Look for the hand of love whenever something is taken away.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
The teachings of yoga tell us that there is a divine power for good that guides the universe and that we can learn to cooperate with it. When we experience a loss, it can be useful to put this loss into a broader context and open ourselves up to what can be possible. I have learned I can ask the question: is my short sighted ego assuming the change is one of loss or is the universe is merely making way for something better that is not yet obvious? As a young man I didn't do well in the professions that I thought I wanted to be in. In order to make ends meet, I took a job selling computer accessories at a Radio Shack store. One day a customer came in to buy ten floppy disks and my life was changed forever. He and I got to talking and within a week he hired me as a computer consultant in the company he ran and I was on the way to a fascinating career in high tech. Our meditation practice helps us quiet the mind and be open to the myriad positive possibilities that life can present, even when we feel that something is taken away from us.
Spiritual practice is choosing peace, clarity, and compassion in thought, speech, and action. We have only to observe our thoughts and choices to determine whether we are aligning ourselves with peace, chasing after desires, or succumbing to depression or inertia. Practice making any course corrections needed to stay the course of an uplifting way of life. Like a pilot steering toward a chosen destination, constant course correction is necessary until we arrive.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Whatever our particular religion or even if we have no religion we can have a spiritual practice. As Yogacharya O'Brian says here, our spiritual practice is how we choose to live our lives. We realize what we want in our life and then live consciously so that we live in a way that attracts what we are looking for. Like is attracted to like. When we find that we veer off course, all we need to do is notice and then make the course correction. One of the many benefits of meditation is that it trains us to remain awake and aware of what is happening in our minds. That is what the pilot is constantly doing—remaining awake and aware in order to make those needed course corrections. We make no judgement of ourselves. We just notice and make the course correction. This is the way to live our best life. This is our spiritual practice.
It is on the inward condition that the outer reality depends.
~Roy Eugene Davis
Why is it that life just seems a bit harder on days we do not meditate?
The inner peace we carry with us not only colors our perception of
events in the world, but impacts them. When we listen to our intuition
and just do what we know we should do, we find that most people and
situations are naturally friendly and supportive. Even when things do
not turn out as we planned, we get a welcoming chance to learn and adapt
with an inner smile. This cycle of peace begins with our meditation
practice and follows us into the world. Then we naturally return the
favor to all around us.
Great souls know nothing of failure. At every turn, they see the opportunity to learn. ~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
We live in a world of pure possibility. Open the windows of your mind.
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
There are times when we are afraid to try something that we are called to do because we are afraid of failure. Fear of failure can hold us back from potential amazing experiences that can even be life changing, or at least bring great enjoyment to our lives. For example, as meditation teachers, we have spoken to many people who have tried meditation once or twice and didn't get the results they thought they should have. They then decide that they can't meditate, stop trying and miss out on the incredible gifts that come with a regular practice. There may be failures as we initially try a new project or something we would like to accomplish but we may learn that all we need is a different way of doing this task or project. We may learn that perseverence is what is needed, just time and practice. Or maybe this project that we thought we wanted to do, isn't our work to do. We thought we wanted it because we admire someone else who is doing it so well. The important scripture from the East, the Bhagavad Gita 18:47 says "Better to perform one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the well-performed duty of another." (1) Through errors we learn about ourselves and what is ours to do. We may learn a different way of accomplishing something, rather than the way we thought it should be done. Our life opens up to so many amazing possibilities in life, when we let go of the fear of failure.
The spiritual law that connects prosperity and generosity is simple. Generosity is a practice that frees us from the constraints of the small self, the focus on "I, me and mine" that can be a source of limitation and suffering. When we understand that to truly prosper is to be a life-giving spirit, allowing life to flow through us to to love and serve others, we are freed from too much self-concern. Our own happiness is discovered when we contribute to the happiness of others.
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book The Jewel of Abundance
When I was a freshman in high school, we had to spend an hour a week in assembly listening to advice from our elders. I did not find this interesting and was genuinely puzzled when I heard that virtue is its own reward. This simply did not make any sense to me. It was many years later when I came to recognize that helping others brought me the most lasting joy. It seems to me that the Kriya Yoga principle of surrender offers the best guidance here. Surrender is not giving up, but embracing the ever present flow of rightly guided action in selflessness. What outlets have you discovered for your own generosity? Are there new ones would you like to cultivate?
