First thing this morning Carla wished me a happy birthday, a very fine thing. The first thought I have on hearing this is that the person who should be honored on my birthday is my mother. She is the one who carried me around for nine months while chasing after my two brothers; morning sickness, body having to accommodate a nine plus pound child growing in her, going through birth pains and a 10 p.m. delivery—a long day I am sure. Because I had been breech she had sutures and was in pain and needed help for a few weeks after from my aunt Joyce who was in school at the time. And me? I was just along for the ride throughout all of this—that is until a rude awakening of being born into this world with its brightly lit room and a welcoming slap to get the breathing started. Welcome to the new world!

I was the third of three, a few years after my brothers. When I asked my mother if I was unplanned, she said no. When I asked if she had been hoping for a girl, she said no, she was happy with whatever I was. I didn’t ever believe her about not hoping for a girl, but I think it was a justifiable lie. She had grown up an only girl, and I think she may have wondered what she ever did to deserve getting three active boys to raise. In our adulthood, two of the best days of the year for my mom was Thanksgiving and Christmas, when all her children and then grandchildren and ultimately great grandchildren were all there. Yes, she certainly deserves to be honored today.

This early morning Saturn is bright, but Venus is truly blazing on the forehead of the eastern sky. The Big Dipper stands mighty, always pointing us to the North Star for direction, and Orion’s belt and sword ever reminds me of Arjuna, faithful warrior on the spiritual battlefield. It is a brisk cold with gusty winds and the screen-monitor-sky has gradually brightened revealing a saguaro cactus forest all around and craggy peaks on either side. It is a good day to be alive.

There are two great joys in my life right now. The first is to see aspirants with both feet on the path: striving, working, loving and giving heart, mind and soul for the Divine Quest. And not just that, but showing signs of progress: skin shining, eyes glittering, bliss and love filling their cups to overflowing. It is not that everyday we must look like a front-page cover for Enlightenment Today, not when there are dark nights to be endured and heavy burdens that must be carried. But, a general trend up; what started as a spark that became a flame and is now a blazing sun of aspiration. In my soul I walk with each one God has given me; I slog through the muck, I strain at the climb, I glory in newfound vistas with each one of you. It is my greatest privilege to share in the toils, but also to stand alongside you on glorious peaks of realization. It is the best of lives, the noblest of goals, and the most fulfilling of accomplishments to go to God together.

My second great joy in life is that Mother has given me some tasks to do for her. It has been one of God’s precious jokes in life for Him to assign me the task of assembling Mother’s prodigious compilation of spoken words and making them into book form. Me, who worked harder in high school studies to get out of work than simply doing the work.  Me, who spends many hours writing a posting that is read in minutes. Me, who knew more about sin than syntax in high school; this is who God assigns this work? Fine joke Ram!

Not only that, but He has me writing to you in these postings and other publications as well as working on Mother’s writings. I am reassured by God that even a broken candle can still give light. If so, it is only because of God and Gurus blessings that anything of note may be done through this form. I am also blessed with those who did pay attention in English class as part of our virtual International Headquarters of the Cross and Lotus Publishing to keep me from complete embarrassment.

So, I think I have absolutely the best job description in the world. When the timer for this body is up, my greatest wish is that God and Gurus may give even the smallest indication that they are at all pleased with the work done here in their names. It is truly a bold proclamation to say that I work for God and Gurus, but it is not without justification. Mother gave me this work, she is a product of her Master, as he was of his own Master, and I know that God has given His stamp upon my Soul, and in this I have complete assurance that “I am about my Father’s business.”

Now, it is up to me to utilize each day for His glory and to manifest His Light through all that I think, do and say. It is the greatest joy that we may go to God together; that He bless us so and that each of us fulfills the tasks He has given. In saying this as my birthday wish, I do not blow out the lighted candle, but ask that lighted souls everywhere may manifest more and more light for the One, and for  all.

Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Matt 13:33)

And what does this saying mean? The leaven is a substance that makes the bread to rise. And what is that yeast in us that makes us rise up to the kingdom of heaven? The spiritual master sows a seed in the aspirant, the power of God in the master warms the “oven” of consciousness for that one, making the conditions right; for the “the whole is leavened.” The “three measures” are for the three bodies in man, the physical, astral and causal.

The guru ignites a fire in the devotee that results in focused sadhana. Ongoing spiritual practice done with intensity makes the “oven warm.” This warmth allows the bread to keep rising and rising, as the consciousness is experiencing more upliftment, more God-experience. And what happens if the oven cools? If the aspirant loses the fire of renunciation and a glowing love for God? Then the bread will cease rising; will collapse in on itself once again.

When I met Mother, I felt such power of God coming from her. She focused my mind on chanting God’s name, she initiated me into the practice of Kriya Yoga, giving me the means to make the interior of consciousness glow–the bread to rise. However, this did not happen in an instant. In the beginning God-experience came a little here and a little there. My desire for God was strong, but so were the opposing forces. It continued to be a tremendous battle.

We should not imagine all we have to do is reach out for God and we will have everything. Mother describes God-realization as the “pearl of great price,” and indeed it is. No one can read about the life of Jesus, in whose footsteps we are told to follow, and think it all happens in a day and without the greatest commitment. Even being aware of these difficulties, it must be balanced with knowing we have such wonderful examples of accomplished yogis and spiritual masters who demonstrate what is possible; that we too might know God.

What love I have had for sitting on my meditation blanket with mala beads in hand. Feeling the sacred Kriya Breath revolving in the spine and brain, making me feel close to our guru-lineage and being purified from the inside out. Every morning and night spent in the laboratory of my own body and soul, learning to explore inner depths and heights of consciousness–feeling deepening peace, inner stillness, and growing awareness of the Divine Presence. All of this–warming the oven.

It is easiest to speak about extraordinary experiences, what is more difficult to describe is the comfort and glow of joy that comes from engaging in deepened meditation. A smile grows through inner radiance, love glows in your heart, peace is felt within and without; these are signs of being on the right track.

A favorite quote of mine from Sri Yukteswarji in the Autobiography of a Yogi (pp 98-9):

My guru was smiling. “I am sure you aren’t expecting a venerable Personage, adorning a throne in some antiseptic corner of the cosmos! I see, however, that you are imagining that the possession of miraculous powers is knowledge of God. One might have the whole universe, and find the Lord elusive still! Spiritual advancement is not measured by one’s outward powers, but only by the depth of his bliss in meditation. “Ever-new Joy is God. He is inexhaustible; as you continue your meditations during the years, He will beguile you with an infinite ingenuity. Devotees like yourself who have found the way to God never dream exchanging Him for any other happiness; He is seductive beyond thought of competition. “How quickly we weary of earthly pleasures! Desire for material things is endless; man is never satisfied completely, and pursues one goal after another. The ‘something else’ he seeks is the Lord, who alone can grant lasting joy.

When you sit for meditation, take with you your remembrance of your connection with saints and realized masters from the world over, that you are plugging into the Creator of all that is. What a sacred privilege this is, and in the depths of your meditation you are fulfilling what you have come to do. In the peace and joy of communion with God, the oven warms and the bread rises as you enter your kingdom of heaven.

Travel Note:  We are currently encamped at Picacho Peak State Park. It is lovely here with Saguaro Cactus, rugged hills and rock formations all around. Although not the frigid temperatures experienced throughout much of America, we had snow on peaks the other day and it has rained a good deal. It has been a cold desert, although scheduled to get warmer this week. Yesterday I was taken out for a pre-birthday lunch at a restaurant in Tuscon that Carla and I went to three years ago and remembered still for its delicious food and good service. We gathered there and it was a perfect time of celebration. We will continue camping here until this coming Friday. Blessings

Dispassion is a topic that Krishna and yogi-saints return to frequently. In the Bhagavad Gita we read (Chapter 6 Verse 35-6):

O mighty-armed Prince, undoubtedly the mind is fickle and unruly; but by yoga practice and by dispassion, O Arjuna, the mind may nevertheless be controlled.

