On our spiritual path, it's natural to search for similarities, for common traits, for shared experiences with our fellowman and the wider world around us as we strive for ever greater realization of oneness. Yet, we need not look far. Our very births are a good place to start. From thought, to action, to object, to living thing -- in one way or another, all is born into this world. We wrap this process of creation, this seeming transformation of nothing into something, from non-existence to existence, in stories and narratives that allow our minds to perceive glimpses of the Eternal. Let us meditate on our blessed birthright this Sunday.
—A.F.K.
From the Gurus and Swamis: AUM
"Salvation is the birthright of every man."
—Swami Premananda
"You are limited now; but by deep daily meditation you become able to transfer your consciousness from the finite to the Infinite, you will be free. You are not meant to be a prisoner of the body. You are a child of God; you must live up to that divine birthright."
— Swami Yogananda Paramahansa
"There is, as it were, an infinite ocean behind, and you and I are so many waves, coming out of that infinite ocean; and each one of us is trying his best to manifest that infinite outside. So, potentially, each one of us has that infinite ocean of Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss as our birthright, our real nature; and the difference between us is caused by the greater or lesser power to manifest that divine. Therefore the Vedanta lays down that each man should be treated not as what he manifests, but as what he stands for."
—Swami Vivekanada
Noble Thoughts
("Let Noble Thoughts come to us from all sides." —Rigveda)
"According to mystical writings such as the Kabbalah, 'alef' symbolizes the divine energy that preceded and initiated Creation. This seeding power existed before any other form could be realized, which is why the opening word of the Hebrew Bible - 'breshith' ('in the beginning') - starts with the Hebrew alphabet's second letter, not the first...Hebrew 'alef' could also be used to signify numeral 1 and was a symbol of cosmic unity."
—David Sacks, "Letter Perfect"
"The light pervaded everywhere in the form of the universe. I saw the earth being born and expanding from the light of Consciousness, just as one can see smoke rising from a fire... Just as a seed becomes a tree with branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit, so within her own being Citi becomes animals, birds, germs, insects, gods, demons, men and women.
—Swami Muktananda, "Play of Consciousness"
"Grandfather Great Spirit
All over the world the faces of living ones are alike.
With tenderness they have come up out of the ground.
Look upon your children that they may face the winds
and walk the good road to the Day of Quiet.
Grandfather Great Spirit
Fill us with the Light.
Give us the strength to understand, and the eyes to see.
Teach us to walk the soft Earth as relatives to all that live."
—Sioux Prayer from "Earth Prayers,"
ed. by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon