Yogananda on how God responds to prayer.

To utter "God" with devotion, and increase the concentration and devotion with each repetition of His name, is to plunge the mind deeper and deeper in the ocean of His presence until one reaches fathomless depths of divine peace and ecstatic joy, the sure proof that one's prayers have touched God.

When we are hit with difficulties we react upon our environment first, making whatever material adjustments we believe may help. But when we come to the point of saying, "Everything I have tried so far has failed; what to do next?" we start to think hard about a solution. When we think deeply enough, we find an answer within. This is one form of answered prayer.

Remember, greater than a million reasonings of the mind is to sit and meditate upon God until you feel calmness within. Then say to the Lord, "I can't solve my problem alone, even if I thought a zillion different thoughts; but I can solve it by placing it in your hands, asking first for your guidance, and then following through by thinking out the various angles for a possible solution." God does help those who help themselves. When your mind is calm and filled with faith after praying to God in meditation, you are able to see various answers to your problems; and because your mind is calm, you are capable of picking out the best solution. Follow that solution, and you will meet with success. This is applying the science of religion in your daily life.

Non Dual Wisdom

Our initial goal should be enlightenment or Self Realization

We can attain to higher states of consciousness, or enlightenment through practicing sadhana or spiritual disciplines; here we can refer to the various yogas, Kriya, Rajas, Karma, Bhakti and Jnana yoga. We can practice the yogas which best suite our temperament and in accordance with the circumstances in which we find ourselves at any given time. These practices are of value to the studious, the reflective, the active and the devotional. They cover a wide range of practices.

Kriya Yoga entails the practice of all the yogas with a special emphasis on sushumna breathing.The Sanskrit word kriya means "action." Yoga can mean the practices used to facilitate overall well-being and spiritual growth, or oneness-consciousness: the final result of practice. In Patanjali's yoga-sutras, a two thousand year old treatise on super-conscious meditation, kriya yoga is defined as discipline of mental and sensory impulses, self analysis, profound study of metaphysics (higher realities), meditation, and surrender of ordinary self-consciousness (egoism) in favor of God-realization.

Kriya yoga is a concentrated approach to Self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment.

Rajas Yoga, Often called the "royal road" it offers a comprehensive method for controlling the waves of thought by turning our mental and physical energy into spiritual energy. Raja Yoga is also called Ashtanga Yoga referring to the eight limbs leading to absolute mental control.

1. Yamas: The Yamas or restraints (Don'ts) are divided into five moral injunctions, aimed at destroying the lower nature. They should all be practiced in word, thought and deed.

Non-violence

Truthfulness

Moderation in all things (control of all senses), it also refers to celibacy

Non-stealing

Non-covetousness

2. Niyamas: The Niyamas or observances (Do's) are also divided into five and complete the ethical precepts started with the Yama. These qualities are:

Purity - this internal and external cleanliness.

Contentment

Austerity

Study of the sacred texts

Constantly living with an awareness of the divine Presence (surrender to God's Will)

3. Asanas - Postures

4. Pranayama - regulation or control of the breath. Asanas and Pranayama form the sub-division of Raja Yoga known as Hatha-Yoga

5. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses in order to still the mind.

6. Dharana - concentration. The last 3 steps constitute the internal practice of Raja Yoga. When Dharana is achieved, it leads to the next step:

7. Dhyana - meditation is that state of pure thought and absorption in the object of meditation. There is still duality in Dhyana. When mastered Dhyana leads to the last step:

8. Samadhi - the super-conscious state. In Samadhi non-duality or oneness is experienced. This is the deepest and highest state of consciousness where body and mind have been transcended and the Yogi is one with the Self or God.

Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Action. It is the path chosen primarily by those of an outgoing nature. It purifies the heart by teaching us to act selflessly, without thought of gain or reward. By detaching ourselves from the fruits of our actions and offering them up to God, we learn to sublimate the ego. To achieve this, it is helpful to keep our mind focused by repeating a mantra while engaged in any activity.

Principles of Karma Yoga

"Karma Yoga is the selfless devotion of all inner as well as the outer activities as a Sacrifice to the Lord of all works, offered to the eternal as Master of all the soul's energies and austerities. (Bhagavad Gita)".

It's not what we do that counts, it's the attitude while doing it that determines if a job is a karma yoga job, i.e. a liberating job, or a binding job. Work is worship by surrendering our activities.

Right Motive

We need to perform our activities with the right attitude. It is not what we do that counts but our real motive behind it. Our motive must be pure. Humans generally plan to get the fruits of his works before they starts any kind of work. The mind is so framed that it cannot think of any kind of work without remuneration or reward. A selfish person cannot do any service. He will weigh the work and the money in a balance. Selfless Service is unknown to him.

Our Duty

Often "duty" in yoga is referred to as "righteous action". We will incur demerit if we shun our duty. Our duty is towards God, or Self, or the Inner Teacher who teaches us through all the specific circumstances of our life as they appear.

We need to do our best

Whatever we have to do, we have to do our best. If we know of a better way to serve, we must use it. We must not hold back because of fear of effort or because of fear of criticism. We should not work in a sloppy manner just because no one is watching or because we feel the work is not for us.

Give up Results

God is the doer. We are not the doer. We are only the instrument. We do not know God's intentions or God's plans. God is the actor. The Self never acts. It is the 3 Gunas or qualities of nature which are playing their role.

The way to realize this truth is to constantly work for work's sake and let go of the results, good or bad. It is the desire for action that binds us. It is the detachment from action that will dissolve the karmic seeds.

Detachment from results also means detachment from the type of job itself. There is no job that is inferior or superior to a different job. We cannot be attached to our job. We also need to be ready to give up our job if necessary.

Serve God or the Self in All

Do to onto others what you would like them to be done to you. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Adapt, adjust, accommodate. Bear insult, bear injury. Recognize the Unity in Diversity. We are all one in Spirit. Practice humility in action. Beware of power, fame, name, praise, censure.

Follow the Discipline of the Job

Each job is a teacher of some sort. We can learn different skills by doing different jobs. Each job has different requirements in terms of time, degree of concentration, skills or experience, emotional input, physical energy, will. We need to try whatever job we are doing, well.

Bhakti Yoga

This path appeals particularly to those of an emotional nature. The Bhakti Yogi is motivated chiefly by the power of love and sees God as the embodiment of love. Through prayer, worship and ritual he surrenders himself to God, channeling and transmuting his emotions into unconditional love or devotion. Chanting or singing the praises of God form a substantial part of Bhakti Yoga.

Jnana Yoga

This is the most difficult path, requiring strength of will and intellect. Taking the philosophy of Vedanta the Jnana Yogi uses his mind to inquire into its own nature. He asks the question, who am I. Ordinarily we perceive the space inside and outside a glass as different, just as we see ourselves as separate from God.

Jnana Yoga leads the devotee to experience his unity with God directly by breaking the glass, dissolving the veils of ignorance. Before practicing Jnana Yoga, the aspirant needs to have integrated the lessons of the other yogic paths, for without selflessness and love of God, strength of body and mind, the search for self-realization can become mere idle speculation.

Vedanta

Vedanta is that philosophy which comes from the sacred scriptures called The Upanishads. The Upanishads are the final part of the ancient texts known as the Vedas.

Veda means knowledge and Anta means end. Therefore Vedanta is said to be the philosophy which leads to the end of knowledge and also from the ending part of the Vedas.

Shankara summarized the essence of Vedantic teachings into three concise sentences. These are:

God only is real. The world is unreal. The individual is none other than God.

Vedanta and Jnana Yoga

The beauty of Vedanta is that it transcends dry philosophy and mere intellectual concept. Vedanta is an actual life experience, a philosophy in practice. This practice includes the Yoga of will and intellect.