This is My word: Yoga is difficult of attainment by the ungoverned man; but he who is self-controlled will, by striving through proper methods, be able to achieve it.

As aspirants it is important for us to understand this most potent word, dispassion (vairagya). We work toward Self-realization when we practice controlling our thoughts through Kriya Meditation. Circulating the life-force through the spine and brain we discover a balance of mind in which we experience inner stillness. From this stillness we are actively aware, but the world of the senses seems one step removed. This naturally creates a state of dispassion.

We can compare this true inner state of dispassionate-stillness with the yogi-aspirant who is practicing to be dispassionate. In this case you are striving to rise above physical sensations, emotional states and insistent thoughts. You are not actively experiencing stillness, rather your practice is to not allow the things of the world disturb you in order to attain stillness.

When the mind thinks about projecting itself into a state of dispassion, it can think, “Oh, what a dull place to be,” or, “I could never be indifferent to the world.” Either you think you could not or would not want dispassion. However, this state of consciousness spoken of by Krishna and the saints is not only possible, but is to be much desired.

Let us look at it this way—imagine your consciousness stretching itself out to be a great ocean. You are the depths of that ocean, and the waves rolling on the surface, the currents running deep like massive rivers throughout your oceanic self, various thermal layers are realms unto themselves, big and small fish and mammals are moving within you; you are the totality of all that the ocean is.

Now, the big and small waves on the surface are thoughts and sensations that exist for shorter or longer periods of time, the river currents are deeper wisdom-thoughts of God coursing throughout your being, and thermal layers are various levels of consciousness in you. All these aspects play and sport about in the totality of yourself as the ocean, all coming and going.

You are aware of all these comings and goings; however, you are also aware of the deep nature of the ocean, your identity as the ocean itself in which all these activities are taking place. It is not that these various aspects of your self are unreal, but none of them change The Deep in you—your Soul, Self, or Spirit. Imagine you are aware of all the different parts at play, but whatever they do or do not do, they do not alter The Deep in you; the changeless and ever-existent part of you.

In your spiritual practice you can, and it is beneficial to, work on being dispassionate towards the things of the world. You can keep the image of being identified with the vast Deep of the ocean as a helpful mental practice. At the same time, you are aware of the alternating waves of experiences that pass over your surface, but never distressing or disturbing The Deep in you. Then, through your continued sadhana you experience a momentous shift in awareness; you are no longer imagining The Deep, you become identified with it. You actively see the things of the world playing on the surface of your consciousness, each part having its time of existence, but not altering The Deep in you.

Gradually you are permanently established in The Deep. Now worldly-experience is seen as passing phenomenon, but you never exclusively identify with it. You realize that The Deep is your true Self, and that you are ever That. You are no longer practicing dispassion, you have become dispassion itself. All that is in the ocean exists in you: the thought-wave sense experiences, the deep diving whales of revelation, the thermal layers of consciousness and broad river-currents of intuitive wisdom from God roll over your surface and move through you. Each is created, preserved for a time, then disappear back into you once again. All the while, you are ever at one with The Deep. You know that you are the great I Am That I Am in the beginningless, endless ocean of Self.

Since my early twenties, I have two favorite scriptures that have inspired me, stayed with me and been my friends and guides these many years, They are the “New Testament” sayings of Jesus, and the teachings of Krishna in the “Bhagavad Gita.” In terms of pure poetic imagery and concise Truth, these two Avatars are truly amazing. I have never made a study of either of these from an academic viewpoint, rather I use them for inspiration. I may have read through them from beginning to end but a few times, if at all. I am much more likely to pick up the narrative at God’s prompting and latch on to a few verses. Soon I have the inspiration I need; my soul is lifted on these scriptural wings that elevates my consciousness and delivers me into Heavenly Realms; finally, my soul merges into Spirit; self becomes Self.

