CONSCIOUSNESS, INTELLIGENCE, WILL

Do you think that you have an independent existence?

Many mixed thoughts will be crowding into your mind as you read these lines. You will have doubts and eager questionings, as well as a vague fear that may imperceptibly change into a growing hope that this glimmering meaning of the new ideas, which will begin to penetrate the darkness of your intellect, may shine brightly so that you can see clearly the Truth which you instinctively feel is hidden beneath these words.

The message is about the I AM, your real Self, the you that is speaking to your consciousness, in order to fully comprehend its meaning. It is the same I AM which is the Life and Spirit animating all living things in the Universe, from the tiniest atom to the greatest Sun.

This I AM is the Intelligence in you and in your brothers and sisters and is simultaneously the Intelligence which causes everything to live and grow and become that which is destined to be.

If this is the first time you are hearing about this I AM in you or in your brother and sister, this text can be challenging to your mind. However, if you follow these words and observe the instructions, it will soon bring to your consciousness a light that will illumine the deepest recesses of your mind and drive away all the clouds of your human misconceptions, ideas and opinions that currently darken your intellect. So remember the I AM, the real Self of you, the all that you are and know, that which you  are, the personality, is only an illusion, a shadow of your real Self. You have been conditioned to think that you are body and your mind with a soul that leaves you when you die. You are so much more and at the same time nothing if you cling to your personality.

Yet you are the Intelligence that directs the workings of your body, whether this directing is done consciously or unconsciously. When this Intelligence is withdrawn the cells in your body fall apart, your physical body dies and exists no longer as a living organism. Ask yourself, who is this you who directs and controls the activities of your organs, and consequently each cell composing them?

You cannot say it is your human or personal self who does this, for you of yourself cannot control the action of a single organ of your body. It must then be this impersonal I AM of you, which is you, and yet it is not you.

Listen, and become aware that you are Consciousness which is the same in all. All is one Consciousness, Intelligence expressing through form.

Consciousness, Intelligence and Will are wholly Impersonal and are common to everyone.

The I AM is the directing Intelligence of All, the animating Spirit of Life, the Consciousness of all matter, of all Substance.

This real you, this impersonal you, is in all and is one with all. You are in me and are one with me; just as I am in you and in all, and thereby I am expressing my Reality through you and through all.

The Will, which you call your Will, is likewise no more yours personally than is this Consciousness and the Intelligence of your mind and of the cells of your body.

It is but that small portion of My Will, which I permit you to use. As you awaken to the recognition of a certain power or faculty within you and begin consciously to use it, do I allow you utilize that much more of My Infinite Power.

All power and its use is of My Will. Your will and all your powers are only portion of My Will, which I supply to suit your capacity to use it.

Were I to entrust you with the full power of My Will, before you know how consciously and wisely use it, it would utterly annihilate your body.

To test your strength and to show you what the misuse of My Power does to you, I at times allow you to commit a so-called sin or to make a mistake. I even permit you to become inflated with the sense of My presence within you, which will manifests as consciousness of My Power, My Intelligence and My Love. I let you take these and use them for your own personal purposes.

I AM always there to pick you up, after you fall, although you do not know it at the time. First I straightening you out and then I guide you onward again, by pointing out the reason for your fall. Eventually you will become aware, that these powers are occurring in you are the result of My Will, My Intelligence and My Love, and are for the use of My Service, and not at all for your own Personal ends.

Do the cells of your body, the muscles of your arm, think to set themselves up as having a separate will from your will, or a separate intelligence from your intelligence?

No, they know no other intelligence but yours, no will but yours.

After a while it will become clear to you, that you are only one of the cells of My Body, and that your will is not your will, but Mine. You will know, that what consciousness and what intelligence you have are Mine wholly. There is no such a person as you. You personally are only a physical form containing a human brain, which I created for the purpose of expressing through you in matter for a certain purpose which I could best express through the form which is known as you.

