Messages...
GURU PURNIMA
14th July, 2011
Loving and Divine Soul,
The holy occasion of Guru Purnima is dedicated to the spiritual masters and guru-preceptors. I humbly bow down at the feet of all the spiritual masters of all times and places and seek their love, grace, and blessings, not only for myself, but for the seekers, and even for all creation.
Guru Purnima is the birthday of sage Vyasadeva, whose contribution to humankind is indescribable. On his birthday, I bow to him and to all spiritual seekers, those who have reached the goals and those who are trying to reach them. On this occasion, a verse from the Guru Gita (99) comes to my mind,
tasyai dishe satatamanjaliresa nityam
praksipyatam mukharitairmadhuraih prasunaih
jagarti yatra bhagavan gurucakravarti
vishvasthitipralayanatakanityasaksi
“May these repeated offerings of freshly bloomed flowers and sweet words be dedicated in the direction where Shri Guru Bhagavan, the king of kings, abides. Shri Guru is the one eternal witness, who watches the drama of creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the world.”
On this special day, I am praying to my Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda, “O Gurudev, please teach me humility. Shower pure love on my life.”
Again on this special day, I send my love and best wishes to all of you. I am praying for your spiritual growth. Meditate nicely. Do not waste your precious time.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Mother's Day 2011
8th May, 2011
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this special occasion of Mother’s Day, I offer my heartfelt love, devotion, and gratitude to my own mother, to all the mothers on this Earth, to the guru–preceptor as the mother, to Mother Nature, and above all, to God, the Mother. At the same time, I send my love and best wishes to all as the loving children of God.
Motherhood is a rare and valuable divine gift. When I think of my own mother, I have no words to express my gratitude when I contemplate her love, her suffering, her sacrifice, and especially, her motherly wisdom. The mother has the greatest impact on a child, as the first and comfortable home for the baby in the womb. She takes every possible step to raise her child to become a successful person.
Our mere expression of gratitude is not enough. We should try to serve her physically, if it is possible. We should also take the positive step of keeping our mother earth, our environment, as healthy as possible, free from pollution, in ecological balance. We should be loving and kind towards each other as we are loving children of God who are cared for by the masters in every possible way. On May 10 is the birthday of Swami Shriyukteshwarji, who can be remembered as a strong, disciplining mother. I bow to him to bless each one of us.
I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
PASSOVER AND EASTER 2011
21st April, 2011
Loving and Divine Soul,
On the occasion of Passover and Easter, I send love, best wishes, prayers, and oneness from the holy land of Brindavan, where Lord Krishna played as a child.
Time is passing, year after year. With this passage of time we should contemplate what has truly changed. Have our attitudes, our conduct, and above all, our love for creation and the Creator been transformed? It is not enough to celebrate special occasions like Passover and Easter once in a year; rather, these occasions should give us the insight to continuously transform our minds and hearts.
The Passover festival is the festival of freedom — the freedom from slavery. Are we slaves to our vices, weaknesses, and harmful emotions? Shouldn’t we free ourselves from such slavery and live as children of God?
The holy Easter reminds us of self-sacrifice for a greater cause. The life and message of Jesus is an example of how to live with pure love — forgiving others’ trespasses and living with love, compassion, and prayer. The Bible (Luke 6:36-37) says,
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Now is the time to celebrate. We must create a life of freedom and forgiveness for ourselves, which will bring inner peace and joy to others.
I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
MOTHER NATURE
12th March, 2011
Loving and Divine Soul,
I am sending my love and best wishes to all of you from Gurudev’s abode at Hariharananda Gurukulam, Balighai.
I came to know about the natural disasters that have taken place in New Zealand a few days ago and in Japan and the Pacific Islands yesterday. It is nature’s fury that has taken many human lives and resulted in a big destruction too. Gurudev called nature Mother Nature. Nature is like the mother on whose lap the total creation, including each one of us, exists. Due to imbalanced human lifestyles, exploitation of natural resources in unethical ways, and, above all, the change in human nature leading to greed and possessiveness may be the cause of all these calamities. It is high time for everyone to reflect on their individual attitude towards life as well as our collective responsibility for preserving nature.
Let us all pray to God collectively for inner and outer peace. Let us also individually and collectively help the people in distress.
I am praying for all./p>
With Love,
Prajnanananda
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR' 2011
25th December, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
I wish each of you a spiritual Christmas and a New Year of spiritual progress. There is a proverb: “Time and tide wait for no one.” Breath after breath, moment after moment, day after day, and year after year, the play of time continues. We were born in time, and we must leave in time. Within this limited frame of individual existence, it is our foremost duty to sincerely strive so that success will be at hand — not just material success, but also success in spiritual pursuit. If we examine our lives and achievements through the years, we will surely be aware of our accomplishments, but this is not enough. The beauty in life is not living for oneself; it is giving, sharing, and caring. Let us try to offer all of our goodness to others, not our sorrow and misery. Let us share our knowledge, skill, and positive thought; let us relieve others of their suffering.
We should care for each other because we belong to one family. The yogis declared that the universe is our home and every living being is part of our family. Every living being should be loved and cared for. We should care for the environment, the plants, the trees, and other beings,including all people. Through this kind of living, our hearts open with joy and divine bliss. Such a life is a bit difficult to create, but every effort brings more strength and courage.Let there be no fear of an uncertain future; let there be no worry of insecurity; let there be no mourning over the past, which is dead. Let us live in every breath, breathing the breath of love and peace, moving like an angel, loving Mother Mary, Jesus, and all divine beings. I hope the passing year has given you enough strength to pass through all struggles and challenges and welcome year 2011. Smile and face whatever the New Year brings you in its basket.
Happy New Year to all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
GURUDEV BABA HARIHARANANDAJI'S MAHASAMADHI
3rd December, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
I bow to you all, remembering the presence of Gurudev in all of you.
Today, December 3rd, is the mahasamadhi day of our beloved Gurudev. Already eight years have passed. The most important thing I have learned on my life’s journey is to experience Gurudev’s presence everywhere within and without. Once Gurudev said, "When I leave this physical body, I will have more ability and power to serve each one of you." With the passage of time I have experienced this truth. His love, his caring touch, his compassion, his knowledge, I feel them more every day. On this day, I remember the beautiful words spoken by my brother, Brahmanandaji, "O Gurudev, with your presence I am a prince, without you I am a pauper."
Gurudev is my father, mother, friend, companion, and everything. I remember him constantly, and he always guides and helps me. I am meditating, I am praying for all of you. Now I am at Hariharananda Gurukulam, Balighai, sitting in Gurudev’s temple. I am praying for peace in everyone and peace in the world.
Baba’s physical body is resting in this beautiful shrine in Hariharananda Gurukulam, but the presence of his spirit dwells in your hearts. His spirit constantly calls you to be awakened and alert, to be his worthy children, and to manifest his love, his beauty, and his smile of innocence. We are his children; we should carry out his work, we should try to fulfill his mission. His mission is our own transformation, nothing more and nothing less.
On this special day I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
DAYA MATA MAHASAMADHI
2nd Decemebr, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
I bow to you all with deep love and devotion.
Hearing the news of the mahasamadhi of revered Sri Sri Daya Mata has created a deep sense of loss, not only to me but also to countless seekers in the world. She is a great symbol of dedicated service for the cause of Kriya Yoga and the masters of this great tradition for about eight decades. She has been an ideal and good source of inspiration to many seeking souls following the footprints of our great Gurudev Paramahamsa Yoganandaji. We will be conducting special prayers in all of our ashrams and centers in her honor. Again, I humbly offer my regard to Sri Sri Mataji and all of you.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
THANKSGIVING DAY
25th Novemebr, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
Happy Thanksgiving day.
Thanksgiving is a special celebration. It is more a social than religious occasion, but we can make it spiritual and divine. Through the infinite grace of God, human beings live on this earth. We have the opportunity to live in joy and share our joy with others. Human life becomes fruitful and joyful when we cultivate gratitude and thanksgiving. In my prayers and my remembrance I am grateful to my parents, family, teachers, spiritual master, companions, and to society, the ancient saints and sages, plants, animals, the five elements, and ultimately to God. I am immensely grateful to each and every one whom I have met during my life. I am thankful and grateful for whatever I have received from them, no matter whether it was pleasure or pain, appreciation, encouragement, or obstruction.