This morning I pick up the Gita, and my eyes rest on this:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Verses 8-10

The cognizer of truth, united to God, automatically perceives, “I myself do nothing”— even though he sees, hears, touches, smells, eats, moves, sleeps, breathes, speaks, rejects, holds, opens or closes his eyes— realizing that it is the senses (activated by Nature) that work amid sense objects. Like unto the lotus leaf that remains unsullied by water, the yogi who performs actions, forswearing attachment and surrendering his actions to the Infinite, remains unbound by entanglement in the senses.

There are times when it seems that Jesus is quoting Krishna; such as when he says,

“When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing myself; but as my Father taught me.” (John 8:28)

Let us take this idea, “It is not this ‘I’ who acts.” In fact, this “I”, is what both Krishna and Jesus start with, “I do nothing.” The “I” has gone through a change, from “the one acting” into a witness of what is being done. The “lifting up of the son of man” is the transformation that leads us from ego consciousness to being “united with God.”

You may sense in yourself how fundamental this notion of doership is to your nature: “I am doing this, feeling this, thinking this.” From a purely human standpoint, if you do not have this sense of being the doer, you are labeled with a dissociative disorder. However, feeling like you are unconnected with your body or its actions because of psychological trauma is not what is being described here. No, this state of consciousness comes as an earned experience, it is an advancement in the psyche, not a setback.

You can begin to get an idea of this state through practicing being the witness to what you are doing. Many years ago I read a book, “Zen in the Art of Archery,” By Eugen Harrigel. In it, he describes the discipline of the Zen monk watching himself go through all the motions of shooting a bow and arrow. Sounds easy enough. Nothing can be further from the truth. It is years of practice, observing every movement of muscle, stringing the bow, setting the arrow, pulling the string, bending the bow, aiming at the target, and releasing the arrow. Everything is done with full mindfulness; without the mind wandering here and there, totally focused on the action being performed. When done correctly, shooting a bow and arrow becomes meditation; you are the witness; then something extraordinary happens: the Zen state of mind.

While reading this book I decided to do my own kind of “witness” practice. When I was doing the simplest of tasks, I observed myself in the doing, every muscle being moved, the sensation of moving in space, sounds in the room, breathing, even the heart beating; everything was to be noted by the observer within. And what did I experience? Physically and mentally I slowed down, I was aware of minute movement. And something more, my consciousness moved from the “doer” to the observer. The practice shifted me into a meditative state as the body continued in its action. It was very nice.

Through time and experience this practice took on new dimensions, even though I was no longer practicing as inspired by the book. Rather, being the observer took on its own life. I felt that Prakriti (the power of Nature) was moving through me—prana, or life-force, was doing the work through this body. Then, another level of awareness. It is God, the supreme power and intelligence that is beyond Nature that is acting, speaking and even thinking through this form.

I have to say, these are magnificent realizations to be had. They change your life, and if you let them, they transform you. The “son of man” in you is “lifted up;” you become the “cognizer of truth, united with God.” In that union you know in truth the statement, I do nothing, it is my Heavenly Father who doeth the works. Now, everything that is said and done through this form comes through the “I” witness from a much higher Source.

When any aspirant “lifts up” the human consciousness (the son of man) into the Divine Consciousness (our Heavenly Father), then you know the same transformation, the same truth. Whatever happens to the body and the world becomes like water slipping off the “enameled leaf,” leaving the inner Son of God ever in oneness with the Heavenly Father.

I want to wish you a lovely Valentine’s Day, a day brimming with the love of God filling your heart to overflowing. According to early Christian history, Saint Valentine died a martyr, but while in prison he healed the daughter of his jailor of blindness. When he wrote her a letter, he signed it, “Your Valentine.” Saint Valentine not only forgave his jailor, but healed his daughter—such a loving thing to do.

