Sunday, April 9, 2023

Easter: Our Soul's Victorious Destiny is Assured

 


Mark 14:36

Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee: O my Father, if it be possible, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done

In this passage we discover the key to resurrecting our soul: the courage to do the will of God; the wisdom to do what is right. All action is karma (karma means, simply, "action"): but that action which reveals the soul’s power is "yoga" (fulfillment). Thus, wisdom guided action is "karma yoga" (achieving soul-freedom through right action and grace). Everything else is just more karma!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ affirms the power of higher consciousness over lower consciousness; of Spirit over matter; love over hatred. Jesus’ embrace of his dharma—the will of the Father—produced the victory of the resurrection. It is the necessary consequence of Jesus’ embrace of his Destiny—his acceptance of the will of God.

Jesus didn’t hide from the temptation to want to duck the bullet of his crucifixion; he admitted he would have preferred to give it a miss; but he submitted the decision to the One whose love alone counts.

We all have that choice; indeed, sometimes we make the choice to align with what is right. Often that choice is not convenient to our liking. Even to ask inwardly “what is right?” rather than to act impulsively on our desires or fears is a victory. How few do even this much.

In the "feel good" world of new age thinking, it is not uncommon to hear the mantra "If it's meant to be it will happen." Or, "everything's lining up for me" (to do what I want to do). Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the classic life story, "Autobiography of a Yogi," wrote a poem dedicated to his guru-preceptor (Swami Sri Yukteswar). In that poem is this sentence: “if all the gods protect me by the parapets of their blessings, but yet I receive not thy benedictions, I am an orphan, left to pine spiritually in thy displeasure.”

Applying that sentence to our own life's desires it suggests that we sometimes think that just because all the planets of fate and circumstance support our desire and because fulfilling it “feels right,” this must surely mean that it is God’s will. But karma is NOT necessarily dharma! When our ego calls the shots, emotion is its sidekick; but when Krishna, our soul, drives the chariot of our life, the white horses of dharma bring us to victory. There is a motto from India that says "Jato dharma, tato jaya" (Where there is dharma, there is victory!)

The truth of the facts of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection are less important to us than the example his heroic choice offers to us. It's generally not the big decisions that move us upward or downward, spiritually. It's the day-to-day, seemingly inconsequential choices, that determine the direction of our path to soul freedom.

The allegory of Adam and Eve exists to shed light on what is the most important choice, and indeed, perhaps the only real choice we are given. We can seek to do what is right and in alignment with God's will (our dharma), or we can decide to do it "our way." All other day-to-day decisions like the Easter bonnet or the designer shirt you are wearing are the consequence of external influences and the complex matrix of past choices made under such influences including that of the demands of ego and body. 

Christianity has focused its devotion and narrative upon the crucifixion rather than the resurrection. That focus is natural to the ego which is more concerned with what it is asked to give up rather than the more important reasons for doing so. The truth-aspiring ego must step-by-step accept God's presence and guidance. In doing so it prepares itself for the final act of self-offering that God will ask of it: its own crucifixion. Like the great and noble Prince and warrior Bhishma in the Indian epic of the Mahabharata, only the ego can consent to die and to surrender to the redeeming power of grace. God does not impose salvation upon us.

The lesson of the resurrection is erroneously seen by some to be a promise of regaining one's human body after death. No! The lesson is the victory of Spirit (and the soul, made in the image of God) over all matter, even death.

As we say each week in the Ananda Festival of Light ceremony: “and whereas in the past suffering was the coin of man’s redemption, for us now the payment has been exchanged for calm acceptance and joy. Thus may we understand that pain is the fruit of self-love, whereas joy is the fruit of love for God.” As the medieval saint—St Francis de Sales said: “A sad saint is a sad saint indeed!” This represents a new understanding of how and why to seek God because suffering no longer inspires truth-seeking souls. The joy of seeking God, however, DOES!

The resurrection proclaims to us the inevitability of our soul’s freedom in God. Our choice is whether to accelerate the timing of that victory or to delay it. That is all. There is no time in eternity and we are as old as God. God will wait forever if need be but eventually our soul’s memory of bliss and freedom in God will awaken to the “anguishing monotony of endless rounds of birth, life and death” and will, like the prodigal son of Jesus’ parable, begin the journey back to its home in God.

