Steadiness, or stability of attention, supports the clarity of mind necessary for superconscious meditation. When we are able to intentionally focus our awareness on a single point of attention for a period of time, the wave-like motions of thought activity in the mental field subside and we can experience the peaceful radiance of our essential nature. Repeated intentional flowing of attention to a single point until clarity prevails is concentration. Think of it as “flexing our attention muscle.” We choose a point of focus, such as our breath or a mantra. We focus on this for awhile and then notice when our attention has wandered. When this occurs, we gently return our attention to the mantra or the breath. When we stick with it, these intentional, persistent acts of concentration ultimately bring stillness to the mental field. Steady concentration naturally flows into meditation. When concentration is stabilized, it becomes meditation—a steady flow of our attention and awareness to a single point. This practice is preliminary to the experience of superconsciousness or samadhi.
In order to experience superconsciousness, (clarified awareness, that is “super” or beyond ordinary states of consciousness) the mental field must be purified. Steady practice of focused attention is a primary way to achieve this purification. When attention and awareness become one-pointed, the qualities of restless and inertia in the mental field that stimulate thought activity settle of their own accord. Once that occurs, the mental field becomes peaceful and transparent; we are ready for the direct perception of higher states of consciousness.
For this practice to be successful, it must be comprehensive. It is difficult to sit for meditation and experience steady attention if our practice is not consistent. Irregular practice usually indicates mental unrest and further exacerbates it. The steadiness of a regular time, place, system, and duration of practice contribute to calmness and clarity. All that we do affects the mind and is affected by mind. The consistent practice of superconscious meditation over a long period of time contributes to positive changes in the body and mind. Stress is released from the physical body, contributing to greater health and well-being. Subconscious patterns are cleared from the mind facilitating clear awareness and freedom of choice.
If we seek clarity then we must cultivate steadiness in all areas of our life. We do this principally by maintaining Self- and God-realization as our primary focus and life goal. Meditation is then not separate from other aspects of our life but a tool that is supportive of achieving our highest aim. Our devotion becomes full and steady, not something limited to a particular meditation technique but rather our persistent commitment to spiritually conscious living and full liberation of consciousness. This means that we will persevere until we reach the goal. The great sage Lahiri Mahasaya encouraged spiritual seekers to prevail in their divinely inspired quest for complete realization: Keeping on, keeping on; one day behold! The divine realization.
Think About It: Whatever you may want to do in life, one thing is absolutely indispensable and at the basis of everything, the capacity of concentrating the attention. If you are able to gather together the rays of attention and consciousness on one point and can maintain this concentration with a persistent will, nothing can resist it - whatever it may be, from the most material physical development to the highest spiritual one. But this discipline must be followed in a constant and, it may be said, imperturbable way; not that you should always be concentrated on the same thing - that's not what I mean, I mean learning to concentrate.
–The Mother, (Mirra Alfassa)
Be Inspired: When the activating power of the mind is stilled by concentration, restlessness ceases and we become absorbed in the transcendental Bliss of the soul.
—Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Thirty Two: Freedom in Any Moment
There is a choice we make, day in and day out, moment to moment, which makes all the difference in the quality of life that we experience. That choice is where we will put our attention. Not just the choices we make about what we will think about, but more fundamentally, what is the basic assumption we are making about ourselves at any given time? Are we identifying with our essential nature, the eternal spiritual truth of our being? Or, are we identifying with the physical body and the changing thoughts and feelings that arise in the mind? Simply put, do we think of ourselves as a physical being that has a soul or know that we are the soul expressing through the physical body?
A simple shift in identification from being caught up in mental conditioning to resting in the unchanging Self changes our perception and opens the door to the true freedom and joy of spiritually conscious living. The great goal of yoga is the liberation of consciousness that brings true knowledge and freedom from suffering. It begins with this turning of attention and awareness to abide in the Self. Taking a step toward liberation is turning attention and awareness to that which we are. It is remembering that which we know to be true.
While meditation and self inquiry are the primary tools for transforming the way we see ourselves and experience the world, this first step can be supported through awareness and intention. We can observe our prevailing mental tendency and notice how it colors our perceptions and experiences. And we can, through intention, shift our awareness to rest in that which is ultimately true about us. This is the way to discover freedom in any moment.
Think About It: The body is mortal but within it dwells the immortal Self. This Self, when associated in our consciousness with the body, is subject to pleasure and pain; and so long as this association continues, freedom from pleasure and pain cannot be found.
–Chandogya Upanishad 8.12.1
Be Inspired: In our original true being, we are divine Consciousness. That divine Consciousness is the reality of our being, and any limitation or discord, any sin or disease is no part of our consciousness, but is a superimposed picture.
– Joel Goldsmith
A simple shift in identification from being caught up in mental conditioning to resting in the unchanging Self changes our perception and opens the door to the true freedom and joy of spiritually conscious living. The great goal of yoga is the liberation of consciousness that brings true knowledge and freedom from suffering. It begins with this turning of attention and awareness to abide in the Self. Taking a step toward liberation is turning attention and awareness to that which we are. It is remembering that which we know to be true.
While meditation and self inquiry are the primary tools for transforming the way we see ourselves and experience the world, this first step can be supported through awareness and intention. We can observe our prevailing mental tendency and notice how it colors our perceptions and experiences. And we can, through intention, shift our awareness to rest in that which is ultimately true about us. This is the way to discover freedom in any moment.
Think About It: The body is mortal but within it dwells the immortal Self. This Self, when associated in our consciousness with the body, is subject to pleasure and pain; and so long as this association continues, freedom from pleasure and pain cannot be found.
–Chandogya Upanishad 8.12.1
Be Inspired: In our original true being, we are divine Consciousness. That divine Consciousness is the reality of our being, and any limitation or discord, any sin or disease is no part of our consciousness, but is a superimposed picture.
– Joel Goldsmith
Day Thirty One: The Power to Change
When Paramahansa Yogananda taught people about the nature of the soul and its relationship to the mind and life experiences, he used the example of viewing a movie to illustrate his point. He compared our experience of perception in the world to that of being in an old movie theater where you can see the light shining from the projection booth. The light from the projector is like the soul or the Self, shining forth the light of pure awareness. This light shines through the film with its imprints which then produces what we see on the screen in the “movie of our life.” The images on the film are the patterns in our mind that show up on the screen as our life experience.
Using his metaphor, we can see that criticizing the screen, or even replacing it with a new one, will not produce any change in the movie. Yet this is frequently how people approach change in life—they blame conditions, or other people, and invest a great deal of energy trying to change appearances. But to effect real change, we have to change the film. We must change the cause of the perception we are having. And this is the good news, because we can—by changing the contents of our mind.
People ask me: How can I tell if what I am thinking and feeling about another person is projection? My rule of thumb for the sake of spiritual growth is: it’s always about us to some degree. A good indication that there is some inner work for us to do is when our observation is accompanied by unsettled emotion. And when we can observe that most other people are not having the same experience of another person that we are. Our experience arises out of our own mental equivalent, that’s why it is in our field of perception. It is a representation of the imprints that are in our mind and consciousness.
Noticing that we are blaming, criticizing, or judging others can be an indication that we have lost our conscious contact with God. When this awareness arises, it can be a helpful signal to return to wholeness, to see through conditioned patterns and instead abide in spiritual realization—remembering the underlying truth about ourselves and others as spiritual beings.
It is useful to note that projections aren’t always negative. We may project out our own power, our own goodness, our own beauty, and even our own competency. We may project out our own spirituality. When we place someone on a pedestal, we might consider asking ourselves, “How am I being invited to grow in order to embody that which I am seeing in someone else as my own quality?” We can reclaim what is inherently ours.
To learn more about ourselves, we can practice self-examination and intentionally turn projections around. We can do this whether the projections are positive or negative. I’m not suggesting that we take the criticism or blame or even the adulation we have placed on another and turn it toward ourselves. Rather, I’m suggesting that we can use discernment while abiding in spiritual awareness to see what a projection may reveal about the patterns in our mind or the beliefs we hold. None of this should be confused with the essential self, which is free of any imprints. But what we observe at the level of personality may provide a useful learning. It may be time to let it go of an old idea, or perhaps, embrace a new one.
Think About It: In Zen Buddhist meditation the master tries to teach his pupil how he can forever keep the inner mirror free of dust. To the extent that he lives in complete accord with the rhythm of psychic energy and with its regulator, the Self, he has no projections anymore; he looks at reality without illusion and more or less continuously reads the meaning of all the synchronistic events happening around him. He lives in the creative current or stream of the Self and has himself, indeed, become a part of this stream. –M.L. von Franz
Be Inspired: Mines of power lie unexplored within you. You use this power unconsciously in all things you do, and you achieve certain results; but, if you learn how to consciously control and use the powers within you, you can accomplish much more. –Paramahansa Yogananda
Using his metaphor, we can see that criticizing the screen, or even replacing it with a new one, will not produce any change in the movie. Yet this is frequently how people approach change in life—they blame conditions, or other people, and invest a great deal of energy trying to change appearances. But to effect real change, we have to change the film. We must change the cause of the perception we are having. And this is the good news, because we can—by changing the contents of our mind.
People ask me: How can I tell if what I am thinking and feeling about another person is projection? My rule of thumb for the sake of spiritual growth is: it’s always about us to some degree. A good indication that there is some inner work for us to do is when our observation is accompanied by unsettled emotion. And when we can observe that most other people are not having the same experience of another person that we are. Our experience arises out of our own mental equivalent, that’s why it is in our field of perception. It is a representation of the imprints that are in our mind and consciousness.
Noticing that we are blaming, criticizing, or judging others can be an indication that we have lost our conscious contact with God. When this awareness arises, it can be a helpful signal to return to wholeness, to see through conditioned patterns and instead abide in spiritual realization—remembering the underlying truth about ourselves and others as spiritual beings.
It is useful to note that projections aren’t always negative. We may project out our own power, our own goodness, our own beauty, and even our own competency. We may project out our own spirituality. When we place someone on a pedestal, we might consider asking ourselves, “How am I being invited to grow in order to embody that which I am seeing in someone else as my own quality?” We can reclaim what is inherently ours.
To learn more about ourselves, we can practice self-examination and intentionally turn projections around. We can do this whether the projections are positive or negative. I’m not suggesting that we take the criticism or blame or even the adulation we have placed on another and turn it toward ourselves. Rather, I’m suggesting that we can use discernment while abiding in spiritual awareness to see what a projection may reveal about the patterns in our mind or the beliefs we hold. None of this should be confused with the essential self, which is free of any imprints. But what we observe at the level of personality may provide a useful learning. It may be time to let it go of an old idea, or perhaps, embrace a new one.
Think About It: In Zen Buddhist meditation the master tries to teach his pupil how he can forever keep the inner mirror free of dust. To the extent that he lives in complete accord with the rhythm of psychic energy and with its regulator, the Self, he has no projections anymore; he looks at reality without illusion and more or less continuously reads the meaning of all the synchronistic events happening around him. He lives in the creative current or stream of the Self and has himself, indeed, become a part of this stream. –M.L. von Franz
Be Inspired: Mines of power lie unexplored within you. You use this power unconsciously in all things you do, and you achieve certain results; but, if you learn how to consciously control and use the powers within you, you can accomplish much more. –Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Thirty: It Comes Down to Kindness
When we look into the great religious and spiritual traditions, the wisdom legacy of all humanity, we find in each an ethic of compassion based on the deepest truth of our spiritual identity as one, unified life. Knowing this truth is revealed in acts of simple kindness which reflect the deep beneficence inherent to such a world view. Scholar Karen Armstrong, in her book, The Great Transformation: The Beginning of our Religious Traditions, observes that the illumined sages who provided the seminal influences on the origins of the major faiths were less concerned with abstract philosophical concepts about the nature of God than they were interested in the actualization of ethical behaviors or a compassionate life which they considered essential for any real encounter with God or higher truth.