All this may be difficult for you to accept, and you may protest very strenuously that it cannot be, that every instinct of your nature rebels against such yielding and subordinating yourself to an unseen and unknown power, however Impersonal or Divine.

Fear not, it is only your personality that rebels. If you continue to follow and study My ways, all will soon be made clear, and I will surely open up to your inner understanding many wonderful Truths that now are impossible for you to comprehend. Your Soul will rejoice and sing glad praises, and you will bless these words for the message that they bring.

So be it

Christmas message 2018

This Christ of Everywhere is sleeping in the breast of Eternity; He loves to take new birth at anytime, anywhere, especially in the warmth of our true affection. Though the Infinite Christ is present in every speck of space as the splendor of ever new wisdom and creative expression, we can never see Him unless He chooses to be seen in the cradle of our unceasing devotion.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

The debate about whether or not Christians should celebrate Christmas has been raging for centuries. There are equally sincere and committed Christians on both sides of the issue, each with multiple reasons why or why not Christmas should be celebrated in Christian homes. But what does the Bible say? Does the Bible give clear direction as to whether Christmas is a holiday to be celebrated by Christians?

First, let’s look at the reasons why some Christians do not celebrate Christmas. One argument against Christmas is that the traditions surrounding the holiday have origins in paganism. Searching for reliable information on this topic is difficult because the origins of many of our traditions are so obscure that sources often contradict one another. Bells, candles, holly, and yuletide/yule decorations are mentioned in the history of pagan worship, but the use of such in one’s home certainly does not indicate a return to paganism. While there are definitely pagan roots to some traditions, there are many more traditions associated with the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of the Savior of the world in Bethlehem. Bells are played to ring out the joyous news, candles are lit to remind us that Christ is the Light of the world (John 1:4-9), a star is placed on the top of a Christmas tree to remember the Star of Bethlehem, and gifts are exchanged to remind us of the gifts of the Magi to Jesus, the greatest gift of God to mankind.

Another argument against Christmas, especially having a Christmas tree, is that the Bible forbids bringing trees into our homes and decorating them. The passage often cited is Jeremiah 10:1-16, but this passage refers to cutting down trees, chiseling the wood to make an idol, and then decorating the idol with silver and gold for the purpose of bowing down before it to worship it (see also Isaiah 44:9-18). The passage in Jeremiah cannot be taken out of its context and used to make a legitimate argument against Christmas trees.

Christians who choose to ignore Christmas point to the fact that the Bible doesn’t give us the date of Christ’s birth, which is certainly true. December 25 may not be even close to the time Jesus was born, and arguments on both sides are legion, some relating to climate in Israel, the practices of shepherds in winter, and the dates of Roman census-taking. None of these points are without a certain amount of conjecture, which brings us back to the fact that the Bible doesn’t tell us when Jesus was born. Some see this as proof positive that God didn’t want us to celebrate the birth, while others see the Bible’s silence on the issue as tacit approval.

Some Christians say that since the world celebrates Christmas—although it is becoming more and more politically correct to refer to it as “the holidays”—Christians should avoid it. But that is the same argument made by false religions that deny Christ altogether, as well as cults such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses who deny His deity. Those Christians who do celebrate Christmas often see the occasion as an opportunity to proclaim Christ as “the reason for the season” among the nations and to those trapped in false religions.

As we have seen, there is no legitimate scriptural reason not to celebrate Christmas. At the same time, there is no biblical mandate to celebrate it, either. In the end, of course, whether or not to celebrate Christmas is a personal decision. Whatever Christians decide to do regarding Christmas, their views should not be used as a club with which to beat down or denigrate those with opposing views, nor should either view be used as a badge of honor inducing pride over celebrating or not celebrating. As in all things, we seek wisdom from Him who gives it liberally to all who ask (James 1:5) and accept one another in Christian love and grace, regardless of our views on Christmas.

