There are many things in life that we cannot change or control but we do have the power to transform our minds and our experience of life. We can become more patient, kind, insightful and compassionate.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
As I write this, we are celebrating the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His life was a shining example of knowing what is right, what is good and acting upon that. He envisioned the best in people. He envisioned the best of society.
It is easy to become hopeless in reaction to the seeming negativity that we are often exposed to, especially in the news. It is easy to get caught up in the feeling of lack, or negative energy that may be around us, or that we impose on ourselves. But it is easy to change our minds — to change our thoughts. We can easily decide to turn to the positive aspects of life that are all around us. Then our lives become so much more pleasant and easier. We can bring that positive energy to those around us through patience, kindness and compassion. Just as we are affected by negative energy, we can be more easily be affected by positive energy. The practice of meditation supports us in changing our minds because as we practice and quiet the thoughts, what is revealed is the peaceful, positive person that we are.
Meditation can be practiced once a day, usually in the morning. If early meditation practice is not possible, do it later in the day. Regularity is recommended so that it will be enjoyably anticipated and experienced. Some people meditate twice each day: in the morning and early evening. Meditate as long as it takes to have satisfying results. Some of the sessions will be more satisfying. All of them will be helpful.
~Roy Eugene Davis
When Mr. Davis speaks of "satisfying" meditation, we can understand this as reaching 1) single pointed focus and then 2) the deep peacefulness that reveals our own true nature as bliss itself. But even on those days when our meditation requires constant return to the point of focus after interruptions by thoughts, sounds or sensations, no effort is lost and our brain and ego are being beneficially trained to make us more peaceful and useful in the world.
There is no secret to success. Simply go forward with awareness. Our path is unknown and unseen, until we walk it. Only our steps forward reveal it.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
As we move into the new year, the future is unknown. We can look at it from a place of fear and worry, or we can open our hearts to the delight of the potential of the glorious life that we can live. It's all a matter of perspective. Through the practice of meditation, as we take each step forward in our life with faith, we are more attuned to our inner guidance. Each step forward shines the light on the next right one. This inner guidance will always take us in a positive direction. The practice of meditation supports us in living the life that we are meant to live. When we look at the world from this perspective, all good things are possible.
With the opening of the New Year, all the closed portals of limitations will be thrown open and I shall move through them to vaster fields, where my worthwhile dreams of life will be fulfilled.
~Paramahansa Yogananda
The coming of the new year is a wonderful time to affirm our intention to flourish on all levels. Take Yogananda's affirmation and personalize it for yourself. Then after meditation, know and feel its power to overcome obstacles as you repeat the affirmation several times feeling its truth now, even before it comes to pass. Then live in the secure knowledge that all our worthwhile goals can be achieved as we cooperate with a supportive universe.
Let us establish the Prince of Peace consciousness as our inner ruler, that we may meet our crosses and tests of life with power, victory, and tranquility.
~Paramahansa Yogananda
When we meditate, we expand our conscious awareness beyond the confines of thought activity and experience the Self as whole. In this thought-free state, we know our wholeness to be true because we experience it. The key to our fulfillment in life is to know we are already full, whole, and complete. Then, whatever we choose to do, have, or be, is an expression of that innate fullness.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
When we meditate we innately realize that our highest contentment is not dependent on outside factors - relationships or things we acquire. Meditation is the antidote to the lack of balance we we may experience during the busy holiday season. The deepest happiness we seek is an inside job, just waiting for us. Set an intention to lengthen and deepen your meditation practice today.
When the wisdom-eye opened,
I beheld clearly the truth that
Before was obscured by images
That randomly flowed through the
Mirror of the mind and impulses
Driven by subtle inclinations
That stirred emotions.
What before was unseen, was seen.
What before was unknown, was known.
That it was so easily revealed
Was a pleasant surprise that
Brought forth a joyous response.
~Roy Eugene Davis
Mr. Davis has also said "Do what you know you should do." Our practice of meditation opens up our "wisdom-eye", our intuition, so that our "knowing" is more refined. We are able to access that wisdom more easily, trust it and follow it.
