A friend captured this moment at the beginning of Tuesday’s Inner Renewal Week class and I absolutely love it.
I’m so grateful for Ramesha, and for the blessing of sharing my spiritual path and music dharma with him.
Grateful for Ramesha
A glorious end
Tonight’s sunset was a suitably glorious end to a rather long and taxing day.
A day for which — despite its challenges — I am extremely grateful.
Grateful for my guru
Happy Birthday to my guru, Paramhansa Yogananda!
We had a beautiful program tonight, which included this slideshow. Enjoy!
Feeling grateful for Kriya
Today started out pretty challenging. Both Ramesha and I got to move through “stuff” — oh, joy!
We worked through it — both individually and together — but there was some lingering residual energy.
So, I’m really grateful for the Kriya initiation tonight, to put things in perspective and remind us what we’re really here for. 📿
Counting my blessings
I truly am grateful, thankful, and blessed!
Here’s something that Swamiji said in 2012:
“Happy Thanksgiving Day. Today is a big day in America, but what it stands for would be good for everyone on earth to celebrate: a day of thanks to God for His many gifts.”
How wonderful it would be to focus on giving thanks for God’s gifts every day of the year, and to go to sleep each night…counting my blessings!
LYRICS
When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you’re worried and you can’t sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings
Living the dream
As I was walking through the meadow above Rajarsi Park this morning, looking at the buildings where I get to work every day, I was struck yet again by the incredible beauty of where I live.
I breathed in the perfectly clear and crisp October day with the sun shining, the autumn foliage standing out in the distance, and the palpable sense of peace and serenity permeating the scene.
Then I stopped and took a quick photo to try and capture the moment.
Two thoughts alternated in my mind as I walked on. First I found myself thinking about how fortunate I am to live in such a unique place. Beautiful, peaceful, knowing everyone, surrounded by spirituality.
But then I remembered that — even though it’s something to be constantly grateful for — living in the “perfect place” is not really the point.
Self-realization is the point. Knowing my oneness with God and all that is, that’s the point. In the meantime, I try to remember that this life which seems so real to me is God’s dream.
Yes, I’m living a beautiful manifestation of God’s dream compared to many other people on the planet, but still…the ultimate goal is to awaken from the dream into the pure light and love of God.
Good advice
The excellent thought I’m reflecting on as Saturday comes to an end.
Grateful I have so much to appreciate!
Seventeen years ago!
This is from our wedding blessing at the Ananda Palo Alto community, a completely fun, joy-filled, blissful event. We tied the knot a few days later — on July 5, 2004 — an incredible seventeen years and what feels like several lifetimes ago!
Ramesha and I have shared an amazing life for almost two decades now, and I’m so totally grateful.
Repeat after me: you are doing okay.
Yeah, today was one of those kinds of days. It just felt hard, and occasionally combative. My back hurt, and I felt overwhelmed.
Plus, I was at one and the same time grateful for the rain and also bummed that it was raining.
But I appreciated this reminder that things have been hard for a long time, but I’m still accomplishing a lot even in the midst of it all.
So, yeah, I’m doing okay. And I think you probably are, too!
Overcoming resistance
Today was an overcoming resistance kind of day.
A day to support a friend, but within an uncomfortable context that was challenging for me.
And a day to knuckle down and do some important tasks that I’ve been majorly procrastinating about.
Grateful to have the day behind me and feeling good about what I accomplished! 💪