Those who take the spiritual life seriously know the following truth: when we follow God and Guru they will inevitably take us where we need to go, but also where we would never go on our own. Still deeper, God and Guru literally deconstruct our understanding of God, the world, and ourselves, like a psychic earthquake which shakes us to our foundation. When these disorienting episodes happen, it is easy to lose faith in God and Guru, to doubt their wisdom and to be tempted to give up on the path altogether. Today’s Gospel from John 6:60-69 tells us that some of Jesus’ disciples could not handle the radical nature of his teachings, and “returned to their former way of life.” Feeling the sting of this rejection, Jesus asks his remaining disciples if they also want to leave. Simon Peter answers him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
There have been times, especially in the early days on the spiritual path, where I was tempted to give up on God and the Gurus. Ultimately, I could not give up. I had experienced too many miracles, too much life, too much joy, too much richness, and too much light to return to my old life. As challenging as this path can be, anything the world has to offer pales by comparison. I have discovered that all of the trials and tribulations of serving God and the Gurus are absolutely worth it. In serving God we are serving love, and we become what we serve.
I suspect that most of you know exactly what I’m talking about. Therefore, I want to honor you for your faithfulness to God and the Gurus, for your love of the spiritual path, and for your steadfast endurance. Endurance may not be a sexy virtue, but it is still a virtue. Kudos to you! Trust me when I tell you that all of your spiritual efforts will necessarily produce a rich harvest for you and for others. Everything we do makes a difference. So keep on keeping on. It helps to remember that Yogananda went through what we all go through. He tells us about his journey with his Guru, Sri Yukteswar:
“Master was apparently satisfied with my spiritual progress, for he seldom referred to it, and in other matters my ears were no strangers to reproof. My chief offenses were absent-mindedness, intermittent indulgence in sad moods, non-observance of certain rules of etiquette, and occasional unmethodical ways.”
When Yogananda once complained of Sri Yukteswar’s discipline, he was told, “If you don’t like my words, you are at liberty to leave at any time. I want nothing from you but your own improvement. Stay only if you feel benefited.”
Yogananda goes on to say, “I am immeasurably grateful for the humbling blows he dealt my vanity… The hard core of egotism is difficult to dislodge except rudely. With its departure, the Divine finds at last an unobstructed channel.”
Beloved Guruji,
You will take me where I need to go
And where I would never go on my own.
Gospel Truth and Yogananda’s Wisdom