Master wrote so beautifully of charity. Charity has taken on different meanings down through time, from its original meaning of love, to acts of love, to helping someone in need, to non-profit organizations. But, let us examine the word from its headwaters, love and acts of love as Master does:

“Charity is born of sympathy. By empathy, a quality of Omnipresence, a person may transfer his consciousness to that within suffering men; and experience, as his own, their griefs and limitations. It is then that the charitable desire to offer help springs forth.

“Selfishness cramps the omnipresent soul in a miserable prison of limiting material desires. You should desire salvation so that you may give it to everyone else. You should desire to drink God’s nectar of bliss so that you may share it with all. That is true charity.”

Master so beautifully connects the act of giving back to its source, Omnipresence, from which empathy naturally springs. In Omnipresence you feel what others feel, however it is not a simple connection to another, rather you take with you awareness of God’s love and compassion as well as His clarity of truth and right behavior. If someone is struggling with staying true to their higher Self, then through Omnipresence you see the future consequences of wrong actions, and you know all of the suffering that individual will go through; your heart goes out to such a one even as they fall short of the goal. And one who suffers the effects of past actions in body, mind or soul, you feel such compassionate understanding for that one. In both cases you feel the fullness of God’s love flowing through your own heart in Omniscient empathy.

In seeing all creation as an expression of Ananda, God’s bliss, then you see the truth, even as Sant Kabir did when he said, “I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty.” Truly, we swim in an ocean of love, an ocean of bliss, it is all around us, we are immersed in it; we need only drink of what is so abundantly permeating the air we breathe.

And this is my Saint Valentine’s wish for you my dear One, that you may drink to your heart’s content from Living Waters of Spirit; that your heart may run full to overflowing with love for God and all creation. That when you do an act of charity, it is first an act of love, an action that is a natural outcome of Omnipresence. And when you are the receiver of someone’s loving act, that you receive the love behind the act and are conscious of it first. In this way, it is truly God giving to God. It is in that spirit that you please me most in receiving all the love of God that is, even now, overflowing my heart and I that I see flowing out to you now. “Your Valentine.”

Greetings from the Southwest desert. We are currently encamped near Yuma Arizona. An unfortunate consequence of this area is we have enough cell tower connection to send and receive email, but not enough to stream live. It makes it so difficult to listen when the broadcast stalls or loses total connection during a talk. So, today we will commune in spirit; using our built in inner-net.

You know, it truly is amazing what capacities we have that are too often unexplored. There are airwaves from radio and television bandwidths all around us, but we are not properly attuned to listen to or see such broadcasts. For that, we need a radio or television with the proper receiver. There are also subatomic particles flying right through you, even through the earth at incredible speeds, yet all of this goes on unnoticed. As these things are going on around and through us (even as we read this), so are there communications going on between individuals.

A solar flare from our distant sun can interfere with a radio broadcast here on earth, and so does the static of restless thoughts and ceaseless activity make hearing these subtle communications between people unheard. One of the beautiful things about life in the astral worlds is that thought transference occurs naturally; without misinterpreting words getting into the way. Even as writing is a poor substitute for a perfect memory, so spoken words is a poor imitation for thought transference.

During my stay at Anandashram in 1998-9, I sat each evening with Swamiji. He and a few intimates go about Ashram business while I quietly enter and sit next to the wall and meditate. He tolerates my presence without giving me the boot, so I sit for an hour, then quietly pronam and leave. While meditating with my eyes closed, I know when his attention shifts to me; he does not call out to me, but I sense it. I open my eyes and he is quietly waiting, then begins to talk to me. Now, if I had been more advanced, perhaps the conversation would have occurred without words at all; for this too has happened on more than one occasion as well.