Live each moment completely and the future will take care of itself. Fully enjoy the wonder and beauty of each instant. Practice the presence of peace. The more you do that, the more you will feel the presence of that power in your life.
~Paramahansa Yogananda
Our daily meditation practice is the key to living fully in the present moment. As we meditate, we cultivate the witness consciousness that watches the thoughts arise and fall away in our mental field. Becoming aware of this process, we learn to control what persists in the mental field. When we move beyond concentration to meditation itself, we realize that we are a boundless presence of peace that we can carry into our daily life. There we encounter timely support for all our beneficial intentions.
Peace within us is unconditional. It isn’t ours when something happens, or when something is resolved—it is unchanging, always available. Nothing can take that peace from us without our consent.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
This season of thanksgiving offers us an opportunity to look around us and see all of the good things in our life. There may some times in our life where it may seem that there is nothing to be grateful for or we feel stressed or worried. Our meditation practice trains us to stop and catch ourselves when we are having negative thoughts. We can stop, take a breath and see the positive around us. We can especially notice those things that we often take for granted like the birds singing, the beautiful autumn leaves that are falling or the air that we are breathing. It just takes a moment. We look around, take a breath and feel that peace that is always there for us. Let's not allow anything take that peace from us. In this holiday season, let us be aware of that peace that is our innate nature, remember it and be thankful.
What we need may come to us in many different ways. It may come as insight, an awareness that allows us to know what to do; or it may be something we read, or hear someone say; it could be a material gift that is given; or an opportunity that arises. The ways are truly infinite.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
There are many times in our life when we come to a crossroads of some kind. We need to make a decision, we want to say the right thing to someone, we are worried about someone or some thing and we don't know what to do. The right answer will always come to us, we just need to be open and alert to the message we are receiving and we need to trust that the answer that comes is the right one. Our practice of meditation prepares us for that knowing. Through our meditation practice we are letting our thoughts settle and allowing the wisdom that innate to us show up. Then we are prepared for the myriad ways that the answer shows up, and we can trust it. The more we allow ourselves to experience those answers, the more we notice them in our lives.
Staying in touch with the benefits of superconscious meditation is a helpful support to keep us inspired to practice every day. Remind yourself to be good to yourself by meditating today and every day.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Meditation promotes health by lowering the level of stress-inducing cortisol in the body so we experience less disease of all kinds. Meditation gives us an inner glow and promotes optimism. Meditation reduces our tendency to be reactive, so relationships are improved. Meditation helps us control the contents of our mind, which helps with our speech and actions in the world. Meditation is the great teacher of focus, so we can get more done. Meditation opens up the channels to our inner intuition, so we find solutions more easily and just know more often what is the right thing to do. Meditation uncovers the deep well of inner peace within us so naturally the world around us is more peaceful and joy filled. Begin or deepen your meditation practice today.
The actions of grace are always constructive, supportive, enlivening and redemptive, and prevail wherever there is receptivity to them.
~Roy Eugene Davis
Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and the guru of our teacher, Ellen Grace O'Brian, reminds us that grace is everywhere, all around us and always supportive. Our work is to be receptive to the actions of grace. Another great sage, Ramakrishna, said "The winds of grace are always blowing, it is for us to raise our sails." Grace is like water to a fish. It is everywhere present, but we are not always paying attention and sometimes feel like we are all alone in this world, dealing with our issues and problems. When we have a regular, steady practice of meditation, we are raising our sails. We become more easily aware of the grace that is prevalent in our lives. Then we can rest in that knowing and relax. Life can be so much easier.
Don't mentally review any problem constantly. Let it rest at times and it will work itself out; but see that you do not rest so long that your discrimination is lost. Rather, use these rest periods to go deep within the calm regions of your inner Self.
~Paramahansa Yogananda
When we have a steady meditation practice and lead a life that is harmonious with our true values, we find that the answers to our problems will come to us. There is an easy path for us opened by discrimination. We can let go of the need to solve the problem our selves and trust that our own discriminative wisdom will show us the answer. The universe naturally supports our worthwhile goals when we meditate and lead a balanced life.
