Yogananda: teachings, writings, and poetry
Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952) is one of the preeminent spiritual figures and yoga masters of the 20th century. He wrote the spiritual classic "Autobiography of a Yogi" and, famously, brought the teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation to the west - living in America for most of his adult life. He described the Kriya teachings as "the airplane route to enlightenment."
Yogananda wrote many books on spirituality, including God Talks to Arjuna, a 1173- page exposition of the Bhagavad Gita, and The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You, a Revelatory Commentary on the Original Teachings of Jesus - a 1500-page analysis of the four gospels of the bible. His Whispers from Eternity is a book of Universal Prayers and Poetry, dedicated to "Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Hebrews, Hindus and all other religionists, . . . In whom the Cosmic Heart is ever throbbing equally." His poetry, for example in Songs of the Soul ranks with the finest and, is divinely inspired.
Yogananda wrote many books on spirituality, including God Talks to Arjuna, a 1173- page exposition of the Bhagavad Gita, and The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You, a Revelatory Commentary on the Original Teachings of Jesus - a 1500-page analysis of the four gospels of the bible. His Whispers from Eternity is a book of Universal Prayers and Poetry, dedicated to "Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Hebrews, Hindus and all other religionists, . . . In whom the Cosmic Heart is ever throbbing equally." His poetry, for example in Songs of the Soul ranks with the finest and, is divinely inspired.
Here is one example of Yogananda's poetry; I was made for Thee alone. Read it through a few times and see what you make of it. Then have a look at the notes I've added below. They are only some of my personal thoughts and should not be taken as THE right understanding. I encourage you to go deeper yourself to reveal your own deeper understanding.
I was made for Thee alone
I was made for Thee alone.
I was made for dropping flowers of devotion gently at Thy feet on the altar of the morning.
My hands were made to serve Thee willingly,
to remain folded in adoration, waiting for Thy coming;
and, when Thou comest, to bathe Thy feet with my tears.
My voice was made to sing Thy glory.
My feet were made to seek Thy temples everywhere.
My eyes were made a chalice to hold Thy burning love
and the wisdom falling from Thy nature’s hands.
My ears were made to catch the music of Thy footsteps
echoing through the halls of space,
and to hear Thy divine melodies
flowing through all heart-tracts of devotion.
My lips were made to breathe forth Thy praises
and Thine intoxicating inspirations.
My love was made to throw incandescent search-light flames
to find Thee hidden in the forest of my desires.
My heart was made to respond to Thy call alone.
My soul was made to be the channel through which
Thy love might flow, uninterruptedly, into all thirsty souls.
I was made for dropping flowers of devotion gently at Thy feet on the altar of the morning.
My hands were made to serve Thee willingly,
to remain folded in adoration, waiting for Thy coming;
and, when Thou comest, to bathe Thy feet with my tears.
My voice was made to sing Thy glory.
My feet were made to seek Thy temples everywhere.
My eyes were made a chalice to hold Thy burning love
and the wisdom falling from Thy nature’s hands.
My ears were made to catch the music of Thy footsteps
echoing through the halls of space,
and to hear Thy divine melodies
flowing through all heart-tracts of devotion.
My lips were made to breathe forth Thy praises
and Thine intoxicating inspirations.
My love was made to throw incandescent search-light flames
to find Thee hidden in the forest of my desires.
My heart was made to respond to Thy call alone.
My soul was made to be the channel through which
Thy love might flow, uninterruptedly, into all thirsty souls.
Stan's notes
1. The repeated phrases - I was made for / My hands were made / My voice was made/ My feet were made to/ My heart was made etc'' - is like the steady heartbeat of the poem. By the end of the poem we realise that everything we have and everything we are, belongs to Him -the unnamed divine "Thee".
2. I love the exquisite imagery which often reflect spiritual worship. But not necessarily church worship. The altar is not in a church -it is the altar of the morning.
The eyes are a chalice -but not to hold the wine of the eucharist, but to hold "Thy burning Love". In this poem and many others by Yogananda, there is an abundance of imagery and metaphor.
3. "My love was made to throw incandescent search-light flames to find Thee hidden in the forest of my desires." Isn't this the most beautiful metaphor for the yogic path - or for any spiritual path? Isn't it through loving God that we can overcome our desires and attachments? But it's not your average idea of love is it? It's not just a flame; the love is "incandescent" (dictionary : ardent; intense; brilliant); and it's a "searchlight" which can ultimately light our way through the forest of our desires and attachments.... to find God....
4. "My soul was made to be the channel through which
Thy love might flow, uninterruptedly, into all thirsty souls."
Why did Yogananda use the word "uninterruptedly"? Without it we are presented with two lines of one and two syllables consisting predominantly of long vowels. All very smooth and flowing. If you read the lines aloud without "uninterruptedly" you'll see what I mean. Then read the lines with the word "uninterruptedly". I hear it as a clunky 6-syllable word which interrupts the flow. I like to imagine Yogananda smiling as he writes that word, knowing full well that it breaks the rhythm and flow of those two lines - and thus emphasises the continuous nature of the Love which Yogananda (and God) wishes us to be in the world.
As in poetry, so in Life. Find your own meaning
There's a lot more in this poem. It's worth reading and rereading. Meditate on the words and see what revelations come to you. Do the same with other writings. Be empowered. Discover what writings mean to you personally.
There's a lot more in this poem. It's worth reading and rereading. Meditate on the words and see what revelations come to you. Do the same with other writings. Be empowered. Discover what writings mean to you personally.
You can find out more about Paramhansa Yogananda at www.ananda.org
or Ananda UK on Facebook
or Ananda UK on Facebook
Security in an Uncertain World (extracts from Where There is Light)
Whenever the world's vibratory balance of good and evil is disturbed by an accumulation of harmful vibrations, the result of man's wrong thinking and wrong doing, you will see devastation...
***
The one thing that will help to eliminate world suffering - more than money, houses or any other material aid - is to meditate and transmit to others the divine consciousness of God that we feel..... Every day radiate His consciousness to others. Try to understand God's plan for mankind - to draw all souls back to Himself - and work in harmony with His will.
***
The one thing that will help to eliminate world suffering - more than money, houses or any other material aid - is to meditate and transmit to others the divine consciousness of God that we feel..... Every day radiate His consciousness to others. Try to understand God's plan for mankind - to draw all souls back to Himself - and work in harmony with His will.