The Infinite Christ
Blessed Are the Inwardly Free
Reading and Affirmation for January
From the book The Beatitudes: Their Inner Meaning by Swami Kriyananda
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.
The Gospel of St. John contains some of the most profound spiritual teachings in the Bible. In the first Chapter many subtle truths are suggested concerning higher stages of Self-realization.
Here, John the Baptist is described as one reaching up toward that high state. “He was not that light,” the Gospel tells us, “but was sent to bear witness of that light.” Jesus Christ, by contrast, is described as the light itself. “That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”
One essential truth stands out in this teaching: that Jesus came not to dogmatize people with a new teaching, but to bring them timeless, universal truths. Disciples saw the master clothed in human form, and therefore judged him in terms of his greatness relative to the greatness of other teachers. Wisdom, however, sees the master’s very greatness in terms of a cosmic unity.
There is a passage in The Path, by Swami Kriyananda, in which this point is emphasized. The Master, Paramhansa Yogananda, explained,
“The saint who attains that exalted consciousness never says, ‘I am God,’ for he sees it was the vast Ocean that became his little wave of ego. The wave, in other words, would not claim, when referring to the little self, to be the Ocean.”
At this juncture Debi, who was present, cried excitedly, “But Sir, if you are one with that Ocean, that means you are God!”
“Why I?” Master asked. “Say ‘He.’ He is God.”
“But still, Sir, you are one with Him, and He is the only reality. That means you, too, are God.”
“But this body isn’t God!”
“You aren’t identified with your body, Sir, so one may still say that you are God.”
“Well, in that case why do you say, ‘You’? You, too, are that! In a discussion of this sort, it is less confusing if we say, ‘He.’”
“But what’s the difference?”
“The Scriptures say . . .” Master began.
“It’s only your humility, Sir,” Debi broke in, “that makes you distinguish between yourself and Him.”
“How can there be humility, when there is no consciousness of ego?”
Triumphantly Debi cried, “But if you have no ego left, that means you are God!”
Master laughingly continued the earlier statement, which Debi had interrupted: “The Scriptures say, ‘He who knows Brahma becomes Brahma.’”
“There!” cried Debi. “You said it yourself!”
Master rejoined, still laughingly, “I didn’t say it. It’s the Scriptures that say so.” Master, in other words, would not identify those words with the human body speaking them. It was in his overarching spirit that he saw himself one with the Infinite. But Debi was unable to make this mental leap from a pure expression of Infinity to Infinity Itself.
“You quoted those Scriptures, Sir,” he reminded Master relentlessly. “That means you agree with them!”
Recognizing that the distinction was, perhaps, too subtle for many to grasp, Master concluded, “Well, he who says he is God, isn’t God. And,” he added with a smile, “he who says he isn’t, isn’t!”
And there the subject rested, amid general laughter.
The greater a spiritual teaching, the more greatly we betray it by particularizing it with dogmas. Truth itself, not the Christian truth or the Hindu truth, incarnates on earth with the birth of a fully liberated master. As the Bhagavad Gita teaches in the fourth Chapter:
Unborn, changeless, Lord of Creation and controller of My cosmic nature though I am, yet entering Nature I am dressed in the cosmic garment of My own maya (delusion).
O Bharata, whenever virtue declines and vice predominates, I incarnate on earth. Taking visible form, I come to destroy evil and re-establish virtue.
Thus, through holy Scripture, God has spoken to mankind.
Whispers From Eternity
198. Perching in the trees of many Lives, I sang Thy songs
I, the nightingale of heaven, perched on the boughs of many lives, singing Thy songs.
My clear song reverberates over soul-leaves that flutter with Thy life. It thrills the night air in the private gardens of centuries, where many sleep, dreaming sweet fantasies or, again, nightmares of delusion. It wakens some of them with soft touches of Thy reverberating, cosmic song.
I fly everywhere, and give concerts to express Thy joy in bowers of receptive hearts. Oh! I will come again and again to lure all souls with my songs, and to teach them Thy songs, and invite them all to fly, like me, in Thy skies of cosmic freedom.
Paramhansa Yogananda
Inspiration from the Rays of One Light
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”
John 1:10
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!
Today I was inspired by Saint John. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” John 1:10
Can you imagine the infinite Christ, the eternal Creator of all things, was present in the world He made, but the world did not recognise Him.
How often do we find ourselves feeling unseen, misunderstood or alone, just like Christ in this passage?
This passage challenges us not to allow the ego or the distractions of the world to pull us down, but to rise above and recognise that we are never truly alone or misunderstood. Christ is not only a cosmic force but also a boundless presence that moves freely within each of our hearts and lives.
Christ is a loving companion who walks beside us every step of the way, inviting us into a deeper, more joyful relationship with the divine and the world He created, more than we could ever imagine.
He wants us to know that His love and joy are not distant or unreachable, instead, they are intimately close, calling us to embrace spiritual freedom, peace, and harmony in all that we do.
In this personal encounter with the infinite Christ, we discover an abundant healing wellspring of strength, faith, and hope that transforms and heals the ego, turning it into love. This transformative relationship empowers us to live with greater compassion, courage, and peace, reflecting the boundless nature of Christ’s eternal presence in our lives.
Prayer to the Infinite Christ
O Infinite Christ, Eternal Creator and Loving Companion.
You who made the world and yet remained unseen by many.
Help us to open our eyes and hearts to your divine presence within and around us.
When we feel unseen, misunderstood, or alone, remind us that you walk beside us every step of the way.
As a boundless source of love, peace, and strength.
Transform our doubts and fears into your faith and courage.
Heal our wounded hearts and turn our ego into your love.
May we embrace your spiritual freedom and joy, living each day with your compassion, hope, and grace.
Guide us to recognise you not only as the Cosmic Divine Creator but as the intimate friend who calls us into a deeper relationship.
May your infinite presence empower us to share your light and peace in all that we do.
We are Thine Now and Forever Always.
Aum Peace Amen
