I know in the past I have talked about of my favorite books, “Autobiography of a Yogi.” Paramahansa Yogananda was a Hindu Christian who taught both theologies. The book is BEAUTIFULLY written with loads and loads of OUTSTANDING truths. Here is a part of the book I wanted to share with you all. I LOVE what he says here. It has inspired me to really think.
“A ‘miracle’ is commonly considered to be an effect or event without law, or beyond law. But all events in our precisely adjusted universe are lawfully wrought and lawfully explicable. The so-called miraculous powers of a great master are a natural accompaniment to his exact understanding of subtle laws that operate in the inner cosmos of consciousness.
Nothing may truly be said to be a ‘miracle’ except in the profound sense that everything is a miracle. That each of us is encased in an intricately organized body, and is set upon earth whirling through space among the stars-is anything more commonplace? or more miraculous?
Great prophets like Christ and Lahiri Mahasaya usually perform many miracles. Such masters have a large and difficult spiritual mission to execute for mankind; miraculously helping those in distress appears to be part of that mission. Divine fiats are required against incurable diseases and insoluble human problems. When Christ was asked by the nobleman to heal his dying son at Capernaum, Jesus relied with wry humor: ‘Except ye see signs and wonder, ye will not believe.’ But he added: ‘Go thy way; thy son liveth.’ (John 4:46-54)
In this chapter I have given the Vedic explanation of maya, the magical power of illusion that underlies the phenomenal worlds. Western science has already discovered that ‘magic’ of unreality pervades atomic ‘matter.’ However, it is not only Nature, but man also (in his mortal aspect) who is subject to maya: the principle of relativity, contrast, duality, inversion, oppositional states.
It should not be imagined that the truth about maya was understood only by the rishis. The Old Testament prophets called maya by the name of Satan (lit. in Hebrew ‘the adversary’). The Greek Testament, as an equivalent for Satan, uses diabolos or devil. Satan or Maya is the cosmic magician who produces multiciplicity of forms to hide the One Formless Verity. In God’s plan or play (lila), the sole function of Sata
n or Maya is an attempt to divert man from Spirit to matter, from Reality to unreality.
Christ describes maya picturesquely as a devil, a murderer, and a liar. ‘The devil…..was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.’ (John 8:44)
‘The devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.’ (I John 3:8) That is, the manifestation of Christ Consciousness, within man’s own being, effortlessly destroys the illusions or ‘works of the devil.’
Maya is ‘from the beginning’ because of it’s structural inherence in the phenomenal worlds. These are ever in transitional flux as antithesis to the Divine Immutability.”
I have really enjoyed finding so many congruent truths in many different places. I have my Christian beliefs that I was raised with. I am so thankful for them and LOVE to learn as much as I can about my Savior, who he was and is how he lived his life. As I have read other religious books that I have found some AMAZING ideas that all coincide with my personal spiritual beliefs. This only tells me that you can find the ultimate truths in most religious and spiritual theologies. Here’s a short video with thoughtful singing and pictures of Paramahansa.
Today hasn’t been SUPER hard with the whole morning sickness thing. Not like my last post anyway. I am still just working on emotionally being ok with the whole thing. I feel like it just sprang on us and I think my control freak brain is having a REALLY tough time letting that sink in. There is a part of me that is feeling bad, like there is something wrong with me, that I am having such a hard time eating all raw. But….then I feel torn by another side that is stating it’s all good and things are as they should be, just accept and be grateful. That I am really doing the BEST I can right now. I think that side is winning out more than the all raw side which to be honest, is a blessing right now.
My sister stated once that there were only 2 words to describe pregnancy. They are lethargy and apathy. I used to think she was right on and she pretty much is with the lethargy part but I have found, especially this pregnancy, that I am the opposite of apathy. There is part of me that I wish could care less about SO many things right now. This morning my kids put in one of their favorite CD’s which is just a whole bunch of songs they really like. I sat and bawled as I listened to them. It was such a surreal, strange experience to FEEL the music so well. I have turned into a bawl baby!! I was actually thankful this morning to be able to really appreciate my new sensations and just enjoy the process of crying and releasing. This is SO ABNORMAL for me that I have to really let myself let go and just feel. What a new time for growth and learning!!
Here is what I ate yesterday.
Wednesday, November 14th:
1-2 quarts of water
water & powdered greens
2 bananas
2 1/2 quarts green smoothie
1 banana
Edemame
2 avocado sushi rolls
1 cucumber sushi roll
1/2 of a cocoa mole Lara Bar
So far today I have had:
Thursday, November 15th:
1 quart of water
fresh apple and carrot juice with powered green
3 grapefruits
2 cups eggs with potatoes
For dinner, I will be having green soup with artichoke hearts and probably the rest of my Lara Bar from yesterday.
I am excited and sad for Thanksgiving. I am excited just because it is SUCH a FUN holiday!! But I am sad because I feel so sick and I am afraid all the smells will do me in. I will just be grateful that most other people feel great and have a JOYFUL time with their families and loved ones.
Abundant peace to all,
Rachel
Nice video!