First Things First
Salt and Light
Bible Verse & Affirmation for October
First Things First
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.
That expression, “First things first,” is a piece of counsel often given to students of business techniques. It is the advice of practicality to those who aspire to worldly success. But according to the Hermetic doctrine, “As above, so below,” that which works best in one level of life is often the best guide to what will work best on every other level. If a person is true to his highest priorities, he will generally find that his other needs are fulfilled naturally as well.
This is true, certainly, of the search for God. One of the greatest sayings of Jesus Christ was this simple sentence, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 6:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Paramhansa Yogananda gave his elder brother Ananta a wonderful lesson in this truth. It was Ananta who had captured him and brought him back from his flight to the Himalayas, described by Yogananda in Autobiography of a Yogi. In Yogananda’s book we read how Ananta later challenged him, in the city of Agra, to pit his divine faith against such “practical” worldly considerations as the need for earning a living. Fearless before that challenge, the young aspirant agreed to go by train, without any money, to the nearby town of Brindaban; not to miss a single meal in Brindaban; and to find his way back to Agra without begging and without in any other way asking for help. In one of the most thrilling chapters in the book, Yogananda fulfilled all the conditions of the test. Yogananda continued the account:
As the tale was unfolded, my brother turned sober, then solemn.
“The law of demand and supply reaches into subtler realms than I had supposed.” Ananta spoke with a spiritual enthusiasm never before noticeable. “I understand for the first time your indifference to the vaults and vulgar accumulations of the world.”
Late as it was, my brother insisted that he receive diksha (initiation) into Kriya Yoga.
As the Bhagavad Gita puts it in the ninth Chapter:
Those who worship lesser gods go to their gods…but those who worship Me come to Me.
Thus, through holy Scripture, God has spoken to mankind.
Whispers From Eternity
10. Demand for the Opening of Spiritual Temple Doors everywhere
O Father, when I was blind I found not a door which led to Thee, but now that Thou hast opened my eyes I find doors everywhere: through the hearts of flowers, through the voice of friendship, through sweet memories of all lovely experiences. Every gust of my prayer opens a new door in the vast temple of Thy presence.
Paramhansa Yogananda
Inspiration from the Rays of One Light
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
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 moved by the words of Matthew 6:33 from Rays of the One Light.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
These words inspired me to create a poem called “You are More Precious Than Gold ”.
You are More Precious Than Gold
Before the world begins to call
Seek the Love that embraces all
In stillness listen, in silence pray
And let God's light
Light your way
Seek not the treasures the world may bring
But the peace within
Where your soul sings
When we choose God first
Above all
His love sustains us
Whatever way we may call
Trust in His wisdom
Surrender to fear
For the Kingdom of Heaven is near
You are more precious than Gold
A story that is untold
Aum Peace Amen