The Cosmic Christ

The mystery of Christ is much bigger than Christianity. Christ is not a personality but a Divine Essence. It is a spiritual emanation from Godhead. The Son of God or the Godhead in its creative aspect is that power or principle which begets and animates all manifestation of life. It is the Divine creative force, a great stream of life giving essence which manifests in all things, on all planes as the animating principle of the one life.

The Christ spirit therefore is an animating power of all life, physical, mental and spiritual.

In nature, it is the unquestionable urge toward perfection, which adapts the organism to its environment

Among man it is the urge toward union with God, the effort to bring the Divine in them into harmony with the Divine in the universe. It is this mystic forming verifying principle, the Christ force manifesting in and through Jesus, when he said: “I am the bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” John 6:51 NLT.

"He who eats my flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life”

Such statement could not apply to any human flesh and blood or any personality, but figuratively to that immortal universal principle, which the personality of Jesus embodied. Eternal life cannot be obtained by merely observing or studying spiritual truth, for they must be assimilated (eaten) in one’s total being and be a part of life. Just as physical food must be assimilated by the body and manifest as love, tolerance, charity and purity. In this way we have truly eaten of the body of Christ. Only as the Christ force in us can we have eternal life.

To grow spiritually is not enough to lead ethical, moral and blameless lives. We must also drink of the blood and eat of the flesh of Christ, that is, drink of the spiritual creative power or Divine life force which shall re-create us. This divine life force shall make our lives not only mortal models, but dynamic, radiant centers of the force for good.

 We must distinguish between the mystic Christ principle and the personality of Jesus who manifested an individual manifestation of this force. This distinction is plainly made in the New Testament that only the lack of knowledge concerning the mystery of Christ can account for the incomplete teachings of the church leaders. Most teachers only talk about the personality of Jesus and his suffering. If they stop here, they don’t even touch the hem of his garment. They worship a picture and are doomed to disappointment. They see their ideal crucified, cast out and destroyed. The Pauline picture of Christ is for those who need no historic personality as a model, but to open their heart to the Christ and have the Holy teachings revealed through spirit.

The story of Jesus is not just a story of a great teacher, but the story of the perfected man, the growth and perfection of the soul. The story of Jesus is the story of which each personality must pass through. Most people live in their mind which is dual by nature and for the most part vacillates between higher and lower expressions. The Jesus man becomes a Christ only when the human mind is uplifted and blended with Christ Consciousness, the discriminating intellect; the Self and the Father in heaven.

Christ consciousness according to Paramahansa Yogananda is the projected consciousness of God immanent in all creation. In Christian scripture, the "only begotten son," the only pure reflection in creation of God the Father; in Hindu scripture, Kutastha Chaitanya or Tat, the universal consciousness, or cosmic intelligence, of Spirit everywhere present in creation. (The terms "Christ Consciousness" and "Christ Intelligence" are synonymous, as also "Cosmic Christ" and "Infinite Christ.") It is the universal consciousness, oneness with God, manifested by Jesus, Krishna, and other avatars. Great saints and yogis know it as the state of samadhi (ecstasy) meditation wherein their consciousness has become identified with the divine intelligence in every particle of creation; they feel the entire universe as their own body.

The resurrection of Jesus was the symbolic way of saying that his presence was beyond any limits of physical space and time. Jesus was historically bound; the Christ is omnipresent.

What Is Love? Understanding of the 3 Spiritual Levels of Love

What is Love? As much as we might like to, we can't force love to happen. But we can understand its many levels and connect more easily to its source.

Love Is a Many-Leveled Thing

Most of us have been confused about love all of our lives. In fact, we often begin the inner life as a search—conscious or unconscious—for a source of love that can't be taken away. We may have grown up feeling unloved or believing we had to perform heroic feats to deserve love. Our parents, the movies we see, our cultural and religious milieu give us ideas about love that go on influencing us long after we have forgotten their source. When we read spiritual books and encounter teachers, our understanding about love can get even more complicated, because depending on what we read or with whom we study, we get slightly different ideas on what love means in spiritual life.