Divine power within us is always ready to express through us to bring healing and expand our horizons beyond what we believe possible. We need only to trust and cooperate with it. Be unabashedly hopeful for your life and the life of our world. Let the language of your faith in the Divine speak with every hopeful word and every constructive action.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book Living for the Sake of the Soul
I find myself feeling overwhelmed at times about the state of the world. This quote reminds me that Divine power is ready to express through me. I am reminded that this is my responsibility in this lifetime. It is all of our responsibility to remember that we are Divine beings thinking, speaking and acting in this world with love and compassion. That remembrance slows me down when I want to react with frustration or anger. This reminder, that we are Divine beings, supports me when I feel helpless. Here in this blog we often talk about overcoming negative feelings or thoughts and that meditation is key to help us with that. For me it is a daily practice, sometimes a minute by minute practice. As more of us awaken to this understanding of what we are, the more this world can become the peaceful place it is meant to be. A big part of this practice is to remember that we are all Divine beings and to see that light in everyone even if the light is weak. We can each be part of the healing process of turning up the light of love as we each do our own work of contributing compassion and peace to the world. As Yogacharya tells us "Be unabashedly hopeful for your life and the life of our world."
Divine power within us is always ready to express through us to bring healing and expand our horizons beyond what we believe possible. We need only to trust and cooperate with it. Be unabashedly hopeful for your life and the life of our world. Let the language of your faith in the Divine speak with every hopeful word and every constructive action.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book Living for the Sake of the Soul
I find myself feeling overwhelmed at times about the state of the world. This quote reminds me that Divine power is ready to express through me. I am reminded that this is my responsibility in this lifetime. It is all of our responsibility to remember that we are Divine beings thinking, speaking and acting in this world. That remembrance slows me down when I want to react with frustration or anger. This reminder, that we are Divine beings, supports me when I feel helpless. Here in this blog we often talk about overcoming negative feelings or thoughts. For me it is a daily practice, sometimes a minute by minute practice. As more of us awaken to this understanding of what we are, the more this world can become the peaceful place it is meant to be. A big part of this practice is to remember that we are all Divine beings and to see that light in everyone even if the light is weak. We can each be part of the healing process of turning up the light of love as we each do our own work of contributing compassion and peace to the world. "Be unabashedly hopeful for your life and the life of our world."
A real intuition can never be wrong. It does not consist in believing a thing firmly or doggedly, but in knowing it directly and unmistakably. An intuition does not contradict, but is always supported by right sense perception, reason and inference. All things known by intuition are invariably true both materially and intellectually.
Paramahansa Yogananda, Advanced Course on Practical Metaphysics; Lesson Three
Intuition is the powerful inner knowing that we all experience, but we need to pay attention to it. As Yogananda teaches us, it is never wrong. It is something that we may not understand intellectually but we "know" it at the core of our being. Our inner knowing may appear as an answer to a question, such as "should I marry this person?" or "should I take this new job?". Our inner knowing may show up as a simple guidance such as "You haven't talked to this person for a long time, give them a call."
There can be times when we have an inner knowing about something but we want to argue with it. We may say to ourselves that this inner knowing must be wrong because we may ask "How can this be accomplished?" or "I can't do this, it is too hard." Our intuition isn't loud or insistent, so we can take our time to listen to that "still, small voice". When it is the right message for us we feel a peace and a calmness that we are making the right decision. When you receive what you perceive as inner guidance, take small steps to test it out. With each step, pay attention and trust. This inner guidance comes from our soul and you will be guided and supported. Our practice of meditation quiets the busy mind and opens us up to inner guidance. As we begin to listen and trust that knowing, it becomes easier and more automatic in our lives. As Roy Eugene Davis says, "There is a power for good that enlivens the universe and we can learn to cooperate with it."
Meditation is a way of life. It is learning how to be present. Meditate because you love yourself. Meditate because you love life.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Our attitude determines our experience. Think back on days when you were full of cheerful enthusiasm. Didn't things just turn out better? Weren't other people just kinder? On days when events around us are overwhelming, it may seem that nothing goes right. Daily meditation prepares us for a day filled with positive energy and joy. Meditation clears the mind and brings us back in touch with the natural joy which is our inner nature. Even when times are difficult, meditation nurtures a positive attitude and enables us to better support others. The principle of attraction states that energy flows to the focus of attention. "Meditate because you love life!"