There are those who try to develop psychic abilities, but the psychic realm is of a different nature than this deeper spiritual communion. The psychic realm can be used for many reasons; not necessarily for pure spiritual intent. After meeting Mother, I read the Autobiography of a Yogi every spring for ten years. It seemed like a good time of year for new seeds to be sown. I was amazed at the things I found in that same book with each reading. New information, new themes revealed themselves as if brand new with each reading. One year a principle became crystal clear. Whenever a truly realized master performs a “miracle,” Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswarji, or highly realized saint, he or she announces that it is by God’s command he initiates this extraordinary event. By God’s command—not a whim, for personal gain or to prove something, but the purity of intent was from the highest Source.

When you go through the successive layers of human potential during your spiritual unfoldment many temptations come to you; some as subtle as the breeze on a still day, others slam into you like a speeding dump truck. Things will happen: psychic experiences, powers of various kinds present themselves. Even as Jesus is picturesquely portrayed as being tempted by Satan to display powers, to gain power, name and fame in the world, so are we tempted. We may not have a man with pointed ears and all in red standing before us, but he may as well be. He stands before us with a silver platter asking if he can interest us in any of his wares; all we need do is bow down to him and we may take. Of course, we may even think such abilities are a sign of spiritual advancement! Tricky devil. We must exhibit the utmost integrity and surrender all such powers, knowing that to the sincere yogi these are detours that will take us off a cliff, not to the mountaintop.

Communion in God makes a bond of one with one another; not simply through personal psychic connection, but through the purity and disinterest of God-experience. Then, what is transferred, what is known is of the highest and best for everyone concerned. Such communication is uplifting, purifying and edifying on every level. The receiver of God-consciousness is switched on, you feel the pulse of Divine Life throughout all creation, you realize these spiritual rays have always been in and around you, only you did not have the eyes to see and the ears to hear. (Matt 13:43) Become an active receiver, realize the universal truth of what Jesus says, “Lo, I am with you always.” (Matt 28:20) Let us go within and commune with our Infinite Beloved, and through Him with all.

One day God gave me a funny. He said, “Where two or more are gathered…. There shall be politics.” And you know, He is right! Because even amongst like-minded personalities there will be differences on any topic when you get into particulars. Now, my mother told me not to discuss politics or religion in polite company, “It does no good.” Well, that leaves what…. The weather? Even that is not a safe today with global warming such a hot topic!

People have differences, it is systemic to creation and God’s great diversity throughout nature. The word politics traces its history back to a book with that title written by Aristotle.  After writing a book about ethics his narrative naturally wove into his next book on politics. The Greek word politikos became the English word Polettiques, and later politics—among its many shades of meaning is, “of, for, or relating to citizens.”

Politics has always had its contentious side. When Julius Caesar proclaimed himself dictator, Marcus Brutus made his political point with the end of a knife to divest his old friend and mentor of his monarchical powers. With the death of millions of innocents along with the perpetrators down through the years, we definitely know there are real-life consequences to politics. Today our airwaves are filled with raucous politics; sharp edges dueling and colliding with contrasting ideas and motivations. We are fortunate today that the majority of those sharp edges are words and not blades, guns or worse.

And how do politics and spiritual living go together? In a word, carefully. There are those who tie religion and politics closely together, saying that God is on their side and those who do not agree are evil. And others make political assertions with all the certitude of religious conviction; dissenters are seen as immoral. In both cases, anyone differing from the “party line” is beyond respectable. There are real life consequences to decisions made in the political arena, so it is easy to see why emotions can take over, and that is especially true when there is no respect for the God in another–seeing God in another even when he may be in error.

In the Mahabharata, the epic poem that includes an immense war, one of the warriors is asked, “Can you fight without anger?” This is an interesting question when the stakes are so high. He replies that he can, and only then is he allowed to enter into the fray. Inflamed emotions such as anger, greed, revenge, and fear can all lead to adharmic behavior that not only retards the progress of an individual, but all those his or her life touches. Therefore, those called to a political life are tested on their own unique battlefield and are called upon to act with the utmost integrity, to ever abide by their highest Light and for the greatest good of all.

