Tuesday Evening – Brother Vishwananda
I’m going slow; I hope you are too. It’s the third day of Convocation, and by now you’re probably just beginning to shake off the restlessness and thoughts and cares that come from living in today’s stressful, crazy, problematic, chaotic world. It is so wonderful and so deeply inspiring to see this many devotees here at Convocation – almost four thousand serious seekers of God who have set aside a whole week to come here. After Convocation is over, if I could I would wish to ask each one of you: “What is it you are taking away with you from Convocation?” We all have the same Guru; we all meditate; we all have the same teaching, the same meditation techniques - but I think it would be safe to say that we’d get four thousand different answers to that question. We are all a little different. Each of us is a unique creation; each of us is a unique spark of God.
I think that ultimately what drew each one of us here was to get away from the restlessness of the world, to get away from our problems, and to deepen our relationship with God. Maybe you came because you have just read and were inspired by Autobiography of a Yogi. Maybe you came out of curiosity. Maybe you have some personal problem that you want answered. Maybe you came to meditate and pray with others. Whatever it was, your experience will also be unique - what you take away with you from this Convocation will be unique.
Before we get into the actual talk this evening, I would like all of us to begin by closing our eyes, focusing them at the Christ Consciousness center, and
thinking deeply of that aspect of God which appeals to you most. In India, there are one billion people … and one billion Gods. Why? Again, we are all unique, and each one of us has a different concept of what God is. Think of whatever aspect of God is dearest to you heart, whatever most rouses your devotion, and with that devotion repeat after me and affirm:
“I set aside all thoughts and cares of the material world to be alone with Thee.”
(We all repeated this affirmation three times)
Our Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda said: “It isn’t only meditation I emphasize.
Meditation plus keeping your mind with God during activity is what is
necessary. Half the battle will be won by meditation, for the soul power that you bring out by meditation will influence your thoughts and behavior during activity. When you meditate deeply, that gives substantiation to your spiritual
thoughts. The longer and deeper you meditate on a regular basis, the more you will find there is no difference between work and meditation. That is to say, whether you are working or meditating, you remain immersed in the divine consciousness of the blissful Spirit. You no longer identify yourself with the activities and aches and pains of a mortal body; you realize you are pure Spirit.”
In all the vast teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, this is the one vital key we have to understand and deeply grasp: we are not these material bodies, we are not the restless mind, and this world is not our home. We are eternal, immortal Spirit. This is the vital message. This is what philosophers have wrestled with for centuries, and if you don’t realize this, even if you’ve been on the path a long time, it is very hard to feel connected with God.
I talked to a man who had been on the path for thirty years, and though he meditated regularly, he felt there was still something missing, still something lacking in his life. “I don’t feel fulfilled,” he said. “I haven’t attained what I expected.” As I talked to him, it came down to the fact that he meditated, but he didn’t make the effort to think of God and Guru and take the results of his meditation into the rest of his day. Interesting. Very interesting. Even when you make the effort every day in mediation, it is still pretty easy to forget God.
I lived in India for many years. Just about anywhere in India you can stop and look around 360 degrees and you will see some reminder of God. It may be a tilak mark on a woman’s forehead, or the spiritual eye painted on a cow – cows are considered holy and they paint them. You see it in the cab of the taxi driver who keeps a picture of a god or goddess on his dashboard; or you may walk into a shop and see a garland adorning a statue of Krishna, or inhale the fragrant incense burning. All the different religions are represented there – Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. You will see statues of Ganesh, pictures of Jesus, and quotes from the Koran. If you are in Ranchi, when you wake up early to meditate, off in the distance you hear the priests ringing bells for the Arati ceremony, and you hear the crier in the mosque calling the faithful.
But most of the world isn’t like this. The world crowds in on us; it has a power that absorbs us, and it drowns out our efforts to remember God. Guruji said that the advanced attitude of the spiritual seeker is not to dwell on the idea limitation. It makes us believe in the reality of this finite world. But when we are with God, that seeming reality is gone. It is that simple.
When I first heard that, I thought it wasn’t so simple, but really it is simple. We make it complicated. If we side with delusion, then the power of delusion makes it seem very complicated. We have to make up our minds and be willing to believe that yes, we are souls, and this is not our home.
Yoga has become popular now in the mainstream. But remember, yoga is not just an add-on to your life. Yoga is not something that you use just to feel a little more calm, a little more peaceful. Yes, it’s good for that, but yoga is much more than that - it’s a tool to achieve oneness with God – and that’s a big difference. Yoga is not just a way of life - it’s more. The path that
Paramahansa Yogananda brought is a way to a new life – it’s a rebirth. When we take initiation, it’s a new birth - a rebirth. What changes? What’s new?
Think about it: it’s your inner life that is reborn, and that’s where God is - that’s what truth is. That’s what Guruji teaches. Understanding this is vital to your spiritual life. The path that Guruji brought is a new life.
Guruji said, “Half the battle will be won by meditation, for the soul power that you bring out by meditation will influence your thoughts and behavior during activity. In meditation you will know God, and once we know Him we cannot help but love Him.” Meditation is vital. This new life, this rebirth – it’s a new life in God – it’s a new life in Spirit.
Guruji said, “Do not take this life too seriously. It will be gone before you know it. When our childhood was there, life seemed so beautiful. There were so many things to want, so many things to enjoy with so little responsibility.”
Attractive, isn’t it?
(Laughter)
Now see how life is. All these dreams are gone - for most of us anyway. This episode of life will pass away. But as long as it exists, just have one trend of thought on your mind: God. Just one thought: God. Say, “I just want God.”
Seek Him earnestly. If you seek Him earnestly, how can He resist your love?
Constantly, inwardly talk to Him. He cannot remain away from you.
Earnestly. Earnestly!
You have to be earnest – and it begins with meditation. The nature of God – this is what we want to get to know – Peace, Bliss, Joy – this is the nature of God. What does it mean to be earnest? It means to meditate regularly.
There was a devotee who had a family - a wife and children - and he wanted to meditate for a longer three hour period every week. So he locked himself in a room … but his wife and kids had other plans for him.
(Laughter)
The kids pounded on the door and screamed and cried for him to come out – they didn’t understand or respect his wishes. But still he persisted. He didn’t argue with them, but he just kept on locking himself in that room every week to meditate …… and eventually they stopped bothering him. If you are
sincere, you are going to find a way. Not all of you need to go to this extreme, but you get the point.
I remember a little scene that occurred in the elevator of the Bonaventure after one of the first meditations I ever led at Convocation. Now don’t get me wrong - part of Convocation week is to socialize and have fellowship – you don’t need to walk around all week with a zipped lip. We had just come from the group meditation, and there were two women in the elevator with me. One started talking, saying things like, “Oh Brother, it was such a wonderful meditation and
you chanted so beautifully,” etc, etc.
The other woman just pranamed. She didn’t feel obliged to talk just then. Far more important was to hold on to what she had received in meditation. She didn’t let go of the effects of her meditation. Why do we come here? It’s about God. It’s about coming together in the spiritually powerful vibrations we create here. Isn’t that why we come? Hang onto that! Be selfish! Hang onto your spiritual life. Get earnest with your spiritual life.
Some years ago Daya Mata received an invitation from an organization, and during the event the Dalai Lama was going to be speaking. The theme was world peace, and there were many spiritual leaders from around the world attending. It was a big event – a big “L.A. - Hollywood type” of event …
(Laughter)
Two of us were asked to attend the event to represent Ma. It was held in a big hall, and after dinner was served the Dalai Lama spoke. Then at 7pm a hush fell over the crowd as someone approached the microphone and made an announcement: “His Holiness would like to be excused because it’s 7 o’clock and time for his meditation.”
(Laughter)
Now, mind you, there were still two more hours to go of the event! But here was a man who was earnest about his meditation! That’s what it takes. You have to make up your mind you won’t let the world crowd in on your
meditations – it’s too important.
Do you remember when earlier we began the affirmation I asked you to think about the concept of God that is dearest to you? Daya Ma said about this:
“Most people have no concept at all of God. To many, God is just a name, for others a form, and God is formless for some. It is foolish to think that God is one or the other. God is limitless – he is all things to all men. He has both form and no form – choose whatever aspect most appeals to you. The kind of thought with which you clothe the Infinite should be that which moves your heart and arouses your devotion. If the idea of a personal relationship is not possible – if the thought of a form is not for you, then throw out all form and think of Him as Infinite Bliss, Infinite Peace, Infinite Joy, Infinite Wisdom.”
It can be a personal relationship by just saying, “My peace, my peace. My joy, my joy. My wisdom, my wisdom.” Your concept of God doesn’t have to have a face. It’s Spirit - It’s beyond. One devotee lamented, “I find it impossible to think of God as Father.” Why be upset? Then he said, “I think of God as Mother.” Daya Ma told him, “Then go after God as Mother.” The concept you have of God has to move you – it has to have the power to arouse your
devotion.
One’s relationship with God begins when you close the door to the outer world and go within. It’s very personal - it’s very intimate. No one can share that with you. The concept you have of God has to be something that draws your
attention and draws your devotion. It has to motivate you – it has to captivate you. Remember, Guruji said it’s not only meditation, but meditation plus remembering God during your activities is what is necessary. It’s so easy to forget God. So we have to find a way not to forget God during activity as well as in meditation.
