Spiritual Portal

Not me. You were just ready. If it hadn't been me someone else would have been there.

Steve

God spoke to one of his devotees: "i have become Yogananda"  Yogananda or God; All the same Into Blue. "Talk to Him continuously in silence until he speaks to you."

"Talk to Him continuously in silence until he speaks to you."

life's 'noise'  muffles God's voice....through concentration we learn to muffle life's noise,,,so we can hear God again....

concentration, sincerity, will..... persistance  :)

Thanks Steve, somehow I had a feeling the answer was going to be something like that.

and for the post above, previous to this one - ok, perhaps it could have been someone else, but it wasn't, so the thanks are still for you. I have heard when the student is ready, the teacher will appear (Yogananda in this case). The timing was right in many ways.

Into Blue  

Lesson 17

Successful people have developed this power of concentration in the past, or in this life, by constant friction with difficult problems. By using their previously acquired ability scientifically they can increase their successes...

Interesting point he makes here. Seems like there just must be a better way then to have friction with difficult problems.

yes, one would think so

perhaps it is the having friction with difficult problems that gives one the 'opportunity' or the 'challenge' to come up with solutions ?

i think you are right here Into Blue i just want to add that sometimes i just don't feel like doing what i am supposed to do. i read the story 'Monkey Consciousness' in lesson 19. In it the saint exhorts first to learn mental control; then use that power to attain small things; and when you are able to do that, try for bigger achievements, until your inner power becomes developed enough to levitate, or accomplish even greater miracles. 

Master often brings up this idea of the senses and how they distract us from being calm and meditative. He quite often refers to the five sense distractions:

1. tactual~touch

2. gustatory~taste

3. auditory~hearing

4. olfactory~smell

5. optical~sight

Steve, you are not alone, in the " I just don't feel like doing what I am supposed to do ". I have also read this lesson and the " Monkey Consciousness ' story. I think in all areas of life, it is important to take things, slow by slow. It is encouraging to see the progress of the small steps, and to see the small steps as progress on the way to the goal instead of trying to do something in leaps and bounds, and getting discouraged when one is not noticing the big results one hopes for. This fits in so many situations and with faith, preserverance and the Grace of God and Guru, progress will happen, there will be success.... we just need to believe it will be so, and have patience. Sometimes this is sooooo much easier said than done.

blessings,
Into Blue  

Yes i think in small ways we can learn mental control by doing things we set out to do and reminding ourselves what is best for us and not what material desires dictate what we do. Yogananda says to learn to swim in the calm sea of unchanging Bliss before you attempt to plunge into the maelstrom of material life, which is the realm of sorrow, pleasure, indifference, and deceptive temporary peace.

The heart beats slower when it is is unnecessary for it to beat fast and clean the lungs of venous blood. and because one eats and less carbonized foods. The implication here is that heavier foods like meat create more carbon build up in the blood so the heart is overworked and the breath becomes more restless as the mind does. This is because of the connection of body to mind and the breath. Also worry is a contributing factor to the heart being overworked.

Jitendra

Lesson 17:

quote author=Katze link=topic=4004.msg3958#msg3958 date=1262941113]
Lesson 17 continues the focus on concentration, from lesson 16.

Remember the so called certainties of life - such as money, fame and friends - are really the most difficult to retain. They may slip away any minute. So make the imperishable so- called unknown, uncertain God your own; you will find Him most faithful, when all else leaves you beyond the last gate of this life. "

[/quote]

This same quote was in lesson 16 and lesson 17 so I’m thinking Paramahansa Yogananda must have thought it important. Everything is so impermanent here on the earth plane. Even those we think near may be gone tomorrow. It was also in Nicky’a message from the other side. She also disappeared one day out of our lives without a trace and now appears to be channeling messages through from the great life beyond, true to her interests here on the earth plane.

*Nicky was an Administrator on this board for years and one of the co-founders. Her avatar name here at spiritual portal was: Into Blue and Katze.

Lesson 16 Methods of controlling the sex force

1. keep the mind busy with Good activities and meditation

2. Keep the vital fluid transmuted into muscular and brain energy. Don’t waste it in bad company.

3. Keep the breath, calm by eating less carbon producing foods, and by entirely abstaining from beef, veal and pork products

I have noticed this in my own life

In the practice of concentration, the relation between breath and life force, mind, and vital fluid (sex energy) should be known, even buy the spiritual beginner. A balanced control of these four bodily forces brings quick spiritual results without any downfall or hindrance. In fact every spiritual Student, can attain a concentrated mind just by the single, separate control of any one of the four bodily factors. For example, by strict celibacy alone, one can gain great mental concentration.