Some teachers tell us that our essence is love; others say love is a passion, an emotion that leads to addiction and clinging. If we're on a devotional path like bhakti yoga, Sufism, or mystical Christianity, we're often taught that the way to enlightenment is to fall in love with God and let that love grow until it engulfs us and we become one with the Beloved. If we're on a more knowledge-based yogic path, we may be taught to look at the feelings of bliss and love that arise in practice, because, we're told, the spaciousness that is our goal is beyond such feelings.

We are soon left to wonder where the truth lies in all of this. When spiritual teachers use the word love, what kind of love are they talking about? Is Eros (romantic or sexual love) really different from agape, the so-called unconditional or spiritual love? Is devotional love the same as compassion, or love for humanity? Is love something we have to feel, or is it enough to offer kindness and direct positive thoughts toward ourselves and others? And how is it that some teachers tell us that love is both the path and the goal, while others seem to ignore the subject altogether?

In spiritual life alone, the word love is used in at least three ways, and our experience and understanding of love will differ according to which aspect of it we are thinking about. For the sake of discussion, let's refer to these three aspects of love as (1) Absolute Love, or the Great Love, which Ramakrishna, Rumi, and the teachers of the bhakti yoga and nondualism Tantra traditions tell us is ever- present, impersonal, and the very underpinning of the universe; (2) our individual experience of love, which is personal, and usually directed at something or someone; and (3) love as practice.

1. Absolute Love

Love with a capital L: That's the Great Love, love as the source of everything, love as radical unity. At this level, love is another name for Absolute Reality, Supreme Consciousness, God, Brahman, the Tao, the Source—that vast presence called the Heart. The yoga tradition often describes Absolute Reality as Satchidananda—meaning that it is pure beingness, present everywhere and in everything (sat), that it is innately conscious (chit), and that it is the essence of joy and love (ananda).

As ananda, the Great Love is woven into the fabric of the universe, which of course also puts it at the center of our own being. Most of us get glimpses of the Great Love at some time in our lives—perhaps in nature, or with an intimate partner, or in the moment of bonding with our children. We remember these experiences for years afterward, often for the rest of our lives. We remember the feeling of deep connectedness they give us, and the fact that even when the love we feel seems inspired by someone or something in particular, it has a profoundly impersonal, universal quality. And sometimes, the Great Love hits us unveiled, as it were, and changes our lives.

2. Individual Love

All of us, throughout our lives, constantly project onto other people and things the feelings of love that actually come from within. "It was the music," we say. It was the surf! It was my teacher's presence!" Yet the yogic view is that all of our experiences of human love are actually glimpses of the Great Love, God’s joy. It is only when love gets filtered through the prism of the human psyche that it begins to look specific and limited. It becomes veiled by our thoughts and feelings, and we start to think that love comes and goes, that we can feel it only for certain people, or that there's not enough love to go around. We can't help doing this.

Our senses, mind and ego are hardwired to give us the experience of separateness and distinction, set us up to think that love is outside us, that some people and places and things are lovable and others are not, and furthermore, that love has different flavors: mother love, romantic love, love of movies, love of nature, compassionate love, sexual love, love of the cozy feeling of being under the covers at the end of a long day.

In short, if the Great Love is naturally unifying, our individual, human experience of love is subject to change and loss, moods and tides, attachments and aversions. It doesn't matter who or what we love; at some point, the object of our love will disappear from our life or disappoint us or stop being lovable, simply because change is the nature of existence. So individual love is always touched with suffering, even when the love we feel is "spiritual."

