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How to Find Spiritual Security in Difficult Times
This article is taken from a seminar given by Swami Kriyananda in Lugano, Switzerland, on March 19–21, 1999. It is translated from the Italian.
A New Age
In his book, The Holy Science, Sri Yukteswar said that a new age had just begun, an age in which man is more aware that material things are actually energy. It is energy that guides and determines human destiny, and not material things.
The previous age, which lasted for centuries, was a period in which man considered matter to be the eternal truth. In this century, we are coming to understand that matter doesn’t really exist, that it is a vibration of energy. The yogis, who explained all this centuries ago, have said that even energy is not the fundamental reality, but is only a manifestation of cosmic thoughts, which in their turn are manifestations of cosmic consciousness. It’s all a dream of God’s, but man isn’t yet ready to understand this. He is, however, ready to understand that matter is a vibration of energy.
These two different ways of thinking influence our lives in many ways. In music, for example, you notice today’s New Age music is more fluid than Baroque music. To be truthful, I don’t much like the new music, but for one reason only: It hasn’t yet found itself. It will eventually arrive at a musical form that is more beautiful and more melodic.
One World Religion
Sri Yukteswar said that in this age, which is called Dwapara Yuga, man will become more aware of unity and of the need to unite East and West. With Dwapara Yuga, he explained, the time had arrived when man could begin to understand the unity underlying all religions. There is actually only one religion in the world, which in the future will be called “Self-realization,” meaning the realization of the eternal Self.
What is important is that we understand who we are and how to experience our contact with the universe. This is the true world religion. The true church is within us, as Jesus said. Religion has always meant the relationship between us and the Infinite, between us and God.
The masters are only interested in our spiritual growth. It’s not that they live in the Himalayas and ignore the human condition: They sometimes take an interest in political matters and even incarnate as political figures in order to correct some directions in human history. They try, little-by-little, and always in accordance with man’s karma — because they can never impose — to guide mankind towards inner freedom. This is their only purpose: our spiritual growth.
Kali Yuga — Disunity
The old conscionsness of Kali Yuga was one of disunity — each country and each village for itself, each house for itself. There’s a saying, “Your home is your castle,” but that’s not true. We are part of one family, even if we speak different languages. You can say in either English or Bengali, “I’m hungry,” and it’s the same thing. There are different ways of speaking and dressing, but the people are the same. In a lifetime of traveling, I have seen many people, and I have seen that they are truly all the same: If they love curry or pasta, it’s not important — all people want to eat. It’s the governments that are trying egotistically to create powers for themselves, who refuse to accept that we are one family under God. There are good and bad in every country, but we are all children of the same God.
A Time of Struggle
We are now at the end of the first century of Dwapara Yuga, and what we are seeing is that there really is a struggle between the old and new ages. There is a tension between the old ways of thinking and the new, which is trying to enter the human mind and liberate our consciousness from material limitations. We will continue to find this struggle at every level — economic, religious, political, in every field. We must understand that these changes are not superficial, but something that above all touches our inner life.
There are some who look to the past and think how wonderful it all was then. It wasn’t, but so it may seem under the influence of nostalgia. There are others who say, “I’m afraid of these changes.” They are like the bird who has been locked inside a cage for twenty years. When you open the cage door, he doesn’t want to go out — he’s afraid. He comes out a little, then returns. Then he comes out again and stays out a little longer, then fearfully returns. Eventually he says, “It’s not so threatening out here,” and suddenly he begins to fly and is free. At the beginning, when man finds he has a bit of freedom and new possibilities for his growth, he is afraid. He prefers security. In education, business, and in all fields, he still tries to do things as they have always been done, even if they aren’t the best ways.
In the future, man will be much more drawn to a free life. He will be much more inclined to live away from cities and to want to be closer to nature. He will have a much more beautiful life than he has now, a much freer one. In all fields there will be a more inspiring and uplifting awareness.
Music — An Expression of Consciousness
As a composer, I am very much aware of music as an expression of consciousness, and I have seen a shocking trend in popular music. Listen to the music at the beginning of this century, of around 1915. It was nervous, but not bad. Then there came the music that I knew when I was young: the “Big Band,” with its affirmation of ego and “how great I am.” Then Rock ‘n ‘Roll, which vibrates in the lowest chakras. Its rhythm emphasizes violence, sex, ego, and harming others. Popular music is going further and further downwards in the spine, towards the lowest chakras.
