have the potential to live in that element together with activity.

Master has potential to go there any time if he wants and much more beyond that he has mentioned in his spiritual efforts at website kriyabanservice.com and he has potential to take us there with the same ease. We need to put efforts and practise and he helps us in all possible way.

The picture and message is clear: Invest in yourself today.

Vanisha Uppal

Once, a man was going through a forest, when three robbers fell upon him and robbed him of all his possessions. One of the robbers said, “What’s the use of keeping this man alive?” So saying, he was about to kill him with his sword, when the second robber interrupted him, saying: ‘Oh, no! What is the use of killing him? Tie his hand and foot and leave him here.” The robbers bound his hands and feet and went away. After a while the third robber returned and said to the man: “Ah, I am sorry. Are you hurt? I will release you from your bonds.” After setting the man free, the thief said: “Come with me. I will take you to the public high way.” After a long time they reached the road. At this the man said: “Sir, you have been very good to me. Come with me to my house.” “Oh, no!” the robber replied. “I can’t go there. The police will know it.” This world itself is the forest. The three robbers prowling here are Satva, rajas, and tamas. It is they that rob a man of the Knowledge of Truth. Tamas wants to destroy him. „Rajas‟ binds him to the world. But Satva rescues him from the clutches of rajas and tamas. Under the protection of Satva, man is rescued from anger, passion and other evil effects of tamas. Further, Satva loosens the bonds of the world. But Satva also is a robber. It cannot give man the ultimate Knowledge of Truth, though it shows him the road leading to the Supreme Abode of God. Setting him on the path, Satva tells him: “Look yonder. There is your home.” Even Satva is far away from the knowledge of Brahman. (2)

(Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna )

 Pic: ARCFLY

 by

Melanie Lenart

Urban forests can help keep cities within a healthy temperature range, although the exact temperature reduction from urban forests is difficult to measure. The extent of the effect varies in space and in time, which complicates the issue, but large parks or tracts of urban trees can cool daytime summer air temperatures by about 10°F (McPherson and Simpson 1995).

Increasing the green cover of cities by 10% or more could help temper the local temperature rise projected for coming decades as climate change manifests (Gill et al. 2007).

Read More

Devotion and love, of course, remain so easy and yet so difficult an achievement at once. Real devotion has no tinge of affection in it and goes hand in glove with enlightenment. In the initial stages the devotee may be conscious of his feeling towards the object of his love; but at higher stages the foam and fury is dimmed to the extent of an almost total loss of its awareness at the Ultimate stage.

Ram Chandra, Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 1, p. 353

If we understand it (love) correctly, we find love is giving, and the more one gives, the more one loves, and we can therefore say with confidence that one gives totally when one loves totally. And this is what the master gives. He comes to us totally Himself and gives Himself totally to us in an endeavour, in an effort, to make us like Himself.

Taken from the book “The Role of Master in Human Evolution”, Chapter “Vorauf – June 29, 1986”, pg. 15, by Revered Chariji

A son took his father to a restaurant to enjoy a delicious dinner. His father was of advanced age, and therefore, a little weak, too. While he was eating, a little bit of food fell from time to time on his shirt and his trousers. The other diners watched the older man with their faces distorted in disgust, but his son remained totally calm.
Once both were done eating, the son, without being remotely ashamed, helped his father by taking him to the restroom. He cleaned up the leftovers from his wrinkled face, and tried to wash the stains of food from his clothes. He lovingly combed his hair gray and I finally got his glasses cleaned. On the way out of the restroom, a profound silence reigned in the restaurant. The son was going to pay the bill and get ready to escort his father out of the restaurant. Just then a man rose from his chair among the diners, and asked the son ” don’t you think that you’ve left something here? “The young man replied, “No, I haven’t missed anything”. Then the stranger said to him, ” Yes you’ve left something! You left here a lesson for each child, and hope for every parent!” The entire restaurant was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
One of the biggest honors that exists, is the ability to take care of those older adults who cared for us. Our parents, and all those elderly who sacrificed their lives, with time, money, effort and unconditional love. They deserve our utmost respect. If you also feel respect for older adults, share this story with all your friends.

Q:- What precautions should be taken during spiritual practice?

Shri Ramakrishna:- Those who wish to attain God or make progress in their devotional practice should particularly guard themselves against the snares of lust and wealth. Otherwise they will never attain perfection.

For the attainment of the objective, we have to create in us intense longing or extreme impatience, which forces our passage on to it just as the latent motion did at the time of creation.

Ram Chandra, Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 1 (1st Indian edn., 1989), p. 217

Salient Thought for the Day.
The sign of life’s fulfilment is in softness and
mellowness.

Lines to Memorize.
Soul in search is never at rest.
Soul in slumber knoweth not the precious
peace.
Soul in wakeful communion is at rest and hath
found its peace.