3. Love as Spiritual Practice

The third kind of love, love as a practice is the medicine for the terrible discrepancy we sometimes feel between our sense of what love can be and the actuality of our ordinary experience of it. The practice of love is actions and attitudes that create an atmosphere of kindness, acceptance, and unity in us and in those around us. It is not only the basis of spiritual life, it is also the basis of civilization. We can't always feel gratitude, but we can remember to say thank you. We can't always like other people, but we can try to pay attention when they talk to us and help them out when they're in trouble. We may not feel good about ourselves all the time, but we can practice treating ourselves gently, slowing down and breathing when we want to rush, or talking back to our inner voices of self-criticism and judgment. When it comes to daily life, feeling love may actually be less important than acting loving.

This isn't meant as an argument for pasted-on smiles, or for the common game of hiding anger and judgment behind a mask of false sweetness. The practice of loving is never about presenting a false front. Instead, it's an active answer to one of life's greatest questions: How can I, in spite of what I may be feeling at a particular moment, offer my best to myself and other people.

If we pose this question to ourselves, how would we act if we were feeling love? We will eventually discover the practice that helps melt our frozen heart, so the love that always hides behind our emotional barricades can show its face.

How to Connect to the Source of Love

We may consider two practices that can help reconnect to the source of love. Both cultivate the feeling of unity. One is based on the insight to bypass the ego, which cuts us off from love.

The second is, the Great Love, the love that is the source of everything, is present in everything, peeking out during every moment in which we feel a spark of tenderness, appreciation, or affection.

Preparing for Death

When a person enters the final stage of the dying process, two different dynamics are at work, which are closely interrelated and interdependent. On the physical plane, the body begins the final process of shutting down, which will end when all the physical systems cease to function. Usually this is an orderly and un-dramatic progressive series of physical changes which are not medical emergencies requiring invasive interventions. These physical changes are a normal, natural way in which the body prepares itself to stop, and the most appropriate kinds of responses are comfort enhancing measures.

The other dynamic of the dying process at work is on the emotional-spiritual-mental plane, and is a different kind of process. The spirit of the dying person begins the final process of release from the body, its immediate environment, and all attachments. This release also tends to follow its own priorities, which may include the resolution of whatever is unfinished of a practical nature and reception of permission to “let go” from family members. These events are the normal, natural way in which the spirit prepares to move from this existence into the next dimension of life. The most appropriate kinds of responses to the emotional-spiritual-mental changes are those which support and encourage this release and transition.

When a person’s body is ready and wanting to stop, but the person is still unresolved or un-reconciled over some important issue or with some significant relationship, he or she may tend to linger in order to finish whatever needs finishing even though he or she may be uncomfortable or debilitated. On the other hand, when a person is emotionally-spiritually-mentally resolved and ready for this release, but his or her body has not completed its final physical shut down, the person will continue to live until that shut down process ceases.

The emotional-spiritual-mental and physical signs and symptoms of impending death

Not all these signs and symptoms will occur with every person, nor will they occur in this particular sequence. Each person is unique and needs to do things in his or her own way. This is not the time to try to change your loved one, but the time to give full acceptance, support, and comfort.

Coolness

The person's hands and arms, feet and then legs may be increasingly cool to the touch, and at the same time the color of the skin may change. This is a normal indication that the circulation of blood is decreasing to the body’s extremities and being reserved for the most vital organs. Keep the person warm with a blanket, but do not use one that is electric.

Sleeping

The person may spend an increasing amount of time sleeping, and appear to be uncommunicative or unresponsive and at times be difficult to arouse. This normal change is due in part to changes in the metabolism of the body. Sit with your loved one, hold his or her hand, but do not shake it or speak loudly. Speak softly and naturally. Plan to spend time with your loved one during those times when he or she seems most alert or awake. Do not talk about the person in the person’s presence. Speak to him or her directly as you normally would, even though there may be no response. Never assume the person cannot hear; hearing is the last of the senses to be lost.