All the sages preached a spirituality of empathy and compassion; they insisted that people must abandon their egotism and greed, their violence and unkindness…Each tradition developed its own formulation of the Golden Rule: do not do to others what you would not have done to you. As far as the Axial sages were concerned, respect for the sacred rights of all beings—not orthodox belief—was religion. If people behaved with kindness and generosity to their fellows, they could save the world.
To simply be kind, to offer respect to one another in our interactions, is a basic guideline for how to live and get along well with others, yet it is not always so easy to do. Why is that? We certainly feel better about ourselves when our thoughts, speech and actions are harmonious, contributing to our own happiness and that of others. It isn’t pleasant to be unkind, to go through life with the proverbial chip on our shoulder, having interactions that leave upset and suffering in their wake. Yet most of us experience this less than ideal way of relating to others, primarily due to two factors: first, a lack of spiritual realization and second, a need for specific relational skills and practice. We must be aware of the truth of who we and others are, and we need to learn how to relate based on this truth. This takes practice.
Acts of loving-kindness are expressions of our innate divine nature. It is interesting to note that the Old English origins of the word kind mean natural or innate. The basis for developing loving-kindness is not self-improvement, rather it is self realization—knowing the spiritual truth about ourselves and others and acting in accordance with that knowledge.
A story is told about the great Master Yunmen who was asked by an aspiring monk, “What was it that the Buddha taught his entire life?” Yunmen answered, “An appropriate response.” Loving-kindness is the appropriate response from one who is awake to their nature as Supreme Consciousness, one with all that is. It is the appropriate response to all who are that same Supreme Consciousness which is expressing as each individual. Therefore, the first practice for cultivating loving-kindness is recognizing what is so. All of life is God in expression.
Think About It: Altruism—including kindness, generosity, and compassion—are keys to the social connections that are so important to our happiness. Research finds that acts of kindness—especially spontaneous, out-of-the ordinary ones—can boost happiness in the person doing the good deed. -On Altruism and Happiness from pbs.org
Be Inspired: When my guru, Roy Eugene Davis, was asked about the key to long-lasting and fulfilling relationships, he replied, “Be kind to one another.”
All the sages preached a spirituality of empathy and compassion; they insisted that people must abandon their egotism and greed, their violence and unkindness…Each tradition developed its own formulation of the Golden Rule: do not do to others what you would not have done to you. As far as the Axial sages were concerned, respect for the sacred rights of all beings—not orthodox belief—was religion. If people behaved with kindness and generosity to their fellows, they could save the world.
To simply be kind, to offer respect to one another in our interactions, is a basic guideline for how to live and get along well with others, yet it is not always so easy to do. Why is that? We certainly feel better about ourselves when our thoughts, speech and actions are harmonious, contributing to our own happiness and that of others. It isn’t pleasant to be unkind, to go through life with the proverbial chip on our shoulder, having interactions that leave upset and suffering in their wake. Yet most of us experience this less than ideal way of relating to others, primarily due to two factors: first, a lack of spiritual realization and second, a need for specific relational skills and practice. We must be aware of the truth of who we and others are, and we need to learn how to relate based on this truth. This takes practice.
Acts of loving-kindness are expressions of our innate divine nature. It is interesting to note that the Old English origins of the word kind mean natural or innate. The basis for developing loving-kindness is not self-improvement, rather it is self realization—knowing the spiritual truth about ourselves and others and acting in accordance with that knowledge.
A story is told about the great Master Yunmen who was asked by an aspiring monk, “What was it that the Buddha taught his entire life?” Yunmen answered, “An appropriate response.” Loving-kindness is the appropriate response from one who is awake to their nature as Supreme Consciousness, one with all that is. It is the appropriate response to all who are that same Supreme Consciousness which is expressing as each individual. Therefore, the first practice for cultivating loving-kindness is recognizing what is so. All of life is God in expression.
Think About It: Altruism—including kindness, generosity, and compassion—are keys to the social connections that are so important to our happiness. Research finds that acts of kindness—especially spontaneous, out-of-the ordinary ones—can boost happiness in the person doing the good deed. -On Altruism and Happiness from pbs.org
Be Inspired: When my guru, Roy Eugene Davis, was asked about the key to long-lasting and fulfilling relationships, he replied, “Be kind to one another.”
Day Twenty Nine: Meditate on an Awakened Heart
Besides the positive support of our teachers and friends on the spiritual path, we are blessed with the examples of enlightenment in the lives of the saints and sages of all times. Through contemplating the minds and consciousness of such illumined souls, we can purify our own minds. One who is awakened, whose mind is purified, is free from the sway of desire. He or she is dispassionate, established in equanimity, and free from the pull of restlessness caused by the ego. When we contemplate what that state of mind is like and meditate upon it, it has a powerful purifying effect upon us. This practice is one of several ways recommended in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra to calm the mental field and overcome the obstacles to superconscious meditation:
1.37 (the mental field can be calmed) by meditating on the heart of an illumined soul that is free from passion.
We immerse ourselves in the awareness of how it might be to experience an awakened heart (spiritually realized consciousness) until there is the direct experience of that consciousness within ourselves.
The steps of this practice are:
We can also cultivate this higher consciousness in times of activity where discernment is needed by taking a moment to enter the silence, remember the enlightened one, and inwardly ask how such a free soul would approach the situation before us. What would their natural response be? What might they say or do? Then we can consider this choice for ourselves.
Think About It: When His Holiness the Dalai Lama appeared before 5,000 people at Sanford Fieldhouse to hear him speak about happiness, he first removed his shoes and arranged himself slowly in a cross-legged position in the oversized crimson leather chair that was made for the occasion. Despite the audience's palpable eagerness for words of wisdom, he quipped that the chair was so comfortable he'd like to "sit without talk." But talk he did, in an engaging and straightforward way; about how inner peace, compassion, and truth are necessary for happiness. He implored his audience to "please think more about those inner values."He said, "We pay too much concern to material things and neglect our inner resources." –posted on dalailama.com
Be Inspired: I am often asked what it was like to be with Paramahansa Yogananda…When I was with him, and at all other times when I attuned my mind and consciousness with his, which he frequently advised me to do, my mind was calm; I felt secure and peaceful; my awareness was tranquil and clear; I was more Self- and God-conscious.
–Roy Eugene Davis, from Paramahansa Yogananda As I Knew Him
1.37 (the mental field can be calmed) by meditating on the heart of an illumined soul that is free from passion.
We immerse ourselves in the awareness of how it might be to experience an awakened heart (spiritually realized consciousness) until there is the direct experience of that consciousness within ourselves.
The steps of this practice are:
- Begin with a few moments of meditation.
- Bring to mind an awakened or enlightened person. See an image of them in your mind’s eye.
- Feel as if you are sitting with him or her, and imagine what it would be like to be influenced by their consciousness and presence.
- Reflect on the quality of their conscious awareness. Feel as if you are experiencing it directly and allow that feeling to impact your own state of mind and heart.
- Feel that their consciousness and your consciousness are one; their heart and your heart are one.
- Rest for a moment in knowing that this awakened consciousness is your own true nature.
- Agree within yourself to let this light of truth, this light of love, guide your thoughts, speech and actions.
We can also cultivate this higher consciousness in times of activity where discernment is needed by taking a moment to enter the silence, remember the enlightened one, and inwardly ask how such a free soul would approach the situation before us. What would their natural response be? What might they say or do? Then we can consider this choice for ourselves.
Think About It: When His Holiness the Dalai Lama appeared before 5,000 people at Sanford Fieldhouse to hear him speak about happiness, he first removed his shoes and arranged himself slowly in a cross-legged position in the oversized crimson leather chair that was made for the occasion. Despite the audience's palpable eagerness for words of wisdom, he quipped that the chair was so comfortable he'd like to "sit without talk." But talk he did, in an engaging and straightforward way; about how inner peace, compassion, and truth are necessary for happiness. He implored his audience to "please think more about those inner values."He said, "We pay too much concern to material things and neglect our inner resources." –posted on dalailama.com
Be Inspired: I am often asked what it was like to be with Paramahansa Yogananda…When I was with him, and at all other times when I attuned my mind and consciousness with his, which he frequently advised me to do, my mind was calm; I felt secure and peaceful; my awareness was tranquil and clear; I was more Self- and God-conscious.
–Roy Eugene Davis, from Paramahansa Yogananda As I Knew Him
Day Twenty Eight: Beyond Belief and Into Possibility
A powerful lesson was in front of me many times a day, for many months. I did not see it. I did not see it because I saw what was in front of me through the eyes of my belief system and, my belief system was in error. Here is the story. It’s a story about me, my beliefs, and the little ficus plant growing in my greenhouse window above my kitchen sink. The greenhouse window has a glass shelf in the middle for plants. When I put the ficus plant on the bottom shelf it slowly grew until its leaves reached the underside of the glass shelf in the middle. I didn’t worry about the ficus being cramped because I knew that ficus plants are slow growing. For months it stayed there, simply touching its top leaves to the shelf above. It showed no evidence of overcrowding, no straining against the glass. Each time I looked at it I reminded myself it was a “slow grower.” One day I decided to move it out onto a table in the open. The glass ceiling was gone. I could not believe my eyes. Within days the “slow grower” was literally reaching for the sky. It grew nearly a foot. I stood awed, corrected, and invited by this little plant to look beyond my beliefs into the realm of possibility.
At CSE, we are concluding our 30th year of ministry service and getting ready for our annual community meeting. As we prepare, it is natural to reflect on the growth of the ministry over the years. One of the most moving stories for us is what happened when we became willing to take responsibility for a permanent home for the ministry. We had yearned for a place of our own for many years but we learned that besides a dream, we would need to change our minds about what was possible and be willing to step into that possibility. When we did, we experienced the power of Spirit to prosper us beyond our belief systems.
When we heard that the Unity Church property on University Avenue in San Jose was for sale we went to look knowing that we could not afford it. The asking price was two million dollars and we had twenty thousand in our building fund. The staff and board members who went to see the buildings shared in the appreciation of its beauty and the sense of how perfect it could be for our ministry. However, we could not see how the Center could make such a great financial leap so we set the conversation aside and we continued to pray for a new home. The more we looked at others sites, the more this one seemed right. Then we decided to revisit the property. This time, we would look through the eyes of possibility, rather than the eyes of our limiting beliefs. We asked: “Is this the right place for us?” We did not lead with the questions: Can we afford it? Where will we get the money? We knew those were important questions but we also knew they were not the most important. When we were able to answer, in our hearts, “yes” and to see the Center there, the necessary help came forward. Funds were donated to purchase the property outright with no debt to the Center. Was it a miracle? Yes, we think so. A miracle is something we cannot explain through our ordinary belief system. A miracle is something that invokes awe in us and turns our attention to God.
