Spiritual Homework for May 2010
Master: Do not take your earthly experiences too seriously. The root cause of sorrow is in viewing the passing show with too much emotional involvement. (Man’s Eternal Quest pg. 239)
In a Sunday lecture on May 2, 2010, I discussed the value of taking life’s experiences less seriously. I drew from our Guru’s commentary on chapter 3, verse 23 of the Bhagavad Gita, to illustrate the way we often become identified and influenced by the changing conditions of daily life. If, through discipline, we can train the mind and emotions to be less dependent upon outer conditions and more inwardly dependent upon God, then great personal freedom can be attained.
I shared the way in which I first began working toward achieving this—by playing a game: I declared one day each week to be “Take Nothing Seriously Day.” At the beginning of the day a prayer was offered and a resolve initiated that no matter what happened that day, it would not be taken too seriously. Doing this, one day per week, proved an invaluable exercise in lightening and liberating my consciousness from mundane worries.
Homework Assignment
So the spiritual homework for this month of May is to have one day each week during which you “take nothing seriously;” you take lightly the events, interactions and experiences for that day. Also keep track of how these days are different from other days. You might prove to yourself that life can be a game after all. You might even choose to take every day a little less seriously!
Good Luck and Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
P.S. Our dear Bro. Bimalananda left his body at the end of April. He was a wonderful example of taking life’s experiences lightly and loving each moment he lived. If you have an experience involving Bro. Bimalananda, and would like to share it, I’ve seen a blog dedicated to these stories on www.devotee2devotee.com -- You might enjoy it!
God Talks With Arjuna—The Bhagavad Gita Royal Science of God-Realization by Paramahansa Yogananda is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for April 2010
Aspiring worldly people are benefited by occasionally seeking solitude, or better still, by visiting a hermitage where they can see and absorb the true and proper ways of divine living....The value of occasional solitude is not to be underestimated, for it affords man an undisturbed opportunity to think of God and nothing else. Then the refreshed devotee can return to the world... to assume his usual duties. ~ Paramahansa Yogananda, God Talks With Arjuna (534)
On Sunday, March 28, Bro. Satyananda gave a presentation on how to take a quality spiritual retreat. During his talk, Brother emphasized the value of dedicated time for God alone and the need to plan such experiences in advance into our calendar. There is advantage in taking retreats at locations dedicated to that purpose, such as beautiful SRF sites in Encinitas, Lake Shrine, and Hidden Valley for men. However, retreats can also be taken at home, even for a half-day, and successfully arranged in near-by quiet locations such as a rented cabin or lake cottage. When planning, a few summary points will be helpful:
- Plan retreat time well in advance and put it on your calendar.
- If the time is open and free, create a balanced daily schedule for yourself.
- Sleep well, Study Guru’s words, eat lightly, exercise and of course, meditate!
- Take walks and practice the presence.
- Keep silence as much as possible.
- If you enjoy a weekend of silence, then try a 4-5 day silent retreat.
Homework Assignment
Spiritual homework for April, 2010 is to plan, schedule and take a quality weekend retreat sometime during this year. You will do the planning and scheduling of the retreat during the coming month, but of course, the homework is not completed until you actually take the retreat!
Best wishes and prayers!
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
God Talks With Arjuna—The Bhagavad Gita Royal Science of God-Realization by Paramahansa Yogananda is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for March 2010
This month began with the March 7 anniversary of our Guru’s mahasamadhi—conscious ecstatic exit from his body into omnipresence. In Bro. Satyananda’s Sunday lecture on that day, he talked about the unconditional love which our Guru offers each disciple. Our Master has expressed these sentiments throughout his teachings in both prose and verse, but never more beautifully than in his "Prayer for SRF Disciples." A prayer and a pledge made directly to God.
Two-thousand years ago, Jesus Christ also expressed these very same sentiments in a prayer recorded in the book of John, chapter 17. It is an amazing experience to carefully read these two prayers, one right after the other.
Homework Assignment
So the spiritual homework for this month of March is simple, yet devotionally profound: Study our Guru’s prayer for his disciples, found in the published booklet “Prayers of a Master for his Disciples,” then read carefully the prayer of Jesus for his disciples, found in the New Testament, John 17. Side-by-side these two prayers demonstrate the intimate relationship a true guru has with God, and the powerful feelings of commitment which a guru has for each disciple. Those wishing to study this more deeply can find the verses along with our Guru’s commentary in Discourse 72 of The Second Coming of Christ.