I remember a beautiful saying from the Holy Bible (Thessalonians 5:16:18): "Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances." I remember this beautiful message, and I try to live its truth. We all should strive to live lives of constant thanksgiving. Gurudev always told us to thank God with every breath, that this was the door to freedom.
I give my thanks and love to all of you. I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving weekend, meeting your friends and relatives, sharing your joy and happiness.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
5th Novemebr, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
God bless each of you. I send my love, best wishes, and prayers to you.
Today, in India, people are celebrating the Festival of Light. It is a jovial occasion. Houses are decorated with light. Sweets are shared and distributed. People worship the Divine Mother. This day reminds me of Gurudev. Every year during his stay at Karar Ashram Gurudev worshiped Divine Mother in a unique manner. His celebration evoked joy and happiness in everyone present.
What is this Festival of Light? Is it simply decorating with light and lamps? Who knows that every person’s life is a house that should be illuminated with the light of love, knowledge, and prayer?
When I was a schoolboy, I read a poem in my schoolbook:
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on! The night is dark and I am far from home –
Lead Thou me on! Give Thou my feet, I do not ask to see
The distant scene – one step enough for me.
– "Lead Kindly Light" by Cardinal Newman
Do you truly want to live in light? Do you truly want to walk in light? Do you really want to radiate light? Do you sincerely want light for yourself and others? If the answer is yes, then you are a seeker, and surely God will bless you with inner light. If the answer is negative, be careful. You are going to stumble in darkness; you will create misery. God, with infinite kindness, has given each of us the ability to make the right choices. If we live in knowledge and light, our choices will lead us to success.
On this Festival of Light I pray to God and Gurudev to bless us with the inner light of love, knowledge, and prayer.
I bow to you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
VIJAYA DAY - THE DAY OF VICTORY
17th June, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, the day of victory, I invoke the blessings of the Divine Mother for each one of us and for the entire universe.
This is a special day when Lord Rama's victory over Ravana and the Divine Mother's victory over the demonic nature are commemorated. This celebration should not be a mere festival; rather, we must remember that divine grace is our strength. We should celebrate victory over our lower selves and the inner vices. The spiritual masters, from time immemorial, have reminded us of the meaning of real victory. Victory is always associated with a war or struggle. While ordinary people consider victory as defeating a country or a difficult situation, a spiritual person considers victory as overcoming inner enemies whose tempting tentacles overpower the virtues and goodness in us. Anger, passion, greed, infatuation, vanity, and jealousy are described as the six inner enemies in the scriptures, but there are countless enemies that arise along with these vices.
To overcome the inner enemies, seekers must sincerely employ self-effort, prayer, and conscious and careful living. Once we conquer these enemies, we can experience the joy of freedom and celebrate a life of success. We are all meditating. Day after day, time is passing. If we stop for a moment and look within, we can easily know our weaknesses and strengths. We should be cautious and true to ourselves. Only by defeating our weaknesses can we experience love, joy, and peace.
On this day of Vijaya, my Vijaya greetings to all of you. I am praying to the Divine Mother and Gurudev for real transformation from within.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
BABA'S BIRTHDAY
10th Aug, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
"True seekers on the spiritual path should try their utmost to change their lives with sincere practice, more love, and no ego. We should constantly strive to experience oneness; for, in truth, we are all one body. Can we not make this our goal? Time passes very quickly: day by day, month by month, year by year. Thus make the best use of every single breath and remember that breath is God. If you forget your breath, do not give up hope. As Gurudev would say, "practice, practice, practice" that is how we reach perfection.
When celebrating a birthday, we do not need sweets; we need sweetness in our lives – sweet words, sweet looks, sweet activity, and goodness. When celebrating a birthday, we do not need flowers; we just need the flower of our hearts, the flower of our thoughts — good thoughts, good hearts. In celebrating a birthday, we do not need candles; we need the light of our life, and, in turn, then make our life the light that we give to others — from one burning candle many candles can burn. If our lives are illuminating God’s love, then our lives will be beautiful for us as well as for others by our presence."
– Paramahamsa Prajnanananda
We are deeply grateful to Gurudev Baba Hariharanandaji for giving us the precious gift of our divine master Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji. He stands before us as a living example of our own divine potential. He is a brilliant polestar whose radiant love and wisdom illuminates every aspect of our being. The spiritual path is very slippery, full of pitfalls, and steep; thus only one who has made the journey can be a worthy guide. How fortunate we are to have such a guide on our journey back to God.
One cannot begin to comprehend the sacrifice and unconditional love that is required to maintain our Master's busy schedule, a pace which he has willingly endured for so many years. He is indeed a messenger of God; carrying out his mission with precision and perfection. No doubt he leaves us in awe, and we humbly thank God for his life.
So on this auspicious day, let us honor Paramahamsa Prajnanananda's life by meditating more sincerely and bringing more love and peace into our lives and the world around us. Let us dedicate our lives to God and the Masters, and let us firmly resolve to follow in his footsteps.
May the blessings of God and the Masters be upon us all on this special day.
Jai Guru!
GURU POORNIMA
July' 2010
My loving and divine soul,
Jai guru!
I bow to you all. Today is Guru Purnima. This full moon day is the birthday of Sage Vyasadeva. This great master of humankind is remembered for the treasure of wisdom he preserved by editing the Vedas and authoring countless scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita. Guru Purnima is also dedicated to all the spiritual masters whose compassion, love, teachings, and guidance have led human beings toward knowledge and truth.
In India the word "guru" is a mantra. People sing and chant guru at times of distress.
samsarasagarasamuddharanaikamantram
brahmadidevamunipujitasiddhamantram
daridryaduhkhabhavarogavinashamantram
vandemahabhayaharamgururajamantram
– The Guru Gita (verse 344)
"I adore and bow down to the great mantra of the guru, which is the only mantra that helps us cross the ocean of the world. This siddha (perfected) mantra is worshipped by the gods, such as Brahma, and by the munis. The power of this mantra saves us from poverty, misery, worldly disease, and great fear."
When I look at my life, starting with my parents, who are the first gurus, and ending with my worshipful master Baba Hariharanandaji, I feel grateful and indebted to all of them for their selfless love and priceless wisdom. Today is the day to offer our love and gratitude to all the masters. We should also try to improve ourselves to become worthy children of God and the masters.
Please meditate nicely. Change your life by changing your restless and extroverted minds. Be peaceful and disciplined. I am praying for all of you on this special day.
I bow to all of you and bow to the masters again and again.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
GURUDEV BABA HARIHARANANDA'S BIRTHDAY
27th May, 2010
My loving and divine soul,
God and Gurudev bless you all.
On the 103rd anniversary of Gurudev’s birth, I warmly greet you all with love and wish you all-round development. The guru–preceptor has a special role in shaping a seeker’s spiritual life, inner transformation, and evolution. We must love the guru deeply and with sincere devotion.
guruh shivo guruh devo guruh bandhu sharirinam– Verse 173
guruh atma guruh jivo guroh anyatra vidyate
– The Guru Gita (Verse 173)
"Guru is Shiva, Guru is the lord of life. Guru is the relative of all embodied beings. Guru is the soul. Guru is the jiva (soul and body together). There is nothing other than the Guru."
Let us cultivate love for our guru and follow his footprints to reach the divine goal.
Today is 27th May, 2010, the birthday of Gurudev. Gurudev was born on the full moon day of May. During the long span of the last 103 years I believe the coincidence of the full moon falling on May 27 has occurred only four times. May 27, 2010 is the rarest day. Not only is it Thursday, the day dedicated to the guru–preceptor, not only is it the birthday of our beloved Gurudev, but it is also the anniversary of Gurudev’s initiation as a monk.