Think About It: For years, the 4-minute mile was considered not merely unreachable but, according to physiologists of the time, dangerous to the health of any athlete who attempted to reach it. When Roger Bannister crossed the finish line on May 6, 1954 with a time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds, he broke through a psychological barrier as well.
John Landy, considered one of the great milers of that era, never had gotten closer than within 1.5 seconds of the 4-minute barrier before. Within 46 days of Bannister's breakthrough, John Landy surpassed the record with a 3:57.9 in Finland. By the end of 1957, 16 runners had logged sub-4-minute miles. —St. Petersburg Times
Be Inspired: No great idea can have a place in the heart unless one steps out of his little corner. —Swami Vivekananda
At CSE, we are concluding our 30th year of ministry service and getting ready for our annual community meeting. As we prepare, it is natural to reflect on the growth of the ministry over the years. One of the most moving stories for us is what happened when we became willing to take responsibility for a permanent home for the ministry. We had yearned for a place of our own for many years but we learned that besides a dream, we would need to change our minds about what was possible and be willing to step into that possibility. When we did, we experienced the power of Spirit to prosper us beyond our belief systems.
When we heard that the Unity Church property on University Avenue in San Jose was for sale we went to look knowing that we could not afford it. The asking price was two million dollars and we had twenty thousand in our building fund. The staff and board members who went to see the buildings shared in the appreciation of its beauty and the sense of how perfect it could be for our ministry. However, we could not see how the Center could make such a great financial leap so we set the conversation aside and we continued to pray for a new home. The more we looked at others sites, the more this one seemed right. Then we decided to revisit the property. This time, we would look through the eyes of possibility, rather than the eyes of our limiting beliefs. We asked: “Is this the right place for us?” We did not lead with the questions: Can we afford it? Where will we get the money? We knew those were important questions but we also knew they were not the most important. When we were able to answer, in our hearts, “yes” and to see the Center there, the necessary help came forward. Funds were donated to purchase the property outright with no debt to the Center. Was it a miracle? Yes, we think so. A miracle is something we cannot explain through our ordinary belief system. A miracle is something that invokes awe in us and turns our attention to God.
Think About It: For years, the 4-minute mile was considered not merely unreachable but, according to physiologists of the time, dangerous to the health of any athlete who attempted to reach it. When Roger Bannister crossed the finish line on May 6, 1954 with a time of 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds, he broke through a psychological barrier as well.
John Landy, considered one of the great milers of that era, never had gotten closer than within 1.5 seconds of the 4-minute barrier before. Within 46 days of Bannister's breakthrough, John Landy surpassed the record with a 3:57.9 in Finland. By the end of 1957, 16 runners had logged sub-4-minute miles. —St. Petersburg Times
Be Inspired: No great idea can have a place in the heart unless one steps out of his little corner. —Swami Vivekananda
Day Twenty Seven: Express Your Self!
The goal of a spiritually awakened life is not to remove ourselves from the world but rather to function effectively in it with clarified awareness and focused intention. The heavenly realm that many yearn for is, as the enlightened sages have taught, right here. Right where we are, the reality of God is. The purpose of spiritual practice is to purify the body and mind so that the natural radiance of our essential nature is revealed and we can easily live balanced, constructive, and joyful lives. The first thing we can do to support joyful, purposeful living is to affirm this fundamental truth of our existence. Further study and meditation practice will confirm and deepen this initial understanding.
When the mind is peaceful, the inner light of awareness shines through. Spiritual practice is not just the time we spend sitting in meditation or study of metaphysical principles but it is the choices we make every day. Being conscious of those choices, and their potential impact on the body, the mind, and relationships with others is essential. A useful goal is to strive to be peaceful by cultivating mental and emotional calmness and balance.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra offers a helpful practice for cultivating a peaceful mind as we engage with others. Verse 1.33 recommends: The mind is purified by cultivating thoughts and feelings of loving-kindness for those who are happy, compassion for those who are experiencing suffering, joy for those who are experiencing well-being, and dispassion for those who are engaged in error. This practice encourages us to adopt responses that would be natural to an enlightened individual. Such responses are natural to every person when they are spiritually awake; they arise from a peaceful mind and contribute to peace as well. Lower drives and tendencies that are rooted in the ego prompt thoughts and actions that disturb our peace, reinforce the sense of separate existence, and negatively impact our relationships with others.
An example of an unenlightened reaction to the happiness or success of others is jealousy. An ego-driven response asks: “Why them? Why not me?” Instead of reacting that way, this practice invites us to share in the happiness of others, rejoicing in it through offering our own thoughts of loving-kindness and wishes for everyone’s well-being. If others are experiencing suffering in some way, instead of criticizing, pitying, or avoiding them, we can wish them well by offering compassion and unconditional positive regard. If we encounter something that we know is not useful, instead of reacting negatively to what we see and becoming overly involved, we can remain centered and respond appropriately when necessary.
When we cultivate attitudes and responses that bring peace of mind and emotional stability, our essential nature can shine through. We then truly express the Self.
Think About It: Individuals do not exist independently from one another, but rather rely on this interconnectedness and interdependence for their very survival. Compassion refers to a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it... a quality of mind that embraces the responsibility to care for and act for the benefit of others. An important basis for the cultivation of compassion is the simple and profound insight that we, as individuals, do not exist independently from one another, but rather rely on this interconnectedness and interdependence for our very survival. [from: Investigating the Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms of Compassion Training in Medical School and Psychology Students.
—Philippe Goldin, Ph. D. —posted at compassion.stanford.edu
Be inspired: Discard the false belief that there is a separation between spiritual and material life. In everything you do, express your limitless soul qualities. – Paramahansa Yogananda
When the mind is peaceful, the inner light of awareness shines through. Spiritual practice is not just the time we spend sitting in meditation or study of metaphysical principles but it is the choices we make every day. Being conscious of those choices, and their potential impact on the body, the mind, and relationships with others is essential. A useful goal is to strive to be peaceful by cultivating mental and emotional calmness and balance.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra offers a helpful practice for cultivating a peaceful mind as we engage with others. Verse 1.33 recommends: The mind is purified by cultivating thoughts and feelings of loving-kindness for those who are happy, compassion for those who are experiencing suffering, joy for those who are experiencing well-being, and dispassion for those who are engaged in error. This practice encourages us to adopt responses that would be natural to an enlightened individual. Such responses are natural to every person when they are spiritually awake; they arise from a peaceful mind and contribute to peace as well. Lower drives and tendencies that are rooted in the ego prompt thoughts and actions that disturb our peace, reinforce the sense of separate existence, and negatively impact our relationships with others.
An example of an unenlightened reaction to the happiness or success of others is jealousy. An ego-driven response asks: “Why them? Why not me?” Instead of reacting that way, this practice invites us to share in the happiness of others, rejoicing in it through offering our own thoughts of loving-kindness and wishes for everyone’s well-being. If others are experiencing suffering in some way, instead of criticizing, pitying, or avoiding them, we can wish them well by offering compassion and unconditional positive regard. If we encounter something that we know is not useful, instead of reacting negatively to what we see and becoming overly involved, we can remain centered and respond appropriately when necessary.
When we cultivate attitudes and responses that bring peace of mind and emotional stability, our essential nature can shine through. We then truly express the Self.
Think About It: Individuals do not exist independently from one another, but rather rely on this interconnectedness and interdependence for their very survival. Compassion refers to a deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it... a quality of mind that embraces the responsibility to care for and act for the benefit of others. An important basis for the cultivation of compassion is the simple and profound insight that we, as individuals, do not exist independently from one another, but rather rely on this interconnectedness and interdependence for our very survival. [from: Investigating the Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms of Compassion Training in Medical School and Psychology Students.
—Philippe Goldin, Ph. D. —posted at compassion.stanford.edu
Be inspired: Discard the false belief that there is a separation between spiritual and material life. In everything you do, express your limitless soul qualities. – Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Twenty Six: Cultivate a Peaceful Mind
A peaceful mind is essential to living the spiritual life. When the mental field is calm we are able to experience our true nature, discern inner guidance, and remain open to the activity of grace. We take better care of our health because we are more aware of changes that require the adjustment of our thoughts and behavior. Our relationships, too, are enhanced, as we are more capable of being fully present to others. A verse in the Bhagavad Gita addresses the importance of a peaceful mind: “The uncontrolled mind does not perceive that the Self is present: How can it meditate? Without meditation, how can one know peace? Without peace, how can one know happiness?” Once we find peace in meditation, it takes a dedicated practice as well to maintain it in the world—in our activities and relationships.
As with all spiritual practice we must have a goal, a way of achieving the goal, and a commitment to achieve it. To cultivate a peaceful mind, we must decide that it is a priority. It takes practice, dedication, and discernment to learn to be calm in the midst of life’s changing conditions. Some of the same skills supportive of meditation practice are helpful in developing a peaceful mind during activity—the ability to focus the mind on one point, to turn to God in divine remembrance, to be the conscious witness to thoughts and emotions without reacting to them, and to discern the insubstantial nature of changing phenomena. The essential skill to remaining even-minded in changing conditions is to pay attention—look closely at the true nature of things and remain centered in our spiritual nature. As we become less reactive, better able to maintain a peaceful mind, everything improves, including our meditation practice.
One exercise that helps us stay clear and calm, and has far reaching effects, is to refrain from taking things personally. Leave your “self” out of it. While it is important to take responsibility for our actions, this practice is about releasing the erroneous belief that we are the cause of another’s experience or that others are to blame for what we are experiencing. This is simply not true. Each person’s response to situations in life is reflective of their state of consciousness—their beliefs, collective life experience, level of awareness, and point of view.
Things or events in life are inherently without meaning. We assign meaning to what happens based on our own perception. It’s possible to observe this principle by watching the different reactions of people in a group to the same event. For example, someone says something that one person thinks is hilarious and laughs out loud. Another person feels wounded or insulted by the same remark and emotionally withdraws, while others are surprised or even indifferent. All the reactions are to the same event. Yet each person reacts in a different way based on his or her own conditioning. Taking things personally is one of the ways that the ego reinforces its control. The “I, me, mine” involved in taking something personally is part of the structure of ego identity. When we do not cling to this identity, we can abide in the truth of our spiritual nature and observe what occurs around us without being reactive.
Some people worry that if they cease to take things personally they will not be responsible, care about others, or what takes place in the world. Just the opposite is actually true. When we are reactive or caught up in our personal point of view, we are less able to see the viewpoints of others and respond appropriately. When the mind is calm, we stay open and respond with wisdom and compassion.
The discipline of not taking things personally includes remembering that we are one in Spirit. With this understanding, we know that what we say and do matters deeply, because it touches everyone and everything. To search for our own good at the expense of others will only bring unhappiness in the end. How could it be otherwise? The more we try to find happiness for ourselves alone, the more we are caught in the trap of imagining a separate existence. Belief in a separate existence effectively cuts us off from the Source of good. One cannot simultaneously seek personal good and be open to the Source of all. Happy and peaceful are those who seek the good of all. “Pray for the good of others and you will receive the good,” says the Talmud.
Each day provides us with opportunities to cultivate a peaceful mind. How can we be even-minded, unconditionally content, and peaceful regardless of changing circumstances? Don’t take things personally. Remember that everything changes; God alone is changeless. Rely on God as your support. Be aware that things are not always as they seem. And lastly, have a deep commitment to live in joy, to live in peace. Believe it is possible and begin to practice today.