On this path no effort is ever wasted, no gain is reversed; even a little of this practice will shelter you from great sorrow.
The Bhagavad Gita 2:40
This passage from the Bhagavad Gita doesn’t mean that we won’t ever have great sorrow or difficulties in our lives, because that happens in this human existence. What it does mean is that when we do have challenges, whatever they are, with a strong practice we can navigate through them. We act from a place of peace and wisdom rather than a place of fear or anxiety. I always look to the Dalai Lama and what he had to live through, but he is a joyful person. He wrote a book on joy with his friend Desmond Tutu, who also lived a difficult life in apartheid South Africa.
We may have those days when we think we want to quit. We may have those days when it seems too hard to have the self-discipline to meditate regularly or to pay attention to what is the right thing to do or say. We may feel like we're not making progress with our meditation. But the more we practice, the easier it is to do what we know we should do.
Whenever you have those days remember this— "no effort is ever wasted."
Take a step away from identifying with changing mental states by discerning the dominant quality in the mind such as peace, passion, or inertia. You are not the quality; you are the Seer, the Observer.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
There are three qualities that imbue all of nature including our mind. The first is the uplifting quality of peacefulness or harmony. The second is passion, activity or restlessness. The third is inertia and is often associated with negative thoughts. Our meditation practice shows us that, as the non-judgemental Observer, we can moderate our mental states and when overtaken by inertia we can use activity or passion to move us away from inertia. Then we have the freedom to make those useful choices that move us towards peace, balance and harmony where we can positively support both ourselves and others. Observe your mental state and exercise your innate freedom to take full control of it.
To live a God-inspired life, remain open to guidance. Let go of clinging to what you know so that your current understanding can expand. Hold what you know lightly. Stay open to new inspiration and insight.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Sometimes the things that we think that we know or opinions that we have hold us back from living a more compassionate, loving life. We are all shaped by our own experiences, but those experiences may not always serve our greater understanding. When we hold what we know lightly we can still use that knowledge and experience if it is useful but we can also learn new things. Open the gate and begin to compassionately understand another person's ideas. By being more open to a greater understanding, we are also giving that more peaceful energy out to others and they will be affected by it. They may begin to also open to new ideas or at least to greater understanding and compassion. As we each expand our own consciousness and understanding we can affect the entire world.
Stillness of the breath is stillness of the mind
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
A foundational practice, as we sit to meditate, is to focus on the breath. This helps us direct attention inward and provides a single point of focus. It becomes easier to overcome distractions from thoughts, sounds and sensations when we focus on the breath. As we sit the breath slows and when our attention becomes entirely focused we move from concentration to meditation. The mind grows quiet and the breath can become very still. Stillness of our mind brings peace. We find freedom from the frenzy of our thoughts and experience the illumination of our mind and being. With stillness and peace of mind, we contribute to our own well-being and the well-being of all.
Remember that as an individualized expression of Spirit you are already enlightened at the core of your being. “Becoming enlightened” is a matter of removing obstacles to the full expression of your true Self and allowing your innate radiance to emerge. Let the feeling of being enlightened remain in your heart and in the background of your awareness. Let it be a reference point for conscious living.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book The Jewel of Abundance
Most of us imagine that we are not enlightened and can't even imagine that this exalted state of consciousness is even possible for us. Here, Yogacharya O'Brian is sharing the ancient teachings of Yoga which tell us that we are already enlightened. All we need to do is remove the self-doubt and the idea that we are "less-than or not worthy". It's not always easy because our habits of thinking and acting in the world are ingrained. Our meditation practice supports us by giving us moments of insight to our innate purity, joy and peace. It also supports us throughout the day as we become aware of our mental processes and can lift the choice of how we live from the mundane to the higher ideals of life on a more regular basis. Accept enlightenment as your natural state of being and allow yourself to live life from that knowing.
