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Thursday Evening - Sister Priya

Our subject is ‘The Guru: A divine gift of unconditional love’. Unconditional love - thank God, thank Guru.

Master wrote in his Autobiography, “God is Love. His plan for creation can be rooted only in love. Does not that simple thought, rather than erudite

reasonings, offer solace to the human heart? Every saint who has penetrated to the core of Reality has testified that a divine universal plan exits and that it is beautiful and full of joy.”

Let’s believe and live by this. The outer world will always need our love and prayers. It is so much needed. Always pray, as we do in the ashram, for world peace and harmony. But what is going on in the outer world is not the final word; what Master said is the final word.

When the disciple is ready to go back to God, the Guru appears. He comes in ways unmistakable. For many of us, our first contact with the Guru was

through Autobiography of a Yogi, and it changed our lives, didn’t it? – because it brought us into contact with one who is one with God and can therefore reveal God to us ... even us. He came already free. Master is the highest teacher – he is an avatar - he is beyond the limits of time and space. Master’s consciousness is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent – meaning he is aware of everything and has the power to help us anywhere and in any

situation. He has powers over the forces of this creation. Each one of us has a living guru by their side from the moment we read the Autobiography, if that is what we want.

Master said, “To those who think me near I will always be near.” This is his omnipresence, and by that he meant that we will come to know he is near.

Rajarsi, our second President, was the first to call Master a Premavatar.

Premavatar means an incarnation of divine love. Gurudev had wisdom,

compassion, understanding, and ever-new joy, but his nature is predominately

love, unconditional love - a love that never changes - a love which nothing can diminish. One quality usually predominates in each avatar. Wisdom

predominated in Sri Yukteswar in the same way that love predominated in Paramahansa Yogananda, and it is his predominant quality now. All of the guru’s training is love, because it is based on unconditional love. Sometimes that love may seem disguised, but its purpose is to make the disciple strong spiritually. Avatars have a very high mission - there is none higher.

In Master’s Autobiography he quotes Shankara: “A true guru creates equality with himself in the disciple who takes refuge at his feet.” When we find a true guru, the one sent by God, his work is not done for us until we are one with him in God: until we are free, liberated, Self-realized, God-realized. God is love, and the guru is God’s unconditional love for us expressed through a human personality to us, until we are that.

Even in that liberated state, Master says we can still play with God. He is both with form and formless. The devotee has a choice.

Master says in the Gita, “After uniting his soul to God, the yogi may still maintain the dual relation - the liberated devotee, and God as the Object of adoration ... The soul of the emancipated yogi can remain merged, if he wishes, in the Absolute, as the Absolute. Or the liberated yogi, owing to the retention of his God-created individuality (which can never be lost), may remain or reappear in the physical body in which he was liberated, in order to worship God in any personal concept (such as Father - Mother - Friend - Beloved God), or in any desired materialized form (such as one of the deities, or as incarnate in one of the avatars such as Christ or Sri Krishna), or as the All-Pervading Infinite.”

In the Lessons, Master writes: “I can show you Spirit without fail if you will follow me unfailingly and practice what I teach you.” If we don’t practice his teachings – meaning daily meditation and study of his writings – if we don’t do that, he can’t help us very much. Then what he said just remains a beautiful dream. It rests with each one of us to make God and Guru’s dream for us a reality. And we can, but it takes our will – our willingness and determination - the willpower to change ourselves. It is possible in one lifetime, but no one said it would be easy. But it is the most worthwhile challenge we will ever overcome.

Of the spiritual work that has to be done, the Guru takes 25%, and 50% is the grace of God. The remaining 25% we must take, and that is what has to be worked out. By exercising our spiritual muscles we grow stronger spiritually - and combined with regular meditation, we learn to hold onto the effects of meditation, even during activity.

When we find the Guru, sometimes the recognition is instantaneous because we’ve been with him before. Once the Guru accepts the disciple, and we are willing, he takes over our lives and brings to us whatever experiences we need to help us overcome all obstacles that prevent us from realizing God. He takes

us on the shortest route possible back to God.

One time I asked Mrinalini Mata about the training the disciples had received with Master. I had heard tell of Master’s strong training and how he could be fiery at times, and I had wondered to myself, “Could I have taken that kind of discipline? Or would I feel sensitive or hurt?” I had also heard of Master’s overwhelming love and of the complete acceptance that the early disciples felt, and so I asked Mrinalini Mata, “Did he do that only after you were convinced of his unconditional love?” Mrinalini Mata looked at me with a somewhat

surprised expression on her face and said, “Of course!” Then she paused for a moment and added, “But sometimes you did wonder...”