On this special day, I think of my beloved Hariharanandaji; I think of his love, kindness, and generosity. I seek his love and guidance for every one of us on this special day so that we can move forward on the path.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
GET UP AND PRAY
Passover & Easter 2010
My loving and divine soul,
On this holy occasion of Passover and Easter, I am sending my love, prayers, and best wishes to all of you.
All life is a celebration, but many religions consider specific days holy. These special occasions can significantly influence our lives, and each celebration can provide new momentum for spiritual growth. Prayer, meditation, chanting, study, contemplation, and even fasting are practiced by people to create inner and outer purity.
Jesus spoke to his apostles a few hours after the Last Supper. Jesus requested that they pray and meditate, and He also went to pray alone. When He came back, He found them sleeping, and He said,
Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.– (Luke 22:45–46)
Sleep is a biological need to rejuvenate the body and mind, but, metaphorically, sleep represents forgetting truth and living in darkness. A sincere seeker overcomes this state of forgetfulness and remains awake in love, prayer, and contemplation. One who is awake is free from negativities. This awakening is not physical awakening; it means living with continuous God consciousness, which prevents every possibility of being tempted by the material world.
During these holy days, let us contemplate this beautiful teaching of Jesus and practice it in our daily lives.
I am praying for all of you. Now I am in India; very soon I will be going to Europe and the USA. Although it looks like a great geographical distance, in reality there is no time and place — it is all God.
Please meditate nicely and enjoy the blessings of the divine.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, 2010
25th Dec'09
Loving and Divine Soul
At the outset of Christmas and New Year, 2010, I am expressing my love and best wishes to you. I am offering my devotion and prayers to God for the wellbeing of the entire creation.
Time is a continuous flow. It provides an opportunity to everyone in creation to make God’s beautiful creation more attractive and creative. Look at the butterfly; it does its tremendous work supporting God’s work by manifesting its beauty and joy to many. It is born an unattractive caterpillar and is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. It serves its life purpose with a fruitful and productive life.
We are human beings. We have talent and skill, no lack of wealth and prosperity. But what are we doing with all this?
There is a beautiful verse in Sanskrit:
vidya vivadaya dhanam madaya
shaktih paresham paripidanaya
khalasya sadhoh viparitam etat
jnanaya danaya ca rakshanaya
– Gunaratna of Bhavabhuti
"For the wicked, knowledge is used for conflict or war, wealth is for pride and vanity, and strength and power are used to oppress or torture others. For a noble person, it is completely different: Education is for knowledge to make everything better, wealth is for charity, and strength or power is solely for protection."
Thousands of years ago, thinkers, rishis, and seers expressed practical solutions to the troubles of human life — never think that you don’t have enough; instead, always think that you not only have enough, but you have something to give to others.
If you have knowledge and ideas, let it be used for the benefit of all.
If you have wealth and treasure, let a part of it be used in service of the needy.
If you have physical ability, let this strength be used to help others.
Let us begin a new life during this special time. If we live this way, not only will the quality of our own lives change, but we can create a better world.
Again, on the occasion of the holy days of Christmas and New Year, I am praying for you all. I am meditating for all.
May you all be happy, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous.
Again, I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
MAHASAMADHI DAY
3rd Dec'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this special day I not only remember my beloved master, but also his love, kindness, compassion, and practical instructions. I bow to my master and pray that each one of you acquires all-round development.
Time is passing. Everything is changing. In our memories, impressions of the past survive. Good impressions motivate us to move forward. When I think of this day, already seven years have passed; still, the indelible impression of my master's life and teaching throbs in my heart and mind. It fills my life with love and gratitude. How beautiful was his presence in our lives! His smile, kind gestures, sweet and melodious voice, and practical advice still flash through my mind. The more I think of him, the more I am humbled. His presence in my life brought completeness in me. He always said that human life is extremely temporarily. Troubles are many. Diseases are constantly waiting to attack and snatch away strength and beauty. He also explained how to use this transitory but precious life to develop God consciousness. A beautiful verse corroborates his teachings:
shariram ca navachidram vyadhi grastam kalevaram
aushadham janhavi toyam vaidyo narayano harih.
– Prapanna Gita
"The body has nine holes and is prone to disease. Medicine is the water of Ganga, and the doctor is God alone.
Every human body has nine doors: two ears, two eyes, two nostrils, the mouth, the genitals, and the anus. Every human body is prone to disease, decay, and death. But this body is not for misery and suffering; it is for emancipation and love. In the above verse, “water of Ganga” means love and devotion. If we cultivate love and devotion for God during a practical spiritual life, our lives will be beautiful.
On this special day we should contemplate the life and teachings of Gurudev. We should also sincerely pray to have enough strength to follow his footprints.
Again, I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
THANKSGIVING ... an expression of gratitude
26th Nov'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
I bow to God and I bow to you all. I thank God for creating this beautiful life and for the opportunity to love and serve. I thank my parents for raising me and providing me the means to grow. I thank my brothers, sisters, friends, and relatives for their love and kindness. I thank Rama, Krishna, Moses, Mahavir, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, and Guru Nanak for their beautiful lives and teachings. I thank all the spiritual masters, saints, and sages of all times and places for their practical spiritual instructions. I thank all the masters of Kriya Yoga for the beautiful gift of Kriya meditation to humankind. I thank each and every living being and all the elements for their loving contribution in this universe. Above all, I thank my body and mind for their support, and even for their occasional lack of cooperation, during the journey of my life. I thank all of you for the love and kindness you have showered on me. I bow to you all.
Thanksgiving is not just for a weekend; it should be our entire life. Life is nothing but an opportunity to live with love while offering constant thanksgiving to each and everyone — friend or foe — in failure and success. This is practical spirituality. Thanksgiving is not just a verbal expression; it should come from the core of our hearts, filled with love and devotion. Thanksgiving is not just lip service; it should be an expression of gratitude. The tongue has dual functions — to taste and to talk. The tongue should be trained to speak sweetly and offer thanks to God and to everything in His creation. A beautiful Sanskrit verse describes teaching the tongue:
he jihve rasa sarajne sarvada madhura priye
narayanakhya piyusham piba jihve nirantaram
– Prapanna Gita
"O Tongue, love of taste, you like to taste sweetness always. Drink constantly the name of the Lord Narayana, which is sweeter than nectar."
During thanksgiving people gather with friends and relatives for a special dinner. The tongue is not only for palatable food, it should be trained to speak truth in a loving and divine manner. Let our tongues sing the glory of God. Let our tongues chant the name of God. Let our tongues speak with love. Let our tongues not hurt anyone with harsh and untruthful words.
Again, on this beautiful occasion of thanksgiving I am offering my love and gratitude to all of you. I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Festival of Light, Deepavali
17th Oct'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this special day, the Festival of Light, I am praying to God and to the masters to light our way with knowledge, love, and understanding. I bow to God and pray to the masters to bless each one of us with an enlightened mind and heart. Today is the new moon day, so naturally the night is dark. Not only that, but as winter is knocking at the door, it is cold. On a cold, dark night, when one could easily lose the way and sink into an ocean of misery and suffering, Deepavali is a celebration of light.
Light is knowledge; light is love; light is life. Light helps us see everything as it is. Everyone loves light. Even the plants grow in the direction of light. Darkness is ignorance; darkness brings trouble; darkness creates confusion and breeds fear.
A spiritual seeker with eyes closed experiences light within. With eyes open we see the divine light manifested as myriad names and forms.
On this special day, people decorate their houses with colorful lamps and light. Each human body is a house. Each sense organ is a door. Let us decorate our body houses with the light of knowledge and with love so that the enemy, ignorance and ego, will never have a chance to enter. Let us pray to God sincerely and meditate regularly so that we will always enjoy lives of enlightenment.
Again, I am praying for you all.
Asato Ma Sat GamayaOm-Let us be led from the unreal to the Real
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Mrityor Maamritam Gamaya
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad — I.iii.28
From darkness to the Light
From mortality to Eternity
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Vijaya Day, the day of victory
28th Sep'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this Vijaya Day, the day of victory, I bow to the Divine Mother and pray to her to bless each one of us with inner strength, a balanced mind, love, and devotion. Let her bless each one of us with knowledge, a meditative outlook, and constant soul consciousness. We all are God in human being. We should behave like that during our daily lives. We should not be worried about troubles and difficulties. We should not be excited about achieving success. Rather, we should be prayerful and steady in daily life.
Some practical advice will help us achieve success in life. If we follow these principles, surely victory is inevitable:
vipadi dhairyam atha abhyudaye kshama
sadasi vak-patuta yudhi vikramh
yashasi cabhirucih vyashanam shrutau
prakriti siddham idam hi mahatmanam.
– Bhartruhari in Niti Shatakam
"Patience in difficulties or troubles, forgiveness in prosperity, oratory in meeting, courage in struggle, love for prosperity, and love for the scriptures are natural tendencies of noble souls."
During adversity, have patience. Gurudev said that patience and perseverance can overcome mountains of difficulties. Do not lose patience in difficult times. Impatience germinates failure.
When you are prosperous, cultivate forgiveness. Usually people become arrogant and egotistical with success. But those who are wise with love, compassion, and forgiveness can easily overcome enemies, both without and within.
When you are with others, talk intelligently. Every spoken word can be a tool of success or a means of creating great enemies. We must be careful while talking.
When you are on the battlefield of life, be courageous. Life is a battlefield and each one of us is a warrior. Without courage, we cannot face the challenges. In daily life, cultivate love for the scriptures and practice their teachings. The scriptures teach us how to live successful lives.
On this day of victory, I am praying to the Divine Mother to give us victory over our vices and to let us be adorned with divine qualities.
Please meditate nicely.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Miami Ashram Foundation Day
Autumnal Equinox - 22nd Sep'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
On the occasion of the foundation day of our beautiful ashram I send my best wishes, love, and prayers to all of you. This is the sacred abode where Gurudev lived his last years of divine play. He not only lived here for the last five years of his life, but he inspired and motivated countless devotees all over the world on the path of Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga teaches us to see God within and everywhere, and it is not just a teaching, it is a practical experience.
A great spiritual master lived in India named Swami Madhusudana Saraswati. He was a great yogi, advaita vedantin, and a devotee. He wrote a beautiful explanation of the Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit. He also composed many prayers to the Lord. In one of his prayers he sang the following song:
harireva jagat jagadeko harih
harito jagato nahi bhinna tanuh
iti ysya matih paramarthagati
sa naro bhava sagaram uttarati
– Swami Madhusudana Saraswati
"God is indeed the universe, and the universe is God. There is no difference between the universe and God. One who understands this attains reality, and that person crosses the ocean of the world."
Gurudev taught that God is omnipotent: He created the universe, and having created everything, He permeated His entire creation. With eyes closed, spiritual seekers experience God within themselves, and with eyes open they perceive the presence of God in each and all. Through this experience they feel intense love for God and His creation. This universe is the universal temple of one heavenly Father.
On this special day let us resolve to meditate nicely so that we will be able to experience God within and everywhere. When our lives change, it will bring real change everywhere. I am praying that God will make this ashram a source of spiritual illumination in our lives. Please meditate sincerely and enjoy the blessings of God and gurus.
Again, I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Tattendrof Foundation Day
6th Sep'09
Loving and Divine Soul
God bless you all. I bow to you and send all my love, best wishes, and prayers.
Today is the foundation day of our Kriya Yoga Centrum in Tattendorf. Eleven years have passed since its birth. The twelfth year begins. In India it is thought that a period of twelve years is a complete cycle. During this time many people have come, meditated, and experienced a lot of changes in their lives.
The path of yoga implies a universal family. We all belong to one family; we are not strangers. We are each other’s relatives. This relationship is not by blood; it is a relation of love and divinity. We are never alone. God is always with us. He is the head of our family. To live a life of God consciousness, we should try to cultivate a few divine qualities. In India, several hundred years before Christ, a great philosopher lived whose name was Chanakya. He was a very elevated being and his teachings are a timeless treasure. In one of his books, the Chanakyaniti, he described a family that we should all try to live with:
satyam mata pita jnanam dharmo bhrata daya sakha
shantih patni kshama putrah shadete mama bandhavah
– Chanakyaniti
"Truth is the mother and knowledge is the father. Righteousness is the brother and compassion is the friend. Peace is the wife and forgiveness is the son. These six are my family members."
How beautiful the world would be if we lived with values such as truthfulness, knowledge, righteousness, compassion, peace, and forgiveness. But how? It requires a good deal of strength, courage, prayer, and meditation. With these qualities we can be more loving, divine, kind, and compassionate.
Let us all meditate sincerely and pray from our hearts. Let our lives be examples of great yogis who lived not only for themselves, but for the entire creation.
On this special day, I am praying for all of you so that you all can make this ashram a temple of peace, love, and harmony.
Again, I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Guru Purnima
7th July'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
Today is Guru Purnima, the full moon day in the month of July, the birthday of great sage Vyasadeva. He is considered a divine incarnation and a founding pillar of the Vedic way of life. His birthday is celebrated as a day dedicated to all spiritual masters. Disciples and students offer love, devotion, and gratitude to their own guru & preceptor, to all the spiritual masters, as well as to Sage Vyasadeva. It is a beautiful day to remember the spiritual master as the spiritual guide. It is a day to offer love and devotion and thanksgiving and gratitude.
Traditionally it is believed that love between a teacher and a student is unconditional. Selflessly, the master sacrifices a lot. On this day, I remember my time with my beloved master. Since my youth we would stay together, and he would train me in every possible way. I have no words to express my gratitude. On this special day, I remember a beautiful verse from the Guru Gita:
akhandananda bodhaya shishya santapa harine
satchidananda rupaya tasmai shri gurave namah
"I bow to my guru who teaches how to experience the state of unbroken bliss, who eliminates the disciples' troubles, and who has the form of satchidananda (immortality, consciousness, and bliss)."
I have seen and felt how this verse was practically experienced in the life of my master. His life was a life of sacrifice, pure love, and deep devotion: sacrifice for disciples, pure love for creation, and deep devotion for God.
On this special day I am praying to God and to all the masters, saints, and sages to bless each one of us and lead us on the path of light and love. Today is the day for each disciple to resolve to live for spiritual growth. Please meditate nicely. In every breath try to feel the presence of God and gurus.
Again, I am bowing and praying for you all.
With Love
Prajnanananda
Gurudev's 102nd Birthday
27th May'09
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this special day, Gurudev's 102nd birthday, I send my love, best wishes, and oneness to all of you. I pray to God and beloved Gurudev to bless each of us and the entire creation with peace, bliss, and joy.
It is said that God is the father and the guru is the mother. Through their love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, they create a new life for every seeker. We are all human beings, but Gurudev said we are not just human beings, but God in human beings. We have God-like potential - love, compassion, kindness, forgiveness - but these qualities must manifest in our thoughts, words, and actions.
God made us in His image. God gave us five powerful sense organs, not for our downfall or destruction, but for our evolution and realization. To achieve evolution, we must discipline our sense organs, otherwise there will be trouble and difficulty in every footstep. Gurudev often quoted a beautiful verse from the teachings of Shri Adi Shankara:
kuranga matanga patanga bhringa
mina hatah pancabhireva pancha
ekah pramadi sa katham na hanyate
ya sevate panchabhih eva pancha
- Viveka Chudamani of Adi Shankara
"The deer, the elephant, the moth, the bee, and the fish: These five meet their end when they are attached to a sense object. Attachment to just one sense object causes a lot of trouble. What about a person who has five powerful sense organs?"
Gurudev taught us to use our eyes to seek the beauty of God in every name and form, to use our ears to remember God's presence in every sound, to be grateful for God's loving presence when our tongue tastes delicious food. Similarly, let our hands be always ready to love and serve, because God is everywhere. If we live in God consciousness during every breath, our lives will be beautiful. Yesterday Gurudev was physically present, teaching beautiful things in a loving way. With the passage of time he changed from form to formless. His teachings are here. Our evolution depends upon how much we practice. Let us love God and try to transform ourselves. Let each sense organ be a door to the divine temple of God's universe, as well as a door to perceiving divinity in the body temple. Let our eyes be the door to see the presence of God without and within.
