Swami Kriyananda lived with his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, for the last three and a half years of the great master’s life. The teachings and training that Swamiji received from him during that time have inspired and guided the work of Ananda, which now reaches countless souls throughout the world.
Here are two stories from Swamiji’s early days with his guru that can help us in our spiritual as well as our everyday life. Kriyananda wrote that he worked as hard at meditation as he did during the day at his various jobs. But at a certain point, he began to get discouraged with the progress he was making in meditation. He had the opportunity to ask Master, “Am I not trying hard enough?” Yoganandaji replied, “Too hard. It’s creating tension. In meditation you should emphasize relaxation more.”
The companion story is this. Some time had passed after the first incident. Following Master’s advice, Swamiji began to focus more in his meditations on devotion to God. He spent long hours chanting and feeling God’s love. He writes: “Gradually I found myself becoming transformed inwardly. I began to feel I had some cause for self-congratulation, when one day word came to me that Master had been talking with a group of the monks in Encinitas. During the course of the conversation he had remarked lovingly: ‘Look how I have changed Walter [his name for Swamiji]!’”
What these two stories illustrate is the difference between tension and intention. When we do anything with tension, it reflects inner resistance. This can come from a variety of causes: subconscious doubts, unwillingness, fear of failing, or attachment to the results of our actions. Whatever the cause, the tension created by inner resistance blocks the flow of our energy, and limits our ability to accomplish our goals.
On the other hand, working with intention implies a positive commitment of energy to achieve some end. This involves a willingness to try; freedom from attachment to the results; and clear, steady focus on our goal. Working with intention rather than tension produces a powerful flow of energy that can uplift our consciousness no matter the outcome of our efforts. It also is the secret key that opens the door for God’s grace to flow into our life. This is what the two stories from Swamiji’s life are meant to illustrate.
We might say that when we approach any activity with tension, it implies an ego-based attitude of “I am the doer.” But when we act with intention, it reflects the thought, “I will try my best, but the results are in God’s hands.”
When you sit to meditate, relax with the thought, “God, I love You and joyfully offer my life to You. It is Your love within me that enables me even to think of You. Let me feel Your presence.” The time will come when your sincere intention will draw His grace, and you will realize His presence with you.
In daily life, look at what you are trying to accomplish and why. Analyze objectively any obstacles that lie before you, but then, willingly and joyfully, let your energy flow steadily towards your goal. Don’t be deterred by setbacks, but keep your intention shining before you. This is not to say that you’ll always accomplish everything you set out to do, but whether you succeed or not, your intention will draw the grace to transform your life.
I’ll close with these words written to me by a friend who was diagnosed a few months ago with an early stage, but aggressive form of breast cancer:
“I just completed infusion #13. Three more to go. Then a week of radiation around the end of August. That will complete the in-person treatments. After that, I’ll begin hormone suppression therapy through medication, which will be ongoing, possibly for years.
“Reflecting on what I am learning from this journey, I am grateful: How to face a test without identifying with it. The importance of positivity and saying YES. The choice between stress or inner peace. How the loss of identity brings greater freedom.
“Behind it all is grace. Until this dramatic experience, I never realized the extent to which grace is responsible for everything in our lives. It feels like even the willingness and fortitude that are needed on my part come from grace.”
May your divine intention lead you to God’s presence in all things.
Nayaswami Devi
Listen to Devi as she first reads the blog, then expands on its meaning and messages for readers with behind-the-blog commentary. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (9:23):
| Add a comment |