(Laughter)

Yoganandaji’s mission was and is a mission of love, both on an individual basis, and globally for all children of God. Through meditation we find that we are all part of one divine family. We will find that every true religion has the same basic truth, and every child of God has the same divine birthright.

Meditate regularly. Practice the science of Kriya Yoga regularly. Support the worldwide spread of these teachings, which will unite East and West. In his Autobiography, Guruji explains that Babaji and Christ together planned - and that is the greatness of it - together they send out vibrations of redemption and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age. Meditate

regularly. It changes us individually because it raises our consciousness, and it changes the whole world around you because of that change within.

Those around Daya Mata can see that life is beautiful for her because it is filled with God - and she is certainly more aware than we are of the world’s

problems. To be a true disciple of the Guru, we must get and hold onto what she has. It can only be done by giving ourselves to God in meditation, and by living our outer life according to Guruji’s teachings.

So many devotees get discouraged. I think that all of us at some time have felt that we haven’t done as well as we should have. But what really matters is that we will never ever, ever, ever give up. Guruji said, “A saint is a sinner who never gave up.” And he once wrote a letter to Daya Ma’s sister, Ananda Mata - but it applies just as equally to us all. Part of what Guruji wrote: “I will never give up my job about you. It is better to conquer evil and not go on living with it forever. A smooth life is not a victorious life. Never for a moment identify yourself with momentary flashes of error. Have no fear, even when I'm gone and no longer visible to your eyes, you will never be alone. I will ever lift you up no matter how many times you fall.” That is how he feels about all his chelas. “I will ever lift you up no matter how many times you fall” - it’s such a beautiful promise, because he is able and willing to fulfill it.

Master said the spiritual path is not a circus. Don’t seek phenomenon. In his writings, Guruji has given us a tremendous spectrum of positive spiritual experiences. There are many ways to be aware, connect, and commune with God, both personal and impersonal.

Master says, “It is because we are divine that we are unable to find lasting satisfaction in anything material.” In his book, “How You Can Talk with God”, Master says of the divine experience, “If once you can get that response from God you will never feel separated from Him again. The divine experience will always remain with you. But that “once” is difficult because the heart and mind are not convinced; doubt creeps in because of our previous materialistic beliefs.”

He understands how human we are. Master goes on to say: “It satisfies a deep need in our hearts to think that God may take a human form and come to us and talk with us.” So we have this in the Guru. Study this book - I would say live it - until it becomes your own experience in life.

You have to be very honest with Master. He knows our faults anyway. Master won’t interfere if we aren’t receptive to his help. But if you want his help, tell him. There was a disciple who was new on the path; he had heard Master talk about the spiritual eye, but had never had the experience of seeing it. Finally he prayed to Guruji and said, “I just don’t get it. You’re going to have to show me!” It became an obsession with him, and then one day in meditation he suddenly saw a beautiful light in his forehead. It stayed with him all the time, even when he wasn’t meditating, and he knew it was a great blessing because it made him feel peaceful and calm ... and it stayed for three days. During this period he found that every contact he had with other people was blessed with an effortless harmony, compassion, and understanding ... and then it went away. Master said you get a taste of what you can have, and then you have to work for it to get it to stay permanently. But even a taste is worth it, isn’t it?

I have been in here in the ashram for a long time and have met many people who have had a taste of what you can have. It is helpful on occasion to speak of your spiritual experiences to a spiritual counselor, but normally we don’t speak of such things to others. It’s never something to boast about to others - we don’t want to make others feel less loved because they haven’t received an equivalent blessing.

When we are willing to forget everything else and focus on God, beautiful and wonderful things can happen. I’ll give you an example: there was a man who attended his first all-day Christmas meditation, and during the service he heard a tape-recorded of Master talking about the Great Ones. The talk inspired him deeply and made him think of Babaji. He became fascinated with Babaji, and he remembered the story in the Autobiography about the disciple who

underwent a severe test in order to be worthy of being in Babaji’s presence.

He knew that Babaji had a band of disciples in the Himalayas and that Master had said there were some American disciples in that group. A deep yearning to be with Babaji’s group grew within the man, and the yearning became so great that he didn’t want to breathe. A stillness overcame him and suddenly he saw himself encompassed in a ball of light. Then he found his body in lotus

position, and he seemed to be moving naturally across a vast distance, and

descending into a cave. Within the cave he saw a band of yogis in a circle, deep in meditation. There was no lighting inside the cave - and none needed because of the radiance emanating from them. They were aware of him, and a place was made for him within the group, and his body settled down directly opposite Mahavatar Babaji. He felt accepted and blessed by Babaji.

