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?
According to the teachings of yoga, our environment should be peaceful and uplifting. This is considered the best way to allow innate peace to surface and our creative, nurturing capacities to be unveiled.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian - from her book The Jewel of Abundance p.184
I find that it can be so easy for my little desk area, in the corner of our den, to become cluttered with books and papers. I may be using something and think that I might need it the next day, so I leave it sitting next to my computer. The next day comes and I find something else that I need. All of a sudden things accumulate and then it feels overwhelming as to where to start to clean it up. Over time I have come to realize that I don't work or think well when that clutter is around me so I have developed a habit to keep my desk area tidy and dispose of what I don't need in a timely way. We have all experienced how our environment is influential. We know how we feel when we go for a walk in nature, for example, and how it renews our energy. Yogacharya encourages us to consider "What brings joy to your heart and peace to your mind? Cultivate and enhance those aspects...Let your choices reflect your intention to succeed—to live, love, and thrive in the highest way."
The antidote for regret is to move our awareness into the present moment. Consider what you can do now that makes a difference.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
It is so common to look back on our lives and have regrets for what we did or didn't do. We can waste a lot of time in that regret or we can look at those things we regret and see them as life lessons. We can look at those events that we regret and consider how we can move forward in our life and do it differently if a similar situation comes up. We also forgive ourselves, like a parent would forgive their child for making a mistake. See yourself as the shining light that you are. Let go of the past and live now. Living in the highest and best way means to let go of those regrets and know that as we move forward in the journey of life, we do our best for ourselves and for others. As Yogacharya says, consider what you can do now to make a difference.
Be aware that each word you speak is a seed planted in the field of life. Each word spoken puts energy into motion. Let us pay attention to what we say and why we say it. As a spiritual practice, seek to discover the intention and motive behind your words. What is it that is speaking? Is love speaking?
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
As we move into the new year it is common to make a New Year's resolution. The problem with this is that these resolutions are often broken fairly soon. A resolution is defined as solving a problem or resolving an issue. Why not set an intention? There is a difference. An intention is an aim or a goal. It is something that we can work toward. Yogacharya O'Brian has likened setting an intention to using a bow and arrow. We pull back the bow string with the intention that the arrow will hit the mark. We can take this sacred time of the year to look at our lives and determine how we want to live and set an intention to live with higher purpose.
Being conscious of our speech, the seeds we plant with what we say and the intention behind what we say, is a positive way to begin the year. Set an intention to stay conscious of the words you use, how you use them and the intention behind them. Sometimes that may even mean staying silent or pausing before you speak. Our regular meditation practice supports us in that conscious awareness.
We can mobilize the power of our determination by setting an intention, making a declaration, and offering it as a sacred vow.... A vow becomes sacred when it draws upon our deepest desire, is connected with our life purpose, and serves the greater good.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book The Jewel of Abundance
We can take our new year's resolutions to a higher level by using the technique of affirmation. Create a positive verbal affirmation such as "I easily have all the resources I need to carry out my useful
intentions." Keep your affirmation in the present tense. Repeat this verbally and in silence until it resonates by itself. Repeat your affirmation regularly. Then rest in the conviction that helpful intentions are gracefully supported by a friendly universe. Which transformative affirmation do you embrace for the coming year?
The peace we pray for in our world, the love we hope for, the healing we yearn for, and the joy we welcome are natural expressions of spiritual awakening. What the world needs is this awakening. Let us pray for it today and believe in our hearts that it is possible now.
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian (from her book The Path of Wonder: A Meditator's Guide to Advent)
Yogacharya continues by saying "Embrace the idea that spiritual enlightenment is your inevitable destiny. Know that you are already enlightened at the core of your being, a pure expression of the one divine life of God. Identify Self- and God-realization as your life's purpose and goal. Consider any changes that you want to make to arrange conditions in your life to support that goal. Decide which change should be the first step. Make a plan and begin it today. Walk faithfully toward your goal."