Non Duality

Jnana or the wisdom path emphasizes the distinction between essential and non essential practices. It requires the ability to discern between what is true and what is untruth. It goes beyond morals and ethics; it includes people who are aspiring to monastic life and those of leaning toward higher precepts on the spiritual path.

None duality cannot be taught, it can only be pointed to and needs to be experienced.

In contemplation we may know the concept of the ocean, but to know the ocean, until we need to experience the oneness with water. That is, we need to experience the essence that underlies the appearance.

Contemplating AUM

AUM in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word signifies the process of creation. It is the sound out of which everything appears and to which everything returns.

In the intelligent creative Cosmic vibration that went forth from the cosmic consciousness of God were His first two expressions in manifested creation: sound, the holy Aum and light. 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And God said, Let there be light Genesis 1:1, 3".

All things seen on the screen of the universe are different currents of the cosmos light and the shadows or darkness of delusion.

The light shines within the darkness of cosmic delusion, but man the perceiver suffers from two blinding aspects: the limitation of the senses, or individual delusive ignorance and the cosmic delusion.

AUM in yoga signifies Creation, Preservation and Dissolution or Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

The mantra is Om Namah Shivaya, "I bow to Lord Shiva."

Shiva, though considered as destroyer (of ignorance), also symbolizes the inner Self which remains intact even after everything ends.

Creation, Preservation and Dissolution or the cycle of life can equally be call projection, sustenance and withdrawal. As human beings we come into existence, remain for some time and then depart. Life, death can be seen as nothing more than a coming and going or form and formless. One of the issues we struggle with is the idea of formlessness because we are so used to form and cling to it, yet we speak of love, of being, of wisdom all of which is formless and yet are a part of us.

We know that when we leave our body, we leave the material form. What remains are the subtle and the causal body which are without form, yet they are eternal.

When we look at Samkhya and the 24 principles of creation, we learn the Soul or the Self is the only part that is sentient and the rest serves the soul to express. The closest properties to the soul are the intellect and the will.

Here is the big question we need to solve. What is the difference between soul and spirit?

The difference between soul and Spirit is this: The Spirit is ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new omnipresent Joy; the soul is the individualized reflection of ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new Joy, confined within the body of each and every being.Souls are co-existing with Spirit and of the same essence, just as the sun and its rays are one.

"So long as the soul of man is encased in one, two, or the three bodies, sealed tightly with ignorance and desires, he cannot merge into Spirit. When the gross physical body is destroyed by death, the other two coverings, the astral and causal still remain to prevent the soul from consciously joining the Omnipresent Life. When desirelessness is attained through wisdom, its power disintegrates the two remaining vessels and the tiny human soul emerges, free at last. Paramahansa Yogananda.”

It is through wisdom and non desire and attachment to the physical that the soul becomes free.

Looking back on our discussion of the Koshas or Sheaths, the most outer form is the body, next comes energy, then mind followed by intellect to the Bliss state. Many of us look not much past the anamaya kosha, or the food sheath.

Ideally we want to become liberated or awaken to our true nature in this life time, that is, be a Jivanmukta or a liberated soul.

We need to learn to take a distance from the Physical Body and embrace the formless, the inner life of energy, mind and intellect (Astral Body) which survive form.

We experience formlessness now as being; as the I Am in meditation and the transcendent state of formlessness in Samadhi or Super Consciousness. (The Father and I are One, where has the world gone?)

Many believe that we go into formlessness at death and have reached heaven, but these are only the lower levels of the astral realm into which the departed go and from which the departed reappear.

We also experience the formless state every day when we go to sleep and back to form when we wake up from sleep. However we pay little attention to conscious sleep. All we care about is that we slept well.

When we are fully awakened we realize that life as we know it is nothing other than the dream of God

We will also realize that death and birth are just words. The soul manifests itself out of the unmanifest realm and it returns again to the unmanifest realm after it drops the body. It is never really born, nor does it die.

