Loving greetings and pranams to Gurudev, Paramahansa Yogananda's
beautiful spiritual family around the world, as he said, scattered like shining jewels over the face of the earth.
It's been about two months since I was with you by video broadcast during our convocation.
So I wanted to reach out again to all of you at this time.
In my daily meditations,
I think of all of you and I pray that God and Guru guide your lives
and spiritual efforts and help you to feel a deep and unshakable security in their love and wisdom.
It's so important to feel, to dwell in that love, that security,
especially during these challenging times.
I know that many devotees around the world are very concerned about the divisiveness and
ugliness currently being propagated in society among the increasingly polarized factions of the global family.
The family that God intended to live in peace and harmony and
mutual cooperation with his moral laws of lasting happiness.
You know our guru who didn't use the word, "commandments."
He spoke of God's laws of eternal happiness and harmony and that is what is under such challenge today.
Now we all know that this world of duality has always been and will always be a battleground
between light and darkness,
but the assault on God's eternal truths of goodness and moral values can seem
perceptibly heightened in our era of near constant exposure to the barrage of negativity
that infiltrates our inner and outer environments through the Internet and other mass communications media.
But we don't have to give in to discouragement about the future.
Yes, social media can magnify the inharmonious voice of a single person
and thereby affect countless others far beyond that individuals immediate locale.
But there is equal or greater potential
to amplify the influence of truth, beauty, goodness, wisdom, compassion:
All the heavenly qualities of the soul image of God in every human being.
How is this so? Because there is something more far-reaching than
any digital communications technology.
And that is hearts and minds that are attuned with God.
Again, more far-reaching than any digital communications technology is the vibrational power
radiated into the very atoms of the world environment
and into the consciousness and subconsciousness of all sentient beings
by each heart and mind "broadcasting station"
that is powerfully focused through Kriya yoga meditation and
attuned to the infinite source of goodness - God.
So never forget how much good you can do by a commitment to daily meditation
and participation in our worldwide prayer circle.
That's a powerful inner force we can use, but the divine warrior of light and truth
who's drawn to a path such as that of Self-realization Fellowship,
Yogoda Satsangha Society and Kriya yoga, may use outer as well as inner means to promote
spiritual harmony or dharma on earth.
So while giving first priority to changing yourself,
and any unlovely ego traits that may have found harbor in your own consciousness,
never be afraid to bear witness outwardly in the cause of non-cooperation with ungodliness,
when circumstances place that duty before you.
Just remember though, two things:
First that animosity and lack of humility
may quickly subvert you to the side of that which you are purportedly resisting.
And second, that spirituality and truth are not defined by anyone's political affiliation.
We have to remember that the mass karma that influences
the unfolding drama of world events in our present era, as well as in all others,
is not always understood by a limited human intellect
Ultimately, a nation's leaders are a symptom, not a cause:
A symptom of the prevailing mix of good and evil in that society and its mass karma.
So while the actions of individual politicians
May be of temporary concern, more important in the long term,
is the need for the masses of individuals to remove the evils of godlessness,
immorality, adharmic living from their hearts.
The most potent way that you can "bear witness" is to practice each day some principle of the divine truths
common to all religions, which are so beautifully distilled in the SRF/ YSS teachings.
This is an active initiative you can take to uplift your consciousness
and invigorate your thoughts and actions with the
invincible power of God's goodness.
Every morning read a little from the lessons, for example, or from the spiritual diary.
Or maybe take a favorite quotation from the "Bhagavad Gita" or "Bible" and make that your theme for the day.
Then when something you hear on the news
upsets your inner peace and/or equilibrium, hold tight to that truth and know that by the will
that you put into affirming and manifesting it, you are helping to neutralize that negativity
as you follow the example of Guruji's indomitable positive spirit and
practice the sacred Kriya yoga science of God communion, the special dispensation
he was ordained to bring to the world, specifically for the times we are going through.
As you follow that, you will prove to yourself that with the help of God
and the great ones who watch over this world,
we can aid humanity to emerge from the fetters of ignorance based fears and hatreds
into a world more in tune with God -
with his harmonizing and balance-producing love and bliss consciousness.
So I have two suggestions for you:
First, look for and concentrate on the expressions of goodness and
spiritual consciousness in all persons you encounter,
even those whose opinions may not match your own and,
you'll find that the very act of paying attention in this way
increases the manifestation of God's presence in this world.
The Lord proclaims in the Bhagavad Gita, "I am seated in the heart of all beings."
So see others as souls and by that attitude of respect and appreciation
you will subtly draw from them and from yourself a greater expression of soul qualities.
Second, if you find yourself too frequently thinking reading or talking about
what's wrong in the world, or in your own life, try to change your focus.
Use that time and energy to think good thoughts, to pray, to perform good actions of service and generosity and
to work on becoming a person who exudes kindness understanding and cheerfulness.
By doing so, you will uplift your own consciousness and that of others and,
most important, as you meditate faithfully and enter
the sacred sanctuary deep within your being where all thoughts are still,
you will increasingly feel the love in which God cherishes each soul.
And also be able to give that love to others.
Never underestimate the positive effect of your spiritual efforts
on your well-being, on those around you and on humanity at large.
Guruji said, "One who in every way tries to uplift himself,
harmonising body mind and soul with the divine,
creates positive karma, not only in his own life, but in his family,
neighborhood, country and the world."
May God ever bless you as you strive to radiate his light, his love in your life.
God bless you. God love you. Jai Guru.