Think About It: Emotions such as anger and hostility quickly activate the "fight or flight response," in which stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, speed up your heart rate and breathing and give you a burst of energy. Blood pressure also rises as your blood vessels constrict. While this stress response mobilizes you for emergencies, it might cause harm if activated repeatedly. "You get high cortisol and high adrenaline levels and that is the cardiotoxic effect of anger expression," says Jerry Kiffer, MA, a heart-brain researcher at the Cleveland Clinic's Psychological Testing Center. "It causes wear and tear on the heart and cardiovascular system."
—from webMD.com
Be Inspired: Secure peace of mind by trust in God . . . Secure peace of mind through ceasing to contend and abandoning the search for one’s own good.
—al-Antaki (Islam)
As with all spiritual practice we must have a goal, a way of achieving the goal, and a commitment to achieve it. To cultivate a peaceful mind, we must decide that it is a priority. It takes practice, dedication, and discernment to learn to be calm in the midst of life’s changing conditions. Some of the same skills supportive of meditation practice are helpful in developing a peaceful mind during activity—the ability to focus the mind on one point, to turn to God in divine remembrance, to be the conscious witness to thoughts and emotions without reacting to them, and to discern the insubstantial nature of changing phenomena. The essential skill to remaining even-minded in changing conditions is to pay attention—look closely at the true nature of things and remain centered in our spiritual nature. As we become less reactive, better able to maintain a peaceful mind, everything improves, including our meditation practice.
One exercise that helps us stay clear and calm, and has far reaching effects, is to refrain from taking things personally. Leave your “self” out of it. While it is important to take responsibility for our actions, this practice is about releasing the erroneous belief that we are the cause of another’s experience or that others are to blame for what we are experiencing. This is simply not true. Each person’s response to situations in life is reflective of their state of consciousness—their beliefs, collective life experience, level of awareness, and point of view.
Things or events in life are inherently without meaning. We assign meaning to what happens based on our own perception. It’s possible to observe this principle by watching the different reactions of people in a group to the same event. For example, someone says something that one person thinks is hilarious and laughs out loud. Another person feels wounded or insulted by the same remark and emotionally withdraws, while others are surprised or even indifferent. All the reactions are to the same event. Yet each person reacts in a different way based on his or her own conditioning. Taking things personally is one of the ways that the ego reinforces its control. The “I, me, mine” involved in taking something personally is part of the structure of ego identity. When we do not cling to this identity, we can abide in the truth of our spiritual nature and observe what occurs around us without being reactive.
Some people worry that if they cease to take things personally they will not be responsible, care about others, or what takes place in the world. Just the opposite is actually true. When we are reactive or caught up in our personal point of view, we are less able to see the viewpoints of others and respond appropriately. When the mind is calm, we stay open and respond with wisdom and compassion.
The discipline of not taking things personally includes remembering that we are one in Spirit. With this understanding, we know that what we say and do matters deeply, because it touches everyone and everything. To search for our own good at the expense of others will only bring unhappiness in the end. How could it be otherwise? The more we try to find happiness for ourselves alone, the more we are caught in the trap of imagining a separate existence. Belief in a separate existence effectively cuts us off from the Source of good. One cannot simultaneously seek personal good and be open to the Source of all. Happy and peaceful are those who seek the good of all. “Pray for the good of others and you will receive the good,” says the Talmud.
Each day provides us with opportunities to cultivate a peaceful mind. How can we be even-minded, unconditionally content, and peaceful regardless of changing circumstances? Don’t take things personally. Remember that everything changes; God alone is changeless. Rely on God as your support. Be aware that things are not always as they seem. And lastly, have a deep commitment to live in joy, to live in peace. Believe it is possible and begin to practice today.
Think About It: Emotions such as anger and hostility quickly activate the "fight or flight response," in which stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, speed up your heart rate and breathing and give you a burst of energy. Blood pressure also rises as your blood vessels constrict. While this stress response mobilizes you for emergencies, it might cause harm if activated repeatedly. "You get high cortisol and high adrenaline levels and that is the cardiotoxic effect of anger expression," says Jerry Kiffer, MA, a heart-brain researcher at the Cleveland Clinic's Psychological Testing Center. "It causes wear and tear on the heart and cardiovascular system."
—from webMD.com
Be Inspired: Secure peace of mind by trust in God . . . Secure peace of mind through ceasing to contend and abandoning the search for one’s own good.
—al-Antaki (Islam)
Day Twenty Five: How Wonderful It Is to Be Aware
Resolve today to set yourself free and set others free from the tendency to criticize, blame or find fault. Paramahansa Yogananda said “it is possible to find fault with even the great works of art, yet why do that?” For many, fault finding is simply an unconscious habit. They are not aware that they do it consistently nor are they aware of the negative impact it has on themselves or others. Since our physical, mental, and emotional health is directly influenced by our prevailing thoughts, overcoming the habit of fault-finding can have a positive effect on our well-being and enhance our relationships with others as well. There are several easy ways to become free of this debilitating tendency.
To dismantle the habit of fault finding, first one has to become aware that it is a prevailing tendency of thought, speech and behavior. If you notice that you tend towards a negative state of mind and others tell you that they perceive you as being overly critical then more carefully examine your thought patterns, especially your first tendency upon encountering a situation. What is the first thing that you notice? Does your awareness seek out what is wrong, out of place, or displeasing to you? Or, do you tend to be aware of what is pleasing, what is in order and what is correct or done well?
Someone who is a habitual fault finder will experience a lack of joy in daily life and a lack of harmony in interpersonal relationships. Sometimes this habit is simply a learned behavior carried out unconsciously, a family pattern that was left unquestioned. Other times it may be due to a perceived need to feel superior, in control of situations or other people, or the desire to be noticed. Any of these rationales for the tendency are not consistent with our essential nature and therefore can be discarded. Such reasoning is built upon the error thought of the false self, or ego, which strives to maintain an identity based on separation. To keep this charade going, the unrestrained ego will attempt to assert itself on the environment as the master of experience. One of its methods is through fault finding, which serves to distinguish it as the owner and knower.
Those who are spiritually awake discern that the ego, which is a necessary mechanism for interacting with others in the world, is not the true self and can therefore be observed and directed by one’s higher true self. Soul is superior to mind and ego is a component of the mind. Simply intend to notice, to be aware of thoughts and feelings, and realize that you can circumvent any habit through soul knowing and your wisdom guided will. Once we become aware of a habit pattern we have the power to change it and to make a new choice.
The decision to make a new choice should be the focus. Otherwise, if one’s attention is directed only toward noticing when fault finding occurs, the potential for engaging in a cycle of self-defeating thinking can arise. This happens when we decide that we will cease from fault finding and then find fault with our self when we notice that we have done it. To avoid this trap, determine that you will use the occasion of becoming aware of fault finding as a prompt to change your focus. Decide to notice and inwardly affirm what you find praiseworthy. In the moment of noticing, the light of conscious awareness is always present, simply be grateful for that. How wonderful it is to be aware!
Another way to break the negative cycle is to decide to assume the best. Assume that the highest good is always prevailing; assume that life in general and other people in particular are supporting you. Assume that people are basically good. This is easy to do because it is true of everyone at the core of their being, regardless of appearances. This positive attitude helps to clear restless thoughts from the mental field and allows the inherent peace of the soul to prevail. We are then more inclined to make choices that affirm our uplifting attitude and soon find that our experience of life is transformed.
Start the day with an affirmative thought. Look forward to your day with confidence in the Infinite, gratitude for the opportunity to experience life and to be of service. Conclude the day with a few moments of reflection on the blessings you received. Notice what was good, what was lovely, what was just. Think on those things.
Think About It: Carol Ryff, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been studying whether or not high levels of psychological well-being benefit physical health. "There is a science that is emerging that says a positive attitude isn't just a state of mind," she says. "It also has linkages to what's going on in the brain and in the body." Ryff has shown that individuals with higher levels of well-being have lower cardiovascular risk, lower levels of stress hormones and lower levels of inflammation, which serves as a marker of the immune system. Her research on positive mental states is among 44 current grants funded by the National Institutes of Health evaluating optimism. –USA Today
Be Inspired: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
—Philippians 4:8
To dismantle the habit of fault finding, first one has to become aware that it is a prevailing tendency of thought, speech and behavior. If you notice that you tend towards a negative state of mind and others tell you that they perceive you as being overly critical then more carefully examine your thought patterns, especially your first tendency upon encountering a situation. What is the first thing that you notice? Does your awareness seek out what is wrong, out of place, or displeasing to you? Or, do you tend to be aware of what is pleasing, what is in order and what is correct or done well?
Someone who is a habitual fault finder will experience a lack of joy in daily life and a lack of harmony in interpersonal relationships. Sometimes this habit is simply a learned behavior carried out unconsciously, a family pattern that was left unquestioned. Other times it may be due to a perceived need to feel superior, in control of situations or other people, or the desire to be noticed. Any of these rationales for the tendency are not consistent with our essential nature and therefore can be discarded. Such reasoning is built upon the error thought of the false self, or ego, which strives to maintain an identity based on separation. To keep this charade going, the unrestrained ego will attempt to assert itself on the environment as the master of experience. One of its methods is through fault finding, which serves to distinguish it as the owner and knower.
Those who are spiritually awake discern that the ego, which is a necessary mechanism for interacting with others in the world, is not the true self and can therefore be observed and directed by one’s higher true self. Soul is superior to mind and ego is a component of the mind. Simply intend to notice, to be aware of thoughts and feelings, and realize that you can circumvent any habit through soul knowing and your wisdom guided will. Once we become aware of a habit pattern we have the power to change it and to make a new choice.
The decision to make a new choice should be the focus. Otherwise, if one’s attention is directed only toward noticing when fault finding occurs, the potential for engaging in a cycle of self-defeating thinking can arise. This happens when we decide that we will cease from fault finding and then find fault with our self when we notice that we have done it. To avoid this trap, determine that you will use the occasion of becoming aware of fault finding as a prompt to change your focus. Decide to notice and inwardly affirm what you find praiseworthy. In the moment of noticing, the light of conscious awareness is always present, simply be grateful for that. How wonderful it is to be aware!
Another way to break the negative cycle is to decide to assume the best. Assume that the highest good is always prevailing; assume that life in general and other people in particular are supporting you. Assume that people are basically good. This is easy to do because it is true of everyone at the core of their being, regardless of appearances. This positive attitude helps to clear restless thoughts from the mental field and allows the inherent peace of the soul to prevail. We are then more inclined to make choices that affirm our uplifting attitude and soon find that our experience of life is transformed.
Start the day with an affirmative thought. Look forward to your day with confidence in the Infinite, gratitude for the opportunity to experience life and to be of service. Conclude the day with a few moments of reflection on the blessings you received. Notice what was good, what was lovely, what was just. Think on those things.
Think About It: Carol Ryff, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been studying whether or not high levels of psychological well-being benefit physical health. "There is a science that is emerging that says a positive attitude isn't just a state of mind," she says. "It also has linkages to what's going on in the brain and in the body." Ryff has shown that individuals with higher levels of well-being have lower cardiovascular risk, lower levels of stress hormones and lower levels of inflammation, which serves as a marker of the immune system. Her research on positive mental states is among 44 current grants funded by the National Institutes of Health evaluating optimism. –USA Today
Be Inspired: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
—Philippians 4:8
Day Twenty Four: Overcoming the Obstacles to Superconscious Meditation
Meditation is practiced to clarify awareness to the point of pure insight, direct experience of our essential nature. Techniques help focus attention and still the wave like activity of mental modifications—thoughts or emotions. There are several obstacles that can impede our progress with meditation and there are ways to overcome them. Three primary obstacles are: laziness (lack of true motivation), restlessness (dissipated attention) and distraction (which stems from a lack of focus).