Disorientation

The person may seem to be confused about the time, place, and identity of people surrounding him or her including close and familiar people. This is also due in part to the metabolism changes. Identify yourself by name before you speak rather than to ask the person to guess who you are. Speak softly, clearly, and truthfully when you need to communicate something important for the patient’s comfort, such as, It is time to take your medication, and explain the reason for the communication, such as, so you won’t begin to hurt. Do not use this method to try to manipulate the patient to meet your needs.

Incontinence

The person may lose control of urine and/or bowel matter as the muscles in that area begin to relax. Discuss with your nurse what can be done to protect the bed and keep your loved one clean and comfortable.

Congestion

The person may have gurgling sounds coming from his or her chest as though marbles were rolling around inside these sounds may become very loud. This normal change is due to the decrease of fluid intake and an inability to cough up normal secretions. Suctioning usually only increases the secretions and causes sharp discomfort. Gently turn the person’s head to the side and allow gravity to drain the secretions. You may also gently wipe the mouth with a moist cloth. The sound of the congestion does not indicate the onset of severe or new pain.

Restlessness

The person may make restless and repetitive motions such as pulling at bed linen or clothing. This often happens and is due in part to the decrease in oxygen circulation to the brain and to metabolism changes. Do not interfere with or try to restrain such motions. To have a calming effect, speak in a quiet, natural way, lightly massage the forehead, read to the person, or play some soothing music.

Urine Decrease

The person´s urine output normally decreases and may become tea colored referred to as concentrated urine. This is due to the decreased fluid intake as well as decrease in circulation through the kidneys. Consult with your Hospice nurse to determine whether there may be a need to insert or irrigate a catheter.

Fluid and Food Decrease

The person may have a decrease in appetite and thirst, wanting little or no food or fluid. The body will naturally begin to conserve energy which is expended on these tasks. Do not try to force food or drink into the person, or try to use guilt to manipulate them into eating or drinking something. To do this only makes the person much more uncomfortable. Small chips of ice, frozen Gatorade or juice may be refreshing in the mouth. If the person is able to swallow, fluids may be given in small amounts by syringe (ask the nurse for guidance). Glycerin swabs may help keep the mouth and lips moist and comfortable. A cool, moist washcloth on the forehead may also increase physical comfort.

Breathing Pattern Change

The person s regular breathing pattern may change with the onset of a different breathing pace. A particular pattern consists of breathing irregularly, i.e., shallow breaths with periods of no breathing of five to thirty seconds and up to a full minute. The person may also experience periods of rapid shallow breathing. These patterns are very common and indicate decrease in circulation in the internal organs. Elevating the head, and/or turning the person onto his or her side may bring comfort. Hold your loved one’s hand. Speak gently.

Normal Emotional, Spiritual, and Mental Signs and Symptoms with Appropriate Responses

Withdrawal

The person may seem unresponsive, withdrawn, or in a comatose-like state. This indicates preparation for release, a detaching from surroundings and relationships, and a beginning of letting go. Since hearing remains all the way to the end, speak to your loved one in your normal tone of voice, identifying yourself by name when you speak, hold his or her hand, and say whatever you need to say that will help the person let go.

Vision-like Experiences

The person may speak or claim to have spoken to persons, who have already died, or to see or have seen places not presently accessible or visible to you. This does not indicate a hallucination or a drug reaction. The person is beginning to detach from this life and is being prepared for the transition so it will not be frightening. Do not contradict, explain away, belittle or argue about what the person claims to have seen or heard. Just because you cannot see or hear it does not mean it is not real to your loved one. Affirm his or her experience. They are normal and common. If they frighten your loved one, explain that they are normal occurrences.

Decreased Socialization

The person may only want to be with a very few or even just one person. This is a sign of preparation for release and affirms from whom the support is most needed in order to make the appropriate transition. If you are not part of this inner circle at the end, it does not mean you are not loved or are unimportant. It means you have already fulfilled your task with your loved one, and it is the time for you to say Good-bye. If you are part of the final inner circle of support, the person needs your affirmation, support, and permission.