And for those of us not directly on this battlefield, but interested participants in the body politic? We too must act in accordance with dharma. The very same emotions that sink a politician can be a black mark on a citizen. Explosive anger, fear and greed leaves its residue on any wayward devotee. Trust in God, compassion, and recognizing that good people can disagree, are ways to stay attuned to inward stillness and true wisdom. Master admonishes, “Wise men discuss, fools argue.” Of course, all may have clear, well-defined positions, many of us do, but keeping proper perspective is a must for spiritual balance.

Some choose to defer decisions to others and not get involved, but actively informed citizen-yogis help keep things on track. One does not need to watch every thrust and blow in hand-to-hand political combat, but to stay abreast of the evolving issues and tuning in to how God directs you on the issues is consistent with being a responsible citizen with the privilege to vote. This makes for a better, though many times imperfect system.

Devotees too have widely varying perspectives on issues. But even this can lead to wonderful results. Two dear devotees are an example of this. One devotee has been a long-term activist for worker rights and the downtrodden. Another is a leader of a police force near the Canadian/American border. There was to be a large protest at the border crossing. The policeman arrived at a planning meeting between law enforcement and the protest organizers. He was anxious about the coming protest, knowing that they can take ugly turns. When he walked into the meeting he recognized one of the organizers on the other side, a fellow kriyaban and activist-friend, he immediately relaxed and thought, “Everything is going to be ok.” And it was.

In God, every difference need not separate us in Spirit. Rather, you first find the unity operating beneath the great diversity of creation. As Jesus originally said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matt 18:20) Being established in this unity, found in God-consciousness, allows for the unfoldment of harmonious differences. Each may hold firm opinions, yet there is a recognition it is all God’s play, and that God enjoys His play. God within you chooses your level of interest and involvement in the rough and tumble world of politics, but whatever He chooses for you, you are always mindful that this is theater; underneath it all we are all actors playing our parts. By not losing contact with God, you do not get lost in the play.

Knowing your purpose in life is essential to all; lose that purpose and you lose not only your direction in life, but also hope, and the value of life itself. A tamasic-depression results in a loss of purpose, or not caring about what you know should be important. On the other hand, a rajasic-dynamic life may have so many aspirations that there is no real sense for what is important or essential—it is one massive ball of entangled ideas and energy. Satwic-calm purpose has clarity, and it keeps the soul grounded in practical actions that are tied to life’s greater purpose.

As a soul, you come into a lifetime with goals for what you want to learn and achieve. A goal may or may not rise to the elevation of purpose—purpose speaks to the reason for taking an incarnation. But purpose comes with a burden; if you do not accomplish your purpose in life it is a terrible let down to the deepest part of who you are. Buying the latest phone may be a goal, but it does not speak to your purpose. Completing a degree, establishing a business, raising children, moving the world forward in some great endeavor, attaining a high state of realization may be the kinds of things that speak to your purpose, for why you were born.

Purpose is not something that can be handed to you, it is something you must discover for yourself. My Grandfather started a fruit and produce and trucking business. My father always saw himself going into business with his father, which he returned to when he was discharged from the Coast Guard. My mother said she had thought I would go into business with my father, along with my eldest brother. Although this would have fulfilled her expectations (my father never voiced his thoughts on the topic), it was clear to me that my direction and future were elsewhere.

In my case, from my late teens onward the only thing that spoke to me about my purpose was Self-realization; everything else in life only made sense to me under that one umbrella. I was willing to do things in the world, as long as it fit in with realizing God. Knowing God was the first thing in my life to which I fully committed myself. While growing up I played sports, was a student and a boy scout, I worked many hours for my father’s business, I played and caroused, but nothing I did was wholehearted. I take no pride in that fact, I think I did not get the greatest advantage from any of those activities by not giving it my all. I did not understand it myself; only when I met Mother did I commit myself to anything fully.