Laziness, giving in to depression or various forms of inertia, can be overcome by wisdom guided will. We must use our discernment to consider what we really want in life and then commit ourselves to it. Once the will is roused through cultivating an uplifting desire, it will burn through the heavy dross of inertia by positive motivation. Clarity and commitment concerning the first step is what is needed. That one step in the direction of a worthy goal will naturally lead to another.
Another way to break through laziness is to think about the purpose of your life and how long you anticipate you will be here in this incarnation. Be aware of the passage of time and how important it is to live in the highest way. It is with this in mind that Buddhist monks and nuns contemplate the acerbic words of Master Guishan in an essay titled Encouraging Words: “Our bodies will not last forever…Days and months pass quickly, and old age and death are inevitable. How can you sit around and let your life trickle away meaninglessly?” Such keen awareness of time and mortality can have a clarifying, albeit shocking, influence when considering how we choose to spend the available time and energy we have. Whenever we are plagued by laziness, this crisp reminder can be a sharp wake up call to not let this precious lifetime be wasted in idleness.
Restlessness is overcome by the cultivation of stillness. A commitment to sit in meditation everyday, at a regular time, for a prescribed period of time, begins to curb the fire of restless activity. When the mind is overcome with restlessness, it is common to think that we do not have enough time to sit and meditate. From the perspective of the restless mind, this seems true. We can be aware of this thought as a sure sign that we have become too worldly, or too involved in outer activity. Turning this around in our life is like turning a big ship moving quickly through the ocean waves. Turning a large ship starts with the rudder, where a small adjustment makes a big difference. So it is with restlessness. The tendency with a restless mind is to make grand plans for changing everything—rearranging the meditation room, starting a meditation group, reading a new book—everything but stopping, when stopping is the simple remedy that is needed. Think of the rudder that turns the great ship and know that a small step, a seemingly small adjustment to your schedule, will begin the necessary quieting of your mind.
When our mental field begins to clear of restlessness, we may experience that our focus is still somewhat distracted. That is, we begin to concentrate and are able to bring the attention to a single point for a brief period of time but then find that we are relatively easily sidetracked. Once we have overcome laziness by making a commitment to meditate and curbed the restless tendency of the mind through regular practice, we may still encounter this obstacle of distraction.
Practicing nonattachment to specific outcomes curbs the outward flow of attention and supports a more inward orientation. Instead of searching externally for satisfaction or support, the practice of nonattachment has us discern the real source of our good as our relationship with the infinite. If we do not curb the wandering mind throughout the day and learn to focus our attention, we are at a distinct disadvantage when we sit to meditate because this mental tendency to wander can become a habit. Instead, we can develop the habit of concentration in the midst of activities. Not only will the useful habit of knowing how to stay focused improve our success in our mundane affairs, it will benefit our meditation practice as well.
Think About It: "I can't concentrate" is a common student complaint. Although the cure for this problem is not easy, the habit of concentration can be developed by self-discipline and practice in becoming involved.
–University of Wisconsin, Reading and Study Skills Center
Be Inspired: When TV newscaster Diane Sawyer was asked the secret to her success, she said, "I think the one lesson I've learned is there is no substitute for paying attention."
–quoted on About.com, Alternative Medicine
Laziness, giving in to depression or various forms of inertia, can be overcome by wisdom guided will. We must use our discernment to consider what we really want in life and then commit ourselves to it. Once the will is roused through cultivating an uplifting desire, it will burn through the heavy dross of inertia by positive motivation. Clarity and commitment concerning the first step is what is needed. That one step in the direction of a worthy goal will naturally lead to another.
Another way to break through laziness is to think about the purpose of your life and how long you anticipate you will be here in this incarnation. Be aware of the passage of time and how important it is to live in the highest way. It is with this in mind that Buddhist monks and nuns contemplate the acerbic words of Master Guishan in an essay titled Encouraging Words: “Our bodies will not last forever…Days and months pass quickly, and old age and death are inevitable. How can you sit around and let your life trickle away meaninglessly?” Such keen awareness of time and mortality can have a clarifying, albeit shocking, influence when considering how we choose to spend the available time and energy we have. Whenever we are plagued by laziness, this crisp reminder can be a sharp wake up call to not let this precious lifetime be wasted in idleness.
Restlessness is overcome by the cultivation of stillness. A commitment to sit in meditation everyday, at a regular time, for a prescribed period of time, begins to curb the fire of restless activity. When the mind is overcome with restlessness, it is common to think that we do not have enough time to sit and meditate. From the perspective of the restless mind, this seems true. We can be aware of this thought as a sure sign that we have become too worldly, or too involved in outer activity. Turning this around in our life is like turning a big ship moving quickly through the ocean waves. Turning a large ship starts with the rudder, where a small adjustment makes a big difference. So it is with restlessness. The tendency with a restless mind is to make grand plans for changing everything—rearranging the meditation room, starting a meditation group, reading a new book—everything but stopping, when stopping is the simple remedy that is needed. Think of the rudder that turns the great ship and know that a small step, a seemingly small adjustment to your schedule, will begin the necessary quieting of your mind.
When our mental field begins to clear of restlessness, we may experience that our focus is still somewhat distracted. That is, we begin to concentrate and are able to bring the attention to a single point for a brief period of time but then find that we are relatively easily sidetracked. Once we have overcome laziness by making a commitment to meditate and curbed the restless tendency of the mind through regular practice, we may still encounter this obstacle of distraction.
Practicing nonattachment to specific outcomes curbs the outward flow of attention and supports a more inward orientation. Instead of searching externally for satisfaction or support, the practice of nonattachment has us discern the real source of our good as our relationship with the infinite. If we do not curb the wandering mind throughout the day and learn to focus our attention, we are at a distinct disadvantage when we sit to meditate because this mental tendency to wander can become a habit. Instead, we can develop the habit of concentration in the midst of activities. Not only will the useful habit of knowing how to stay focused improve our success in our mundane affairs, it will benefit our meditation practice as well.
Think About It: "I can't concentrate" is a common student complaint. Although the cure for this problem is not easy, the habit of concentration can be developed by self-discipline and practice in becoming involved.
–University of Wisconsin, Reading and Study Skills Center
Be Inspired: When TV newscaster Diane Sawyer was asked the secret to her success, she said, "I think the one lesson I've learned is there is no substitute for paying attention."
–quoted on About.com, Alternative Medicine
Day Twenty Three: Trust God's Timing
Patience is trusting God's timing. It is the ability to trust the inherent goodness of life. Once we have done all there is for us to do, it’s our capacity to wait with confidence and faith until more is revealed. Patience, with a foundation of spiritual awareness, can be distinguished from a couple of its close cousins. One of those cousins is resignation. Sometimes people believe they are waiting patiently but instead, they are resigned that things are hopeless, believing there is nothing more that can be done to bring about a positive outcome. Resignation has a sense of defeat that patience does not have. Another close cousin of patience is forbearance. This has a quality of putting up with something and not really liking it, but exercising restraint. These are both to be distinguished from patience, which is our capacity to calmly endure with understanding. But even more importantly, patience is capable of bearing with delay while maintaining a positive outlook. This positive outlook facilitates waiting for the right moment and the right action to come to us. Patience is pregnant with possibility. Lao Tzu says it beautifully in the Tao de Ching:
Do you have the patience to wait 'til your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving 'til the right action arises by itself? The master doesn't seek fulfillment, not seeking, not expecting, he is present and can welcome all things. –Ch 15, Stephen Mitchell, trans.
The Qualities of Patience
Patience reflects our true nature. It is free of the grasping and sense of urgency that we often find accompanying ego and self-will. The sense of urgency coming from the ego says it has to be "my way" and it must be now. The wisdom of the soul, even when indicating the necessity to take immediate action, rarely has that tinge of urgency that is characteristic of self-will.
As a spiritual practice, patience is the ability to wait with faith, knowing that there is a divine plan and all is in divine order. We may not see that plan and we may not perceive that order, but we know it in our hearts as we wait. We wait with calm anticipation for the unfoldment of divine will. True patience relies on faith and expresses confidence in life, confidence in the Self. It indicates a belief in the fundamental goodness of life. Patience has a quality of mindfulness too—of being awake and open, aware of what is. Not pushing away, not trying to hold on, but open, waiting, awake and aware.
Patience also includes surrender and willingness. When we surrender the illusional sense of being separate from the Source of all life, we are then able to trust life completely. When we trust life, we can wait to take the right action when it is revealed to us. Patience is not passive. Like faith, it is something that facilitates right action. Like meditation, patience is an active kind of non-doing. It's a way in which we are in a state of readiness, waiting, but all the while making ourselves available to Spirit as grace moves through us. Sylvia Boorstein, a contemporary meditation teacher, said, "Don't just do something, sit there!" referring to our ability to sit with full awareness instead of mindlessly being busy. Patience has that quality, that state of readiness and wakefulness.
Think About It: We live in an impatient age, wanting and trying to make everything and everyone around us move faster at a pace we dictate. But as I have learned (and instinctively knew), impatience is not good for us mentally or physically. It causes stress, which weakens the immune system, irritates the stomach, raises blood pressure, strains the heart and strains relationships…Hurrying increases the risk of errors and accidents, which can end up costing more time than the rush saved. Patience allows you to remain cool and rational—to think clearly—under stress, to take the foibles and annoying behaviors of others in stride and perhaps even find them amusing.
–Jane E. Brody on Practicing Patience, The New York Times
Be Inspired: And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. —The Holy Bible
Do you have the patience to wait 'til your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving 'til the right action arises by itself? The master doesn't seek fulfillment, not seeking, not expecting, he is present and can welcome all things. –Ch 15, Stephen Mitchell, trans.
The Qualities of Patience
Patience reflects our true nature. It is free of the grasping and sense of urgency that we often find accompanying ego and self-will. The sense of urgency coming from the ego says it has to be "my way" and it must be now. The wisdom of the soul, even when indicating the necessity to take immediate action, rarely has that tinge of urgency that is characteristic of self-will.
As a spiritual practice, patience is the ability to wait with faith, knowing that there is a divine plan and all is in divine order. We may not see that plan and we may not perceive that order, but we know it in our hearts as we wait. We wait with calm anticipation for the unfoldment of divine will. True patience relies on faith and expresses confidence in life, confidence in the Self. It indicates a belief in the fundamental goodness of life. Patience has a quality of mindfulness too—of being awake and open, aware of what is. Not pushing away, not trying to hold on, but open, waiting, awake and aware.
Patience also includes surrender and willingness. When we surrender the illusional sense of being separate from the Source of all life, we are then able to trust life completely. When we trust life, we can wait to take the right action when it is revealed to us. Patience is not passive. Like faith, it is something that facilitates right action. Like meditation, patience is an active kind of non-doing. It's a way in which we are in a state of readiness, waiting, but all the while making ourselves available to Spirit as grace moves through us. Sylvia Boorstein, a contemporary meditation teacher, said, "Don't just do something, sit there!" referring to our ability to sit with full awareness instead of mindlessly being busy. Patience has that quality, that state of readiness and wakefulness.