As we celebrate the coming of the light this week may we remember that we are that divine light expressing through these precious bodies that we have been given. May we know the joy and peace in that realization and live from that divine knowing. This is our life purpose. What is your plan for your first step toward this realization?
Advent coincides with Winter Solstice and myths from many times and cultures, which provide and entry into sacred time. Sacred time is a portal. It can take us into the profound, spiritual significance of the time of year, the time in our world, in our lives and our consciousness.
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian (from her book The Path of Wonder: A Meditator's Guide to Advent)
We are reminded, by the Christian practice of Advent that this is a sacred time of the year as it is for the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah which celebrates the coming of the light. Diwali, the festival of lights was recently celebrated in the Hindu tradition. Many traditions celebrate this sacred time of year. That it is a sacred time is easily forgotten, in our culture, with all the material focus on the holidays. We can slow down, though, and take the time to watch and listen. Advent means the arrival or coming. We prepare for the arrival of the light by watching for it, seeing it all around us in the people we meet and the goodness that is around us even when times seem dark. We can listen to the still, small voice within each of us that guides us, offers us peace and reminds us that the light is within ourselves. We are reminded each and every year, at this time, that as soon as the shortest darkest day happens, it is followed by the days slowly growing longer and brighter. This is the reminder that as we watch and wait, the light always comes. It never fails us. We can create a ritual each day that reminds of the coming of the light by just lighting a candle before meditation. Do it consciously and offer a short prayer as you light it. We remember that this sacred time is a portal, a portal to the light of love, the light of peace.
If we imagine that all the elements of the Christmas story signify some part of us, a stable as the setting for the birth is significant...There is a lot in common with the human body (and the stable). Many religions point to the body as the dwelling place of God.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian (Path of Wonder: A Meditator's Guide to Advent pg.34)
I continue to draw from Yogacharya O'Brian's book, Path of Wonder and the symbols of Advent for a deeper spiritual understanding of how this story of the waiting can prepare us for spiritual awakening. This week I am inspired by Yogacharya's contemplation of the connection of the stable, in the story, with our physical bodies. She asks why "many of us ignore, abuse, or indulge the body, not respecting that it is the dwelling place of God." An important part of our spiritual practice is respecting and caring for the body and the mind. It is through the body and mind that we think, speak and act with spiritual intention. I know that for me, during this holiday season, it is very easy to forget how this body supports my spiritual awakening. There are so many temptations to eat more and especially more sweets than I know are good for me. I may feel too busy to do the exercise that keeps my body strong and healthy. I can push my limits by not always listening to what my body needs by not getting enough rest.
We can ask ourselves: how can I treat my body as the temple of the Divine that it is? Another question Yogacharya suggests we ask ourselves is: what simple step can I take today toward caring for my body? You can read more on this topic in Yogacharya's book Path of Wonder: A Meditators Guide to Advent; Week Two-Tuesday.
To hope is to expect, to anticipate, or look forward to. Cultivate a hopeful attitude by assuming there is Power for good in this universe, and you are choosing to cooperate with it.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian (Path of Wonder: A Meditator's Guide to Advent)
In this time of the Christian tradition of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, instead of just focusing on shopping and getting, we can create a more spiritual journey through this time. This is a time of year when several different spiritual traditions celebrate the coming of the light of love and peace. In her book, Path of Wonder, Yogacharya O'Brian offers us daily teachings and practices that can transform this time of the year for all of us, no matter what religious tradition or no tradition that we espouse. In the first week she shares about hope. This is a difficult time in the world and many of us are worried about the future. Our hearts ache for those who are suffering all over the world. Our hearts ache because of the social divisions that seem to be getting wider and wider in our own country. It can be a difficult time for those who are alone or have family issues.
Yogacharya says, "Cultivate a hopeful attitude." Rather than being pulled down into the depths of despair, if we assume there is a Power for good, we can remain hopeful and serve life from that place; bringing the light within into the world. She encourages us to "Feel or imagine that life supports you...Notice what it is like to consciously choose to be hopeful."
