Today is January 5, 2016—the anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda’s birth. There are numbers that convey some of the historical significance of his life: 123 years since he was born; 100 years since he created the Energization Exercises for recharging the body with energy; 70 years since his spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, was published; and, in 2020, 100 years since he boarded the ship that brought him to America and began his mission to the West.
But the real story can’t be told in numbers. It’s the unquantifiable change that he sparked in the lives of millions of people worldwide. Through his decades of lecturing in America, his introduction of Kriya Yoga, and his Autobiography, Yoganandaji showed us an expanded vision of reality that we ourselves can attain.
Swami Sri Yukteswar (left, with garland)
Swami Sri Yukteswar, his guru, said to him on the eve of his departure from India: “All those who come to you with faith, seeking God, will be helped. As you look at them, the spiritual current emanating from your eyes will enter into their brains and change their material habits, making them more God-conscious.”
I’ve been Yoganandaji’s disciple now for forty-seven years, and am filled with gratitude for how his presence has transformed me. In 1969, as a typical college student, I read Autobiography of a Yogi. Immediately I began meditating, became a vegetarian, then one month later traveled to Ananda Village in California from the Midwest, and have spent the rest of my life seeking God.
I know it would have been impossible for my life to go in this direction without his grace. But my life is not unique: I am one among millions whose consciousness has been changed by this Divine Instrument of God.
During a long meditation on Dec. 23, 2015, a poem came into my mind unlooked for, and kept recurring in my thoughts throughout the day. That evening I decided to call it “From the Higher Self,” and I offer it to you, and to my guru, from whom it came:
[raw]I can’t promise that you’ll finish,
But I know that you’ll beginTo take each step before you
With the thought that you will win
The prize above all others,
Your heart’s most fervent prayer:To cast aside the ego,
And to see God everywhere.[/raw]
This is the ultimate gift of the guru: to awaken our soul’s innate longing for God.
With His love,
Nayaswami Devi
P.S. Here is a video with a melody that a friend of ours in Brazil,Mariana Ovalle, composed for the poem:
19 Comments
Dear Devi, Thank you for explaining the blessing of discipleship in such a tangible way. I can almost believe that in this lifetime, by grace, and by one pointed desire and effort, Master can help me be free to soar in Divine Mother’s beautiful sky! The song was there already . . . What I did was ask Master and Swamiji to let me hear it, and so they did . . . And they helped me sing it and Divine Mother in the sky with Her lovely thunder, accompanied the joyful moment. Thank you Devi and Jyotish for your beautiful, divine friendship, which has been the key to the door of my heart. I had lost that key and you found it for me. I love you, Mariana
Thank you Devi. This is a beautiful poem. Much love to you all, Helen
Beautiful! Thank you both!
Thank you for sharing.
Maria
Thank you, what wonderful words. The poem brought me to tears with feelings of gratefulness, hope, love, and inner peace.
Such a beautiful poem, Devi. Thank you!
I love this.
Thank You!
Dear Devi,
This is the second time recently that your Touch of Light touched me so deeply. The one that gave me such a deep experience was the one at Christmas that included Swamiji’s singing Christmas Mystery. You must have been touched by the Divine to have done that letter so inspiringly.
Today’s letter was the second. Your poem and then the woman singing the beautiful words with such love and humility, just as Swamiji was doing in the other letter. Today I read your letter before my morning meditation and my heart overflowed with Master’s presence all through my meditation. And I got more new inspirations for Yogananda Gardens as I was doing my kriyas. Thank you.
Our love to you and Jyotish and a New Year’s blessing on your Divine work, Byasa and janakidevi
you folks are truly inspirational. I usually start my morning with something that you have sent. Loved the sharing and singing with Yogananda’s birthday. My daughter-in-law would like to get on the list that I am on.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? Please let me know. When I lived in California, I was a regular at the center in Nevada City. She has never been there and is a beginning searcher. I have shared important things with her and she is ready to receive.
Beautiful poem Deci. It touched my heart. Thank You for sharing. Michele
Dear Nayaswami Devi Ji,
Thank you for the lovely article and the beautiful poem .
Master, we thank you sincerely for coming in to our life and transforming it . Thank you Swamiji for showing me the path to Master :)
I love you my Master :)
I love this poem! Thank you for sharing it with all of us–blessings.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem. The Christmas meditation this year felt especially blessed.
In Master’s love, may we carry these blessings to all thirsty souls.
In Guru,
Sabari
Simple and beautiful poem.
Thank y, Devi.
Joy to you,
Annapurna
YES! Thank you Master, thank you Devi, thank you Jyotish, Thank YOU MA.
To cast aside the ego, and to see God everywhere. It sounds great!
I recognize this feeling! If love, the light of nature is here,
you can see the beauty of nature, of what is true,
Then paradise is here too, just now.
I do not long for anything more than what I have already been given.
I carry in my heart and spirit a treasure of wonderful times
and secrets of nature of infinite beauty revealed to me
as the drawings made by waters of rivers and seas upon the sand
I fell so rich in wonders, the gifts great music has given to me
as the tenderness from lovely, simple creatures, from all kingdoms of nature!
all the abundance of life as a mother gave and gives every moment
to experience, understand, and love, and share!
*******************************************************************
(It even sounds like a poem!)
Devi, Dear,
that was beautiful. thank you for sharing and being such a beautiful channel for Master’s Light and Love.
In Joy
Kaye Gordon
Thank you, Devi. With this post and your poem, may I be blessed to remember that my heart’s most fervent prayer is to see God everywhere. AUM AUM AUM.
With much love and respect,
Eloisa