Lesson.
One feels• suffocated within the boundary line of
dogmatic religion. We must avoid fanaticism.. A
fanatic never has clear vision. We need a balanced.
attitude of mind. The greatest mellowness and gentleness
are to be found in those who have realized most.
A man has nothing to give until he has learned to
shut the door and commune with his own soul.

Prayer.
0 Thou All-knowing One, free me from the
anguish of doubt and calculation.
May I never close my being to Thee.
May I open every channel to receive Thy Divine
inspiration.
May I find my home in Truth
And rest my life and happiness in Truth alone.

– Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

No one can have a monopoly of spirituality.
No one can claim exclusive right to it. It is not
something cut and dried. Spirituality means getting
away from all that is calculating, cold and hard.
No one can rob us of it except when we ourselves
yield to our lower instincts.

Swami Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers (BDTP)

The desire for happiness (sukha prema) is a proof of the ever-existing happiness of the Self. Otherwise how can desire for it arise in you?
If headache was natural to human beings no one would try to get rid of it. But everyone that has a headache tries to get rid of it, because he has known a time when he had no headache. He desires only that which is natural to him. So too he desires happiness because happiness is natural to him.
Being natural, it is not acquired. Man’s attempts can only be to get rid of misery. If that be done the ever-present bliss is felt.
Ramana Maharishi
TWSRM

Salient Thought for the Day.

It is a great blessing when we are struck. If
there is anything in us, the blow will bring it out.

Lines to Memorize.

These dark shadow that fall upon the path of
my life,
Causing me sadness, distress and pain :
I have learned to welcome these through Thy
holy grace.
They show me how I lack wisdom ;
How failing and faltering is my strength.

Lesson.

Be brave and hold fast. Patience conquers everything
in the end. Our moods and feelings are only
momentary—they come and go, being fleeting in
nature; therefore we must try to endure them and
look upon them as a witness. Never tear down your
peace and happiness unnecessarily. Never lose faith
in yourself. Pray that Mother may make your faith.
ever stronger and stronger and give you joy, selflessness
and true devotion.

Prayer.

Do Thou, 0 Eternal One, awaken in me such
wisdom
That I may find safety in Thee alone.
Grant unto me true fortitude and spiritual
strength.
May I be enduring and unaffrighted by pain
and trouble.
If I fail or stumble, may I always turn to Thee
for help,
And find renewed courage and life in Thy
Blessed Presence.

Swami Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

Solitude is in the mind of man. One might be in the thick of the world and maintain
serenity of mind; such a one is in solitude. Another may stay in a forest, but still be unable to
control his mind. He cannot be said to be in solitude. Solitude is a function of the mind. A
man attached to desire cannot get solitude wherever he may be; a detached man is always in
solitude.

Ramana Maharishi

A Disciple asks Ramana Maharishi a few questions and the Maharishi answers:
D.: They say that there are many saints in Tibet who remain in solitude and are still very
helpful to the world. How can it be?
M.: It can be so. Realisation of the Self is the greatest help that can be rendered to humanity.
Therefore, the saints are said to be helpful, though they remain in forests. But it should not be
forgotten that solitude is not in forests only. It can be had even in towns, in the thick of
worldly occupations.
D.: It is not necessary that the saints should mix with people and be helpful to them?
M.: The Self alone is the Reality; the world and the rest of it are not. The realised being does
not see the world as different from himself.
D.: Thus then, the saint’s realisation leads to the uplift of humanity without the latter being
aware of it. Is it so?
M.: Yes. The help is imperceptible but is still there. A saint helps the whole of humanity,
unknown to the latter.

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharishi

A Disciple asks Ramana Maharishi some questions and the Maharishi replies
D.: Jesus Christ cured people of their diseases. Is that only an occult power (siddhi)?
M.: Was Jesus aware at the time that he was curing men of their diseases? He could not have
been conscious of his powers. There is a story related as follows: Jesus had once cured a man
of his blindness. The man turned wicked, in course of time. Meeting him after some years,
Jesus observed his wickedness and asked him why he was so. He replied saying that, when he
was blind, he could not commit any sin. But after Jesus had cured him of blindness he grew
wicked and Jesus was responsible for his wickedness.
D.: Was not Jesus a Perfected Being possessing occult powers (siddhi)?
M.: He could not have been aware of his powers (siddhis).

From: Talks with Sri Ramana Maharishi

An examination of the ephemeral nature of external phenomena leads to vairagya. Hence enquiry (vichara) is the first and foremost step to be taken. When vichara continues automatically, it results in a contempt for wealth, fame, ease, pleasure, etc. The ‘I’ thought becomes clearer for inspection. The source of ‘I’ is the Heart – the final goal.

If, however, the aspirant is not temperamentally suited to Vichara Marga (to the introspective analytical
method), he must develop bhakti (devotion) to an ideal – may be God, Guru, humanity in general, ethical laws, or even the idea of beauty. When one of these takes possession of the individual, other attachments grow weaker, i.e., dispassion (vairagya) develops. Attachment for the ideal simultaneously grows and finally holds the field. Thus ekagrata (concentration) grows simultaneously and imperceptibly – with or without visions and direct aids.