Music is becoming more and more violent — and not just popular music. When I went to a concert at Santa Cecilia in Rome to hear Ravel and others, there was a piece by Manzoni. At a certain point I heard someone say, “This is a crazy man, he’s crazy,” and, yes, in fact he was crazy. What most amazed me was how the orchestra could play such music, and how the audience could applaud something so ugly, so senseless.
Today’s music is going more and more in that direction. In this, I see a sign of changes that will take us to an explosion. You can’t become ever more and more tense without having an explosion, either mentally or spiritually.
Yogananda’s Prophecies
If you think that we will never again have world war, you are in delusion. It has to happen because there’s too much anger, too much violence, too much desire to force others to think as some think they should. Intolerance is increasing, not diminishing.
The wonderful thing is that people like us are seeking peace, a divine peace which includes the well-being of all, the joy of all, and that wishes well to all. But this is not what is happening outwardly in the world today. We see that violence is increasing. Yogananda said that a world war would happen as a necessity.
When will the next war begin? I think it’s possible that it will happen this year. This is my opinion — I don’t know for certain, but I see that things are very serious. In Russia, for example, how will they manage if everything collapses? Taking into consideration the state of consciousness of their leaders, I think it possible that they will do something serious. I don’t know what it will be, but I feel it. I do say, at least, that we should be prepared for the possibility of war. This is not a prophecy, but many people are saying that something will happen this year.
Yogananda once was talking about these things at a Sunday service when I was present. Suddenly he stopped, and said with great power: “YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT A TERRIBLE CATACLYSM IS COMING!” I don’t think he was talking just about the economy. A cataclysm is something that can’t be humanly controlled. Many other prophets and saints have seen this, like Padre Pio and Teresa Neumann. When someone asked her, “Will America ever suffer from bombs as Germany has suffered?” she replied, “No, I don’t think so. But America’s problem will be a total economic collapse due to earth changes.” Yogananda did not specify when these things would happen, but he indicated it would be at the end of this century, which is now.
Don’t think that the difficulties can be completely avoided, although they can be diminished. However, sometimes I think that rather than removing the thorns from the path of our lives, God puts even more there.
Tests as Blessings
We are in this transition period between the ages. There can’t be such a big change without difficulties —it’s not possible. If you look back at the tests that you have endured in your life, you will find that, if you have met them with faith and intelligence, you will have arrived at a point where you understand that they were, in fact, blessings. I can certainly say that the things I thought were the worst possible events in my life, I have come to be grateful for, for they gave me not only the opportunity but also the energy to do many extraordinary things. I would not be here today had it not been for those “tragedies,” as they then appeared to be. I would not have created communities, or written so many books. I would not have understood life. These tests have given me the strength and the opportunity to make of my life something much greater than I could have done otherwise. I imagine that this is true for each one of you, that your tests and difficulties have proven to be blessings.
The Message — Love
These tests will come. It is important to understand that they come, above all, for one reason, with one message, one truth: Love. Love for God, above all, which is the same as love for others, when you understand that it is God whom you love in all. To love God in all is to love the soul in everyone. This gives you compassion for everyone, because you know that even if they make mistakes in their lives, they all want the same thing: perfect love, perfect joy. If through trials you come to this understanding, it is more important than anything else.
And then God will give you even more tests. He won’t say, “Ah, you understand now, so I won’t give you any more tests.” No! God will give you even more tests until you say, “I love You and want nothing other than Your love.” Then He will remove the veil of delusion and will let you see the beauty of your soul as a child of God. This, more than anything, is the purpose of the times were are now living.
Don’t take this lightly —take it seriously. But understand that nothing is truly serious except God’s love. During the tests that I have endured in these past years, I have been able to write my best books and compose my best music, especially the song that I like the most of them all, “Love Is a Magician,” which means that only love can change us. This is the magic that changes you into divine gold. Love, only love, can change you.
Economic Crisis
I am not an expert in technology, economics, or politics. But I am aware, as Yogananda was, of a more subtle, karmic level. In the last three years of his life, Yogananda spoke strongly of a worldwide economic collapse and said that it would be much worse than the American depression of the 1930s. On a karmic level, he saw that this has to happen.