After a short while he realized he wasn’t going to be able to hold onto that state. He tried, but couldn’t hold on, and suddenly found himself back in the meditation room with other devotees at the Christmas meditation. This experience convinced him that he needed to become absorbed in longer and deeper meditations in order to expand his consciousness and go beyond too much body identification.

… a taste of what you can have.

Sometimes the Guru gives us these kinds of experiences, and it makes him more real - you just have to work for it. Bring him into all aspects of your life, even when the going gets tough. You never know when that pesky 25% will show up.

(Laughter)

In my own life there was a gradual miracle. As a child I was extremely shy - and that’s an English understatement.

(Laughter)

I never met anyone worse than I was. In second grade I was to give my first oral presentation, and the assignment was to memorize and recite a poem.

When my turn came and I got to the front of the class I just froze - my mind went blank. Finally in desperation I closed my eyes and found I could recite the poem. After finishing the presentation I looked over at the teacher, and I

remember she mumbled something like, “Very nice, dear” - but by the look on her face, even though I was young I knew she was thinking, “What on earth is wrong with her?”

(Laughter)

In the years to come I avoided anything that involved speaking before an audience.

(Much laughter from the audience of 4000 devotees!)

It never occurred to me to try to change myself. Then came my college graduation ceremony, and each one in my graduating class was supposed to formally thank the Dean. Everyone was expected to do this, and I had no idea what to say. The boy ahead of me spoke well, and then I was on. I received my diploma, stumbled over to the microphone, and looking down at my feet blurted out, “I second everything Michael said,” and took off for the stairs.

(Laughter)

Later my friends, those who knew me well, teased me. “Nice talk, Pattie!”

(Laughter)

Life went on, and I found the path and entered the ashram. I thought, “How wonderful - now I can just live for God - I can withdraw completely and escape the world.” Thinking back on it, I gave Master a perfect opportunity to teach me to have faith in him - in his ability to help me overcome what I needed to overcome. We would not grow if Master took everything away. I went through the monastic training, and later was invited to give talks at the Encinitas

retreat. I was hesitant, but thought I couldn’t say no, because his teaching is so great - I thought it was the least I could do. It was a good way to get started, and through these experiences I got a little less nervous. Then one day I was walking down the driveway at Encinitas - and suddenly it was like Master just lifted the nervousness. That nervousness left me and it never came back.

I think I had realized that you just have to go on. Pray for his help. The Guru will help you every step of the way, but you have to go through with the experiences and trials he brings into your life. To be a true disciple you have to trust him more than your own feelings. He’s a leader. Let him lead! Have faith in his ability to help you overcome. He will help you if you let him. He will minimize your suffering, and then you conquer. Master said, “I can show you Spirit without fail if you will follow and practice what I teach you.”

One time I was in training with another nun in Mexico leading a group retreat. I was to lead the group in the prayer before food, and found myself quoting the prayer from Lesson 8A, which is the prayer we use before the Energization Exercises. I stopped speaking and thought, “Master help!” - and then the second half of his prayer for food sort of floated into my consciousness.

(Laughter)

Later I said to the other nun who was with me, “Oh, I really goofed!” She replied, “Oh, I don’t think anyone noticed.”

(Laughter)

Nuns are very kind, you know.

(Laughter)

They get that from Master and Ma.

Then came giving talks at Convocation, and I would see all of you as family. It always feels like such a family reunion. You are not a crowd - you’re a family -

and it becomes a privilege and a pleasure to share what is most liberating - to share these beautiful teachings Master has brought to us. If you allow your thoughts to remain on yourself, you miss half the joy in life - you miss what life is all about. Whatever our need is, whatever our fears are, he will help us with it if we let him. Do this by asking him. He will minimize the problem, and you will have much less suffering. We will overcome with his help - that too, is the Guru’s love.

This divine love coming through the Guru is an incredibly unselfish love by human standards. Divine love is always giving and wants only what is right and true for you from the highest perspective. Though wisdom predominated in Sri Yukteswar’s nature, being with him intensified Master’s own devotional nature. Master said of his Guru, “I had never imagined anyone could be so interested in me. He loved me for myself. He wanted perfection for me. He wanted me to be supremely happy. That was his happiness. He wanted me to know God; to be with the Divine Mother, for whom my heart longed.”

When you find love at that level - that is God. That love is joyous and free, delighting in us, just as a parent does with a child taking its first step. That love never lessens, even at times when we are not admirable. If we are backsliding, or if we get caught up in the world because of our choices, then that love is a sad love, but no less ardent. It waits, because each soul has free

When you find love at that level - that is God. That love is joyous and free, delighting in us, just as a parent does with a child taking its first step. That love never lessens, even at times when we are not admirable. If we are backsliding, or if we get caught up in the world because of our choices, then that love is a sad love, but no less ardent. It waits, because each soul has free