Think About It: We live in an impatient age, wanting and trying to make everything and everyone around us move faster at a pace we dictate. But as I have learned (and instinctively knew), impatience is not good for us mentally or physically. It causes stress, which weakens the immune system, irritates the stomach, raises blood pressure, strains the heart and strains relationships…Hurrying increases the risk of errors and accidents, which can end up costing more time than the rush saved. Patience allows you to remain cool and rational—to think clearly—under stress, to take the foibles and annoying behaviors of others in stride and perhaps even find them amusing.
–Jane E. Brody on Practicing Patience, The New York Times
Be Inspired: And let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. —The Holy Bible
Day Twenty Two: How to Keep Your Balance
Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is faith that steers us through stormy seas, faith that moves mountains and faith that jumps across the oceans. That faith is nothing but a living, wide-awake consciousness of God within. He who has achieved that faith wants nothing…I am a man of faith. My reliance is solely on God. One step is enough for me. The next step he will make clear to me when time for it comes.” Clearly Gandhi was a man who walked in faith, able to steer through the stormy seas of life with God as his polestar. What is faith, exactly, and how can it become a true refuge and inspiration for our lives?
Faith is defined as “a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.” Faith is what we trust in, what we rely on. Our faith is not so much our stated beliefs as it is how we live, the basis for the choices we make. In Sanskrit the word for faith is śhraddhā, which means trust, belief in divine revelation, or what is placed in the heart. In Proverbs of the Bible, faith is spoken of in this way, “As we think or believe in our hearts, so do we act, and so is our life.” Our faith is continually revealed in our thoughts, speech, actions, and ultimately, as the life we live.
During times of great challenge, some people may question their faith. With money in the bank, a secure job, and good health, it can seem as if our faith is strong. But when the outer conditions we were relying on fall away and we are thrown off balance, what we actually believed to be the real source of security is revealed. Most of us have occasions in life when our faith is shaken and we question the real source of our inspiration and support. We have only to look to the lives of the saints—those great souls who were ablaze with a burning desire to live a life of faith—to see that even they had their trials and times of doubt. It is clear that we do not develop deep faith in God in a day, or even in weeks, or months. Faith develops over our lifetime as we persevere with vigorous intent on the spiritual path and are met time and again by the presence of grace—life’s inherent support that leads us to our highest fulfillment.
To have the living faith Gandhi describes, to walk through life consciously knowing God as our constant companion, we must develop dispassion. Through practicing dispassion, we learn to remain nonreactive to changing conditions. This is the key to mental clarity and inner peace. A peaceful mind is necessary for us to be able to access the spiritual truth that is the basis of real security. A mind that is continually disturbed by outer conditions clouds our perception and obscures the light of the soul’s guidance. To rely on God, we must be able to lift our attention beyond physical and mental involvement to the unchanging spiritual realm, to experience our essential nature, beyond thought and phenomena.
When I was a young girl, I took dancing lessons. I was fascinated with the older dancers’ ability to twirl—to turn and turn in one spot without losing their balance. When it came time for me to learn this part of the dance, my teacher gave me the secret. She told me that in order to keep my balance; I must find a single spot in the room, something stable on which to anchor my attention. Each time I turned I was to focus my attention on this stable point. I was not to look around at what I saw passing by as I turned. I was only to stay aware of that single, steady point of reference. It worked like magic. And I discovered, much to my discomfort, that every time I lost my concentration and wandered from my point of focus, I would lose my balance and fall over. Developing a living faith is not so different. We have to develop a single point of attention, a wide-awake consciousness of God within.
When the mind is one pointed, established in truth consciousness, we can overcome great obstacles. And when we are distracted by the storm of worries, we lose touch with our own divine resources. Each of us must have a point of divine reference to walk in faith, to not sink down under the heavy burdens of the world’s sorrows. See them for what they are, boisterous storms that howl one day and clear the next. With God as our constant companion, we can each walk in confidence through the wildest storms of all.
If you become distracted by challenges, pause for a moment of meditation, to bring your attention back to God within. Look beyond changing conditions to the heart of Reality, to that which transcends heaven and earth. Within you is the help that never fails. Within you is the strength that will allow you to walk in confidence. Take one step at a time, knowing that the next step will be divinely directed.
Think About It: Faith and well-being were linked in a recent Gallup poll. The report revealed that the most religious Americans also have the highest self-reported well-being scores (according to the latest data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index).
Very religious people scored 68.7 on the 0-100 Index, compared to 64.2 for those who identified themselves as moderately religious, and 64.2 for nonreligious Americans. “Very religious” was defined as people for whom religion “is an important part of daily life and church/synagogue/mosque attendance occurs at least every week or almost every week.”
Be Inspired: I have made Thee polestar of my life. –Paramahansa Yogananda
Faith is defined as “a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.” Faith is what we trust in, what we rely on. Our faith is not so much our stated beliefs as it is how we live, the basis for the choices we make. In Sanskrit the word for faith is śhraddhā, which means trust, belief in divine revelation, or what is placed in the heart. In Proverbs of the Bible, faith is spoken of in this way, “As we think or believe in our hearts, so do we act, and so is our life.” Our faith is continually revealed in our thoughts, speech, actions, and ultimately, as the life we live.
During times of great challenge, some people may question their faith. With money in the bank, a secure job, and good health, it can seem as if our faith is strong. But when the outer conditions we were relying on fall away and we are thrown off balance, what we actually believed to be the real source of security is revealed. Most of us have occasions in life when our faith is shaken and we question the real source of our inspiration and support. We have only to look to the lives of the saints—those great souls who were ablaze with a burning desire to live a life of faith—to see that even they had their trials and times of doubt. It is clear that we do not develop deep faith in God in a day, or even in weeks, or months. Faith develops over our lifetime as we persevere with vigorous intent on the spiritual path and are met time and again by the presence of grace—life’s inherent support that leads us to our highest fulfillment.
To have the living faith Gandhi describes, to walk through life consciously knowing God as our constant companion, we must develop dispassion. Through practicing dispassion, we learn to remain nonreactive to changing conditions. This is the key to mental clarity and inner peace. A peaceful mind is necessary for us to be able to access the spiritual truth that is the basis of real security. A mind that is continually disturbed by outer conditions clouds our perception and obscures the light of the soul’s guidance. To rely on God, we must be able to lift our attention beyond physical and mental involvement to the unchanging spiritual realm, to experience our essential nature, beyond thought and phenomena.
When I was a young girl, I took dancing lessons. I was fascinated with the older dancers’ ability to twirl—to turn and turn in one spot without losing their balance. When it came time for me to learn this part of the dance, my teacher gave me the secret. She told me that in order to keep my balance; I must find a single spot in the room, something stable on which to anchor my attention. Each time I turned I was to focus my attention on this stable point. I was not to look around at what I saw passing by as I turned. I was only to stay aware of that single, steady point of reference. It worked like magic. And I discovered, much to my discomfort, that every time I lost my concentration and wandered from my point of focus, I would lose my balance and fall over. Developing a living faith is not so different. We have to develop a single point of attention, a wide-awake consciousness of God within.
When the mind is one pointed, established in truth consciousness, we can overcome great obstacles. And when we are distracted by the storm of worries, we lose touch with our own divine resources. Each of us must have a point of divine reference to walk in faith, to not sink down under the heavy burdens of the world’s sorrows. See them for what they are, boisterous storms that howl one day and clear the next. With God as our constant companion, we can each walk in confidence through the wildest storms of all.
If you become distracted by challenges, pause for a moment of meditation, to bring your attention back to God within. Look beyond changing conditions to the heart of Reality, to that which transcends heaven and earth. Within you is the help that never fails. Within you is the strength that will allow you to walk in confidence. Take one step at a time, knowing that the next step will be divinely directed.
Think About It: Faith and well-being were linked in a recent Gallup poll. The report revealed that the most religious Americans also have the highest self-reported well-being scores (according to the latest data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index).
Very religious people scored 68.7 on the 0-100 Index, compared to 64.2 for those who identified themselves as moderately religious, and 64.2 for nonreligious Americans. “Very religious” was defined as people for whom religion “is an important part of daily life and church/synagogue/mosque attendance occurs at least every week or almost every week.”
Be Inspired: I have made Thee polestar of my life. –Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Twenty-One: Change Your Mind
Our mind can be our greatest enemy or our greatest help. The Buddha is quoted as saying, “with our thoughts we make the world…think or act with an impure mind and suffering will follow you like your shadow, but think and act with a pure mind and joy will be your constant companion.” When the mind is clouded and restless, we may be driven by habits and emotions that do not serve our highest good and bring suffering in their wake. Sometimes people feel trapped by their own reactive patterns and despair to know how to change them. Learning to change our thoughts patterns makes all the difference.
The first step is to consider the nature of the mind and consciousness itself. What is the relationship of mind to soul? Of body to mind? Of our thoughts to our experiences? The true Self expresses through mind and body. The mind is an instrument used by the soul. The light of awareness shining in the mental field is the light of Supreme Consciousness, of which each soul is an individual expression. Mind alone is not conscious but our spiritual nature is ever conscious, ever aware. This distinction is important for us to know because it means that we, as conscious spiritual beings, can observe, influence and change our minds. And this is where the transformation begins.
We begin by taking on the perspective of the conscious witness to our thoughts. We observe what thoughts prevail in the mental field and we determine whether or not those thoughts are useful. We ask ourselves: Do they contribute to peace and well being? Are they true? Anytime we discover thoughts that are not useful, that are not based in truth or that have a negative influence, we simply introduce another train of thought. This potent practice is called “cultivating the opposite.” We notice and acknowledge what we are thinking and feeling, and then we introduce another possibility into the mental field. If the mind is overrun with resentment, we cultivate thoughts of forgiveness. If anger and hatred fill the mind, we bring forth thoughts of loving kindness.
Sometimes people worry that they will deny important feelings if they simply substitute other thoughts. This practice is not denial of thoughts or suppression of feelings. We notice our predominating thoughts and feelings and may even inquire into what causes brought them about. Then, we consciously decide to bring forth a more positive perspective so that any decisions we make or actions we take will be done in the clearest way. Changing our thought patterns from resentment to forgiveness does not give us amnesia. We don’t forget what happened but we do become better equipped to deal with it with a loving heart and a calm mind. The decision to live in the highest way means that we do not allow circumstances cause us to react. Instead, we learn to consciously respond to circumstances. We realize that we can choose to bring more clarity, more love, and more peace to any situation.
Think About It: The practice of concentration and clear focus that we develop with our meditation and spiritual practices helps us to be more observant in all areas of our daily life. The ability to observe how our mind works helps us discern right use of our attention and energy. Research about concentration, attention, and distraction is pointing out why cell phone use while driving is hazardous. The split between internal and external attention impairs reaction time needed for safe driving. As meditators, we can actually observe this phenomenon in our own mental fields. When we do, it becomes clear that cell phone use while driving is not advisable, whether hands on or hands-free. Studies reported by the American Psychological Association show that cell phone use while driving is comparable to driving while under the influence of alcohol. They recommend that if we are tempted to use the cell phone while driving we should ask ourselves if we would drive while drunk. http://www.apa.org/research/action/drive.aspx
Be Inspired: As we think in our hearts, so are we. -Proverbs 23:7
Day Twenty: Steady Resolve
Paramahansa Yogananda advised devotees on the path of Self- and God-realization to have devotion for God (intention to realize the truth) like a wood fire that burns long and slow and not like a straw fire that blazes bright with intensity but quickly burns out. Steady resolve to realize the truth is supported by our focused intent, even-mindedness, and disciplined lifestyle.