When we realize this, loose all fear, loose all doubt. We learn that when we are in form, we are in a manifested state and when we are out of form, we in an unmanifested state.

Once we know this, we are free to manifest Christ or God Realization as we go from the individual to the indivisible. As realized souls we can move in and out of form at will. Masters associate with form, but do not identify with it they are fully aware while living in a body, they are jivanmuktas.

What also will remind us of our formless nature is intelligence. We cannot see it, but it is as close to formlessness as we can go, without going into the transcendent state. It is also intelligence that perceives the light of the soul and can project it creatively unto form.

Artists and creative people do this either consciously or unconsciously. They do know however, that inspiration manifest from within their own consciousness.

Our greatest dilemma arises when we think that we are the body. The best way to realize that we are not the body is to question. Who am I, what is my real nature? It is that which is changeless.

Then we proceed with what we are not, I am not the body because the body changes, I am not the breath, not the mind, not the intellect, I am part of the source from which I came, I am eternal Spirit. “So Hum (I am He, Hum Sa, He I Am, the Father and I are One as Jesus had proclaimed).

A look at Karma

From the very beginning, humanity has been faced with the problem of death and has, therefore, pondered over the mystery of life and death. According to the yoga teachings, we are born to work out our karma. As we sow, so do we reap.

Karma binds us, but it can also set us free. Karma is bondage, as long as we cling to the transient world of the senses. Once we turn to the infinite, karma will set us free.

When we observe the world around us, we find that some people are born rich, healthy and intelligent while others are born poor, ignorant and even diseased. The Rishies ponder over this apparent injustice and questioned the existence of an all-merciful benevolent God.

But it is absurd to blame God for our self-inflicted miseries and unhappiness. Few of us follow the teachings of scriptures in thought, word and deed?

We ourselves become the cause of miseries, when we violate the laws of God. God merely looks on, letting His laws measure out justice. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:"As the Lord, I am equally present in all beings; there is none neither hateful nor dear to me."

God remains detached in all beings as the Atman. Having given human beings free will, He lets us write our own destiny. We do so and become bound by the chain of karma, which we slowly and painfully have to work out from birth to birth.

If there was no prior birth and if every effect has a cause behind it, then what is the cause behind the person who is born physically handicapped or mentally challenged? It is the past actions of our prior birth that makes us what we are and what we do.

Biologists propose the theory of heredity and claim that it satisfactorily explains human existence. If heredity is all there is, how can one account for the fact that the offspring of the same parents exhibit such a marked difference in temperament, character, intelligence etc.? Similarly, the children of the same parents brought up in the same environment do not possess identical personalities.

Some attribute the birth of a genius or mentally challenged to chance or accident of birth´. But there is no such thing as change in the universe. Everything in the universe is well regulated and follows laws. There is nothing accidental in this world. We see this all around us. Is it just change that makes the apple fall to the ground? Ignorance of a fact does not mean that it does not happen. According to the teachings of yoga, it is the law of karma that explains why each individual is what he or she is.

Nothing happens without a cause. Effect and cause correspond to each other. Neither heredity nor environment, nor even their interaction, can fully explain the facts of life. A physical process can produce only a physical effect, nothing more.

Only when a person understands what he is and why he is what he is, can he change his life and destiny. By knowing his karma, he can master it.

Karma means action, both physical and mental. Every action leaves its impression in the subconscious mind and has either a positive or negative effect on the life of a person. The impressions of the actions of past lives are stored in the super consciousness and germinate under a suitable environment. These constitute one’s inner environment, which along with the outer environment governs person´s actions.

Karma is divided into three categories:

Karma of our past lives that has not yet come into expression, karmas of our past lives that determines our present life and karma we are accumulating in this life that will manifest in the future.

