Are we really the owner of our children? Osho relates

You ask me: Have You never wanted to have a child Yourself ?

No, for the simple reason that I don't want to burden this earth.

It is already burdened too much.

I used to live in Raipur for one year. One day I just saw the neighbour beating his small child, so I rushed into his house and told him 'What are you doing? I will call the police!'

He said 'What are you talking about? This is my kid! And I can do anything that I want to my kid! And who are you?'

I said 'This is not your kid. This is God's kid. And I can claim as much as you can claim.'

He could not believe what nonsense I was talking.

He said 'This is my kid. Don't you know?—you have been living here for one year.
He could not understand because of the claim—the claim that 'This is my kid, and I can do anything that I want to do.

For centuries parents were allowed to kill their child if they wanted to. They were allowed, because the thought was accepted that 'You have given birth.' How can you give birth? You have been just instrumental. Don't claim.

No child belongs to you. All children belong to God, they come from God. You are at most a caretaker.
-OSHO

Is there anything in this world, which we can claim, it is mine? Kriyananda narrates Yogananda's incident from his life.

Note : Mukunda is Yogananda's birth name

                                              After Mukunda's graduation from high school, and after he'd met his Guru Sri Yukteshwar, his father has brought him a motorcycle with sidecar.  Mukunda enjoyed his new toy, a symbol of his approaching manhood.  Sometimes his Guru would ride with him in the sidecar.  As they went bouncing through the streets, laughing merrily, the breeze would blow their clothing, flapping it about their bodies as if with kindred enthusiasm.  For a time, Mukunda was known, jokingly, as "the motorcycle swami".

                                               Mukunda was indeed pleased with his new acquisition.  It was easily the nicest present he had ever received.  He never entertained the thought, however, of being attached to it.

                                              One day he parked his motorcycle on the streets in front of his father's home, and went indoors.  Later, as he was leaving the house, he saw a casual acquaintance gazing at the vehicle admiringly.

                                               "Isn't it beautiful?" exclaimed Mukunda.

                                               "Oh yes." replied the other warmly.  A note of longing entered his voice as he added, "If only I could have one like it!"

                                                "But you can" Mukunda replied instantly.  "Take it. Its yours".

                                                "I--I--What do you mean?" his acquaintance faltered.  Then thoughtfully, "How much are you asking for it?"

                                                "I wouldn't take anything for it," Mukunda replied with a smile. "I'm giving it to you."

                                                The other was incredulous.  "But--but you just can't give away something so valuable!"

                                               

"Ofcourse I can!  And I will. Seriously,"  Mukunda insisted, "I want you to have it.  I couldn't enjoy it anymore, knowing that you'd like to have it. I'll be very pleased if you accept it."  He added, "Just wait a minute.  I'll get you the bill of ownership."  He reentered the house and returned later with that important piece of paper.

                                                 The other could barely stammer his gratitude.  His eyes, however, bore eloquently testimony to his feelings.

                                                Mukunda felt divinely contented.  "I own nothing, beloved Divine Mother," he thought happily.  "The things I use are Thine, not mine.  I return joyfully to Thee, their rightful owner, whenever I see Thee wanting them through others."

Excerpt from "Paramhansa Yogananda - The Biography" by Swami Kriyananda.

Yogananda at his humourous best :P

Swami Kriyananda narrates Doctor Lewis experiences of being with Yogananda

                           "The Master," Doctor told us, "asked me to join him one morning in practicing the energization exercises on the hotel porch in San francisco."  Doctor chuckled.  "I nearly died of embarrasment! But what good reason can there be, after all, to feel embarrassed about doing a good thing?  My self-conciousness had no worthier basis than the fact that our exercises aren't known to most people!  Master decided to cure me of this false notion.

                            "As we were exercising, a policeman walked by on his beat.  Master, affecting a guilty conscience, stepped hastily behind a pillar, and continued to exercise there.  The policeman glanced at us suspiciously.  I was praying for a miracle that would dematerialize me on the spot!  But master went right on exercising as if nothing as happened.

