Helpless . . . hopeless . . . overwhelmed—it’s easy to get drawn into these negative emotions when we see so much suffering in the world around us. Whether through natural disasters or man-made conflicts, the result is the same: we feel people’s pain, but don’t know how to help them.
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But there is a way. I read a true story about a man who had a near-death experience after his car was crushed in a huge pile-up along a major freeway in America. At first, as his soul began to move upward above the wreckage, he experienced confusion and fear at having been precipitously thrust from his body.
Then he became aware of a beam of light coming from one of the cars that hadn’t been damaged in the crash. His soul moved toward that light, and there he discovered a woman praying for others. As her prayers continued, the light expanded to touch the entire scene of suffering, and he felt great peace and comfort fill his soul.
Ascending into the astral world, the man was met by an angelic being who told him it wasn’t yet time for him to leave his body. Later he regained consciousness and lived to tell the story of how someone’s prayers brought comfort to those in need.
Swami Kriyananda gave us some beautiful suggestions on how to be a channel for God’s light to relieve others’ suffering:
God is happiest not in our efficiency, but in our increasingly humble attitude. Don’t let thoughts of your own unworthiness hold you back from being a channel for God’s presence. Self-forgetfulness and humility are the doorways through which God enters our consciousness and flows through us to others.
Serve joyfully, even in obscurity. Don’t look to others for endorsement. Be content to seek the Lord’s smile in your heart. In everything you do, try always to please God first. Whether or not others know about or appreciate your service is unimportant. Seeking their approval only puts the focus on you, and diminishes your ability to be a pure channel for the Divine.
Be centered in the inner Self. Don’t let circumstances or people pull you down. Let God’s light fill you when you work with others. Your inner Self is part of God, and remains ever untouched by any negative influences. No matter what happens, if you live in God’s light and joy, you become filled with the strength to share His blessings with others.
Live more and more in that center where God dwells. Radiate this to others, and their lives, and your own, will be changed. Through the practice of meditation and attunement with the guru, you can move towards the divine center of all things, where God resides. When you turn your consciousness there, you increasingly become a sending station for His blessings, which alone can transform anything. Then your prayers, your thoughts, and even your touch can become channels through which God’s light flows to help others.
Towards the One in All,
Nayaswami Devi
Learn healing prayer techniques from Paramhansa Yogananda for channeling God’s light, to bring healing and peace to those in need.
11 Comments
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you for sharing such a lovely article :)
Aum,
Prem
Thank you for the reminders… and for the beautiful story …. I have heard another story similar to the one you told. It was in London. There was an accident and traffic was backed up a long way. The woman was thrust out of her body, and she could feel that most of the drivers were only thinking about their own annoyance at the inconvenience. Then the woman felt something different from a car further back. A woman and her daughter were praying for those involved in the wreck. The out-of-body woman was so moved by this that she memorized the license plate number! Amazing… but maybe in that state it is kind of like photographic memory? Anyway, she was taken to the hospital. Her injuries were serious, but she recovered. As soon as possible she contacted their DMV to get in touch with the woman and her daughter to thank them for their prayers which were such a comfort… So much is felt by the souls in that state – but it is easy to forget that sometimes.
Sri Deviji, thank you so much for this Powerful story! Because we can’t see the Light that is being used through us, does not mean that it is not in fact happening! Many of us know that it is because of the power of prayer that we have been able to hold to God and Guru. Praying is an act of Love! May you always feel the Divine Light of Love in all you do think and say! Yours, in Them, Brindey
Thank you Devi. This is so timely and useful as we are praying for our Dear Friend and Gurubai, Vajra Madden, who is in critical care at the hospital in Seattle, WA. Many blessings are flowing as I read your words. With Gratitude, Prem-Shanti
Yes, Prem Shanti we are Praying! I have felt a wonderful Light with him as I prayed and an all knowing of Love with him.
Blessings, Brindey
Thank you Devi.
Beautiful! Thank you.
Dear Nayaswami Devi,
Such a practical advise. Thank you.
Love,
Very nice letter. It reminded me of the “Divine romance” book by Yogananda ji. Here is my contemplation – To please god, be a god’s instrument for god’s work. All the people, things around us are just merely the channels through with God (source) wants to communicate. When we pray, we try to communicate to god and expect a healing; but when we are interested in mundane things, we tend to expect from the people around us; we should simply expect from the source of creation (god) for everything and treat people as channel of god through which god will fulfill that expectation. The same applies when it comes to giving it to others – we should simply express and give what god wants to give through us – be an open channel for god’s work i.e. giving.
Dear Devi ji,
Thank you for sharing this story which is informative and guiding in how prayers work and how powerful they are.Also teaches us to always pray for others selflessly.
Dearest Devi.
Stunningly beautiful and well written.
Clear and concise.
Profound and inspiring!
My heart is deeply touched, Thank You!
~~~Peace, Josette