Here I am in Ohio and The Heart of It All just happens to be the slogan for my homeland. My heart certainly feels a deep connection to this beautiful place and I am grateful to have grown up here. I returned to visit my sister and her family, as well as, to surprise my good friend from college for her 30th birthday. It's nice to have some time to unwind from the fast pace of city life. While I was on the flight up here, I was reading an issue of Self-Realization Magazine. They sent me a complimentary issue because I am enrolled in Yogananda's Meditation Lessons. This magazine is incredible. It even had a cd in it which I've listened to several times since receiving it last week. The cd is entitled Faith: A Cornerstone of Spiritual Living.

I would like to share an excerpt from the magazine with you and I highly encourage you to subscribe, the spiritual insights and teachings will last you a lifetime...

"I would like to share with you the words of a saint. The saint was in an expansive mood. His disciples wanted to know something from him in that sublime mood. They put to him a question. "Master, please tell us about your quest for the Divine. What are the stages you have gone through?" The master said, "God first led me by the hand into the land of action, and there I dwelt for several years. Then God returned and then led me to the land of sorrows, there I lived until my heart was purged of every inordinate attachment. That is when I found myself in the land of love, whose burning flames consumed whatever was left in me of self. This brought me to the land of silence, where the mysteries of life and death were bared before my wondering eyes."

Then the disciples asked, "Was that the final stage of the quest?" The master said, "No, one day God said, 'Today I shall take you to the innermost temple-to the heart of Truth itself.' And I was led to the land of laughter."

Free from all dualities and delusion, one awakens from the cosmic dream in ever new joy.

Each one of us is going to reach the goal of self-mastery. So we should not expect to be spared of those stages that a master had to go through. And remember: In this story, the stages are given figuratively to illustrate the point; these are not "watertight compartments." in the sense that one stage ends before the next begins. We find all of them throughout the spiritual journey. There may be many years in the land of action-fulfilling our duties in the world-during which we have repeated experiences in the land of love as well as in the land of sorrow, until we learn the essential lessons of each stage. It is inevitable that we have to undergo both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. That is why perserverance is essential-especially in meditation, which takes us every day into the land of silence, until one day we find we no longer have to return to the land of sorrow, because we have awakened in the land of laughter, eternal joy.

There is a moral here for us. Some people never learn the necessary lessons because they try to grasp at results too soon. Think of it: What are we trying to grasp? God-realization-Brahmajnana-the highest and most difficult attainment there is. Progess comes bit by bit, little by little. Wisdom is not a destination we arrive at suddenly one day. If we try to travel too fast, we will miss the scenery! Spiritual growth is a proces, and all of us must go through that process.

Guruji, said, "The only difference between you and me is that I made the effort." Saints are not made of any different material than we are. "A saint is a sinner who never gave up." Let's not give up. Let's keep on keeping on, and let us do our best to do our best. One thing we can be very sure of, as Swami Sri Yukteswarji said, "Everything in future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now." -https://www.srfbooks.com/Magazines.aspRead more

Holiday time is here, again. I remember, not so long ago, when Christmas did not emerge in full bloom until after Thanksgiving. A local radio station in Dallas is already broadcasting Holiday tunes, day and night, as of today. It seems the Christmas Season swings into full motion sooner and sooner each year. As though time isn't going fast enough, we certainly don't need to accelerate it with our anticipation of what's to come, but this seems to happen anyway... It becomes increasingly important to ground oneself deeper in the Spirit of the Season, focusing on what the true intention of the Holidays is meant to be about, i.e. to celebrate Peace, Spirit, Joy, Love, our Loved Ones and the Infinite Blessings in our life in all the ways we are filled with them...

Speaking of the Infinite, I've been studying Paramahansa Yogananda's Meditation Lessons for a few months now and they are amazing. Every two weeks, I receive two lessons in the mail to read, study and practice. What a gift to be reading these powerful teachings! I would like to share a paragraph from one of the recent lessons where Yogananada defines what Self-Realization, which is the intention of the Yogic journey, really means. This is a paragraph I found myself reading several times to really absorb the fullness of his words. I hope you find this valuable.

Self-Realization Defined:
Self-Realization is the knowing--in body, mind and soul--that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of Him now as we ever will be. All we have to do is improve our knowing.

Self-Realization means knowledge of one's own soul and of its oneness with the Father.

Also, I want to mention one other powerful technique I've been practicing since retuning from my training with Shiva. (Which I'm hoping to be able to continue my studies with in March 08!) She encouraged us to use vibration in the postures, both Bija (Seed) Mantras and the all-powerful Om. I've been practicing saying Om, primarily, in my poses when I find myself in a place of great intensity and discomfort. And...it's working. I'm finding Oming is helping to heal my body, not to mention my mind and heart, in amazing ways. In certain poses where I felt particulary stuck, I am feeling more and more open. So start today...Om away! (To begin with, say at least 2 in the pose and open yourself to growing into 15 as you become more and more open and at ease.)Read more