On this special day, I request that each one of you meditates nicely and truly changes your life. Time is passing; let us make the best use of time.
Again, I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
May 27, 2009
Easter 2009
Loving and Divine Soul,
On the occasion of Easter and Good Friday I pray to God and masters for all of you. These days are considered holy and spiritually significant. Beginning with the Last Supper, then on Good Friday, and Easter Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, people try to remain in Christ consciousness and intensify their deep love for God. Jesus, in his short span of life, just over thirty years, and teaching for only three years, has inspired and motivated people to the spiritual path, even 2000 years later. His teachings are beautiful, metaphorical, and at the same time, practical. His life was filled with love, compassion, and service.
During human civilization many incarnations, prophets, saints, and sages have enriched human life. Nevertheless, many people are not able to understand their teachings and accept that although God is one, there can be many paths to know and love God. There are apparent and visible differences and diversities, but many people become fanatic and dogmatic. In the past it was not easy to communicate due to distance and apparent differences, but now in modern times with information technology we can easily communicate and have dialogues and spread the message of unity easily. We must relinquish apparent differences through understanding and love. The Mahabharata says:
shrutir vibhinna smritayas ca bhinna
naiko munir yasya vacah pramanam
dharmasya tattwam nihitam guhayam
mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
- Mahabharata, Vanaparva, 3:12:315
"There are many Vedas and other holy books, law books. There is not a single holy man who has the same view as another. The secret of dharma, spirituality is hidden. That is the path directed by the realized."
When people realize the ultimate truth, differences disappear; there is only unity. This experience of truth needs sincere and committed practice for inner transformation. Practical spirituality results in the manifestation of love, tolerance, and compassion towards God's creation. This is the time to engender peace and harmony by eliminating apparent differences.
Jesus, the prince of peace, led an exemplary life of sacrifice to redeem human misery. He is still watching each one of us to see whether we have understood His message and brought it into our lives. This is the time to love Him with prayer, meditation, and selfless service.
On this holy occasion I perceive His presence in every breath, and I humbly request you all to pray and meditate with love and devotion. Do not waste time. Try to change your lives.
Again, I am praying for all of you.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
April 10, 2009
Balashram Trek, 2009
Loving and Divine Soul,
This year the third Balashram trek will take place in a renowned spiritual area of the Indian Himalaya. The first trek to the Sinai desert and last year's trek to the Ladakh region of the Himalaya have been enjoyed by many kriyavans who undertook the challenges for spiritual and charitable purposes. Words cannot express the profound spiritual experience that we had. The charitable aspect of the trek organized by Kriya Yoga UK was to help raise monies for the infrastructure of Hariharananda Balashram, the residential school for poor children of Orissa, and the organizers say their goal was reached.
Hariharananda Balashram is entering its sixth year of operation with another 40 children joining this April. The current 200 children are growing up beautifully in all areas of their lives academically, creatively, physically, socially, morally, and spiritually. When I see these children and how much they are achieving in their lives, it gives me so much joy. I do not think I have ever seen a group of so many children living together and being so happy and joyful. An act of charity on our part gives them an opportunity that they would not otherwise have. Human civilization will survive better when its under-privileged children are properly taken care of and helped to grow up successfully as the future of humankind.
Kriya Yoga UK is committed to helping the children of Hariharananda Balashram and is planning another trek this October, which I also plan to join. This year we will be trekking in the beautiful Garwhal region of the Himalayas renowned as the source area of the sacred Ganga. The Himalaya is the center of spirituality, meditation, and natural beauty since time immemorial. The source of the Ganga and its valley are considered holy, auspicious, and good for meditation. The natural beauty of the snow-peaked hilltops, green forests, and waterfalls are a breath-taking experience for lovers of nature. Trekking in the Himalayas is in itself a spiritual experience.
For more information about the 2009 Hariharananda Balashram trek the organizers have created a website at www.balashramtrek.org which gives some information about previous treks and information on the upcoming trek. All center leaders please forward this letter to local kriyavans. Please note that the funds will go via Kriya Yoga UK to Prajnana Mission in India for Hariharananda Balashram.
We hope that you can join us on this spiritual and charitable journey. Its purpose is to fulfill the dream of Gurudev of serving those in need.
You all please meditate nicely and enjoy divine bliss.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
April 2, 2009
Vernal Equinox, 2009
Loving and Divine Soul,
On the occasion of the Vernal Equinox, I send my love, best wishes, and prayer to all of you.
As the earth constantly revolves around the sun, the light plays across the earth differently depending on the position of the sun. When the sun is over the equator, it is the equinox, and the length of daylight and night are equal. Once the sun goes to the northern hemisphere, as it will today, there will be more light in the north and less light in the south.
It has symbolic meaning. In the body the northern hemisphere is above the heart, and the southern hemisphere is below the heart. When there is more light, meaning more knowledge and awareness in the upper part of the body, we experience more calm and peace. In this state human ego, emotion, jealousy, pride, fear, anxiety, and so forth disappear. On the other hand, when the sun goes to the south, this represents more attention in the lower part of the body, that is, toward material possession, physical pleasure, and food and drink. At this time we become engrossed in worldly life, ignoring the real joy and happiness.
If we can tune ourselves to the rhythm of love and devotion, knowledge and consciousness, we can take care of the lower chakras and their propensities, but still be free from human vices. Those who are not truly spiritual, who achieve a little accomplishment in lower chakras, become filled with pride and ego.
There is a beautiful verse in Sanskrit:
agadha jala sanchari rohita naiva garvitam"Although a big fish, such as a carp who lives in deep water, is not proud of itself, a tiny fish flutters a lot in a handful of water, making much noise."
gandusha jala matrena safari pharpharayate
We should be intelligent and wise. Wise people do not show pride or vanity, but people with little knowledge are egotistical and showy. We should create balance and harmony in our spiritual lives as well as in our day-to-day living. On the equinox, the day of balance, I pray to God and masters to help us live balanced lives.
Again, I am praying for all of you.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
March 21, 2009
Departure of Swami Gurupremanandaji
Loving and Divine Soul,
Let the blessings of God and Masters be upon us.
I send my prayer and best wishes to all of you.
I would like to express my deep love and gratitude to all of you for your love and sympathy that you expressed in your letters to me after hearing about the physical departure of Swami Gurupremanandaji, who was destined to be the instrument for bringing me into this world. She was a beautiful mother who took care of my all-round development.
She is a divine mother to me. She is also an inseparable part of my existence. I am praying for her. I am praying for you all. Please meditate and be divine.
With Love
Prajnanananda
February 6, 2009
Keep the Lamp of Knowledge and Devotion Burning
10th Anniversary of Sthita Prajna
Sthitaprajna is a beautiful word that is used in the Bhagavad Gita, when Arjuna poses a question to Lord Krishna, who answers in a beautiful way. The question (2, 54) is, "Who is sthitaprajna, the one established in wisdom?" The Lord describes sthitaprajna as the state of human perfection that one can attain through sincere practice of spiritual discipline. The real goal of life is to become such a person. Gurudev loved the word sthitaprajna and often referred to it in his talks and writings. In essence, this word is an auspicious title for a journal.
It is a divine joy to see that Sthitaprajna, the quarterly journal for spreading the message of spiritual life among sincere seekers, is going to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Human life becomes enriched with divine love, devotion, knowledge, and prayer. Since time immemorial saints and sages have been trying to bring this message to humankind in different ways. Their practical and ideal lives as well as their beautiful teachings have been a source of inspiration to all.
I have heard from many readers about how much they like this journal and that they eagerly wait for the next issue. Many sincere and loving devotees have sponsored the journal throughout the years so that it could reach more people. Their noble support has kept the work continuing. Let the blessings of the Divine be upon them.
The devoted and hard work of the team that compiles, edits, and prints this small but special journal is greatly appreciated. I am praying to the Almighty Lord to bless all of them in this noble work.
I am praying to the Almighty Lord to help this work continue.
Prajnanananda
January 2009
Christmas 2008 and New Year 2009
Loving and Divine Soul,
God bless you.
