Suzanne Editorial - from A Way of Life Issue 13.1   |   Text View

DIVINE PROVIDENCE …"That which is provided by the Divine". Sometimes that is what I recognize as a Miracle, sometimes it is what I entirely forget to realize/acknowledge is the next perfect step in my journey…..

An easily recognized Miracle is the outcome of a divinely provident meeting in Monterey recently with the co-pastors of a local church there, Bob and Judith Luckin.  While at breakfast with them, sharing the incredible ongoing Miracle of Karuna Bali, and the college, www.karunabali.com  Bob came up with the inspiration to offer his talent as an Artist by gifting us a beautiful recent poster design, "God is Love" to offer to the community of The Heart, to raise money for the College. It can be purchased through Bob's website, and internet gallery - www.robertluckinfamousartist.com 

In light of what I often fail to remember about the journey, I want to share a wonderful excerpt from a book Raj brought home from India... Hints to Aspirants by Swami Ramdas, founder of the Anandashram… a treatise on Hindu faith that so beautifully demonstrates the One in all faiths…

To turn away the mind from the vanities and ephemeral interests of this passing world, and meditate on the Divine, which is the root of all existence, is indeed to attain absolute peace and freedom.

When the mind is perfectly still, you will have super-sensuous experiences.  That is the experience of the Divine within.  You will have then transcended the body-consciousness.  From a deep trance you come out in a natural way.  You can, if you will, remain in trance for a pretty long time.  But you will be back to the external consciousness in a normal and spontaneous way.  Those who wish to be active in life and fill it with Divine Joy, have to take God essentially as a God of Love and Compassion.  He has so many attributes.  But He must reveal Himself to us as pure love.

God can be ours only when our devotion to Him is perfectly pure-free from all desires.  Ramdas would have you not bother yourself about the state after death.  Make the best of the life God has given now by devoting it more to his remembrance.

If we look at the problems raised as to why people suffer, why accidents happen, why people suddenly die or pass through long periods of agony, from the Karmic standpoint we find that suffering and death come to man according to his past actions.  What we sow we reap.  This explanation is from the point of view of cause and effect.  The results of Karma are inevitably to be borne.  Nobody can escape from them.  Ours is to remember God constantly and know that His great power alone is responsible for all happenings.

You should not mind about public opinion or criticism but freely come to see Ramdas.  Public criticism and persecutions are natural in the case of all seekers of God.  They do not get disturbed over them, but go on with their spiritual discipline undeterred.  There is no hindrance from anybody to our spiritual progress except our own mind.  Let the mind think only of God.  Then your path is easy.

It would be well for you to surrender yourself to God and not to wish for anything but his grace.  His grace is all comprehensive.  It can automatically grant you all that you need.  Reliance on God means security and peace.  You should not worry about anything.  This is the quality of a true devotee.

You want to know the secret of reciting Ram Nam.  The secret is that you should repeat it in all humility, feeling yourself to be the servant and God as your master.  You must also feel that you are so repeating by His will and command.  You know that He is seated in your own heart.  As such, by constantly thinking on these lines you will become conscious of His presence with you always.  Surrender yourself to Him and take His name.  When you do thus, you cannot but chant His name with all love and devotion.

True service done for the good of others is veritably worship of God.  Inwardly you can be in tune with Him and outwardly serve Him by living a life of selfless service.  It is not merely by doing Japa that you are serving God, but also when you are serving others honestly, conscientiously and in a spirit of dedication to him.  Then you will have the same peace and joy as you get by chanting or writing Ram Nam.  Carry on your activities cheerfully.

In this life of bustle and distraction, it is absolutely necessary that the mind should, from time to time, be withdrawn from external things and fixed upon our supreme goal of life-God.  It is by tuning our mind with Him alone we get the inner strength, light and peace so that we can carry on life's work usefully land in peace.

Service to humanity does often involve conflicts.  In the midst of this life, which is bristling with an inexplicable clash of opposites, we have to steer clear of them while pursuing the path of truth and righteousness, which is the same as the path that leads us to God.  God stands for absolute purity, truth, goodness and love.

Difficulties come to all alike at one time or other.  Life is so constituted that there are always ups and downs in it.  But the hero is he who keeps the mind in a state of perfect equilibrium in all conditions and circumstances. Everything is really the manifestation of God.  But you have to realize this truth.  Merely saying so does not enable you to look upon everything as He.  Experience is necessary.  For gaining experience Sadhana is necessary.

Reading these simple paragraphs brought so much home to me.  The remembrance that all is God, I am only ever in relationship with God, "that is Divine Providence."  Every occurrence is Divine Grace.  All my problems come from forgetting or resistance.  Restitution lies in remembrance, practice, service, meditation and humility. 

Expecting Miracles to constantly mean, 'my will' is dark foolishness.  Only by finding humility and perseverance in testing times, for what alone is true, and gratitude for all my experience, can bring me Peace.  "Thy Will Be Done" will bring me to Grace.  All my joy comes from connection with God, my only purpose is to serve all.

Needless to say my Journey continues to be a purging of resistance within myself….all the moments I experience are Divine Opportunities to realize how far I have traveled devoted to separation and every living moment provides me with the opportunity to look for restitution and restore Truth within my being.

My month alone while Raj was in India was so valuable, because it left me in stark relief of myself, my choices, my feelings, without any buffer.  I shared amazing times with my biological family and learnt a great deal about myself and my journey.  I experienced many profound emotional experiences, what a gift!  If I stay objective the unfolding is fascinating.  If I truly understand that every moment is a gift and the perfection and complexity of how I am unfolded is so amazing…

My Love and extended hand to the One that dwells as you, which is me.  I LOVE YOU, Suzanne

Add to: del.icio.us | Digg

Comments (0 posted):

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Your website:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: