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75 years ago today

Swamiji’s meditation room

The below excerpt was posted on Facebook today by a friend. I’ve read it before, of course, but it was especially powerful reading it today — the 75th anniversary of the day Swami Kriyananda took discipleship from Paramhansa Yogananda.

The accompanying photo of Swamiji’s meditation room in his apartment at Crystal Hermitage also touch me deeply.

So, I decided to share both in today’s blog post.

A devotee was marveling at Swamiji’s many accomplishments. “In one lifetime you’ve done the work of ten men!” she said.
“Perhaps you’re right,” Swamiji said quietly. “Nothing I have done is important, however, except to the extent that it has helped people individually to deepen their love for God.
“At the end of this life, the only thing that will matter to me is ‘Have I been a good disciple?’”
— From the final chapter of Swami Kriyananda As We Have Known Him by Asha Nayaswami

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Follow the hearts home

After dropping Ramesha at the airport for his flight to Portland, I headed to the town of Dixon to visit a friend who moved here six months ago or so.

Nancy and I have been close friends since we were fifteen — which was an amazing fifty-plus years ago. So, today was a wonderful opportunity to catch up on, well….everything!

Everything included the wonderful (but hard) work that she and her husband are putting in to create a beautiful sanctuary out of their yard.

I particularly loved this heart path leading to their front door.

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Out of juice

I’m totally taking this as a message from the universe to stop, turn off the computer, and Go. To. Bed. 💤

Full disclosure: My phone looks like that at the end of pretty much every day. 😅

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Hard to believe

I’m not sure why I was so surprised to see these changing leaves today.

After all, it is almost the middle of September. And it feels as though each day is shorter than the one before.

Nevertheless, I’m having a harder time than usual adjusting to the fact that summer is basically over.

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A timely reminder

My morning got off to a rather rocky start, so I really appreciated the reminder that appeared on my Momentum Dash screen once I reached the office.

Be still.

I don’t know about you, but when I read those words I automatically take a deep breath.

And then my mind adds the rest of the phrase…

Be still and know that I am God.

…and something shifts. Another deep breath and I’m ready to put it all in His hands.

Tonight was the first time I looked it up and learned that this phrase comes from Psalm 46. The whole thing is beautiful.

Psalm 46 
1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

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Shades of blue

Last night I finally had a chance to share something that’s been simmering in the back of my mind for quite a while.

Namely, to help our choir members understand that it’s not enough to just hit “the note” — because there are as many gradations of “the note” as there are shades of blue.

Blue came to mind the first time I thought of this, because there’s so much blue in the Temple of Light.

When I brought it up during rehearsal last night, I started by asking the other two nayaswami’s in the room to join me up front. Of course, all our shirts were blue, but they weren’t exactly the same blue. Then I called up another singer, who had on a greyish-blue T-shirt. Someone in the choir pointed out a person wearing blue jeans. And then we noted the blue carpet, the blue chairs, and the blue of the spiritual eye.

I think everyone got the point that when creating music together, there is one correct “shade” of note with which we all must align if we want our harmonies to be truly, gloriously beautiful.

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Today: early, full, productive

Well, this morning I woke up before the alarm. In fact, it was before the crack of dawn!

I made it to my appointment on time, then did some banking and grocery shopping before heading home. I was concerned about making it back in time for an important meeting but it turns out I was a few minutes early and the first one to arrive.

The whole day continued along the same lines. Full and productive, all afternoon and into the night, since Tuesday is when both choir and ensemble rehearse.

But now I’m pooped and ready to hit the sack. And I’m thinking how nice it would be to build up some early morning momentum.

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A crack of dawn morning

An 8:30 a.m. medical appointment means leaving the house at 7:45. Which means getting up super early, at least for me.

That means keeping today’s blog short and sweet. Good night.

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Wildlife sighting

Unsplash photo by Lori Ayre (@loriayre)

I think the animals have really been enjoying the increased moisture after the recent rain. I’ve noticed a lot more birds flying around our yard and even saw a couple of jackrabbits — which are usually only out and about before dawn or during twilight.

And then today, for the first time ever, I saw a bobcat!

I was sitting on the patio enjoying some afternoon sunshine when he walked by — a little way out from my chair — as cool as you please. I quickly (but quietly) ran inside to grab my glasses so I could be sure of what I was seeing, and sure enough that’s what it was.

I could see the short tail with a dark end, markings on the front legs, and the distinctive ears.

I didn’t have my phone to grab a pic but he looked almost exactly like the photo above. Incredibly beautiful, but I hope he doesn’t discover the chickens at Ananda Village’s goat dairy. 😟