In order to truly understand the essence of spirituality, we must remember that God is an ocean of loving consciousness. I emphasize this truth because even in yogic circles, there is a tendency to reduce spirituality to external practices and formulas, which is not to say that rubrics are without merit. Such practices have their place in the spiritual process, but they are never the goal. The goal of the spiritual life is the transformation of our consciousness, that is, the metamorphosis of our hearts and our interior motivations so that our individual awareness is permeated with the life-giving energy of truth, beauty, and goodness. Watch and listen to Jesus in this story from Mark 12:41-44:
“Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.’”
Clearly the widow’s consciousness was permeated with the spirit of selfless generosity. Her mental, emotional, and spiritual DNA was overflowing with purity of intention, sincerity, and love. When the spiritual world gazes upon us, it does not primarily see our external gestures, but the state of our hearts. What moves the spiritual world on our behalf is our genuineness, good will, and earnestness. A generous and pure heart emits a kind of fluid love, an actual energetic substance, which draws the blessings of saints and angels. Whenever we decide to trust the truth over and against the temptation to manipulate reality, sincerity becomes a way of life. Then, heaven and earth unite within us. Meditate on Yogananda’s inspired words:
“Sincerity is a soul quality that God has given to every human being, but not all express it… Words saturated with sincerity, conviction, faith, and intuition are like highly explosive vibration bombs, which, when set off, shatter the rocks of difficulties and create the change desired.”
Divine Mother,
I pray:
Help me always
To return to my soul
And to honor
The truth I find there.
