Self-Reliance vs. Self-Reliance
What is it to Make Peace
Reading and Affirmation for July
From the book The Beatitudes: Their Inner Meaning by Swami Kriyananda
Self-Reliance vs. Self-Reliance
Truth is one and eternal. Realize oneness with it in your deathless Self, within.
The following commentary is based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.
Last week we considered the need for attunement – with God, with the gurus, with the wisdom of others – until we make that wisdom our own. There is a strong, and in fact valid, belief nowadays in the need for standing on one’s own feet rather than depending weakly on others to carry us by their strength.
Swami Kriyananda was once asked, “What is the best yoga posture?” “That one,” he replied, “which sets you squarely on your own two feet.”
Our strength must come from within. If that strength comes from the ego, however, instead of from soul-consciousness, it is like a guitar string without its sounding board: the notes it emits will be thin and feeble. Our strength must come from within, but must be coupled with recognition of our inner link with broader and higher realities.
The Bhagavad Gita says in the tenth Chapter:
Everyone in this world whose life is glorious, or prosperous, or powerful – know that his achievement is but a little spark from the great sun of My effulgence.
Jesus in talking to his disciples emphasized also the power of attunement with his own consciousness as a ray of the Divine. For this ray had descended already, through him, in response to their devotion; it was a sign that God was already “listening” to them with receptive attention, and did not require to be wooed in that way any longer. In the passage preceding the one that we read last week, Jesus said:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
This was the meaning of Paramhansa Yogananda’s counsel also, when speaking more intimately to the disciples of the need for attunement with him.
Thus, through holy Scripture, God has spoken to mankind.
Whispers From Eternity
144. Make me feel Thee through the Touch of the Breeze
Father, let me feel Thee through the touch of the breeze; through the sunshine warming my body. Enter through my nostrils with the fragrance of flowers. Let me cognize Thee through my innermost thoughts. Forget me never, even if I forget Thee. Remember me always, even if I remember Thee not. Be with me always, always, always!
Paramhansa Yogananda
Inspiration from the Rays of One Light
He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
John 15:2-3
We will take these meaningful words into our meditation together for deep reflection and contemplation. But firstly, we will listen to the beautiful Psalm of David, sung by Mary Kretzmann.
Psalm of David
Listen to the Psalm of David
Reflect, Meditate and Listen to Instrumental Music
Reflection from the Rays of the One Light
Peace Sangha
This week, I was inspired by the words from John 15:2-3
He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Here is a poem I created called “Holy Purification”.
Holy purification
Holy purification
Opens the inner chambers
Where the Divine Will of God
Shapes the soul for abundance
The Divine Gardener’s love
His sacred orchestrated pruning
Frees the soul from what no longer serves
The vibration of the old branches
Falling away without struggle
And the divine living breath
Moves through the empty places
Restoring the soul
To its original purity
Completing the work in me
Embracing the quiet dying
self reliance
God Reliance
That is being born
That holds me from within
My living healing testimony
That still remains within
Aum Peace Amen