I can tell you with certainty that the karma of today must bring an economic crisis to this world. With great power, Yogananda said that because of man’s desire for material things and riches, he has begun to forget God. Therefore, God will have to perform an “operation.” Many other masters have also said that great tests will come to this world.
With economic collapse, we will no longer have so many things, and there will be widespread poverty. There is also the probability of war. When governments find themselves in economic crisis, history shows that they sometimes distract public attention with war. It is too great a probability to be ignored now, and you must prepare yourselves. We are entering into a very difficult period.
World Brotherhood Colonies
Yogananda spoke with a sense of great urgency, trying to convince us. The most moving talk I have ever heard in my life was when Yogananda spoke about creating world-brotherhood communities. On that occasion, with enormous power, he nearly shouted these words:
“THIS DAY MARKS THE BIRTH OF A NEW ERA. MY SPOKEN WORDS ARE REGISTERED IN THE ETHER, IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD, AND THEY SHALL MOVE THE WEST! THOUSANDS OF YOUTHS MUST GO NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST TO COVER THE EARTH WITH LITTLE COLONIES, DEMONSTRATING THAT SIMPLICITY OF LIVING PLUS HIGH THINKING LEAD TO THE GREATEST HAPPINESS!”
He spoke like this because he wanted to put the seed thought into our consciousness. When I heard his words, I promised that I would do it, and I have done it, in spite of all the difficulties. Ananda was created to give others an example of not only living in the country and growing food, but also of living together harmoniously with others of like mind.
(Ed.: Yogananda also said at another time: “Gather together, those of you who share high ideals. Pool your resources. Buy land out in the country. A simple life will bring you inner freedom. Harmony with nature will bring you a happiness known to few city dwellers. In the company of other truth seekers it will be easier for you to meditate and think of God.” - quoted from "the Path")
When I created Ananda in the 1960s, we lived very simply because we didn’t have money. We had to develop a little at a time, step by step. For us it was a luxury to have a bath, running water, and electricity. I think that this has been helpful in preparing us to again live in simple ways.
Many of you, probably most of you, live in a city. Can you imagine a city when most of the systems fail — water, electricity, communications, transportation, banking? You will go to the store and perhaps there won’t be food. What will you do? You who are kind and considerate won’t think of reacting violently, but others will. There may be total chaos. You must be aware that it will not be safe to stay in the cities.
Yogananda repeated many times to “return to the land.” I wish to propose something to you. If you can, buy a little piece of land where you can grow your own food. Join together with a few friends to create a small community: It will be your salvation. Don’t try to create a large community. It’s much more difficult to manage a big thing. But a group of five or six people won’t be that difficult. Each one brings a certain talent, and each can contribute something, and you will be stronger together. You will need this, and I urge you to think about this seriously.
Typically, man is not well disposed to do things for others: He wants to live only for himself. This is the attitude that most needs changing in our world today. We must think of others, and we must think in terms of the world, not just our family or even country.
One time, the members of Ananda Village in California began to think that because they were having a lot of difficulties in consolidating the community, they shouldn’t be thinking about serving others until the community’s problems were resolved. I said that if we think only about ourselves, we will surely fail. We must think about others, and we must build this community as a service to others.
This is the direction of the New Age. The delusion of today is to think that the government should make decisions for you. The energy and the means of controlling your life are not things that can be imposed: They have to come from you. If you want to have a community, it won’t be all that difficult because there is the model of Ananda and thirty years of experience that others can follow.
We must understand that we are part of a whole. We must nourish and not rape our planet. We must give what we receive. When we have this awareness we will be ready to enter into the New Age. So long as we are not ready to change this thought, we must inevitably suffer. We need to break the walls of ego and understand that the well-being of all is our well-being. When we have this attitude, we will see that very beautiful world which Yogananda also prophesied for humanity.
You who are interested in these things can be of great service to others. You could be the salvation of our civilization. There need be only a few people who understand, and the others will follow.
If you seek a simple and inspired life rather than riches, you will have a beautiful life. For you the difficulties will be only temporary. But it is good to be mentally prepared for them. From today onwards, seek solutions to these problems: Live in the awareness of solutions. The problems will be great opportunities for your growth and for the creation of a civilization a thousand times more beautiful than any we have ever known up till now. The future will be, in fact, glorious.
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