Change your focus of attention, change your thinking, change your mind, and change your life. It only takes a moment. This one is a good one.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Sometimes we can get caught up in our worries, fears or anxieties. It can be quite painful and all consuming. When we have a regular practice of meditation and an understanding of how to live our lives from that place within ourselves that is peaceful, calm and free from all suffering, our lives can be transformed. Then we realize how naturally and easily we can change our thinking, change our minds. One breath can change it all.
There is always a way out of your trouble; and if you take the time to think clearly, to think how to get rid of the cause of your anxiety instead of just worrying about it, you become a master.
~Paramahansa Yogananda
A steady meditation practice brings many gifts. We become accurate observers of our thought process. We get control over the contents of our minds, and when we are able to let negative thoughts subside rather than becoming attached to them, we reach the level of mastery and find an end to mental suffering. To reap these many benefits, strengthen your meditation practice beginning today.
Sit in meditation.
The door of the heart opens to the inner world.
After that,
nothing is ever the same.
The knots around your life,
all the reasons for doing and not doing,
loosen and fall away.
Then, there comes the glorious choice.
Some close the door and try to go back
to an anxious way of pretending they don't know.
Others leave the door open and
walk through it to a new life,
full of wonders,
only now perceived.
Sit in meditation.
The door of the heart opens to the inner world.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Don't look for solutions to problems in meditation. Rest in that state beyond problems, where only divine harmony exists. Divine guidance will emerge from that consciousness. Bring light into a dark room, and the darkness vanishes as though it had never been.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Meditation is not a time to work out issues. Our time of meditation is a time to move deeper than the level of thought. Important problems cannot be solved on the same level of consciousness as the problem because a focus on the negative just attracts energy which enlarges the problem. We can let go of issues and just sink into the inner peacefulness of real meditation. Then later on we will be happily surprised by the ease with which marvelous solutions appear.
Imagine what it would be like to accept life as it is. Now imagine what it would be like to accept yourself just as you are. When there is no desire for life to be different than it is, peace arrives. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Meditation and our practice of non-attachment can lead us to that
enduring peaceful state where we no longer worry about desired outcomes.
After we have done our best with each task at hand, we know that the
results are not up to us and we can release anxiety about what will
happen. Our inner peacefulness is dependent on our meditation practice and our acceptance of not being in control of the outcome of our actions, either positive or negative. What a relief!
If you encounter an obstacle, imagine that it is only an obstacle because you allow it to be one. Ask yourself: What can I let go of that would transform this situation?
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
When we first begin our meditation practice, it is easy to find many things that become obstacles to our taking time to sit in the silence. We haven't gotten up early enough, we have to go to work early, someone or something needs our attention, maybe I can meditate better in the evening—so I'll just wait until then or oops- I forgot. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, scripture from the east that teaches us about meditation, tells us that there are several main obstacles such as laziness, illness, lack of progress, doubt, distractions and cravings for sense-pleasure. The Yoga Sutras also give us antidotes to these obstacles. For example, practice the opposite. If we are intent on making sincere, positive changes in our life, through meditation, that's all we need to do. We just need to recognize the obstacle and decide what to do to overcome it. We realize our strengths through overcoming obstacles.
Arjuna [the stuggling meditator]: "The mind is unstable, troublesome, strong and obstinate; it seems to be as difficult to control as the wind."
Krishna [our innate wisdom]: You are right, Arjuna; the mind is restless and hard to master; but by constant practice and detachment it can be mastered in the end.
Bhagavad Gita 6:34,35
The Bhagavad Gita is ancient scripture from India that tells the story of Arjuna, who represents those of us who are seeking a better way of life, and Krishna, who represents our own inner knowing, our inner wisdom. This is from the chapter on meditation.
We are not the first ones to experience our minds running wild during meditation. The great promise from this scripture is that the mind can be trained to come to single pointed focus and take us into the depth of meditation called yoga. Modern science echos this promise with our attribute of neuroplasticity. Our regular meditation practice creates new neural networks which strengthen our ability to focus and control the contents of our mind. This is what is life changing.