During the holy days of Christmas and New Year's Day, when the entire world is in festive mood, I send my love and best wishes to you from the core of my heart.
One year has already gone. It is a flow. No one can stop it. We have to accept this change. But along with this external change, we should be ready to change ourselves in love and divinity.
Life is change. One who cannot change is not worthy of living. All change should be for good and betterment. This change should bring inner transformation. As compost is transformed into a beautiful fruit or flower in plants and trees, similarly, we should make our lives divine by moving from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth, from hatred to love, from jealousy to kindness, and from being judgmental to being forgiving.
Time will fly. We should live worthy lives. Then, instead of feeling empty, we will experience completeness, love, and devotion. Remember, without God, life is incomplete. Without love, life is barren. Without selfless service, life is a rocky road. Let us live the life of love and service, giving and forgiving. On this path we expand ourselves; we grow from personhood to Godhood.
Make the best use of time. Do not waste it unnecessarily with trivial worry and emotion, with fear and frustration. Let us live with cheerfulness and a smile. Let us love and care for each other, because by giving we receive plenty.
While celebrating the birth of Jesus, let our hearts be filled with love, compassion, and service. Let the New Year be a year of transformation in love and kindness.
I am praying for you all.
I am sending all my love and best wishes to you to make this New Year a Divine New Year.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
December 25, 2008
Mahasamadhi Day, 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this special day, I am thinking of my beloved Gurudev deeply and praying for you all. I send my love and prayers to all of you from Gurudev’s temple at Hariharananada Gurukulam, Balighai, India.
It has already been six years since Gurudev left his physical body and commenced his cosmic play of love and compassion in his divine form. Time passes very quickly. Human memory is very short, but the divine memory of Gurudev is ever vibrant and radiant in my mind and heart. It gives me strength and inspiration in my life. I am ever grateful to Gurudev, for he transformed my life in every possible way.
Gurudev's life was a life of sincere sacrifice and devoted dedication to God and humankind. His teachings are a valuable treasure for every human being to enjoy. His message is universal and life giving. His exemplary life remains a source of inspiration to many.
On this special day, not only I am thinking of him, but also praying for him to bless and guide us in the path of love and devotion.
He told me many, many times that I have to finish all his unfinished works. I am trying my best to do that. I need your love and strength for this divine mission.
Again, I bow to you all and pray for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
December 3, 2008
Thanksgiving Day, 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
My love, prayers, best wishes, and greetings on the occasion of Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving is a beautiful tradition in America. I have heard it has a long tradition dating from the old Biblical literature. However, thanksgiving is a beautiful practice that every individual, irrespective of culture, nation, or religion, should practice.
Ordinarily we give thanks to someone when we have benefited. But the true spirit of thanksgiving is to be grateful to each and all in every situation, good or bad. We should be thankful toward nature, animals, plants, and even to every situation we encounter. We should be thankful to God in every breath. We should be thankful during every moment of life.
Live with love.
Live with thanksgiving.
Live with gratitude.
Live with prayer and meditation.
Prayer and meditation is the best way of thanksgiving to God and masters.
I am praying for you all. I am grateful and thankful for each one of you and for all that you have done for me. I am invariably grateful and thankful to each and all, living and non-living. My life is for all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
November 27, 2008
Deepavali, 2008
Loving and Divine Souls,
God bless you all.
Today is the new moon day in October that is celebrated as Deepavali or Dewali, which means the "Festival of Light." This night is also dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother for both material and spiritual prosperity.
Why is night considered as significant? Night is dark and a new moon night is even darker. Darkness symbolizes ignorance and as a result it is also possible to commit mistakes. We need light - let it be the light of the sun or the moon, light of the lamp or the stars, light of knowledge or love, light of the soul or of God - it is essential for us.
Light is love.
Light is knowledge.
Light is understanding.
Light is beautiful.
Light leads us from misery.
Light shows the path.
It reminds me of the Vedic Prayer:
"O Lord! Lead us from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality."
Let us all have a life of love and devotion and peace and harmony.
Please meditate nicely and experience inner light.
I am praying for you all.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
October 28, 2008
Vijaya Dashami, 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
My vijaya pranams and greetings to you all.
Today is the Vijaya Dashami, the Day of Victory and Success. Today is the last day of the nine-day worship of the Divine Mother. On this special day I am praying to the Divine Mother to bless all of us with inner strength, peace, and divine prosperity.
The mother is the first symbol of divinity in the form of love, compassion, knowledge, and strength. The mother is the epitome of sacrifice for the comfort of her child. We are all the children of the Divine Mother. In the Vedic tradition, the Divine Mother Durga is worshipped in the form of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, and Mahasaraswati.
Mahalakshmi represents success in the form of material accomplishment.
Mahakali symbolizes the strength to eliminate all the vices that make a person weak.
Mahasaraswati is the source of all knowledge that gives joy in the world and spiritual enlightenment.
The three Divine Mothers are essentially one manifested as many; they are present within us in the chakras in the spine. Through sincere prayer and meditation, we can invoke them to create victory in life.
Be strong in body, mind, and spirit.
Meditate and pray sincerely.
Be a child of the Divine Mother and be successful in your life.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
October 9, 2008
Guru Purnima, 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
May God and gurus bless you all on the special day of Guru Purnima. I am sending my love and prayers to all of you from Gurudev's temple at Hariharananda Gurukulam, Balighai, India.
Guru Purnima is a special day in the life of a seeker. It falls on the full moon day, usually in the month of July. This day commemorates the birth of the great sage Maharshi Vyasadev, who edited the Vedas and authored countless scriptures including the Mahabharata, the Bhagavatam and the Brahmasutras.
Without a doubt the writings of this householder yogi made him one of the immortal ones. His birthday is celebrated as the day of the guru, who is the preceptor and the spiritual master. On this day the student pays homage to his or her master and the lineage of masters along with Sage Vyasadev.
In Vedic culture the mother is considered the first guru or guide, then comes the father and the masters. The Taittiriya Upanishad says,
matridevo bhavaRegard your mother as divine.
pitridevo bahava
acharyadevo bhava
atithidevo bhava
Regard your father as divine.
Regard your teacher as divine.
Regard your guest as divine.
While living in this world, we learn about life and the art of living from these people. Let us be filled with thanksgiving toward all our teachers. Let us be good people endowed with humility and love.
On this Guru Purnima day, I am praying to God and masters to bless all of you with love, devotion, and all-around development.
Please meditate nicely and experience your divine nature.
With Love
Prajnanananda
July 18, 2008
Gurudev's Birthday, 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
On this auspicious occasion of Gurudev's birthday, I am sending my love, prayer, and best wishes to all of you.
A century of his life is over and another new year has started. Gurudev's divine life is still a beautiful source of inspiration not only for those who came in contact with him, but also countless seekers in the world who pursue their sincere effort to progress on the spiritual path. He never emphasized to follow him blindly, but to open your own eye of understanding and unity, which he called the third eye. This third eye, or the eye of spirituality, can be opened by prayer, meditation, and discriminative attitude toward real and unreal experiences.
Gurudev often quoted from the Bible:
If therefore thine eye be single, then thy whole body shall be full of lightTwo of our eyes are extrovert and full of duality and division. We should train ourselves to open the eye of unity and harmony, which is what Jesus was emphasizing, so that we will not have the attitude of friend and enemy. We all are children of God. When this eye of unity is open we can see the presence of the Divine everywhere.
The Bible - Mathew 6:22
On this special day, I am praying to Gurudev to bless us with his divine love, kindness, and compassion. Let his life show us how to live a life of love and joy.
With love,
Prajnanananda
MOTHER'S DAY 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
God bless you.
I pray for all of you and for all the mothers who brought us into this world. In the Vedic culture there are seven mothers:
- the Earth
- the rivers,
- the Divine Mother, God as the Mother
- the mantras,
- the holy scriptures
- the cows who give us milk, as the mother feeds the baby
- the birth mother.
On this special day let us express our love to our mothers, whether they are in a physical body or they have departed.
