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A Christmas Letter
from Swami Kriyananda
Dear Friends,
Master often called his mission to the West “The Second Coming of Christ,” because he was blending the spiritual traditions of East and West. Starting this Christmas season, let us concentrate more deeply on the great adventure of living the Christian life in Dwapara Yuga style.
This means in part learning to be more solution-conscious and less problem-conscious. To be conscious of problems does not automatically make you conscious of their solutions. You have to be aware of the problem, surely, but you don’t need to dwell on it. Solution-consciousness comes from being outside of the problem, then coming in from a higher level with divine inspiration.
So we need to learn to think not so much about the details of any particular problem, such as, how to make this succeed, or how to make that work. Ultimately we should ask ourselves, “What is prosperity? What is success?” The answer is living in God and living for God. Just remember that. If we live in Him, it’s amazing how He manages to take care of the details. I don’t mean we should become impractical, but if we become so worry conscious, then we don’t see beyond the details to all the potential solutions. It's amazing the extent to which He will work with you if you work consciously with Him.
For instance, if you work in a business, work with the thought that you’re being a servant of God, not merely waiting on customers. With everybody who comes in, ask yourself, “How can I be a channel for God to touch that soul?” Don’t just think, “What’s the matter with poor old Mary, and what can we do about her problems?” To some extent that’s needed, but only in order to stimulate the need to call for a solution. Try more to think in terms of the positive. Try to think, “What does this person need?”
And what do they all need? Love. Joy.
Give people that love and joy from God: There’s nothing you can give them that is more precious. All the work we do doesn’t mean much compared to that. Remember what St. John of the Cross said: “One act of Divine Love is more important than all the work of all the nuns and monks in all monasteries and churches.” One act of Love! That love has to be not from ego to ego, but from soul to soul, from God to God. Let’s live in that consciousness during the next year.
Let’s make this Christmas the beginning of a life richer with divine love – with love of God. Don’t let it sink only to a human level, unless it be to inspire that human level with love for the Divine.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Swami Kriyananda
For information and reservations:
info@ananda.it Tel: +39 0742-81.36.20 Fax: +39 0742-81.35.36
Ananda is located in the tranquil hills of Umbria, Italy on “Strada Statale 444” between Assisi and Gualdo Tadino. It is the largest retreat center in Europe for Yogananda’s teachings.
Ananda Associazione • Via Montecchio, 61 • I-06025 Nocera Umbra (PG) • ITALY