In the absence of enquiry and devotion, the natural sedative pranayama (breath regulation)
may be tried. This is known as Yoga Marga. If life is imperilled the whole interest centres round the one point, the saving of life. If the breath is held the mind cannot afford to (and does not) jump at its pets – external objects. Thus there is rest for the mind so long as the breath is held. All attention being turned on breath or its regulation, other interests are lost.

Again, passions are attended with irregular breathing, whereas calm and happiness are attended with slow and regular breathing. Paroxysm of joy is in fact as painful as one of pain, and both are accompanied by ruffled breaths. Real peace is happiness. Pleasures do not form happiness. The mind improves by practice and becomes finer just as the razor’s edge is sharpened by stropping. The mind is then better able to tackle internal or external problems.

If an aspirant be unsuited temperamentally for the first two methods and circumstantially (on account of age) for the third method, he must try the Karma Marga (doing good deeds, for example, social service). His nobler instincts become more evident and he derives impersonal pleasure. His smaller self is less assertive and has a chance of expanding its good side. The man becomes duly equipped for one of the three aforesaid paths. His intuition may also develop directly by this single method.

Ramana Maharishi
TWSRM

In order to clarify the relationship of “atma-Paramatma” we comp a re Paramatma with an infinite ocean, a limitless ocean, and the atma as a drop in this ocean. The atma is never out of this limitless ocean ( P a r a m a t m a ) . The atma can never be out of Paramatma because Paramatma is infinite and unlimited. How can the atma come out of, or have a place beyond, the limitlessness of the limitless? Therefore the a t m a is in P a r a m a t m a

Meher Baba

After establishing the primary fact that the atma is in Paramatma we go a step further and say that atma is Paramatma. How ? For example, let us imagine an unlimited ocean. Let us also imagine that we separate or take out one iota of ocean from the limitless expanse of this unlimited ocean. It follows then that this iota of ocean, while in the limitless ocean, before separation is ocean itself, and is not there in the shoreless ocean as an iota of the ocean, because every iota of ocean, when not limited by the limitations of a drop, is unlimited ocean

— Meher Baba

There are yogis (those who practice a systematic course of esoteric knowledge) who can of themselves suspend their physical bodies in mid-air during the time they are in a temporary samadhi (trance). There are some who can bodily walk on water or fly in the air without the aid of external means, and yet all this is no sign or p roof of their having experienced divine love. Weighed on spiritual scales these miracles have no value whatsoever. In fact, miracle mongering by the average yogi is not only poles apart from the spiritual path, but is actually a hindrance to the individual’s evolution towards spiritual progress

— Meher Baba

The following incident in the life of a Hindu Master shows the disregard in which it (occult power or Siddhi) is held by Perfect Masters, who are Truth personified: The Master was one day by the river’s edge waiting for one of the little ferry boats that take passengers across the stream for the diminutive fare of one anna. A yogi seeing him thus waiting, came up to him, literally walked across the river and back, and said, “That was much easier, was it not?” The Master smilingly replied, “Yes, and had less value than that of the boat fare—one anna.”

— Meher Baba

The ability to exercise constant control over one’s low desires is no mean achievement. Success in establishing a lasting sublimation of all desires is indeed a greater one. But the greatest is the burning away of all one’s desires once and for all, which divine love alone can do. As there is never any show about divine love, this “ burning” in love is always without “smoke,” i.e., without show. There are times when an outward expression of God-love may amount to heroism, but to make at any time a mere show of one’s love for God, for the sake of show, amounts to an insult to God. That is why Kabir says that in the act of meditation when one assumes an asan ( posture) to meditate upon God, one should at that time learn to avoid making any display such as the swaying motion of one’s body, even if it is only for one’s own gratification.

— Meher Baba

States of Consciousness by Meher Baba
ALL souls (atmas) were, are and will be in the Over-Soul
(Paramatma).
Souls (atmas) are all One.
All souls are infinite and eternal. They are formless.
All souls are One; there is no difference in souls or in their being
and existence as souls.
There is a difference in the consciousness of souls;
there is a difference in the planes of consciousness of souls;
there is a difference in the experience of souls and thus
there is a difference in the state of souls.
Most souls are conscious of the gross body (sthul sharir);
some souls are conscious of the subtle body (pran);
a few souls are conscious of the mental body (mind or mana);
and
a very few souls are conscious of Self.
Most souls have experience of the gross sphere (world);
some souls have experience of the subtle sphere (world);
a few souls have experience of the mental sphere (world); and
a very few souls have experience of the Over-Soul.
Most souls are on the gross plane (anna bhumika);
some souls are on the subtle plane (pran bhumika);
a few souls are on the mental plane (mano bhumika); and
a very few souls are on the plane beyond the mental plane
(vidnyan).
Most souls have great binding; some souls have little binding;
a few souls have very little binding; and a very few souls have
absolutely no binding.
All these souls (atmas) of diff e rent consciousness, of diff e re n t
experiences, of different states are in the Over-Soul (Paramatma).
If, now, all souls are in the Over-Soul and are all One, then why
is there any diff e rence in the consciousness, in the planes, in the
experiences and in the states?
The cause of this difference is that the souls have different and
diverse impressions (sanskaras).