Happy Easter, friends!

Swami Hrimananda

 

6 comments:

Samuel Thomsen said...

Hi Swami,

My name is Sam and I've been interested in philosophy, including both Eastern and Western mysticism, for a long time. Your blog attempts to meld Christianity and Yoga into, I suppose, a "Church of All Religions" as Paramhansa Yogananda called it. As a Catholic I find this problematic. As a philosopher I do see value in Eastern philosophy *as* philosophy. But I don't think it can be put on the same level, nor even in the same category, with the teachings of Christ.

You are absolutely right that we must embrace and accept the will of the Father over the desires of our own ego. Certainly we must love God's will, and show that love by a willingness to suffer; we must choose God's way over "our way," over what "feels right." I agree that this is connected this to the Fall of Adam and Eve (though of course I see it as more than an allegory), who chose to disobey God because of their pride and ambition, their desire to be "as gods."

You mention that, "Christianity has focused its devotion and narrative upon the crucifixion rather than the resurrection." In a talk a few years back, Fr. Bernard Uttley, a Traditional Benedictine monk , also says that Christianity focuses more on the crucifixion but he says this is a change of emphasis that has only happened in modern times. (I don't think it will let me post the link to his talk, but you can find it on YouTube: "The Spiritual Life Part 4". Excellent spiritual talks, and beautiful theological explanations of the love of God!)

You say "God does not impose salvation on us." This is exactly right, and it's why hell exists.

Yes, the ego must consent to die to itself in order to be redeemed by God's grace. But what is that grace? Not just any death is sufficient for grace. Dying by suicide, or robbing a bank, or in some other way serving one's own ego, does not constitute true self-sacrifice. Dying for one's country is something closer. Of course, one must die for God--that's the point. But Who is God? That's the real question. And here is where I don't think Christianity and Yoga quite meet.

Taoists and Buddhists seek to extinguish all desires, and thus extinguish self entirely. Without desire, there is nothing to lose. With nothing to lose, there is no suffering. Ancient Western philosophies like Stoicism teach the same. The Wise Man, said the Stoics and the Neo-Platonists, is always calm, because he desires nothing--he has mastered is passions and does not let them move him.

Whether such a state is truly attainable in this life can maybe be doubted. But, either way, it is not the same as the supernatural state of grace pursued by the Saints. Stoics, Yogis, and other philosophers pursue a peace of mind by human means: reason, meditation, self-control, exercise. The Saints, including St. Patrick, St. Francis de Sales, and the Apostles, pursue a more eternal peace by divine means: baptism, prayer, and the Sacraments.

(to be continued)

Samuel Thomsen said...

(cont'd)

When you read St. Augustine, St. Justin Martyr (whose feast day is today) and other Church Fathers they compare the peace of mind obtained by the Philosophers and that obtained by Christians. The first is fragile and based on pride. In practice, it often fails, and it is usually based on putting on a kind of facade. While their emotions churn just under the surface, Stoics put on a brave face.

But the kind of peace that Christ Jesus showed while he was being beaten, flogged, scourged, humiliated, mocked, nailed to the cross, and even as he died on the cross--this was something of a different order. It was not based on love of self, or of his own enlightenment, or even his own joy. It was a love of God more intense that any suffering he could experience, including the most tortured death, a love of God so intense that he begged God to forgive the very people who nailed him to the Cross as they mocked him.

The Martyrs, fortified with this supernatural love and peace, obtained (as all the Saints state in their writings) by Baptism, the Holy Eucharist, and other founts of divine grace, were also willing to be tortured, humiliated, and killed for God. They all believed in the Resurrection, both of Christ and of themselves, because it has been promised by God. You say, no, it is not about resurrection of the body, but about the victory of the spirit or soul over death. But no such victory, obtained by human means, can last. The happiness of the philosopher is only fleeting. Even Plato admitted that after many eons in bliss, the soul of a Philosopher will once again descend back into matter and suffering to start the cycle again, for eternity. This is Limbo. But God promises us more than fleeting happiness. His victory over death--Christ's victory over the whole world--is an eternal victory. No such victory is possible for the soul by its own power. God, moreover, promises everything. The resurrection of the body is the least of the joys we are offered if we take up our cross and follow Him. God would not be omnipotent if he didn't offer us every imaginable joy--and even more joys that are unimaginable. But the joy "which surpasseth all understanding" (Phil 4:7) is the beatific vision--the vision of God that is vouchsafed to those that renounce their lives, their egos, and the whole world to obtain that "pearl of great price" (Mt 13:46) which is the love of God.