Let us manifest motherly love, kindness, and compassion in our hearts.
I am praying for all. Please meditate nicely.
With love,
Prajnanananda
EASTER 2008
Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. The Bible - Luke 23:34
My Loving and Divine Soul,
The thought of Jesus is reverberating in my head more and more with the coming of Easter. He is my Passover lamb. Jesus did not hesitate to be crucified for the sake of truth and love. His life of complete surrender to God, filled with prayer and sacrifice, reminds me of the critical nature of human beings. How could people go to such a state of revenge through false accusation, critical assessment, and judging in the wrong way?
Jesus said,
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged"He also said,
The Bible - Luke 6:37
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"How beautiful is the message of Jesus, which is even relevant today.
The Bible - Matthew 5:8,9,10)
Although in the passage of time there is so much change in the world, there is no such visible change in human nature and behavior. Even now one can find the same nature and behavior of human beings. Therefore, at the present time, the message of Jesus is very relevant for us to change our own attitude; transforming our negative qualities into goodness, compassion, and forgiveness.
On this special day Jesus prayed to the Lord,
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"Let us also pray, "O God, give us more tolerance, love, and faith". Let us contemplate on the message and life of Jesus. Meditate sincerely.
The Bible - Luke 23:34
Gurudev loved Jesus, and read and taught from the Bible regularly. We should try to follow Gurudev's example.
On this special day I am praying to God to bless all of us and to forgive our ignorance and foolishness and bless us with love, kindness, and compassion.
I am writing this letter to you all from Gurudev's ashram, at Hariharananda Gurukulam, where his holy body is taking final rest. The four-month brahmachari training course is coming to its end and I will be happy to see you all soon.
With love,
Prajnanananda
Easter, 2008
Balashram Ladakh Trek, 2008
Loving and Divine Soul,
Many kriyavans went on a trek in the Sinai Desert last November for spiritual and charitable purposes. Words cannot express the profound spiritual experience that we had there. The charitable aspect of the trek organized by Kriya Yoga UK was to help raise monies for the infrastructure of Hariharananda Balashram, the residential school for poor children of Orissa, and the organizers say their goal was reached.
Hariharananda Balashram is entering its fifth year of operation with another 38 children joining in April. The current 162 children are growing up so beautifully in all regards - academically, creatively, physically, socially, morally, and spiritually. When I see these children and how much they are achieving in their lives, it gives me so much joy. I do not think I have ever seen a group of 162 children living together and being so happy and joyful. An act of charity on our part gives them an opportunity that they would not otherwise have.
Kriya Yoga UK is committed to helping the children of Hariharananda Balashram and is planning another trek this July, which I also plan to join. This year we will be trekking in the beautiful Ladakh area of the Himalayas.
For more information about the 2008 Hariharananda Balashram trek the organizers have created a website at www.balashramtrek.org about the last trek and information about the upcoming trek at. All center leaders please forward this letter to local kriyavans. Please note that the funds will go via Kriya Yoga UK to Prajnana Mission in India for Hariharananda Balashram.
We hope that you can join us on this spiritual and charitable journey. It is all to fulfil the dream of Gurudev of serving those in need.
You all please meditate nicely and enjoy divine bliss.
With love,
Prajnanananda
New Year Message, 2008
Loving Divine Soul,
Let the blessings of God and gurus be upon you all.
One year is going and the new year is coming and knocking at the door. Christmas and New Year come very close to each other. During Christmas one is to bring closure to the existing year, with love, prayer, and God consciousness, and to begin the new year with the same spirit. All is well that ends well. All is well that begins with strong determination and full of spirit.
Time is passing. Let us be more practical in our daily lives. I remember a beautiful teaching of Chanakya, a great philosopher of India, who taught the art of living in a practical way. It says:
shanti tulyam tapo nasti na santoshat param sukhamThere is no greater meditation than being in peace.
na trishnayah paro vyadhih na ca dharmo daya samah
There is no greater joyfulness than contentment.
There no greater disease than expectations or unnecessary desires.
There is no greater art of living than kindness, compassion, or forgiveness.
Let us cultivate these four qualities and virtues in the beginning of this new year:
- shanti, or peace
- santosha, or contentment
- vitrishna, or limited expectation or desire
- daya, or kindness, compassion, or forgiveness
Begin this New Year with more vigor and strength. Intensify your spiritual practice with more meditation, prayer, and a discriminative outlook.
I am praying for you all.
Let the shower of love and peace from God and masters make our lives more divine and fruitful.
Do not waste valuable time.
With Love,
Prajnanananda
Broadcast Talk from San Francisco Bay Area
April 15th , 2007Gurur Brahma, gurur Vishnu, gurur devo MaheshwarahGuru is Brahma - Just like Brahma is the creator of a new life guru is a creator giving a new spiritual life to the disciple.
Guru is Vishnu - Just as Vishnu sustains life the guru sustains the love and devotion in the disciple
Guru devo Maheshwarah - Just as Maheshwara destroys the guru destroys the fear, anger, ego and weakness of the disciple
Guru is said to be the mother, the father, the friend and the companion. I bow to my Guru and his children and students everywhere. Easter is just over, Passover is over, last week was the birthday of Prophet Mohammed, yesterday was a New Year celebration in someparts of India and here we are celebrating the Birth Centenary of Gurudev. I send my love to you all from the San Francisco Bay area.
This is the last centennial program in the West. Rests of the programs are all in India. Programs everywhere were nice, well planned and well organized with love and enthusiasm to celebrate the love, compassion and kindness of gurudev.
The Celebrations will come to an end in six weeks. The closing ceremony is in Cuttack, Orissa in India and from Wednesday I will be present in all programs there. The Centenary year was a thrilling experience to express love to our beloved Master, to follow his foot prints and his leadership.
My prayer to all of you- "Life is beauty, opportunity and it is very rare. This opportunity is time bound. If you are not careful and conscious this opportunity slips away from the hands. Being human one should transform one self with love, compassion and kindness.
It is now spring in Northern Hemisphere and autumn in Southern. The trees are colorful bearing flowers and with heavy aroma giving us the message to transform.Let summer come or winter, let us not waste a single moment. Gurudev's message was of peace, love and harmony. How much of this do we practice in mind, thought and interaction with others.
Do not waste time in laziness, procrastination and carelessness. Be strong and move further. Not weak and timid. Mind is the cause of all troubles. Be strict, be disciplined and experience progress.
Physical separation is no separation if we open up our hearts to receive the grace of God. If you are sincere you can feel the subtle presence through your breath. Gurudev said your breath is my presence in you.
Every exhalation is death and every inhalation is a new life. So each breath is a life. How are we spending this one breath - one life? Be new and renew yourself. Be strong .Have strength in body and mind and harmony in your look and out look. Love is pure. Pure love overcomes everything. Gurudev is looking at you with his beautiful eyes. Time passes away. It does not wait for any one.
Gurudev once in an airport in Europe pointing to the sign "Change" indicating foreign Exchange said to me - You know what change means -it is to change our mind not just money.
Yesterday was cloudy and raining. Today is Sunny and bright. Just as there is an outer nature we also have an inner nature that keeps changing.
Once looking at the street cleaners in Europe (dressed in orange) Gurudev said, "They are just like us. They are sweeping the outside and we sweep the inside of people. A master is saying he is the sweeper, Love God, Love guru, Make life a beautiful song.
Let not the river of life dry up in the desert of worldly life.
Love and meditate. The centennial year is coming to an end. I was the most fortunate to be speaking of Gurudev every day and remembering his love.Let this celebration of love, peace and joy never end anywhere. I bow to you all.
I will be leaving from USA in a few hours. Wherever I will be, I will be thinking and praying for you all. Do not waste time. Life is an opportunity. Opportunity should not be neglected for it may never return.
Message from Baba on Buddha Purnima
I am talking to you from the home of Gurudev, from the beautiful meditation room and in the subtle presence of Gurudev, I am sending my love, prayer and best wishes to all of you. Life is a journey and we all have to travel. In this mysterious journey of life many situations unknown, unforeseen and even unpleasant have to be faced, No one can avoid them and no one can be free from them. In this journey of life when we are traveling but we don't know how far we have covered and we don't know how much farther we have to go. Sometimes every traveler faces some confusion. Gurudev used to quote a line in Bengali
a par andhar - this side is darkness
o par andhar - on the other side is darkness
guru hi karnadhar - the guru the guide is the boatman.