Meher Baba
God Speaks

The Ascending Soul

I died as mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet, once more, I shall die as man, to soar
With angels blessed; but even from angelhood
I must pass on; all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel soul,
I shall become what no mind e’er conceived.
Oh, Let me not exist! For Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones, “To Him we shall return!”

—Rumi

The better (Shreyas) is one thing, and the pleasanter (Prayas) quite another. Both these of different nature, bind a person. Of these two, well is it for him who takes the better; he fails of his aim who chooses the pleasanter.

Kathopanishad

Salient Thought for the Day.
When we consult our inner being in everything,
we begin to hear the voice of God and perceive His
Presence.

Lines to Memorize.
Lo ! a perfect cave in the utmost depths of my
heart was awaiting, ever ready and ever still.
It was afar, yea, out of reach of all our ills.
Now I sit with Thee in unbroken peace—in rain,
storm and wind.
They come and beat against my outer life, but
have no access to where my heart’s treasure
lies.

Lesson.
The ultimate vision of Reality far surpasses all
that we can picture. When we attain it, we no longer
think whether we are worthy or unworthy, rich or
poor, happy or unhapy. We gain a new spirit. We
seem to breathe the real oxygen of life, we find fresh
hope and courage. As we have certain hours for our
outer duties, so we must have a time which we devote
to our soul culture. When day after day we strive
to cultivate this inward sight, we cannot fail to
unfold it.

Prayer.
0 Thou in-dwelling Spirit,
May I learn that my own strength is never
sufficient,
But that my strength lies always in Thy strength.
May I so offer up my life that all my thoughts
and actions may have their source in Thee.

– Swami Parmananda

Thanksgiving prises opens in your consciousness
the way for spiritual growth and cosmic energy supply to come to you.
Spirit pushes Itself into visible manifestation as
soon as a channel is opened through which It can flow.
You should be thankful for everything at all times.
Realize that all power to think, and speak and act
comes from God, and that He is with you now, guiding
and inspiring you. (re-edited)

—Paramahansa Yogananda, “Thanksgiving Message”

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The Holy Bible John 4:13, 14

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.

Holy Bible John 10:27-30

I will prepare for the coming of the Omnipresent
Baby Christ by cleaning the cradle of my consciousness,
now rusty with selfishness, indifference, and sense at-
tachments; and by polishing it with deep, daily, divine
meditation, introspection, and discrimination. I will re-
model the cradle with the dazzling soul-qualities of
brotherly love, humbleness, faith, desire for God-real-
ization, will power, self-control, renunciation, and un-
selfishness, that I may fittingly celebrate the birth of the
Divine Child.

