Self Realization

[Guest guest]

Yogananda Paramhansa started the Self-Realization

Fellowship here in the 1920's. The love that was exuded by

him is still apparent through writings about him and

his own writings. I think he may have believed in a

fusion of Hindu and Christian faith traditions, but the

bottom line was that to know God, one needed to master

self realization.<br><br>There are many "teachers"

today who will claim to teach us this and will offer us

this credential or that credential. But paper does not

a master make. Our heart and soul is what brings us

into conscious contact with the Spirit of the

Universe. God made us His creation and God does not create

garbage. Therefore, we must seek Him inside us because we

are His creation manifested in love.<br><br>Once this

is realized, there is only to take the steps we are

given each day to take, to give our love to others

because it is truly God's love. We are not the author of

ourselves, so to align our will with God's is our only

course for happiness and the reduction and elimination

of suffering.<br><br>Thank you for the previous post

that stated this so simply and succinctly. I on the

other hand, need many words so that I know what I

understand to be that which I have tried to

know.<br><br>Namaste<br><br>Jim

[Guest guest]

Dear Jim<br><br>Please use as many words you want

to use. It represents your energy that you share

with us here and we love you for that. <br><br>SRF is

a wonderful example of how the common thread of

Truth and spiritual practice can be found in all

traditions. Yoganandaji, kept the tradition of Kriya Yoga

intact, yet was able to present it so beautifully, using

a format that was more familiar with Christian

traditions to those of that tradition who were interested,

so that they could identify with the teachings. He

organized his satsanghs into churches, and the Sunday

gatherings and activities were reminiscent of Sundays at

church. The monks were called Brothers, a name more

familiar to the local audience. Most importantly he

honored at the altar, not only his lineage and Krishna

avatar, but also Jesus Christ. He taught both through the

words of "Hindu" masters as well as those of Jesus

Christ and other Christian saints. <br><br>There is only

one Truth, packaged differently perhaps. The moment

"mine" and "yours" come into the picture, we have lost a

bit of it. <br><br>Yes, aligning ourselves with

"God's" will is the journey itself. <br><br>_/\_ Tat twam

asi<br><br>Uma