The supportive presence of Spirit becomes visible as we follow through with the inner guidance revealed to us.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
How do we tap into our inner guidance? How do we know that this guidance is right? These are questions that I had when I first started on the spiritual path of Kriya Yoga. We make so many choices in life, some big decisions and some much smaller ones. Usually we "know" what to do, but how do we trust that "knowing"? Sometimes we hear the guidance, but it seems like if we go down that path we feel is too hard. How would we manage? An example in my life was going to seminary for four years to get my Masters of Divinity degree, while I was working full time at a busy job and taking care of my mother who was ill. There was a still small voice telling me this was for me but I kept asking how. I decided trust that inner guidance and my life was changed forever. Over those four years a lot of life happened, but I was fully supported in all ways.
In the Bible we read about "the still, small voice". The voice of Spirit is quiet and that is why our regular meditation practice supports our listening. Our minds are quieted from all the daily chatter and we become aware of that quiet voice and learn to trust it. When we listen we will always be guided to do the right thing and be supported in all ways. Listen and experience the supportive presence of Spirit.
Once God is found in the temple of our hearts, we find the divine radiance everywhere. We see the One shining in all eyes and hear the divine name resounding in every sound.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
The teachings of Yoga tell us that there is nothing in this manifest world that is not God (or however you perceive of that Divinity). The Divine Light is everywhere and in every thing. It is a delight to see that light everywhere. We try to share that beauty of God in the photos we offer. I think that for those who witnessed the solar eclipse recently it was an experience of God, whether they would describe it that way or not. It is easy to see the light of God in these kind of experiences, the beauty of nature and in lovely people, but even in the most difficult of circumstances that Light is there. It is especially important to look for that light in difficult times and in difficult people. That takes some discipline. The discipline of a steady meditation practice supports us in quieting the mind enough to experience God in the temple of our hearts. It supports us in feeling grounded and seeing that Light in difficult times. Then this is how we participate in revealing this Divine Light in the world. This is our work to do, in whatever way we individually do that.
The quickest way to lose inner peace is to argue with the way things
are. The quickest way to regain it is to accept what is.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
We all know that lamenting over unfortunate situations only brings
discomfort and wastes energy, but it is so easy for most of us to
emotionally argue with reality when it seems unjust. When we have the
insight to recognize that we are behaving like Don Quixote, jousting at
windmills, there is a chance to perceive that there are two directions
where we can focus our energy: inside or outside. When I let my
happiness depend on external events like the results of an exam or task, I expose myself to the risk of future mental pain. When I devote more energy to my spiritual practice and inner life, I come closer to freedom from suffering. The goal of the inner life is Self and God realization in this lifetime. So my task is to live each day according the the precepts of Kriya Yoga and maintain spiritually guided consciousness in the midst of a busy daily life. Accepting what is does not mean becoming indifferent to conditions like injustice or war, but that our mental peace is not overly dependent on their fluctuations. One practical sign of my daily practice is that I do not expose myself to TV news or political talk shows. Reading the paper it is easier for me to stay up to date but maintain some perspective. What tools to you use to keep from falling into arguing with the things are?
Yoga practice is not for one who overeats or engages in extensive fasting from food, nor it it for one who sleeps excessively or who does not obtain adequate sleep. For one whose diet and recreation are moderate, whose actions are disciplined, whose routines of sleep and waking are regulated, the practice of yoga removes all unhappiness.
~The Bhagavad Gita 6:16-17 as translated by Roy Eugene Davis in The Eternal Way
The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient scripture which contains deep teachings about how to live our life in the highest way.
In his commentary on these verses, Mr. Davis says "Living in harmony with the rhythms of life nurtures (one's) total wellness and ensures a natural, supportive relationship with the universe."
This is simple and just requires some discipline. When we live moderately and meditate regularly our physical, emotional, mental health and wellness are greatly enhanced and we can think clearly and compassionately. We know what the right next thing is for us to do. We know peace in our hearts and minds. We know happiness. Mr. Davis also says "Natural living and yoga (meditation and ethical living) practice are not only conducive to happiness, they also remove physical, psychological, and circumstantial causes of future unhappiness." This the great promise of Yoga.
The successful practice of meditation requires balance and focus — qualities that are essential to a happy, successful life. Cultivate balance today.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Just think about how most broadly successful days start. For many of us, these days begin with meditation and gentle exercise. Life can be a blissful dance when we balance work, satisfying and supportive relationships, moderate healthy eating, and uplifting play. We all know what it feels like when we lost this balance, so why not make those wise choices that benefit us and all those around us?