I will share this with you: for many years I practiced that I was a servant of God - that was my relationship with God. I had read how Master had said, “I am a servant of all,” and I wondered why he said that. Then I thought, it’s because he saw God in everyone. So I decided to be a servant to all, and I tried to see God in every person and in every situation. Being a servant works quite well. You can always find ways to serve and help others in some way.
For instance, when I was leaving a room I would think, “Now if Guruji was the next person to come into the room, how would he like to find it?”
… Boy, my life changed!!
(Laughter)
… Especially my own room!
(Laughter)
See the point? It works. But it may not work for you. I can only give you thoughts from Guruji on how to cultivate and grow your own personal
relationship with God. This concept may not work for you. I can tell you mine, but only you know what yours is. I practiced that for years – I gained so much from it, and was totally satisfied. “Life is chiefly service,” Master said.
There was one lady who after meditation would visualize herself surrounded by a clear bubble. She surrounded herself by this bubble of God’s love. Nothing of the world could get in, and she couldn’t get out. It worked!
There was a sadhu in India – now understand that most sadhus beg for food and have no possessions and wear a simple cloth - but this one wore expensive silk robes and gold rings and perfumed his beard. He was the talk of the town amongst the other sadhus!
(Laughter)
Someone asked him, “Why? Why do you dress like that?”
“Oh, don’t you understand?” he replied, “I am on my way home to meet my Beloved. Would I wear rags? I wear my best.”
It worked for him!
(Laughter)
That’s the point I am trying to make. What are we trying to do? You’ve been
reborn into the world of Spirit, into the life of Spirit, because of your good karma – but the will of God says, “You come back out into this world.” We’ve been asked to come out into the world every day until we work out our karma, but we don’t want to get caught up in it.
For most of us, the most appealing aspect of God may be the Guru. The Guru is a messenger of God. Guruji said, “The guru is the speaking voice of silent God.” The Guru is the one who comes and gives us a teaching. He give us meditation techniques – tools so that we can find God; he inspires us, teaches us how to operate the laws of karma through right living, and helps us to understand the world around us; and he teaches us the importance of
developing devotion and intuition. That’s one way to create that relationship with God - through the Guru.
When we step aside from the world and step into this new world, this rebirth into the spiritual world, we will find that we have to learn a new language.
Usually when we learn a language we say, “I’m learning to speak it.” But with this new language we say, “I’m learning to listen.” This new language is spoken in silence. It’s a spiritual language. It’s silence. It’s intuition. You have to listen to learn this language. You have to be very silent, very still, very quiet to learn this new language. Conversation with people requires audible voice. Conversation with God requires silence. People who talk much are not with God. You have to learn to live in that inner world. You have to find a way not to get caught up in the outer world.
Someone once asked Master about why Rajarsi Janakananda seemed to progress spiritually so quickly. Master said, “He knows how to listen.” He learned to speak that inner intuitive language. Jesus said to his disciples, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” He was saying to his disciples that they hadn’t learned to listen to the inner voice of God. It’s difficult, but we need to learn to listen inside.
Think back to when you first came into the spiritual life – especially those of you who have a family. Remember – we have been reborn. We are reborn because we want a spiritual life, but it’s hard – when you step through that door into silence it can be pretty hard, even after years of practice. It’s just like the struggles of a child. We’re like a child struggling to learn how to walk.
We try to meditate, day after day. But restless thoughts may come. Even after years of meditation we can still have periods of turbulence if we haven’t learned the language of silence. Think about this: anyone can have an experience of God - a personal spiritual experience. Anyone - even worldly people can have it. Sometimes the most worldly people can have a vision, or some kind of experience. But how many have a personal spiritual relationship with God? See the difference? You can be in the world and of the world and still have a spiritual experience, but to have a relationship with God you have to go within. You have to consciously cultivate a relationship with God, and ultimately oneness with God - but it takes effort.
Just like the newborn child who is completely helpless when born, in the spiritual realm we are totally dependent on Divine Mother. The concept of Mother and Father takes on a whole new dimension, doesn’t it? In the spiritual realm you’re totally dependant on Divine Mother’s help and guidance, totally reliant on Her. Just like the child who is learning to walk first holds himself up
Just like the newborn child who is completely helpless when born, in the spiritual realm we are totally dependent on Divine Mother. The concept of Mother and Father takes on a whole new dimension, doesn’t it? In the spiritual realm you’re totally dependant on Divine Mother’s help and guidance, totally reliant on Her. Just like the child who is learning to walk first holds himself up