(not necessarily in that order)
I find this quote particularly meaningful as I think about the state of the world right now. It also reminds me of what Swami Kriyananda taught us about not focusing on changing those who are negative, but giving energy to the positive ones.
Easier said than done, of course!
So here’s the musical prayer appeal that we’ll be sharing tomorrow…
Dear friends,
Our hearts are breaking to see the devastation that California is enduring at this time. And it’s compounded by our awareness of so many other crises piling up, one on top of the other. It would be easy to give in to despair, to feel helpless in the face of so much destruction and negativity. But we feel called to do what we can!
That means praying, of course, and we hope to join with many others around the world in praying intensely for mitigation of these fires and healing of our planet. But something else we can do is to spread peace through music: namely, the soothing, healing vibration of Swami Kriyananda singing Peace — one of his most beautiful, powerful, and beloved songs.
We plan to share the video of this song with our Ananda Music mailing list; with all our Ananda singers, chanters, and musicians around the globe; and with our Ananda Sangha Worldwide.
We will also ask everyone who listens to this song and feels more calm and peaceful as a result to please share it with 5-10 of their friends…asking those friends to then share it as well. It is our belief that the healing vibration of this song can help to calm the winds and cool the flames, within ourselves and in our external environment.
We hope you’ll join us.
In divine peace,
Bhagavati & Ramesha
PEACE by Swami Kriyananda
Peace gave us the mountains.
Peace gave us the sky.
Nightly, when starlight enfolds us,
Peace is its lullaby.
Amen. Amen.
Peace gave us the morning.
Peace gave us the sun.
Bird songs that call us to welcome
Day, and fresh labors begun.
Amen. Amen.
Peace gave us the seasons.
Peace gave us the rain—
Cool clouds that gather to bless us,
Mist hands that soothe away pain.
Amen. Amen.
Peace gave us our hearts’ love.
Peace gave us our smiles:
Rays of God’s presence within us.
Light that all strife reconciles.
Amen. Amen.
I’ve been struggling — yet again — to take better care of myself. The problem is that giving myself treats is simply not the same as treating myself lovingly.
Thinking about being kind to myself led me to this quote by Swami Kriyananda, and to the thought that “everyone” includes me!
So I’ve turned it into an affirmation:
I hold kindness in my heart for everyone — including myself.
I was looking for something else entirely, but found this treasure instead. I believe this was a Sunday service at Ananda Assisi shortly before Swami Kriyananda moved to India in November 2003; Ramesha and I had been together less than a month!
And aren’t I wearing the loveliest shawl? I adored that shawl and the way it matched virtually everything in my wardrobe. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of thinking it could be washed in cold water and was heartbroken when it shrank to less than a quarter of its size.😢
Ah, memories!
Today was the quietest 4th of July we’ve experienced in decades! Last year we were celebrating Ananda’s 50th anniversary on July 4th, so that was an especially huge celebration. But there’s almost always some variety of parade and games and special meal, with lots of fun and laughter.
This year, of course, we’re still physical distancing, so….no games, no parade, no eating together. And I haven’t even heard any fireworks (so far at least).
In this peaceful, quiet space I find myself reflecting on what it is to be “independent”. I think being truly “free” requires non-attachment. And that brings to mind the chant Nayaswami Maria spoke about earlier in the week…
I AM FREE by Swami Kriyananda
I own nothing, I am free! In myself I am free.
I own no one, I am free! In myself I am free.
I need nothing, I am free! In myself I am free.
I need no one, I am free! In myself I am free.
In myself I am free! In myself I am free!
I am free, ever free! In myself I am free.
I am joyful, ever free! In myself I am free.
I am blissful ever free! In myself I am free.
I am nameless, ever free! In myself I am free.
I am formless, ever free! In myself I am free.
This is the independence I aspire to!
Wishing you peace and inner freedom this 4th of July!🗽
I was so happy to be reminded by Nayaswami Ananta, during today’s Sunday service talk, about the gas burner analogy. Both Yogananda and Swamiji spoke about how what seem like individual jets of flame on the surface of the stove top are simply individual expressions of the one gas source that is flowing under the surface.
The reason I was so glad for this reminder is that it’s all too easy to focus on our feelings of separateness in the divisive, polarized, stressful times that we’re living right now.
The Truth is that we are all individualized expressions of the light of God (and, yes, this includes each and every person on the planet; no exceptions!). And every person is doing as best they can according to their level of consciousness and unique karmic pressures.
Of course it’s really hard to stay out of judgement and fear, because it all looks so bad and so hopeless at times. But you know, maybe I can’t see the source of the gas underneath the burners on my stove, but I know it’s there and it’s real and that without it there would be no individual jets of flame.