Paramhansa Yogananda

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

The Holy Bible Matthew 7:7,8

Hanuman Chalisa translated in English
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज बी
In the Lotus feet of my teacher/Guardian
निज मन मुकुर सुधारि।
I purify the mirror of my heart
बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु
I illustrate the story of immaculate Rama
जो दायकु फल चारि॥
which bestows four fruits (The 4 Purusharth : desire, prosperity, righteousness, liberation)
बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिकै
Considering myself as frail & unwise
सुमिरौं पवनकुमार।
I contemplate Son of Wind (Hanuman)
बल बुद्धिविद्या देहु मोहिं
to impart power, knowledge & civilization
हरहु कलेश विकार ॥
& to eradicate all the miseries of life.
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर।
I glorify lord Hanuman, the deep sea of knowledge & virtues
जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥
I glorify The Monkey man “Vanara”, who lightens the three worlds (earth, atmosphere & beyond)
राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा।
I glorify the faithful envoy of lord Ram,
अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥
who is also known as son of anjana (anjaniputra) & wind’s son (pavansuta)
महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी।
You are the distinguished warrior, the courageous & possess strength as “Indra’s vajra”
कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥
You demolish despicable mind and befriend fine intellect
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा।
being gold complexioned he dwells in his handsome form
कानन कुंडल कुंचित केसा॥
You adorn earrings & curly hair.
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै। You hold “Vajra” in one hand & flag in the other
काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥
You adorn the sacred thread “Janeu” prepared by “Munja grass” on your shoulder
शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन।
You are the delight of Shiva, the son of Kesari
तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥
You possess a majestic aura & are admired by the whole world
बिद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर।
You are the laudable abode of the eighteen types of Vidya
राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥
You are always willing to serve lord Rama
प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया।
You adore listening Lord Rama’s legends
राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥
You reside in the heart of Rama, his wife Sita & his younger brother Lakshman.
सूक्ष्म रूप धरी सियहिं दिखावा।
You searched Sita by adorning the miniscule form
बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥
And you set gold made Lanka ablaze by appearing in an outsized form
भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे।
You destroyed all the demons by taking horrendous form
रामचन्द्र के काज सँवारे॥
And that is how you performed all the deeds of Sri Rama.
लाय सँजीवनि लखन जियाए।
You carried the Dronagiri Mountain from Himalayas, which contained Sanjeevani to Lanka and saved Lakshman.
श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाए॥
Elated by this act Sri Rama embraced you.
रघुपति कीन्हीं बहुत बड़ाई।
Rama applauded many times.
तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥
Rama even said that you are dear to him just like his brother Bharat.
सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं।
Thousands of people will pay tribute to you
अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥
Saying this; Rama again embraces you
सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा।
Many saints like Bhramha & Munisha
नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥
Narad & Sarad have blessed Hanuman.
जम कुबेर दिक्पाल जहाँ ते।
Yama Kuber & Dikpal
कबी कोबिद कहि सकैं कहाँ ते॥
Kavi & Kovid, none could elucidate Hanuman’s glory.
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा।
You were extreme benevolent to Sugreev
राम मिलाय राजपद दीन्हा॥
Befriended him with Rama & acquired him his Kingdom Kishkindha
तुम्हरो मन्त्र बिभीषन माना।
Even Vibhishan endorsed your mantra, as a result, became king of Lanka
लंकेश्वर भए सब जग जाना॥
Ravan, former king of Lanka, was scared of you.
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू।
Sun, which is at thousands of distance from Earth
लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥
You swallowed it believing it to be a syrupy fruit.
प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं।
Placing the ring in your mouth
जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥
Its not astounding that you leaped the ocean
दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते ।
The obscure tasks of the world
सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥
were achieved by your grace
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे।
You are the concierge & guardian of Rama’s court
होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥
No one can enter in his court without your consent
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी शरना।
All pleasures are attained by your refugee
तुम रक्षक काहू को डर ना॥
No fear can abode the one whom you protect
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै ।
Once you commemorate your powers
तीनौं लोक हाँक ते काँपे॥
all three world’s start trembling with fear
भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै।
Evil spirits can not disturb
महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥
when one sings your hymns & remembers you.
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा।
you destroy all the ailments & take away all the pessimism
जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥
of those who regular remember you.
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा।
Though Rama is the Supreme Being
तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥
you accomplish all his tasks.
और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै।
If anyone ever desires for something
तासु अमित जीवन फल पावै॥
You fulfill his desires manifolds
साधु संत के तुम रखवारे।
You are Saints & the one who meditates protector
असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥
You slay demons & are dear to Rama
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता।
You possess eight supernatural powers & nine treasures
अस बर दीन्ह जानकी माता॥
and this has been granted to you by Rama’s wife Sita.
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै।
Whoever sings your hymns directly possess the Supreme Being, Rama
जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥
and gets rid of all the adversities & negativities of life.
अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई।
The one who is y our devotee, goes to the Supreme being’s abode after his body death
जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई॥
And when they are reborn after that, they are always known as God’s devotees
और देवता चित्त न धरई।
Anyone who does not prayer to any other God
हनुमत सेइ सर्व सुख करई॥
but only to you, even he attains all the treasures of life ( generally it is said that every god imparts something or the other)
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा।
All the ailments vanish & one is relieved from all the adversities
जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥
once when someone becomes your devotee & remembers you.
जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं।
I praise the victorious , the master of all senses, Hanuman
कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥
just like guru showers his blessings on his disciple, shower me with your blessings
जो शत बार पाठ कर कोई।
The one who recites this hymn 100 times
छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥
All his troubles vanish & he gains all the life’s treasures.
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा।
Who ever recites this Chalisa
होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥
obtains all the powers & lord Shiva is the witness of this.
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा।
Tulsidas, who is the writer of this Chalisa, will always remain you disciple
कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥
and he prays to the lord enshrine in his soul always.
पवनतनय संकट हरन मंगल मूरति रूप।
I call upon son of wind, an auspicious form to remove all miseries of my life
राम लखन सीता सहित हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥
I pray to you to reside in my heart with Rama, Sita & Lakshman.

Tulsidas

In the depths of the human condition, in the total acceptance of your humanity lies the ocean of divinity. The clear sky, the pure waters are not far away but in the middle of the struggle of human life. The yogis say, “The lotus grows in the mud.” This great compassion comes when one acknowledges one’s human condition, faults and failings, and learns to love greatly one’s own humanity, even one’s weaknesses and failings.

When one can have great compassion for oneself, one learns compassion for others. When sadhakas come together, these struggles come too, but they are part and parcel of the path and development of human kindness. Be kind to yourselves and to one another.