Spiritual awakening is the unfolding of the innate knowledge of our essential nature as pure existence-being and the actualization of divine capacities that occurs over a period of time as the mental field is purified and erroneous beliefs are dispelled. Prior to understanding how spiritual realization unfolds from within it is not uncommon for people to assume that spiritual knowledge is something to be acquired. This mistaken belief that enlightenment is something to be gained through external means is the basis for the “straw fires” of excitement that arise in the wake of discovering some new method, workshop, book, or teacher who appears on the scene. While what is shared may be a valid, it is important to know two things: (1) that truth will never be “new” since spiritual truth concerns itself with that which is eternal and unchanging and (2) in order for realization to occur, what is heard must be directly experienced. We must put in to practice what we are taught and verify the teachings in our own experience.
Once the pathway of spiritual awakening is intellectually discerned, then every person must set about arranging conditions so that deeper knowledge, or realization through direct experience, can unfold from within. Since we already are that single divine reality which we seek to know, this is the only way. Once we see that, it becomes obvious that running after one new system or another will only prove a distraction to our goal. For attainment of the goal of Self- and God-realization, a clear, focused intent to know the truth is necessary. The story of the Buddha’s enlightenment is instructional in this regard. He made a vow to remain unmoving until his awareness was completely clarified and full realization of his true nature was revealed. This example of firm resolve is supportive of breakthroughs in meditation and it points to the necessity of having a clear intent for spiritual practice.
Think About It: The clarity, focus, and stress-reduction benefits of meditation and other spiritual practices enhance all areas of life—our relationships, creativity, and work. A paper on the role of meditation and other spiritual practices in American life and work reported that “In the corporate sector, businesses were initially attracted to the idea of meditation in the workplace as a way to increase productivity and efficiency. One of the earliest companies to try out meditation was the Montgomery Company, a Detroit-based chemical manufacturing firm. R.W. Montgomery introduced Transcendental Meditation for stress management throughout the company in 1983. Within three years, 52 of the 70 workers were meditating for 20 minutes before they came to work and 20 minutes in the afternoon, on company time. According to Montgomery
Be Inspired: The follower of this path has one thought, and this is the end of his determination. But many branched and endless are the thoughts of the man who lacks determination. –Bhagavad Gita 2. 41
Day Nineteen: Conscious Speech
As we seek to live a spiritually awakened life, one of the most essential areas to be conscious of is our speech. Our words can be powerful; they carry the energy of the soul and are an intermediate stage between thought and manifestation. Words as sound vibration are energetically rooted in the primal sound of Om, the subtle substance of all creation. Therefore, they can be vehicles for creative energy. Being aware that our speech has creative power, we learn to make sure it is truthful, free from causing harm and spoken with clear intention.
Wisely Directing Our Speech
There are some specific ways we can cultivate conscious speech. The first is to avoid insincere speech. Insincere speech may take the form of patterns like sarcasm or flattery. Such use of words only breeds difficulty. While it may seem harmless enough, the energy and intent behind the words must be considered. With sarcasm, people put something forth as a joke but in truth, there is often anger or ridicule involved. When examined, we find that such speech is certainly not uplifting and it may be harmful to both the speaker and to others if they are the subject of it. When flattery is examined, underneath we generally find some form of manipulation. Paramahansa Yogananda counseled, “Be sincere with everyone. You can get along with most people if you flatter them. But that destroys the character of both the giver and the receiver.” There is no problem with sincerely acknowledging others. Flattery is different. It is praise given in order to cajole or persuade someone. It is using the power of words indirectly, thus not in a straightforward, positive way.
We can be intentional with our words and let them serve truth. This can be accomplished by thinking carefully before speaking and making sure that what we say is, in fact, what we intend. And, once we have spoken the word, it is important to follow through with what our words have put in motion, whenever that is required. Keeping our agreements, following through on the promise of our spoken word, supports the vitality of our speech. Sometimes people wonder why they are not more effective with their practices of affirmation, why they don’t seem to bring forth the positive results they seek. This may be because we can’t separate out only some parts of our speech as true and powerful. We must develop that powerful relationship with our words by seeing them through consistently. If we speak without clear intention, and don’t follow through, then we undermine our own belief in the power of our word. When we choose our words carefully and follow through with what we say, we build confidence in the strength of our word and our will. This contributes to our ability to creatively bring forth positive results in our life.
As we reflect on our habits of speech, there is one final area to explore that is of great importance. That is, how we speak of ourselves. The phrase “I am” is declarative—it signifies our spiritual nature, our eternal existence as expressions of the life of God. When we use that expression, we can be mindful to only speak the word of truth about ourselves. Use the phrase affirmatively, evoking innate divine qualities and strengths. It should not be used to limit or to identify oneself negatively. Use well chosen words to uplift, to encourage, and to support reaching toward that which you aspire.
Think About It: Skillful speech, the Buddha told us, has four qualities: It is always truthful. It is uplifting, not malicious or unkind. It is gentle, not crude or harsh. It is moderate, not useless or meaningless.
–Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Be Inspired: Any word spoken with clear realization and deep concentration has a materializing value.
– Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Eighteen: Look for the Good
The great Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.” His words ring like a call to prayer: wake up, be present, realize life is holy, experience the blessing of this moment; don’t let this opportunity of a lifetime pass you by. This is the call to live a God inspired life, to awaken to our essential nature as conscious being, and realize that we are not separate from God. Nothing separates us from God, nothing, ever—no condition, no belief, no past deed, no impure thought. We can never be separated from that which we are. We can think we are separate, we might feel like we are, we might even believe that we are, but none of that can ever make it so. There is only one Life—God. A single Reality expressing as all that is and ever will be. God is our life. Rabbi Heschel was right in saying “just to be is a blessing.” Since we cannot be, cannot exist, without God, we are always with God, and therefore, always blessed. Just to exist is to be of God. Knowing this truth liberates us from the burden created by the illusion of a separate self, restores us to wholeness and sets us free to experience life as the blessing it is. When life’s holiness is revealed to us, living each day is an opportunity to discover what Paramahansa Yogananda called “ever-new joy” in God.
Until we know this spiritual truth about our essential nature it is difficult to “just be.” Why? Because without realizing life’s inherent wholeness, most people believe they have to work at life and struggle to win a competitive battle—if not for survival, at least for security and happiness. But life is not meant to be a battle or a burden; we only make it so with our lack of awareness and our insistence on seeing ourselves as separate from God. If we imagine we are on our own, that God is some far off entity, or heavenly judge, we can be too busy trying to earn merit to discover the good that is already before us. Discovering life’s goodness is not difficult, it just takes willingness and practice. When we embody our commitment to live a God-inspired life with congruent action we are met by divine grace, life’s inherent support for awakening.
The joyous, spiritually conscious life rests upon simple choices—choices made in ordinary moments each day. Make the decision now to live a more conscious life and to make Self- and God-realization the central focus of each day. Even if we fall into forgetfulness many times a day, the simple commitment to be spiritually awake increases awareness of divine grace that supports us in every way. In a difficult moment we may forget that we decided to look for the good and to live in the highest way but the inherent goodness and supportive influence of God’s grace will direct us and turn our attention toward the lighted the path before us. In that moment, we see the choice before us and it is up to us.
Know that you are guided by the inner light of God and that you will be met by divine grace in all that you do. Be open to opportunities to practice spiritual principles in all of your affairs and notice what happens. Look for the good that comes your way and inwardly give thanks to God for all occasions of divine remembrance. What is it that turns the mind toward the light but the presence of Divine Light Itself? Realize God’s grace is already at work in your life.
Think About It: A study published in the online edition of the journal PloS Biology, shows that attention is a flexible, trainable, skill. Psychology professor, Richard Davidson from the University of Wisconsin
–reported in the New York Times
Be Inspired: The Lord is my shepherd: I have everything that I need.
–Psalm 23 (tr. Stephen Mitchell)
Day Seventeen: Meditation and Dharmic Living
No use trying to be a more spiritual person. Being on a spiritual path, or taking up a practice, won’t make us more spiritual; that is not possible. We cannot become any more spiritual than we already are. This is why: there is no spiritual condition to be created or attained or improved because our spiritual nature is without cause. It is pure, unconditioned, changeless, birthless, deathless, existence-being. That which we truly are was not born, does not evolve, cannot be changed, improved, or damaged in any way. It is without boundaries or limits. It cannot be sufficiently described by speech or known by the mind. Yet, because that unchanging infinite Reality is what we are, we have the capacity to know it by experiencing it directly.
Insightful knowledge of our essential nature combined with direct experience of it is Self-realization. Initial experiences of Self-knowing become stabilized over time with repeated experiences of superconscious meditation, use of our discriminative intelligence to gain further insight into the nature of things, and right, or dharmic, living. Dharmic living is behaving in accordance with our true nature, acting in harmony with natural and spiritual law. My guru, Roy Eugene Davis, has often explained dharma as: doing what we know we should. At the core of our being, we know what is in accordance with truth. We can also think of it as living in the way that is worthy of us as spiritual beings.
Sometimes seekers embark on the spiritual path, take up study and practice of meditation, and utilize various techniques for purifying the mind and body but are discouraged that progress is slow or sporadic. They may conclude that the practices are not effective and neglect their discipline as a result. Often the problem with the lack of progress when we are studying and engaging in meditation regularly is that spiritual practice has not been comprehensive. Specifically, the element of dharmic living has been ignored. Spiritual teachings must be integrated into our everyday life experiences. It is not possible progress significantly in meditation without aligning our lives with higher knowing.
To experience steady progress on the spiritual path, it must be approached holistically. Spiritual life is not separate from our material existence. It is a continuum that expresses from subtle to gross manifestation. Unless we consistently apply the principles in our daily affairs, conflict arises in the mental field that undermines our progress in meditation. We cannot expect the experience of oneness consciousness in meditation if we disregard guidelines for healthy living and neglect our inner guidance in other areas.
Meditation practice works in tandem with ethical, balanced, living. They are inseparable. When aligned and working together, they enhance our experience of the spiritual life, accelerate our progress, and contribute to transformation. The end and means are not separate. It is the revelation of wholeness that we seek, thus our journey towards it can only be accomplished by integrating all aspects of life. Yoga (oneness) is accomplished by yoga.
We hear the teachings and put them into practice to determine their relevance for our lives. As we practice the methods for purifying the mind, engage in superconscious meditation, live a balanced life, and cultivate faith, surrender, and devotion the way unfolds before us—a new life imbued with grace, shining with divine possibility. Our minds become beautiful gardens for divine thoughts to take root and bear fruit.
Think About It: Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson explored the experience of well-being with a group of employees at an IT firm. One group practiced loving-kindness meditation and the other did not. After eight weeks, the mental resources of the meditators improved; their mindfulness, health and connectedness to others all increased. However, they also showed an initial drop in their sense of well-being. “It’s like you started a gym membership and then you realize you have to go,” Fredrickson theorized. But once their sense of well-being increased, they retained their edge over the other group.
