We have a tradition at Ananda called World Brotherhood Day. Each year we gather together in a celebration in order to make the first gift of the Christmas season. We suggest that people give one day’s income to help spread the light of the Christ consciousness throughout the world. Paramhansa Yogananda explained that the Christ consciousness (in India it is called the Krishna consciousness) is the presence of Spirit at the heart of every atom in creation. When we are aware of this, we feel united with everyone and everything, and, because the Spirit of God is composed of love and joy, we spontaneously want to become a channel for these qualities. The Christ consciousness produces a desire to give to others, which is the deeper reason that people give presents to honor the birth of Christ.
This year at World Brotherhood Day we talked mainly about a remarkable initiative of the Paramhansa Yogananda Charitable Trust. This nonprofit was formed in order to help the poor and disadvantaged. As its first major project we are helping the widows and poor people of Brindaban, the city in India of Krishna’s childhood. For centuries widows, rejected by society, have traveled here in the hope that Krishna will somehow take care of them. Societies help them, and many, perhaps 7,000, receive free or very low-cost medical care, blankets, and some food each month. But these donations are not enough, so most are forced to beg in order to stay alive. It is a heartbreaking situation.
Let us be His hands and heart.
The Paramhansa Yogananda Charitable Trust is starting to help in deeper ways. We are helping more than 5,000 with their physical needs, but more importantly, we are giving them love and caring. There is a small staff of very saintly people who go to their homes, talk with them, check on their well-being, and help them with their needs. We have also established three residential houses, filled with that same spirit of love and caring.
These widow-mothers, as they are called, have been rejected by their families and by society, so we are also trying to help them reclaim a life of dignity. To those who are able we offer assistance in finding some means of earning a small income so that they can begin to care for themselves. For instance, Devi and I brought back 150 beautiful hand-sewn japa bags that we will sell, then bring back the proceeds to employ even more.
In essence, we are finding ways to serve as channels of the Christ consciousness, to act toward these widow-mothers as Christ would act, to be his hands and heart. When Yogananda came to America he brought gifts of teachings to ease the spiritual poverty here. In India help is needed also to alleviate physical poverty.
Everything is an expression of God’s love, which, after all, is the only real gift we can offer. The money we give at World Brotherhood Day is only a small symbol of our desire to be a channel of the light and love that connect us all.
In the Christ,
Nayaswami Jyotish
10 Comments
Every time I begin reading, I always mentally try to guess if it is Jyotish or is it Devi writing the article. Inevitably I guess wrong, because you both no longer show the inclination for Jyotish to have the scientific/engineering bend, and Devi to have the more softer, spiritual, feminine bent. You are both all of the above and even more. I am always surprised at the end to discover it is Jyotish, or it is Devi who wrote the article. Such a blessed and unified inspiration you both exhibit.
Please let us know where we can donate. Thank you.
I heard several stories of how Yogananda would put his hand in his pocket and get out some money and give to a person in need.
Yogananda said that as long as he had money he would share it with others, and help others.
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I’m so happy to know of this Trust Fund for widows in India. It seems Ananda needs to give in this way in order to maintain a presence and following in India. What a wonderful thing. Thank you, Victoria Hansen
Dear, beloved friend and gurubai, I realized at the Christmas Concert this evening as I sang the songs of love to the Christ Consciousness that the Supreme Gift that God brought into existence through Jesus The Christ and our Guru and Masters of this and all paths, is what life is about. I recommit my life to serve more fully to this ideal, this reality as I see in the examples of Swamiji, Jyotish, Devi and so many of my gurubais. It is this guiding force and Power that brought me and all of us together. I am grateful, beyond words…except they are part of my limited capacity to express this ideal…”If it’s True!…He lives in you and me, this Holy Son of Mary. Namaste and thank you again for the wonderful reminder of what Divine Mother can do through us all.
“If it’s true, He lives in you and me, this Holy Son of Mary”
great what you do
Thank you for doing this. Much needed in our beloved India!
Dear Nayaswami Jyotish Ji,
Thank you for letting us know about the “Paramahansa Yogananda Charitable Trust” . We are so glad that many souls have been helped through this.
Would like to know more about and participate in it.
In Master’s Love… Prem
Dear Ji’s
It is wonderful that you are Helping out those in Need in India.
With Gratitude
R Sundararajan