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
Prayers of a Master for His Disciples and The Second Coming of Christ are available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for February 2010
Jesus said: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). Our Guru comments in the 26th discourse of The Second Coming of Christ: "By the perfect blending of pure discrimination and pure feeling, the penetrating eye of all-revealing intuition is opened, and the devotee gains the true perception of God as present in one’s soul and omnipresent in all beings—the Divine Indweller whose nature is a harmonic blend of infinite wisdom and infinite love (441)."
Cultivating purity or virtue within ourselves enables us to see virtue, or “God” in others. In a two-part Sunday series on developing noble character, Bro. Satyananda encouraged everyone to discover a mature and living virtue within ourselves. Each one of us brings into this life at least one virtue that has been developed in past lives and manifests as a natural spiritual strength in this life. Brother called this a signature virtue. Recognizing such virtue within ourselves, we can then seek and more easily discover virtue in others.
Homework Assignment
So the spiritual homework for February is to discover a mature virtue within yourself and cultivate it by consciously demonstrating it in words and actions. For example, you may love truthfulness and naturally strive to always be truthful; or you have a native compassion for living things and love to nurture and protect life. As you concentrate upon a virtue present within you, it will grow. Then you can begin to seek virtue in others, discovering and appreciating God’s presence in others.
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
The Second Coming of Christ is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for January 2010
New year’s greetings to all who read and benefit from these monthly spiritual homework assignments! Our beloved Sri Daya Mata has disseminated a beautiful January message which has been mailed out and is also posted on the Mother Center website.
Homework Assignment
The spiritual homework for this month is to read her letter, and specifically study the second paragraph. Within this second segment of the letter Ma not only imparts the wisdom of right attitude but also recommends practical action steps we can take to quicken our progress and increase our own realization.
After reading this paragraph carefully, make note of the spiritual action she recommends. Then ask yourself, “How can I implement this in my own life? What dynamic patterns of thought can I create to support my spiritual life? What specific positive and loving thoughts can I affirm that will bring out the best in myself and others?”
Best wishes and prayers to students and disciples of Guruji as we launch into 2010.
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
Spiritual Homework for December 2009
In the Sunday lecture on December 6th, Brother Satyananda outlined three basic steps to follow in preparing for effective pranayam. The first step is to relax the body completely, the second is to become physically relaxed and motionless, and the final step is to become centered at the spiritual eye. Beginning each meditation with these three basics prepares both body and mind for scientific techniques.
First, inhale deeply while tensing all the muscles gently, then exhale and relax. Do this several times until the body feels completely relaxed. Then do slow deep breathing without any tension to deepen the relaxation. Next, let the body breathe naturally and sit perfectly motionless until you feel both relaxed and still. Finally, lift the gaze of the two eyes to the spiritual eye and gently focus there while also directing the mind toward that single point. With the body relaxed and still, and with the gaze lifted and mind centered, we are ready for pranayam.
Homework Assignment
The spiritual homework for December is in two parts: First, practice the above at the beginning of each meditation in the coming weeks. Do your best to achieve what you can within a few moments, then proceed with your usual meditation.
Second, attend part or all of the SRF all-day Christmas meditation. If you do not have a chapel near you, then dedicate a portion of that same day (December 19th) to longer meditation.
May God, Christ and the Gurus bless you!
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
Spiritual Homework for November 2009
“Hope for the highest and the best, for nothing is too good for a child of God. Keep on hoping. Move in that light of hope until you finish your travels through pathways of incarnations and reach your luminous home in God.” Paramahansa Yogananda (Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons 57:3)
As we enter into the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is important to reflect on spiritual qualities important to us which we can offer as gifts to others. One of the most universal needs, within the heart of each person, is the need for hope. Hope that we can be happy, that we can experience love and that our highest dreams can come true.
Homework Assignment
Spiritual homework for this month of November is to first strengthen the light of hope within yourself — doing so by calling forth your faith in God, your trust in the guru’s presence guiding and protecting you. Feeling a renewed foundation of faith, ask God to show you someone in your environment who needs an infusion of hope. Let your heart be guided to feel their need, to perhaps listen and understand. If helpful, words of simple encouragement can be offered. Then ask God in prayer to inspire them to restore hope within themselves.
Master said, “Hope is the eternal light held aloft by the soul as man travels the pathway of incarnations to reach God. Never relinquish hope; for you would then have to wait miserably in darkness, unable to resume your journey toward the Divine until you chose to raise once again your searchlight of hope." (Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons 57:3)
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
An application for the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons is available for download on the main Self-Realization Fellowship Website.