Unusual Communication

The person may make a seemingly out of character or non sequitur statement, gesture, or request. This indicates that he or she is ready to say Good-bye and is testing you to see if you are ready to let him or her go. Accept the moment as a beautiful gift when it is offered. Kiss, hug, hold, cry, and say whatever you most need to say.

Giving Permission

Giving permission to your loved one to let go, without making him or her guilty for leaving or trying to keep him or her with you to meet your own needs, can be difficult. A dying person will normally try to hold on, even though it brings prolonged discomfort, in order to be sure those who are going to be left behind will be all right. Therefore, your ability to release the dying person from this concern and give him or her assurance that it is all right to let go whenever he or she is ready is one of the greatest gifts you have to give your loved one at this time.

Saying Good-bye

When the person is ready to die and you are able to let go, then is the time to say good-bye. Saying good-bye is your final gift of love to your loved one, for it achieves closure and makes the final release possible. It may be helpful to lie in bed and hold the person, or to take his or her hand and then say everything you need to say.

It may be as simple as saying, I love you. It may include recounting favorite memories, places, and activities you shared. It may include saying, I ’m sorry for whatever I contributed to any tension or difficulties in our relationship. It may also include saying, Thank you for...

Tears are a normal and natural part of saying good-bye. Tears do not need to be hidden from your loved one or apologized for. Tears express your love and help you to let go.

How Will You Know When Death Has Occurred?

Although you may be prepared for the death process, you may not be prepared for the actual death moment. It may be helpful for you and your family to think about and discuss what you would do if you were the one present at the death moment. The death of a person is not an emergency. Nothing must be done immediately.

The signs of death include such things as no breathing, no heartbeat, release of bowel and bladder, no response, eyelids slightly open, pupils enlarged, eyes fixed on a certain spot, no blinking, jaw relaxed and mouth slightly open. If the person is in the hospital, a nurse will come to assist if needed or desired.

Guiding the dying process

Sit comfortably, go into your inner nature, and visualize the radiant light of Jesus, the Saints, the Yogis or the Holy Spirit, whichever Divine being you feel close to.

For those who do not feel a connection to a Divine figure, you can imagine a golden light in your forehead or the sky before you. Feel what you visualize is the body of truth, wisdom and compassion. Don’t worry if you have difficulties visualizing  just fill your heart with the presence you have invoked and pray: through your blessings, grace and guidance, to the power of the light that streams from you, may all my imperfections, destructive emotions, blockages be purified and removed. Now, consider yourself completely purified and completely made whole by the presence. Consider that your body is now ready to dissolve into the light. Now your body of light soars into the heavenly realms. Imagine, that the deity is so moved by your prayer, that it responds by sending out streams of light touching you and you see and feel that you are totally immersed in the light. Imagine that you are flying out of your body like a shooting star and into the Divine presence. Merge your consciousness with the presence.

So be it.

The Present Moment, by Paramahansa Yogananda

I will tell you how I live and work in the world. My body and the world are my office; and my inner Self is my home. My mind always dwells within. I live from day to day. There is no consciousness of past or future; I am living in the eternally happy present. It is not a mundane happiness, which becomes boring after a while so that you welcome a little difficulty just for a change. The joy that has come upon me is a thousand million times more intoxicating—ever-changing, ever-new. In that consciousness you feel all the happiness in the world passing through you. Your love is all-encompassing. That is the experience of God's love. I see people suffering from sickness and poverty and all kinds of misery, and I yearn to bring them all where I am: Whether I laugh or cry at the scenes of this earthly drama, a current of bliss is ever moving underneath my outer consciousness. At first it was different. I would try to be happy, but then some sadness would come inside. But I continued in meditation to make the effort to know God, and now it is happiness all the time. My body and mind respond to what my heart feels. It is filled with divine love no matter whether I talk to people of peace or business—always God's joy bubbling within me.