In the ocean of Brahma, on the shores of eternity, leave all baggage behind and give yourself over to the sea. Then like the salt doll that enters the ocean, let all that has been you return to its source. Let the grace of Bhagavan enfold you in the ocean of beatitude. Dissolve into the heart cavern of the universe where time has no beginning and no end, where mind ceases and you are finally home.

Anandamurti

n order to find our point of contact with God,
we must find our point of contact within. All ideals
are first conceived in that inner being ; and as they
are applied in the life, our life becomes fruitful or
unfruitful. Every one has some ideal, but all do not
live up to it. We must work it out. Those who from
the outset deny their power to do this, they accomplish
little ; but those who strive for it, their life is
productive. We must not leave our ideal indefinite.

Swami Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

All-radiant Light of the Universe !
Make my heart so harmonious, so free from
alien and unworthy impulses,
That I may ever feel Thy infinite and all-loving
Presence within me.
Sun, moon, stars, all express Thy Divine radiance
Thou art my life ; Thou art the Light of my soul.
Shine brightly within me
And may I never veil Thy glory.

Swami Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

Awakener, Thy robe of many hues
Hath transformed the dull sky into a lustre of
loveliness.
I never tire of Thy wondrous light ;
I am never sated by Thy ever-fresh beauty.

Swami Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers

He who is ever content and
meditative, self-subjugated and
possessed with firm conviction,
with mind and heart dedicated
to Me, he who is thus consecrated
to Me is dear to Me.

Bhagavad-Gita

We bring Thee our humble hearts.
No merit have we save our faith in Thine
infinite compassion.
Do Thou make of us Thy tools that at all
hours, in work and play,
We may revolve in Thy safe-keeping.

Swami Parmananda
Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers (BDTP)

The desire for happiness (sukha prema) is a proof of the ever-existing happiness of the Self. Otherwise how can desire for it arise in you?

If headache was natural to human beings no one would try to get rid of it. But everyone that has a headache tries to get rid of it, because he has known a time when he had no headache. He desires only that which is natural to him. So too he desires happiness because happiness is natural to him. Being natural, it is not acquired. Man’s attempts can only be to get rid of misery. If that be done the ever-present bliss is felt.

Ramana Maharishi
TWSRM

You start dying slowly – By Pablo Neruda
You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.
You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.
You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.
You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.
You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,
At least once in your lifetime,
To run away from sensible advice…
Pablo Neruda,
(THE Spanish poet won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971)

Help me to give myself to complete spiritual
union with the Source of strength and
illumination.
Lift me above all bondage and weakness.
Make my mind so free and one-pointed that it
may be full of strength.
May I turn towards the Light,
That Light which reveals, the Light that
redeems ;
To that Light which restores and replenishes.

Swami Parmananda
BDTP

Mr. Evans-Wentz: Is solitude necessary for a jnani?

Master.(Raman Maharishi): Solitude is in the mind of man. One might be in the thick of the world and maintain serenity of mind; such a one is in solitude. Another may stay in a forest, but still be unable to control his mind. He cannot be said to be in solitude. Solitude is a function of the mind. A man attached to desire cannot get solitude wherever he may be; a detached man is always in solitude.

Disciple.: So then, one might be engaged in work and be free from desire and keep up solitude. Is it so?

M.: Yes. Work performed with attachment is a shackle, whereas work performed with detachment does not affect the doer. He is, even while working, in solitude.

D.: They say that there are many saints in Tibet who remain in solitude and are still very helpful to the world. How can it be?

M.: It can be so. Realisation of the Self is the greatest help that can be rendered to humanity. Therefore, the saints are said to be helpful, though they remain in forests. But it should not be forgotten that solitude is not in forests only. It can be had even in towns, in the thick of worldly occupations.

D.: It is not necessary that the saints should mix with people and be helpful to them?

M.: The Self alone is the Reality; the world and the rest of it are not. The realised being does not see the world as different from himself.

D.: Thus then, the saint’s realisation leads to the uplift of humanity without the latter being aware of it. Is it so?

M.: Yes. The help is imperceptible but is still there. A saint helps the whole of humanity, unknown to the latter.

D.: Would it not be better if he mixed with others?

M.: There are no others to mix with. The Self is the one and only Reality.

Sri Raman Maharishi’s Discussion with a Disciple
Dated: 30th January, 1935
(Book of Daily Thoughts and Prayers)

O Thou Infinite Deity, in this silent hour May I feel Thy love and protection. May I rest in that love and lose all fear and weakness. In both my sleeping and waking may I have the consciousness of Thy Presence, And may that consciousness destroy in me all self-interest and self-importance.

Swami Parmanand
Book of Daily Thoughts & Prayers (BDTP)

If a man thinks that his happiness is due to external causes and his possessions, it is reasonable to conclude that his happiness must increase with the increase of possessions and diminish in proportion to their diminution. Therefore if he is devoid of possessions, his happiness should be nil. What is the real experience of man? Does it conform to this view? In deep sleep the man is devoid of possessions, including his own body. Instead of being unhappy he is quite happy. Everyone desires to sleep soundly. The conclusion is that happiness is inherent in man and is not due to external causes. One must realise his Self in order to open the store of unalloyed happiness.