                          "Minutes later, the policeman returned.  Again master ducked behind the pillar.  This time the policeman, his suspicions thoroughly aroused, came over to us.

                          "Whats going on here" he demanded.  He probably suspected us of being two crooks planning a crime.

                          "Oh nothing, Officer!"  Master assured him with an exaggerated air of innocence. "Nothing at all.  We're just exercising. See?"  To demonstrate his utter sincerity. he repeated a few movements, then smiled as if in hope of a reprieve.

                          "Well," muttered the officer, "see that you don't get into trouble."  With massive dignity he moved on.  By this time I was shaking so hard with suppressed laughter that my embarrasment was forgotten completely."

Excerpt from "Paramhansa Yogananda - A Biography"

Swami Kriyananda talks on the dangers of disciples, who takes the Guru for granted because of physical closeness and talks of significance of Attunement to the Guru

Paramhansa Yogananda & his disciple Kriyananda

Swami Kriyananda relates his own experience of being with his Guru Paramhansa Yogananda :-

                                      In fact, I found that in his (Paramhansa Yogananda) later years he spoke of truth in all its vastness and subtelety, and much more impersonally than had been in his earlier years.  Those disciples who had come to him many years before were not prepared for this new, and more impersonally wise, divine master.

                                      The fact is, his early years were spent in trying to reach a large audience, and to uplift them with general spiritual teachings.  In his last years, he turned from mass upliftment to training individual disciples in the higher teachings of the spiritual path.  In his earlier years, he had presented himself in such a way as to give people the impression that what he had accomplished, they could accomplish easily.  He belittled himself, in order to make it easier for others to identify with him.  During his last years, however, he challenged his disciples to meet him on his own actual, exalted level in infinity. 

                                        Disciples who had been with him for many years tended to treat "youngsters" like me with a certain condescension, saying, "You weren't close to him, for many years, as we were."  What they didn't realize was the physical closeness to the Guru could also draw a bandage over the eyes, blinding the person to his inner greatness.  Therefore the great master Sri Ramakrishna said, "One who is enlightened is like an oil lamp which casts its rays at a distance, but creates a shadow directly underneath it."

                                       Since the true Guru is not that which appears outwardly, but his inner overreaching spirit, it can easily, and often does, happen that those who come to him early in his life actually develop less of an awareness of who he truly is than those who come nearer the end.  Ramakrishna's closest disciples were those who came towards the end of his life.

                                     A master often has his own mission to fulfill before he can assume the role of training disciples.  Therefore, again (as i said), those who came to him early may see him more naturally in terms of that outer role.  In our Guru's case, he did train certain disciples from the beginning, but he showed himself to them much more from a level of human personality.

                                    One difference I noted in him between when he was with us and when he was with the public was that, when he was with his disciples, he spoke more about Attunement with the Guru than even about personal spiritual practices like Kriya Yoga.  In the first chapter of the Gospel of St.John it is stated, "As many has received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God."  By "received him" much more was meant than mere belief in Jesus Christ.  "Received Him" meant deep inner attunement with t he Saviour's conciousness.

                                  It is not possible for the ego to rise out of ego-conciousness by self-effort alone.  Every struggle to do so only twists around to affirm that lesser conciousness yet again.  Only by Attunement with a True Guru, who has himself transcended ego altogether, can one understand what it means to see things no longer with a personal bias.  Without a Guru, it is impossible for techniques by themselves to raise one out of this final, and most fundamental, delusion; that we are each a separate reality, distinct and separate from all others.

                                  Indeed, yoga techniques alone cannot ensure that anyone finds God.  As the Master said of Jean Haupt, a male disciple who had practiced endless kriyas, but than had left the path, "He was like a merchant: I've done so many kriyas. Now, Lord, you must give me so much realization."  The spiritual path is not like that.  One cannot buy God!".