When I read the lives of the Saints, I encounter souls that are willing to make such a total renunciation. I've never yet found the life of a guru, philosopher, yogi, or other wise man, that has come anywhere close to such a love of God.

-Sam

Nayaswami Hriman said...

thank you, Sam for your thoughtful comments. As a former Catholic myself and having studied for the priesthood, I have heard all too often that line that eastern spirituality is fine philosophy but doesn't have or seek divine grace. Who says so? Catholics, of course. If any of you were to study the lives of the great saints of eastern religions you would find the deep devotion and attunement to the divine will surpassed by none in Christianity. Some Christians mistakenly believe that the self-effort of meditation practices automatically eliminates the receptivity to grace but that is incorrect. Of course one CAN undertake spiritual disciplines WITHOUT DEVOTION or receptivity but that's true no matter what religion one practices. Jesus accused the Pharisees of as much. How many priests and nuns and clerics down through history were mere administrators (and worse) or who, over the years, "lost their vocation" (meaning their inspiration).

What is baptism? What are sacraments? A saintly priest like Joseph of Cupertino could enter an ecstatic state while saying the mass but do most priests? Is the ritual or the consciousness and receipt of grace. Do such states only come to Catholics? Or those who say the mass? Of course not!

Hriman

Samuel Thomsen said...

Thanks for the response. Could you give me some examples of saints from eastern religions? I’ve heard similar claims for other non Catholic religions but nobody’s ever been able to provide me well documented examples, as were the miracles of St Bernadette and Our Lady at Lourdes, or St John Bosco, or Our Lady of Fatima, or St Veronica Giuliani and other incorruptibles, etc.

Nayaswami Hriman said...

My very point in the article I wrote is that too many Christians have defined sanctity in terms of suffering. The more important point is how one accepts what is otherwise seen as suffering. A Sufi saint, R'bia, in pain and on her deathbed, was asked what is the measure of a true devotee. Is it to accept suffering willing? More than that is needed, she said: it is to forget one's self (and suffering) in the contemplation of the divine Presence.

When Jesus went home and those who "knew" him demanded he perform miracles to satisfy them, he said "Unless ye see miracles you won't believe." Why then do you and so many place such emphasis not just on suffering but on miracles. In India, the power to control nature, to levitate, walk on water---these things are considered of a lower value than achieving the Divine vision. One indeed can seek such powers for their own sakes but true saints eschew them.

You, too, then are demanding "proof" of saints in other religions. It's a bit silly, actually. So you might as well demand proof of God! Search and you shall find but those who have already closed their minds and hearts will not find.

But since you asked read "Autobiography of a Yogi" by Paramhansa Yogananda. In it are stories of many saints. Jesus' greatest miracle was not raising the dead or his resurrection but his forgiveness while on the cross. You might also find insight from this summary of Yogananda's teachings on YouTube:

​https://youtu.be/L5RXOLpLhvQ

Samuel Thomsen said...

I will have to look into those, thanks for the suggestions. As I’m sure you know the Catholic Church has strict standards for canonization which include not just miracles but also extraordinary moral virtue. I should have mentioned this as another difference I’ve noticed. Catholic Saints show virtues of character —humility, charity, wisdom, chastity, self-sacrifice that go beyond anything I’ve seen elsewhere. Our Lord said we would know them by their fruits. He also warned about false prophets, false miracles, and even false messiahs. It is a grave error to accept as spiritual exemplars those who are less than exemplary. As for priests and other clergy, He said of the Pharisees “Do as they say, not as they do.” The other notable virtue of all Saints is their perfect obedience to the laws and leaders of the Church. This isn’t to say that philosophers outside the faith don’t have anything to teach us — just that their spiritual insights are to be doubted.

Thanks again for the suggestions, good discussion.