Sri Raman Maharishi

Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God,
First fill your own house with the Fragrance of love…
Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,
First remove the darkness of sin from your heart…
Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen…
Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden.
Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,
First forgive from your heart those who have sinned against you.

‘Go not to the temple’
~ by Rabindranath Tagore

At the morning hour of ten, one day after the body
of Lahiri Mahasaya had been consigned to the flames,
the resurrected master, in a real but transfigured
body, appeared before three disciples, each of whom
was in a different city.
“So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (I Corinthians
15:45-55).”

—Paramahansa Yogananda, “Autobiography of a Yogi”

You must do your work with a sense of sanctity
and not feel that it is work. Do it in silence and
without noise. We must not talk of it and make
much of it. We must never bring a critical attitude
towards it. Better not to work at all than to work
with wrong spirit. Nothing is more purifying than
unselfish work.

Swami Parmanana
Book of Daily Thoughts & Prayers (BDTP)

If we keep our mind free, clear and open, then
there is no crisis in our life. We must never leave
our inner house in darkness ; we must ever keep
the light of consecration burning there. Where
there is light, God comes and no sense-robbers can
enter. If we keep our life in harmony, evil will
stay far from us. Some people pray only when in
trouble. If we pray continually, then when trouble
comes, our prayer will go on of itself.

Swami Parmanand
Book of Daily Thoughts

We must inform our minds that no one in this universe depends upon us; not one beggar depends on our charity; not one soul on our kindness; not one living thing on our help. All are helped on by nature, and will be so helped even though millions of us were not here. The course of nature will not stop for such as you and me; it is, as already pointed out, only a blessed privilege to you and to me that we are allowed, in the way of helping others, to educate ourselves. This is a great lesson to learn in life, and when we have learned it fully, we shall never be unhappy; we can go and mix without harm in society anywhere and everywhere.

Swami Vivekananda

He who, with devotion offereth to Me a leaf, a
flower, a fruit and water, that love-offering
I accept, made by the pure-hearted,
Even if the most wicked worships me with
undivided devotion, he should be regarded
as good, for he is rightly resolved.

Bhagavad-Gita

Compassionate One, I pray unto Thee to purify
and spiritualize my whole life.
I have no power to do aught of myself,
But Thou art an inexhaustible Storehouse of
power.
Inspire me to noble thought and action ;
Lift my aspiration and make me steadfast in
seeking and manifesting only that which is
lofty and up-building.
May I never fail to serve Thee with unfaltering
faith and devotion.

Swami Parmanand
(BDTP)

As rivers flow into the sea
and in so doing lose name
and form, so even the wise
man, freed from name and
form, attains the infinite.
— Mundaka Upanishad

The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches direct to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination.

Swami Sivananda

If a man thinks that his happiness is due to external causes and his possessions, it is reasonable to conclude that his happiness must increase with the increase of possessions and diminish in proportion to their diminution. Therefore if he is devoid of possessions, his happiness should be nil. What is the real experience of man? Does it conform to this view?

In deep sleep the man is devoid of possessions, including his own body. Instead of being unhappy he is quite happy. Everyone desires to sleep soundly. The conclusion is that happiness is inherent in man and is not due to external causes. One must realise his Self in order to open the store of unalloyed happiness.

Raman Maharishi

Meditation is not a state of concentration; it is not a state of mind at all. It is a state of
total mindlessness — and not a state of sleep either. No mind, no sleep; no mind, but total
awareness. Out of that awareness you bring a different quality to music, to painting, to
poetry. And out of that meditativeness you can bring a totally different quality to science
too. But before that can happen we will need large numbers of meditative people around
the earth.

Osho

If you try to reconcile Meditativeness and Science, it is not only difficult but impossible. It cannot be done. You will go mad — the very effort to reconcile them will drive you crazy. Avoid such an effort. Rather, on the contrary, simply watch.Life is paradoxical. It is already a synthesis of paradoxes; the opposites are already meeting in it. All that we need is a pure mirror-like consciousness, so that whatsoever life is it is reflected. And you will see in that reflection the meeting of the opposites: the meeting of East and West, the meeting of religion and science.

Osho

We cover all things with the Lord by perceiving the Divine Presence everywhere. When the consciousness is firmly fixed in God, the conception of diversity naturally drops away; because the One Cosmic Existence shines through all things. As we gain the light of wisdom, we cease to cling to the unrealities of this world and we find all our joy in the realm of Reality.

Isa Upanishad
Interpretation: Swami Parmananda

If one should desire to live in this world a hundred years, one should live performing Karma (righteous deeds). Thus thou mayest live; there is no other way. By doing this, Karma (the fruits of thy actions) will not defile thee.