Once a person loses his ego and ceases to identify himself with his action, to that person, actions will no longer be binding. Thus, the solution is not inertia but detachment and ultimately realizing who the doer is. 

The life of a Kriya Yogi is not guided by past actions, but by the direction of his inner Self.

Brahman/Ishvara

It is extremely difficult for many people to grasp the unity in diversity and the diversity in unity. This is especially seen in the idea of the Trinity, which is to be found in some form in just about every religion.

When reading the different Christian interpretations about the Trinity, we come to the conclusion, that there exists a lot of confusion and every time theologians attempt to make the idea clearer, it becomes even more obscured.

For some reason, theologians find it difficult to get the idea of a single absolute unity that manifests in a threefold manner. One problem is their insistence that there are three “persons” in the Godhead. They seem to resent the suggestion that the Three are really three aspects or manifestations of the Divine, or three ways in which the Absolute relates to relative existence and all sentient beings that are evolving within the cosmos.

In ancient India the sages clearly understood and expressed the truth that God is Om Tat Sat: divine creative intelligent energy, divine guiding intelligence within that energy, and primal intelligence that include those two.

"Tat" means ‘that’; it also refers to God only.

"Sat" means ‘truth’ & God is truth which is everlasting and unchanging.

So "Om Tat Sat" means; what is everlasting and unchanging is God, who is infinite Existence - Consciousness Bliss is denoted by Om. Within Om is everything. Om contains all. Om is all, Om is present everywhere, like light.

The Bible which refers to "Om" as "Word":

 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." which can be expressed "In the beginning was the Om, and the Om was with God, and the Om was God."

In Christianity Trinity is referred to as, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which corresponds to the above Sat, Tat, Om. Father corresponds to Sat, Son, corresponds to Tat and Holy Spirit corresponds to Om.

This threefold nature of God is beautifully related in his book "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Sat or Father aspect of God is one who lives beyond this vibratory creation of ours.

"Tat" or "Son or Christ Consciousness" aspect of God is one who lives within this vibratory creation and is present

everywhere within space or vibratory creation and is called omnipresent God.

The Om or Holy Ghost aspect of God is the witness of this Tat or Son or Christ Consciousness aspect of God.

This Om is the invisible divine power, the only doer, the sole causative and activating force that upholds all creation through vibration. Om, the Word is the creative vibration that externalizes all creation.

Brahman as Ishvara in Yoga

The One Absolute, Impersonal Existence, together with his inscrutable Maya, appears as the divine Lord Ishvara or the personal God. By his divine power he holds dominion over all the worlds. At the periods of creation and dissolution of the universe, he alone exists.

Brahman always exists and Brahman is always one, never two. But Brahman can appear as many, Together with his inscrutable Maya. It is through Maya, the creative power of Brahman, that Brahman appears as many. Maya is as incomprehensible to the limited human mind as Brahman Itself, for Maya is Brahman, otherwise it could not exist.

When we get the seeming duality of Brahman and Maya we immediately get the appearance of Brahman as Ishvara, the Lord, and the personal God.

Brahman is without any qualities or traits, but Ishvara possessing innumerable qualities. So although we cannot conceive of Brahman, we can know Ishvara, even though we cannot comprehend His total being.

Ishvara, as an emanation of Brahman and arises as the first step or first born in creation.

At dissolution of the universes He merges into the bosom of the Father and only Brahman remains.

It is Ishvara who creates, sustains, and dissolves the universes, and this all takes place within Him as His creative thought, the Cosmic Dream.

Ishvara is Consciousness Itself. And in this capacity omniscient and omnipresence, He interacts with all beings. Those who wish, can enter into an intimate relationship and communication with Him, He is father, mother, brother, sister, and friend.

We have presented the triune nature of God in Christian and Yoga terms and explained the Existence of God as transcendent Reality and its first expression, which in Yoga is called Ishvara and trust that it will bring greater clarity to otherwise confusing issues.