Spiritual Homework for October 2009
The spiritual homework for this past month has involved performing small actions for God. In this way, we can most easily have a continuous experience of dedicating ourselves to God before, during, and after we complete the action. Now, the next assignment for the month of October is to expand the effort and perform larger actions for God—but in a unique and specific way...
Homework Assignment
My suggestion is to choose something vital and good, which, for personal reasons, you do NOT want to do. This might be an action that you have been procrastinating about or postponing: something you know needs to be done, but you are either averse to or afraid to engage in. Worthwhile actions which we are unwilling to initiate on our own behalf are perfect for offering to God!
So within the next few weeks, choose at least one such action, resolve to do it for God alone, and leave all results in the Lord’s hands. Hold fast to Master’s affirmation: “O Lord, I will reason, I will will, I will act; but guide Thou my reason, will, and action to the right thing that I should do for Thee alone.” -- Where There is Light (pg. 54)
Do the best you can and affirm that God is the doer. With a little effort you will be amazed!
Best wishes and prayers!
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
Where There is Light by Paramahansa Yogananda is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for September 2009
Master says, As soon as you think kindly of somebody else, your consciousness has expanded. When you think of your neighbor, a part of your being goes forth with that thought. And it is not only thinking that is necessary, but being prepared to act on that thought… There is so much happiness in being unselfish. For in unselfishness you guard your own happiness. My goal is the happiness of others for the happiness of myself. You can never know the joy of that achievement unless by unselfishness you include others when you think of your own happiness—not only those who are related to you, but all. -- Journey to Self-Realization (pg. 128)
In my Sunday lecture on September 6th, I shared the scriptural view that the purest action is a selfless or altruistic deed performed for God. Such an action is liberating and in attunement with Divine Will.
Spiritual homework for September is to strive to practice this form of pure action in small ways so that we might feel the refined joy of making serviceful offerings directly to God.
Homework Assignment
Ask God to show you the simple needs existing in the environment of your daily life. As you become aware of some small need, consider the steps you might take to fulfill a serviceful and pure action:
1. First affirm directly to God that your sole motive is to make a divine offering.
2. Then perform the action, striving to remember God and your pure spiritual purpose.
3. After completion, mentally and devotionally offer the good deed to God.
Remain focused upon the devotional offering, which is the essence of divine action that transcends all other results. Remember, pure service to God is free from the complex emotions of anxiety, frustration, and impatience that often accompany selfish actions. Pure service to God is characterized by simple happiness, a sense of peaceful inner freedom, and a closeness with God.
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
Journey to Self-Realization is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for August 2009
God Talks With Arjuna - Chapter II:31
There is nothing more propitious for a Kshatriya than a righteous battle.
Our Guru, in his commentary, emphasizes the importance of protecting our consciousness from the invading ego forces of destructive psychological habits. In my Convocation talk this year I offered a strategy for controlling the undisciplined ego-based thoughts so that we might attain freedom and peace.
The spiritual homework for August is to practice implementing this strategy and review the results.
Homework Assignment
Habits of negative thoughts occur in patterns. So an entire mental conversation can be repeated in the mind over and over again. These thoughts consume the mind and arouse emotions with destructive effect. The following steps can be taken to challenge these invaders and re-establish soul leadership:
- Use objective introspection to identify a negative thought pattern that
is currently invading the consciousness. It will be a very familiar inner
voice repeating the same negative thoughts over and over. Clearly
identify this pattern so you can recognize it.
- There is always a first thought, which opens the door to this negative
pattern. Once this thought has gained entry into the consciousness,
the familiar host of negative conversation begins and emotional reactions overwhelm the heart. Watch for this first lead thought which is a portal
for avidya (personal Maya).
- When your consciousness is calm and free—after sleep or meditation,
ask Master to help you target the first “lead thought” as it enters the
mind and before negative emotions are aroused. Remain calm and
watchful. When that lead thought enters you will have a choice to admit
or reject it. Immediately renounce it using your willpower and determined
resolve.
- Protect your consciousness so that it remains free—as long as you can!
Mental habits are strong, so it may take a little time and effort to capture the first thought. It may also take extra strength to renounce it completely. But small victories will come and soon a major victory! You will find yourself able to target a negative thought pattern and inwardly renounce it. This not only frees the consciousness from negative thoughts and emotions, but also allows you to constructively entertain and solve serious problems when you choose, without being intimidated and confused by uncontrolled worry and fear. Try it!!