This world is like a river, we are standing on one side of the river, the river of life. On the other side of the river is the state of freedom or liberation. This side of the river is of all attachment, emotion, worries and unhappiness. That side of the river is the place of peace, love, joy and happiness. We have to be there. How to cross the river? In the Bhgavatam there is a beautiful description - each human body is a boat, we all have this boat to cross this river. Guru the spiritual Master is the boatman. If we can bring this boatman or divine guide into our life he can take us across. satarati, satarati, lokan tarayati -Because the Guru has gone to the other side and come back again to this side take all of us.
Have trust and be in the boat with boatman, the spiritual guide with love and you will reach the other side. We say time is flowing, time is flying? Really time does not change. Time is not flowing or flying our body, mind and everything else is changing. The calendar is changing. Now it is year 2005, a few days before Gurudev's birthday. We all are sitting to meditate to feel his love. Paramahamsa Yogananda said, once I was born from the mother's womb, in an unknown corner of the world but now I am born in the hearts of you all. Could we bring Gurudev and Gurudev's presence to our hearts with love and let him be born within us and be within us all the time? Could you try to cherish the deep love for the spiritual Master without which it is really difficult to travel because this side is darkness and that side is darkness? In the groping darkness ignorance, insecurity, unhappiness, frustrations, many misfortunes in life we lose the joy in life. Stand strong. Let not weakness deviate us from our path. Love, pray, pray sincerely from your heart.
Tomorrow is the full moon day, the birthday of Buddha, the day of his enlightenment and the day of his mahasamadhi or Nirvana. That is why it is called the triple blessed day for the Buddhists. You may or may not know; May 27, 1907 was also a full moon day according to the lunar calendar and was the birthday of Gurudev. Gurudev was born on the full moon day. Think of Buddha, think of Gurudev and think of Jesus. In spite of all difficulties do not forget. There is a beautiful song in Bengali- Even if we forget the divine Mother, the Mother never forgets us because she is the ocean of love and compassion. Think "I belong to my mother and my mother belongs to me." Have that trust. "I belong to her and she belongs to me. I belong to the Master and the Master belongs to me. I belong to god and God belongs to me."
We have come to this world and today or tomorrow we have to go. But live with inner strength; live with balance, overcoming emotion and all other things that bring weakness in our lives. Try, try and try. Gurudev used to sing - gurunam hriday karo sar man amar - o my mind Cherish deep love in the name of guru. In this world of temporary existence when any pleasant or unpleasant thing happens who is there who can sit with us with a compassionate heart and tell us go on. charaiveti - move forward. charaivedi charanvai madhu vindanti - If you move forward you will attain that nectar of life. Don't look back too much, love love love.
gurur nam hriday karo sar man amarO my mind adore the name of guru, the presence of guru Catch hold of the divine feet of the guru in your heart Not physical feet. You are my everything; take me to the other side.
gurur charana bine kiya tere tribhuvane
Guru tere param saramsar
This was one of the favorite songs of Swami Shriyukteshwar.
In the Bhagavatam it is also said your body is the boat - you have got the human birth to cross this ocean of the world to be free and if you allow the boatman, the Master or guru to t to sail your boat, God himself becomes the favorable wind helping you to reach the goal sooner to go to the other shore. Don't worry, pleasant or painful whatever happens in our life it is for our own growth, own strength, own emancipation own evolution. Try, try, try don't forget every breath you love every moment you love don't waste your time.
Buddha came and left but his teachings are still inspiring us. Jesus came and ascended to heaven, still his teachings inspire us. Many spiritual Masters came and left, still their teachings are in our front. Gurudev came, keep the teachings in your heart and soul in your mind. Love every single breath who knows this might be the last breath. We out of ego and ignorance think we will be staying longer and longer who knows which the last breath is. Every breath is unique and comes only once .Love .breath is the link through this we have to reach the state of calmness and love. God is spirit; a worshipper of God should worship him in spirit and truth. God is breath; the worshipper of God should worship him in breath and truth. Love, Love, Love in each breath. How long will you hide from my vision O God, I don't want too much of hide and seek. Reveal thyself; Reveal thyself I am praying for you, crying from my heart just now. Gurudev used to say, "don't think it is too late, Begin just now".
Make preparations to celebrate his birthday, within your heart in your life. Make preparation to celebrate the birth centenary in the best possible manner. We love him and he loves us .His love is the link between you, me and all the others. Intensify the love for the Master, the love for God. Again I am sending my love and best wishes for all of you and praying for all of you. Pray for each other, I pray for you, you pray for me .Let us all go in the path of love, devotion, compassion and fellow feeling- not anger, ego and jealousy Try. God bless you all. This is the moment. Watch every breath and feel that invisible Omnipresent God is blessing us. God bless you.
Guru Purnima, 2004
Loving and Divine Soul,
God and Gurus bless you all during this special full moon in July, which is celebrated as Guru Purnima, the Master's Day, by spiritual seekers.
I am sending my heartfelt love, my best wishes, and sincere prayer to you.
In spiritual life the role of the teachers, whether they are present or past, is essential. They inspire, encourage, and if necessary they chastise the student. The spiritual teachers play many roles: the role of the father who guides and assists with love to help grow and rise above all weaknesses; the role of the mother who supports and sympathizes; the role of the friend who advises and shows the path of love for God; the role of the good advisor who loves and forgives without looking at any of our weaknesses; and the role of God's messengers.
There is a prayer in Sanskrit:
tvameva mata ca pita tvamevaYou are my mother, my father, my relative, and good friend. You are my knowledge, my treasure, and everything to me O Divine.
tvameva bandbhus ca sakha tvameva
tvameva vidyam dravinam tvameva
tvameva sarvam mama deva deva
Establish a loving relationship with the master inwardly through your devotion and understanding. With love we are to grow. With understanding we are to be stronger. With knowledge we are to be practical. With self analysis we will be vigilant. With prayer and mediation we are to be spiritual.
Meditate nicely. Pray sincerely. Love God and Gurus.
Let us be thankful to God for giving us such a beautiful guide in our life.
I am praying for you on this special day from the Hariharananda Gurukulam, the final resting place of our beloved Gurudev.
With love,
Prajnanananda
Puri, India
Gokulanandaji Maharaj
President Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi Jan 20, 2002Sri Ramakrishna always emphasized the need for returning to solitude. Mind by nature is extrovert. When we try to bring our gaze inside, there is a real need to spend some time in a serene atmosphere. I congratulate the authorities that organized this event in these beautiful surroundings.
I was born in the same place as Paramahamsa Yogananada and on the same date. Whenever I am in contact with the monks of Kriya Yoga I am very happy.
You have all come to this camp for sadhana. Shri Shankaracharya said, three things are rare -a human birth, a desire for liberation and the grace of a sadguru. Even when one is fortunate to get the grace of a sadguru one still needs the desire for liberation. When the call comes from the other world we should be fully prepared.
When you do self-analysis, you hear the call of the inner spirit. So many of you are here. You are people of Daivi sampathi. You have come to learn and practice. You are fortunate.
We have a higher self and a lower self. Vivekananda said, Sri Ramakrishna made Mother Kali a living reality. We are not just body mind complexes - we are shuddha chaitanya, pure consciousness. One should cultivate viveka, vairagya and shad sampathi. Self-control, constant withdrawal from the world and shraddha or one pointed ness is essential. jaha Ram ..........jaha kam udhar nahi Ram. Give the mind in entirety. You may be in the world but be firmly convinced that God alone is eternal and all else is false.
Such retreats give us spiritual insight. I hope you will follow and practice and go back with great spiritual gain.
( Swamiji was very pleased and moved by the love and hard work of the monks of Prajnana Mission and the many projects at Balighai. He lovingly garlanded and embraced Prajnananandaji before he left.)