In the exact same way, I can focus on strengthening my “knowing” that God is here and God is real, even when I can’t see Him as the underlying source connecting us all. And that helps me a lot.
Here’s what Ananta read today, followed by the same idea in Swamiji’s words…
#77 Demand for Seeing the One Fire beneath all Soul-Flames.
O Eternal Fire, Thou art shooting little flames of souls through the pores of each human consciousness drilled in the plate of the great burner of Thine universal consciousness. Thou dost appear many, limited, small, divided, when Thou dost shoot through the pores of living organisms as souls. But Thou art the one eternal flame, under the pores of all human minds.
— from Whispers from Eternity by Paramhansa Yogananda
Paramhansa Yogananda defined ego as ‘the soul identified with a body.’ All egos, as we saw earlier, are like little jets of flame on a gas burner, each one with the appearance of individuality, but each one being, in fact, only a manifestation of the unifying gas underneath.
–from Revelations of Christ by Swami Kriyananda
The other day I was reflecting on how this was the year of the “lost spring.” I couldn’t really tune in and enjoy the season the way I usually do (too many distractions!). Now we’re almost at the Solstice, but it feels important to reclaim Spring first.
So I decided to share this fun and lively song by Swami Kriyananda. It’s one of his Shakespeare songs, and I love it because it makes me feel happy and it makes me think of Spring!
It Was a Lover and His Lass
by Swami Kriyananda
It was a lover and his lass,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That o’er the green corn field did pass,
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
Between the acres of the rye,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These pretty country folks would lie,
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
And therefore take the present time,
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
For love is crowned with the prime
In spring time, the only pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding ding:
Sweet lovers love the spring.
William Shakespeare (As You Like It)
There’s at least one more “Racial healing” blog post percolating in my mind, but I need a break. So here’s something I felt to share on Facebook a few days ago, starting with what I wrote to introduce it (the lyrics are included after the video):
Yesterday I felt the strong impulse to share this “funny” song of Swami Kriyananda’s. It’s based on a story that Yogananda used to tell. Right now, it’s the TRUTH of the song that is resonating with me, not so much the humor. “What we need is light!”
Yes, It’s Devil Worship
by Swami Kriyananda
Brother, I’ve a faint suspicion
You and I’ve been led astray:
Taught to drive the devil from us,
We’ve invited him to stay!
What we need is light!
For we can’t drive out the darkness
With a stick, with a stick,
No, we can’t drive out the devil with a stick.
Some proclaim all men are sinners,
Can’t escape the devil’s might.
How their interest must intrigue him,
They won’t let him out of sight!
What we need is light!
For we can’t drive out the darkness
Talking sin, talking sin,
No, we can’t drive out the devil talking sin.
Some of us were taught the slogan:
“Social evils must be slain!”
But can anger drive out sorrow?
How can passion conquer pain?
What we need is light!
For we can’t drive out the darkness
While we hate, while we hate,
No, we can’t drive out the devil while we hate.
Brother, have you ever wondered
Why the darkness lingers on?
If we want to see the sunrise
Let us turn and face the dawn!
What we need is light!
For we’ll only best the darkness
When we love, when we love,
Yes, we’ll only best the devil when we love!
I wrote my first “Music. Life. Joy” post on Swami’s birthday last year, so today marks the beginning of year #2. I can hardly believe it…but I wrote something every single day!
In other news, we honored Swamiji with a beautiful event in the Temple of Light, led by Jyotish and Devi. Ramesha and I got to sing! And there was an amazing rainbow!
Now I’m going to get comfortable and read through the past year’s posts.
I did it! 😊
I can’t seem to get enough of this young woman, Alma Deutscher. I find her inspiring on so many levels…and I think Swami Kriyananda would have found her as delightful as I do.
In fact, I think Swamiji would consider her a kindred spirit when it comes to her perspective on the purpose and meaning of music. If you haven’t listened to this video yet, I’ve cued up the section where Alma introduces the Siren Sounds Waltz by explaining her commitment to writing beautiful music.
And here’s what she had to say after receiving the European Culture Prize last October: “Until now, I have always composed melodies and harmonies just as they pour out from my heart. But I have often been told: ‘as a modern composer, you’ll soon have to forget your melodies, and concentrate on dissonance, as befits our modern age.’ But maybe this award today means that a more tolerant age is dawning, when melody and beauty will once again be permitted. Perhaps this is a message that there is more to European Culture than just dissonance. Perhaps there is also a place in European Culture for harmony. And how beautiful it would be if this message could go out into the world from Vienna, from the city of music.”
The Star of Hope. The Choir of Hope. A passion for expressing beauty in melody and harmony. A charming manner and droll sense of humor. Articulate and very intelligent. What’s not to love?!?