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
God Talks With Arjuna—The Bhagavad Gita Royal Science of God-Realization by Paramahansa Yogananda is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for July 2009
Bhagavad Gita III:31
“Men, devotion-filled, who ceaselessly practice My precepts, without fault-finding, they too become free from all karma.” God Talks With Arjuna (pg.396)
Master in his commentary on the same page says that the devotee will attain freedom, “if he follows a prescribed sadhana with the right attitude—the first born quality of spiritual progress.”
In my Sunday, July 12, 2009 service, I defined sadhana as: Spiritual actions prescribed by a guru, which, when performed daily by the disciple, lead to liberation. Four vital components of daily sadhana consist of: (1) Meditation; (2) Spiritual study; (3) Introspection; and (4) Service to others.
Homework Assignment
Spiritual homework for the month of July consists of striving to include all of these four “pillars” of sadhana in some form, each day. To fulfill this homework assignment, even a little bit counts! Even 10 minutes of meditation when life gets crazy; reading just a few lines of Master’s words or listening to a portion of a CD qualifies as study. Taking a few minutes to review your day is introspection. A single kind act to help another person is being of service. Of course the more we do, the better the result. But an important key to sadhana is daily regularity, so doing even a little bit, to maintain regularity, has a profound effect.
So during this month let us all strive to include these four principles of sadhana each day and then look back and see if we feel that, as Guruji promises, progress is being made.
Jai Guru! Bro. Satyananda
God Talks With Arjuna—The Bhagavad Gita Royal Science of God-Realization by Paramahansa Yogananda is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for June 2009
Spiritual homework for June is drawn from Sri Daya Mata’s book Only Love.
At the end of the tenth chapter, “The View of the Wise Toward Life’s Experiences,” our beloved Ma offers a formula for daily life, followed by saints and sages of all religions.
1. Each day, accept everything as coming to you from God.
2. At night, give everything back into His hands.
Homework Assignment
Each Wednesday during this month of June, start your day by affirming with faith that all things coming to you this day, come directly from God. This means all things! Whether they seem good or not. Accept them from God.
Then in the evening of that same day, give everything that has happened, all events, all thoughts, all experiences back to God and let them rest completely with Him.
Why Wednesday? It’s the middle of the week and we all need an extra infusion of spiritual energy. Know that there are many disciples practicing this formula of our beloved Ma on the same day each week.
Of course if you are brave enough -- do it every day! But the homework is to make concentrated effort to experience this on the Wednesdays in June.
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
Only Love - Living the Spiritual Life in a Changing World by Sri Daya Mata is available for purchase in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
Spiritual Homework for May 2009
Spiritual Homework for May 2009 is drawn from the life of RAJARSI JANAKANANDA (JAMES J. LYNN).
May is the birth month of our first SRF President. In honor of this, Bro. Satyananda gave a Sunday lecture presentation on May 17, 2009, featuring the life and discipleship of Rajarsi. In this presentation, Brother highlighted a number of key personal qualities that Rajarsi exemplified in becoming a successful business person. Later in life, when Rajarsi met his guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, he then applied these same qualities in a new way, toward becoming an exemplary disciple.
Qualities for Success
A couple of the qualities of Rajarsi Janakananda identified in Brother Satyananda's Sunday lecture were:
Striving for excellence in education and professional practices, allowed James J. Lynn to rise quickly and gain notariety as a successful business person. Later, this same volition for excellence served to help Rajarsi quickly absorb the teachings of his guru and become an accomplished disciple.
James J. Lynn sought mentoring from successful businessmen. In this way, he not only rose quickly in the business world of early 20th century Kansas City, but developed life-long friendships that enriched his personal life. Later, this same quality of seeking mentoring, allowed Rajarsi to be completely receptive to his guru in discipleship and develop a unique and uplifting divine friendship.
Homework Assignment
Reflect on qualities that you have which make contributions to your own business career. These would be strengths which you rely upon to perform your job, such as-- an ability to solve problems, a natural skill for resolving people conflicts, a dedication to seeing a task completed, etc. Choose one quality and apply it to your spiritual life for the month of May.
Jai Guru, Bro. Satyananda
You can also read the book about the life of Rajarsi Janakananda, A Great Western Yogi available in our Glendale Temple Bookroom or online from Self-Realization Fellowship's online bookstore.
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