                                 I understand now, that every kriya should be an act of devotional self-offering.  For everything comes, in the end, by God's grace.  Grace is like sunlight on side of the building.  If the curtain of one room is kept closed, grace will not be able to enter there.  Human effort is necessary, but that effort must be in cooperation with God's will.  Such effort is indeed necessary, as a means of removing any and every ego-created obstacle to the sunlight of God's grace.  Beyond that point, however, self-effort will only strengten the ego.  This is where yoga comes in, but it must be performed with the attitude of aligning ones' egoic will with that God's will; it must not strenglten the ego.  Grace flows most powerfully in the inner presence of, and even more importantly through inner Attunement with, one's Guru.  As the sciptures of India state, "One moment in the company of a (true) Saint will be your raft over the ocean of delusion."

                               The master told us the story of Draupadi, wife of Arjuna.  Krishna once said to her, "Why don't you practice the yoga techniques?"
                                 "I would like to, Master," she replied, "but how can i, when i am unable to take my mind away from you long enough to practice them?"
                                "Krishna then," Yogananda told us, "only smiled".

Can one meditate, while watching T.V? Robert Adams

Do not believe that if you're watching TV or watching a movie you cannot meditate or practice Self-Inquiry.
You will be amazed that as you're watching the movie you can keep inquiring,
"To whom does this come?
Who am I?"
Or you can become aware that you are like the screen in the movie.
You cannot see the screen, you see the images on the screen.
Yet the images are not real.
If you try to grab them, you grab the screen.
Just contemplating this helps.
And then you realize that you are like the screen, that is your real nature, and all the images in the universe are superimposed upon you, just as the images of the movie are superimposed on the screen.

99 Sadhana, Satsang and Transcripts - October 3, 1991

Parijat - Hearts Awakening -Sri Anandamayi Ma

The Science Behind Sanatan Dharma - Sadhguru

Sadhguru spiritual-experiences

Paramahansa Yogananda on the Christian theory of "Man is the Sinner".

As narrated by Swami Kriyananda :

In Los Angeles, Yogananda once went to a revival meeting.  A women was leading it.  During her haruenge she shouted: "God has no use for sinners! In his eyes they are an abomination."

Voices were raised everywhere in fervent response: "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Right on, Sister!"

"Unless you accept Jesus Christ, and live for his glory, you will end up in hell!".
Again the responses with few variations.

The women continued: "Man is naturally sinful. He can be redeemed only by faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ!."
Once more the congregation intoned heartfelt replies.
"You are all sinners! Get down on your knees!"

                                            In all that crowd, only Yogananda remained standing. Later, he commented, "I wouldn't accept her statement that I was a sinner! Nobody should ever say that. To call yourself a sinner is the greatest of all sins before God!  Don't identify yourself with your mistakes.  When you know God, you will become aware of His Presence everywhere.  And than you will never judge anyone."

                                            On another occasion, in the Pacific Northwest, he stopped at a farmhouse hoping to buy some cherries, and got into a discussion on religion with the farmer.  At a certain point this man, who proved to be a religious fanatic, shouted, "We are all sinners!-doomed to eternity in hell!"

                                             The Master paused a moment before replying.  Then he asked, as if irrelevantly, "You have a son, haven't you?"
The answered dolefully, "Yes. I have a son."
"He gives you trouble, doesn't he?"
"Oh, my God, what trouble!"
"He drinks, I think?"
"Like a whale! You can't imagine the grief I go through on his account."
Yogananda than announced confidently, "I have a cure for his problem."
"Oh, sir, if you can help me with that, I'll be grateful to you forever!"
"Well, here's what you do: The next time he comes home late at night, drunk........." He interrupted himself.
"Have you a large oven?"
The man glared suspiciously. "Say," he demanded, "what have you got in mind?"
"No, no, just wait."  Yogananda spoke reassuringly. "I'm offering you a solution to your problem."
Hesitantly the man replied, "Yes, i have such an oven."
"Has it a large door?"
Suddenly again apprehensive, the man cried, "Just a minute! Where is this all heading?"
The master spoke soothingly. "Just be calm. I'm going to solve everything for you."
The other sat back, relaxing slightly.
"Now then, here's what you do: The next time your son comes home drunk......well, first have the oven good and hot......"
The man sat up again, horrified.
Yogananda was now speaking hurriedly: "Grab him; tie him up with a strong rope, and shove him into the oven!"