I know that is not everyone’s story, and you have had your own way to wend to fulfillment. What is essential is that you know why you have come—that as long as you are drawing breath there is yet purpose for you to fulfill. It is important that you not enter a sinkhole of a tamasic mood in which you are uninspired. One of my great objections to the drug marijuana is that it robs the individual of motivation and purpose—complacency being one of its primary side-effects. That fits hand in glove into a tamasic mood, even though it initially brings a kind of euphoria. To be alive to your purpose brings life-energy, enthusiasm, creativity—all life-affirming attributes.

The other side of that guna-coin is rajasic overstimulation in which you are busy, busy, busy; with never a minute. In all likelihood if you ask a driven person about purpose, a rajasic would give a laundry list of things on the agenda. This is not purpose, they are goals. Purpose is the guiding star that makes you aspire to something greater, keeps you pointed in the right direction, and helps simplify your life from being loaded down with over-activity. The classic office sign of rajasic mode says, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.” In that case the thing to do is to slow down, get off the gerbil-wheel long enough to become quiet and orient yourself to knowing your purpose, not just goals. Why have you taken incarnation? While achieving goals is necessary, why are you here? You may find there are a lot of activities you are doing that have nothing to do with why you are here; in fact this busyness actually keeps you from accomplishing essential things in your life.

The satwic way moves you toward the mark. The body and mind slows down; alert calmness allows you to tune-in to your soul’s purpose, coming from a very deep part of you. When you tap into this you simply know that it has been true for you from before you were born. Purpose is inspiring, life-giving, and in accomplishing it you truly know that you will feel profound satisfaction. There will not be a thousand of such purposes in your life, it will be a comparatively few. It may connect with a profession, family and children, some service to do in life, the perfection of some art or creative endeavor, it can relate to physical achievement such as a sport or perfect health, it can relate to any topic at all, but it must rise to the standard of being connected with the real reason you were born.

Purpose uplifts any activity you are engaged in, when it is aligned with why you are here. For instance, if being in service to God is your purpose, then going to a work in which you see yourself serving God in your customer, or the useful role that your product plays in people’s lives, elevates any beneficial work that is dharmic into seva, loving service to others. All activities, sweeping the floor, washing dishes, driving somewhere, educating yourself, any and all activities in alignment with purpose makes it worthy and fulfilling.

Please take some time here. Focus on the purpose you do know. How are you doing staying on track with that purpose? Also, check in with your deeper Self—is there any unacknowledged purpose you do not yet know or you have been pushing into the background? The first thing to do is to discover that true purpose in life—first things first! Every life has purpose, even if your body does not cooperate in any other way, your purpose can be as a prayer warrior for God. As such, you see every person, every situation in life filled with God’s light and life, working its way towards His perfection. Your light can extend out all over this whole world, and even beyond. That is a mighty purpose!

I know that my purpose is to fulfill what God and Gurus have asked me to do; to love and serve Him and Him in you—writing this posting is in keeping with that purpose. Another purpose is to publish Mother’s words in books and formats that are fitting to her work. That is a work in progress and we are making good headway on that front. Another purpose is to be in perfect harmony with the body through eating the right foods in the correct amounts; to have no impediments to the flow of life-energy through this body; and for the intelligence of God to manifest through this brain; everyday this is an exciting exploration. An overarching purpose is to be a perfect instrument for God in thought, word and action, to be in keeping with His will every moment of every day. This, you might say, is my meta-purpose in life. I find all of these stated purposes absolutely true for me; they are all inspiring and are polestars that keep me tremendously enthusiastic about life and in forward motion, rising to higher levels every day—it does not get better than that.

Your challenge is to be clear on your purpose, and to be exactly on track with achieving it. So that when it comes time to draw your last breath you may say, along with the Christ, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 24:36), and then, it is finished.(John 19:30) You know that you have completed the purpose for which you have taken incarnation; you feel in perfect accord with Divine Will and can in all good conscience commend yourself to the highest light of your Being; that is what the Infinite has desired for you from the foundation of time.