If a man still clings to long life and earthly possessions, and is therefore unable to follow the path of Self-knowledge (Gnana-Nishta) as prescribed in the first Mantram (text), then he may follow the path of right action (Karma-Nishta). Karma here means actions performed without selfish motive, for the sake of the Lord alone. When a man performs actions clinging blindly to his lower desires, then his actions bind him to the plane of ignorance or the plane of birth and death; but when the same actions are performed with surrender to God, they purify and liberate him.

Isa Upanishad
Interpretation: Swami Parmananda

After leaving their bodies, they who have killed the Self go to the worlds of the Asuras, covered with blinding ignorance.

The idea of rising to bright regions as a reward for well-doers, and of falling into realms of darkness as a punishment for evil-doers is common to all great religions. But Vedanta claims that this condition of heaven and hell is only temporary; because our actions, being finite, can produce only a finite result.

What does it mean “to kill the Self?” How can the immortal Soul ever be destroyed? It cannot be destroyed, it can only be obscured. Those who hold themselves under the sway of ignorance, who serve the flesh and neglect the Atman or the real Self, are not able to perceive the effulgent and indestructible nature of their Soul; hence they fall into the realm where the Soul light does not shine. Here the Upanishad shows that the only hell is absence of knowledge. As long as man is overpowered by the darkness of ignorance, he is the slave of Nature and must accept whatever comes as the fruit of his thoughts and deeds. When he strays into the path of unreality, the Sages declare that he destroys himself; because he who clings to the perishable body and regards it as his true Self must experience death many times.

Isa Upanishad
Interpretation: Swami Parmananda

That One, though motionless, is swifter than the mind. The senses can never overtake It, for It ever goes before. Though immovable, It travels faster than those who run. By It the all-pervading air sustains all living beings.

This verse explains the character of the Atman or Self. A finite object can be taken from one place and put in another, but it can only occupy one space at a time. The Atman, however, is present everywhere; hence, though one may run with the greatest swiftness to overtake It, already It is there before him.

Even the all-pervading air must be supported by this Self, since It is infinite; and as nothing can live without breathing air, all living things must draw their life from the Cosmic Self.

Isa Upanishad
Interpretation: Swami Parmananda

I know now that I am a lion of cosmic power.
Bleating no more, I shake the error forest with
reverberations of Thine almighty voice. In divine
freedom I bound through the jungle of earthly
delusions, devouring the little creatures of vexing
worries and timidities, and the wild hyenas of
disbelief.

O Lion of Liberation, ever send through me Thy
roar of all-conquering courage.

— Paramahansa Yogananda, “Whispers from Eternity”

Why do you consider non-essentials so important?
Most people concentrate on breakfast, lunch, and
dinner, work, social activities, and so on. Make your
life more simple and put your whole mind on the
Lord.

—Paramahansa Yogananda, “How You Can Talk With God”

Mystic Trail, which started with the name Spiritual Diary in 2010 Completes 5 years on 22nd November 2015. We made efforts to see that none of the quotes are repeated. They were all different.

Sometimes it is also good to re-look at the quotes and pick out the ones you didn’t understand, or the ones you want to re absorb. So this time I am not giving you a new quote. I suggest you go to the Mystic Trail page and browse through the Masters, their quotes and their pictures.

Make it an occasional habit to visit the page. Sometimes a second look reveals something new you might not have noticed earlier. Also try to contemplate in silence on the quotes that affected you. You will discover a new dimension of experience.

Om Asato Maa Sad-Gamaya |
Tamaso Maa Jyotir-Gamaya |
Mrtyor-Maa Amrtam Gamaya |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

The Upanishad

Meaning:
1: Om, (O Lord) Keep me not in the Unreality (of the bondage of the Phenomenal World), but lead me towards the Reality(of the Eternal Self),
2: (O Lord) Keep me not in the Darkness (of Ignorance), but lead me towards the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge),
3: (O Lord) Keep me not in the (Fear of) Death (due to the bondage of the Mortal World), but lead me towards theImmortality (gained by the Knowledge of the Immortal Self beyond Death),
4: Om, (May there be) Peace, Peace, Peace (at the the three levels – Adidaivika, Adibhautika and Adhyatmika).

Path presupposes distance;
If He be near, no path needest thou at all.
Verily it maketh me smile
To hear of a fish in water athirst!

Sant Kabir

Ordinary love is selfish, darkly rooted in desires and satisfactions.
Divine love is without condition, without boundary, without change.
The flux of the human heart is gone forever at the transfixing touch of pure love.

Swami Sri Yukteshwar Giri

…….“Be like the divine leech and suck up a lot of wisdom even though torn to bits.
A smooth life is not a victorious life.”

………..”And I will give you lots of good karma so you will get through.
I will not only ever forgive you, but ever lift you up no matter how many times you fall.
Keep unceasingly trying to conquer. Not only will I invisibly help you,
but visibly through many disciples here”…………………

“I am not building a mansion for you to give you riches which will perish,
but I am making an imperishable home with all riches in my Divine Mother’s mansion.”

Paramhans Yogananda
(From a letter to a disciple)