–report in New York Times, Happiness 101
Be Inspired: Always think of your mind as a garden, and keep it beautiful with divine thoughts.
-Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Sixteen: Four Things to Learn
I have four things to learn in life:
To think clearly without hurry or confusion;
To love everybody sincerely
To act in everything with the highest motives;
To trust in God unhesitatingly.
–Helen Keller
This simple inspiration from Helen Keller sums up a philosophy of life that reveals a deep spiritual core, a commitment to the development of moral character, and the desire to live by faith. With her four goals she touches upon essential components of the spiritually conscious life: a clear mind, an awakened heart, selfless service in the world and surrender to God. Attention to these four areas brings balance to our life and the experience of inner joy.
Accomplishing any of these four goals requires a clear intent, commitment, and spiritual insight. While focused intention and the commitment to act in accordance with these lofty goals is crucial, their full realization depends on our ability to surrender the ego’s illusional sense of being separate from God and to cooperate with life’s inherent supportive grace. From the limited perspective of ego, it is not possible to love everybody sincerely or to act in everything with the highest motives because the natural tendency of ego is self preservation, maintaining the sense of separate existence and the desire to look out for our own interests. However, through spiritual insight and the ability to live in harmony with one’s Higher True Self, attainment of such goals becomes possible.
To think clearly we must understand the nature of the mind. Our mind is the instrument of the soul’s light of awareness, of consciousness itself. The mind, by itself, is not a light; it is not sentient. Like a light bulb that needs electricity to shine, the mind is illumined by the conscious light of the Self. Within the mind are different avenues of perception: thinking mind that receives information through the sense channels and processes it, the faculty of discernment that makes distinctions concerning it, and the ego that makes a case for ownership of the perception. With awareness, we can notice what we are thinking and how we are thinking. We can notice how the contents of the mind are generated. From this witness perspective, we have a choice about which thoughts we will entertain, or encourage.
Regular, repeated experiences of Superconscious meditation are essential to developing the mindful awareness that allows us to think clearly. Without the ability to “go up to the mountaintop” of spiritual awareness and experience directly the clear perspective that is beyond thought, we cannot see through the tumult of thinking mind and its modifications. Through regular meditation, the light of clear awareness shines into the mental field with a calming and purifying effect. Then the mind is renewed and we are able to think clearly without confusion or hesitation.
The same skill of Superconscious meditation that purifies the mind also cleanses our heart of selfish motive and makes possible right relationship with others. To love everyone sincerely and to act with the highest motives, we must realize the spiritual truth about life. When we know that all of life is one, that the life of God expresses as all that is, we enter into a sacred relationship with life. We can love others sincerely because we realize who they are as spiritual beings. We know and we affirm the truth of every person as a divine being and that is the basis of our love—not our likes and dislikes, approval or disapproval, of their behavior but a simple ability to behold the One in all.
To trust in God without hesitation is to live by faith, to rely on the infinite goodness of life as created, nourished and sustained by the infinite intelligence of Spirit. When we know, through our direct experience, that we are That Supreme Consciousness appearing as an individual soul, we trust in the wholeness of life. We know that our life is not separate from God. We surrender the tendency to identify with the ego’s perspective of a separate self and instead embrace our true identity as eternally conscious spiritual being. Free from fear based thinking, we meet each day with joyful anticipation, living in the awareness of our True Nature.
Contemplate these four goals: to think clearly, to love sincerely, to act with the highest motives and to trust God completely. Decide today to strengthen the spiritual foundation that makes their accomplishment possible.
Think About It: A study reported in Developmental Psychology found that people who set goals for personal growth actually showed increases in psychological well-being, regardless of whether those goals were actually achieved. Researchers asked college freshman to write about two of their major goals, then revisited those same students in their senior year. They found the students who set intellectual-growth goals (e.g., goals to explore or learn) were more likely to develop in maturity three years later. In addition, students who wrote about social or emotional goals (e.g., goals to improve as a person or gain a meaningful relationship) showed greater life satisfaction and positive emotion three years later. These results show that simply thinking about goals, no matter whether these goals are attained, can predict personal growth and development.
—www.greatergood.edu
Be Inspired: Before embarking on important undertakings, sit quietly, calm your senses and thoughts, and meditate deeply. You will then be guided by the great creative power of Spirit.
–Paramahansa Yogananda
Day Fifteen: Enhance Your Life with Gratitude
The simple practice of cultivating gratitude, an appreciative awareness and thankfulness, can powerfully transform our everyday experience of life. For some people, this is a natural and easy thing to do. For others, keeping gratitude in the forefront of awareness requires intention and discipline. Or, it may be that feelings of gratitude seem easier to connect to when conditions are to our liking and more difficult when times of challenge arise. It is useful to reflect on gratitude and consider how to consistently open ourselves to it.
Not long ago, I had the opportunity to visit a cloistered monastery, where the monks spend their days in prayer, contemplation, work and simple living. When I asked the abbot to tell me about his spiritual practice he said simply, “it is gratitude.” He explained that lay people often approached him with interest in special mystical practices but that he found the practice of cultivating gratitude to be profound. Everyday, several times a day, he would ask himself: Am I thankful? His inner response to the question would tell him a lot about his quality of heart and mind, and give an indication of his spiritual health. When we are anchored in the awareness of our essential spiritual nature, recognizing God as the Source of our life, gratitude flows naturally. If we become too involved in the ruses of ego—attachment to particular outcomes, identifying with roles that we play or becoming too involved with mundane matters— then gratitude is more difficult to experience.
Think About It: In many places today innovative models for business and community are including spiritual principles in their “bottom lines.” They are looking for greater satisfaction in work, relationships and service—beyond what financial profit alone brings. One such interesting experiment in California
– John Milton
Day Fourteen: Working with Nature
As I observe the workings of nature and the qualities that permeate the environment, including my body and mind, I have been tempted from time to time to declare: the gunas did it! The gunas are the three interlinked qualities that make creation possible and then continually influence its expression. The triple strand of sattva (luminosity), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia) are always found together in a dynamic, ever-changing interplay throughout everything in creation. Nothing in nature is free of the influence of the gunas. Nothing—not the food we eat, the clothing we wear, the television we watch, the weather, our interactions in relationship, our mental field, our bodies. As we consider that these qualities can influence our quality of life, we can see that it is helpful to learn more about them. The teachings of yoga suggest that first we learn to work with them, and then we ultimately transcend them, becoming completely free from their influence.
Author Brian Hodgkinson beautifully described the gunas: Sattva is predominant in events such as the rising and setting of the sun, in the season of spring, in the beauty of flowers or the singing of birds. Rajas predominates in storms, earthquakes, the season of summer, the speed of a horse, or the waves of the sea. When tamas exceeds the other two then there may be night-time, winter, sleep, death or the hardness of stone. This exquisite description helps us see that all three are necessary, and from time to time, each must predominate.
What we can do that contributes to conscious living is be aware of the qualities, when their particular influence is needed and why. As a general rule, those on the path of yoga are advised to cultivate a sattvic environment, a lifestyle that is uplifting and contributes to clarity in body and mind. We do this by paying attention to what we surround ourselves with and what we consume or take in through all of our senses—this includes food, conversation, media exposure and so forth. We are advised to be aware that these influences exist and pay attention to how they affect our bodies and our minds, know that we can use our discernment to select environments and influences that are most supportive of our goals, and make the appropriate adjustments. For example, if we want to bring more lightness (the quality of sattva) to the body, we select fresh, whole foods—fruits, vegetables, and grains—for our diets. To increase sattva in the metal field we can use pranayama to purify the mind, prayer or devotional practices, and meditation.
If the heaviness of tamas guna predominates in the body and mind, then it can be useful to call upon rajas to help make a change. Literally, we sometimes have to get moving—go for a walk in nature, take up a task we’ve been putting off, turn off the tv and stretch. In this way, the active quality of rajas can help us transform the pervasive dullness of tamas guna. Then, we can temper the rajas guna with sattva guna.
In a similar way that we use the ability of the mind to concentrate in the initial stages of meditation and allow it to take us beyond the mind’s thought activity, so we use our awareness of the gunas to help us arrange conditions to ultimately transcend them. As the mental field is progressively clarified and we experience sustained states of superconsciousness, we are no longer influenced by the gunas. For one abiding in the changelessness of the Self, the gunas are simply observed. No longer attached, or adverse, to these influences, one who is supremely awake is indifferent to them.
Think About It: A study published in Science magazine concluded that patients in hospital rooms with a view of trees and natural landscaping healed quicker than patients with views of a brick wall. Subsequent studies showed that hospital patients suffering depression were discharged sooner when they stayed in bright and sunny rooms rather than in dark rooms.
–quoted in Feel Good Home Design
Be Inspired: When the light of wisdom shines from the portals of the body’s dwelling, then we know that sattva is in power. Greed, busy activity, many undertakings, unrest, the lust of desire—these arise when rajas increases. Darkness, inertia, negligence, delusion—this appear when tamas prevails.
–Bhagavad Gita, 14. 11-13
Day Thirteen: Positive Feedback Loop
A feedback loop is a cycle of behavior that is mutually reinforcing. This is the case with daily meditation and the practice of nonattachment while engaged in action. Engaging regularly in these two practices helps us to have more clarity both in our inner experience and our outer activities. A beautiful saying from the Persian mystic, Abu Said, offers a vision of inner stability and outer engagement: A true [human being] is [one] who dwells in righteousness among [others], who may buy and sell, yet is never for a single instant forgetful of God!
If we become overly involved with worldly activity and attached to particular outcomes, it adversely affects our meditation practice. When we sit to meditate, we will notice that our minds are very restless. Thoughts, plans, anxieties, and inner conversations fill our mental field, making it difficult to focus. This is usually a clue that we have become too involved in the outer. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we are too busy and should do less. What it often means is that we have become too attached—too wrapped up in thinking of the ego as the doer and grasping too tight to our desires for particular outcomes. The practice of nonattachment is the key. The ideal is to bring a meditative consciousness into our activity. When we do this we focus our attention on what we are doing and work with integrity, but leave the results to God. This makes it possible to be thoroughly active but with a calm mind. Then, when we sit to meditate, we notice that peace already pervades the mind. In this way, our activity in the world grounded in the virtue of nonattachment, supports our meditation practice.
Our meditation practice also positively supports conscious action in the world. We are encouraged by the saints and sages to always maintain a dynamic balance between meditation and service in the world. If we find we are becoming so inwardly focused that we are not inclined to engage with others, then it is time to strike the proper balance. Our daily dip into the sacred river of divine Presence, should prepare us for a day of remembrance of God. Paramahansa Yogananda noted that we can take the peace we access in meditation with us wherever we go. He called it our “portable peace.”
When daily meditation and conscious activity work together in our lives, the line that separates them grows thin. Our life becomes our meditation.
Think About It: In a recent study published in the Journal of Pain Research, researchers discovered that individuals practicing mindfulness reported significant reduction in pain and related symptoms. They defined mindfulness as paying total attention to the present moment with a non-judgmental awareness of inner and outer experiences. “Yoga promotes this concept – that we are not our bodies, our experiences, or our pain. This is extremely useful in the management of pain.”
–www.psychcentral.com
Be Inspired: Solitude is necessary to become established in the Self, but masters then return to the world to serve it.
–Paramahansa Yogananda
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