Furiously indignant, the man shouted, "Blasphemer! Evildoer! Whoever heard of a father throwing his own son into an oven! Get out of my house this minute!"

                             Yogananda than spoke appeasingly. "Don't you understand what I've just said to you? You said God wants to throw us all into hell.  But He is our true Father!  You, a mere human being, were horrified at the thought of throwing your own son into an oven despite all the trouble he's given you.  Can you seriously believe that Godm who is Perfection Itself, has less love for you than you have for your own son?"

                              From panting fury the man grew gradually calm. "I see now?" he said.  He reflected a moment. "Yes, you are right."  He looked at his visitor with a grateful smile.  "Oh, thank you! You've cured me of a serious error. God is Love.  He can't wish our destruction! Thank you! Thank you!"

Excerpt from the book "The biography - Paramahansa Yogananda" by Swami Kriyananda

Meera's Husband - An example of One's inner life is often best kept a secret from others

As narrated by Swami Kriyananda :-

One's inner life is often best kept a secret from others.  Yogananda told us the story of Meera, a queen who lived several centuries ago in India.  She herself was a bhakta (one who follows the path of devotion), and many devotees would gather around her for blissful sankirtans (group singing to God).  Her one grief in life was that her own husband never spoke of God.

                  He, meanwhile, was actually an even greater lover of God than she.  But he had promised the Lord, "If anyone ever discovers my secret, i will leave this body, for i will feel that my devotion has been besmirched."

                   One night, lying beside him in bed, Meera awoke to hear him crying quietly, "Oh, my Beloved, how can i live without seeing You! This world of maya(delusion) means nothing to me! Help me to know you! Help me to merge in You!

                    The next morning, with radiant face, she cried to him, "Aha, i have discovered your secret!."

                    "Don't say it", he cried. "Please don't say it."
                    "Oh yes. I know now how much you love God."
                    "I am sorry you told me that. Now, i shall leave you, for i promised God that i would no longer keep this body if anyone ever discovered the precious secret i have been keeping."

                     He sat on the floor in lotus pose, and forthwith left his body.

Excerpts from the book "Paramhansa Yogananda - A biography" by Swami Kriyananda.

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SURRENDERING TO MASTER IS SURRENDERING TO VISIBLE GOD....

The disciple is ready. In fact to say that he is ready to die is something less than the truth. The disciple has already died into the master; it is not going to happen in the future, it has already happened. It has happened the day the disciple accepted the master as his master: since then he has been no more, only the master lives in him.

Slowly slowly, the presence of the master overfloods the disciple. And the presence of the master is not really the presence of the master himself: the master is overflooded with God. The master is only a vehicle, a passage, a messenger; it is God flowing through the master. When the disciple surrenders to the master totally he is really surrendering to God in the guise of the master. God he cannot see yet, but the master he can see, and in the master he can see something godly. The master becomes the first proof of God to him. Surrendering to the master is surrendering to the visible God.

And, slowly slowly, as the surrender deepens, the visible disappears into the invisible. The master disappears. When the disciple reaches into the innermost heart of the 
master, he does not find the master there but God himself, life itself -- indefinable, inexpressible.

What is a Siddhi ? - Satsang With Sadhguru

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Silence

"Observe some rule of silence. Outer silence is not to talk with your mouth. Inner silence is not to talk with the mind. It is in the silence of body, mind, and senses that you will hear GOD speak."

Sri Gyanamata, "God Alone"