Let nothing disturb you

I figure I can’t be the only person who needs this reminder right about now!

Pandemic, fires, smoke, protests. unemployment… all these things will pass, but God changes not. Thank goodness!

(lyrics and audio below; enjoy this encouraging chant)

Saint Teresa’s Admonition
(words adapted from St. Teresa of Avila’s Admonition)
Let nothing disturb you,
Nothing affright you,
All things will pass, but God changes not.
Patient endurance
Brings you to vict’ry.
Once you have God, you’ll want nothing more.
God alone! God alone!
God alone’s all we ever need.
God alone! God alone!
God alone’s all we ever need.

St Teresa’s Admonition, chant by Donald Walters (aka Swami Kriyananda)

“Don’t take life so seriously”

I’ve been reflecting on this quote from Yogananda. I feel the truth of it — especially the part about the world being “a terrible place, there is no safety here” — but I can’t say that I truly comprehend it.

Still, I find it helpful…and comforting…to try and wrap my mind around it. Bottom line? “Live for God and God alone!”

“Don’t take life so seriously. This world is a terrible place, there is no safety here. But what are we to do? We must stop taking life so seriously. Delusion can be overcome by holding steadfastly to one philosophy: everything here is nothing more than God’s motion picture. Don’t make a fuss about anything. Whenever you worry, remember, you are deepening the cosmic delusion within you. It is your own dreams that frighten you. In every form of sense experience you must remind yourself, ‘IT IS A DREAM!’ So don’t be attached to the passing dreams of life. Live for God and God alone.”
— Paramhansa Yogananda