How can we make this life complete? How do we learn contentment in our daily living? Recall the beautiful biblical passage: "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil, neither do they spin." With elegant simplicity this image brings to our mind something which we may study in our own lives—the simple efforts of living our seemingly complex lives.

As human beings we are blessed to able to bring to mind the most sublime ideals and lofty inspirations. We can draw such thoughts from the beauty that surrounds us as well as from the infinite source of peace within us. But there are times when we reflect on human history and begin to wonder where has humanity gone wrong. We wonder how could the very practice of worship become a source of conflict? 

We understand the benefit of many paths, the variety of traditions and the diversity of scriptures. And yet we often fail to see the unity amidst the diversity. Gandhi said there are as many religions as there are humans on this earth. And yet, we face the continual challenge that religion seems so often to be used as a force to divide communities. Some even wish to remain agnostic in the face of formalized "institutions" of religion. In the world that exists today, what does religion mean to us?

Each of us has a power. At times we may feel powerless to affect the world around us. We may even feel overpowered by the very life we attempt to live. And yet, we have the power of observation to draw from our senses the experience and wisdom of life.

Seeking a path through the darkness requires employment of the senses — but which ones? Do we turn on the light so that we may see more vividly? Do we calm and quite ourselves so that we can hear more clearly? What powers have we been granted to guide our lives in this changing world?

The “celestial purity” of God! What a wonderful and inspiring way to conceive of that pure, liberating, infinite, immortal, guiding light that is beyond all limitations (hence celestial), yet within the innermost heart of each of us. In our daily deep meditation may we bathe our consciousness in that cleansing and purifying light; in our daily life may we let that light of celestial purity shine forth through our thoughts, words and deeds.

A divine symphony plays all about us. But this musical awareness requires our attunement. All the world is part of this holy vibration. But often we do not perceive it.

The mystic is a musician - attuning to the vibration of life itself. What senses are required? Must one have perfect “hearing”? Must one be able to see and read the music? Must one have perfect rhythm to move the body as an instrument? What senses are required to experience divine music? 

The various scriptures of mankind reveal to us in symbolic language our own spiritual journey and life purpose. These stories are guiding lights to assist us to gain a deeper understanding of our true nature and purpose as well as inspire us to fulfill our spiritual life mission. This Sunday we will meditate on three metaphoric stories, namely the life of King David in the Old Testament, the Dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna in the Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita and the life of Jesus of Christ Consciousness. In order to understand fully these stories, one must keep in mind their spiritual significance within the story. Each of the characters refer to the same reality under different aspects. So, for example, in the Old Testament account of King David, he, Samuel, King Saul, Goliath, and King Solomon refer to the same reality under different aspects. The same holds true for Krishna, Arjuna, Dhritarashtra and Sanjaya as well as the various characters in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus of Christ Consciousness. There are other similarities which we will discover together as we learn that the same truths are conveyed in different forms in each story in their own unique manner. Please join us this coming Sunday at 11am for our worship service.

Our life in this world may seem to be out of our control. We look to external sources for security, for appreciation, and for understanding. But once we begin to realize that the peace which we desire is something that cannot be given nor taken away, we will find the strength, comfort and joy that God enshrines within us.

“Rest in Peace” is an epithet that is found on many tombstones and a phrase that is used at many funerals. The implication is that only in death do we find that deep and abiding peace we all so yearn for. Is this true? Perhaps… but what aspect of us needs to “die” in order to attain that peace? What did St. Paul mean when he said “I die daily?”

Where do we turn for solace? In our lives we all experience pain and sorrow. It is not only our own hardships we face but out of the compassion of soul we also "feel" the pain of others. We commiserate by sharing the heartache and despair of our fellow beings. But we also try to console and bring comfort to one another.

Each year our summer recess is a time when we go our different ways, some to travel and some to spend a little time in solitude. We then return to our Church in the attitude of service and the ideal of fellowship.

Upon this summer solstice, we are all thinking of our final Sunday together before we disperse for July and August. We will all have various plans — projects, personal study, travels and visits with family or friends, and perhaps even a time of solitude. However we fill our days, let us live them consciously, contributing to our spiritual purpose and fulfillment.

We begin our meditation with gratitude to God for the life and example of our earthly fathers.  Each of us has special memories of our relationship with our father that we treasure in our hearts, and on this special day, we extend our love and thankfulness for his life, idealism, example, love and gift of our life.

Our philosophy is Advaita Vedanta, absolute Oneness. We believe that God is the One reality from whom we and the entire universe are projected. “I am God, naught else but God,” asserts an ancient and most sublime Vedic prayer. Why, then, do we so often refer to God as if he is other than ourselves? We call God our friend, our companion, our guide, our Father, our Mother … Why? This is a fair and good question and will be elaborated upon this Sunday. Until then, God be with you!

During this holy month of Ramadan people all around the Earth fast and pray to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him. This spiritual practice is one of deep reverence. Though personal and individual, it is also a shared fellowship in the consciousness of God. This time of sacred observance, from sunrise to sunset, is a devotional act of self-purification offered in the Light and Perfection of God.

What is the salvation we seek? From what do we want to be saved? Are we concerned with preserving our physical life only? Or is it the soul for which we are afraid? What will free us?  What is our moksha?  What will lead us from death to immortality?

From baptizing in the river Jordan to bathing in the holy Ganges, the sacred waters of religious worship and devotion symbolize life and purity.  They represent birth into the existence of pure consciousness.

This Sunday, Mother’s Day, we have chosen for our meditation the subject “The Noble Qualities of Mother.”It will be a day when we honor our Mothers with gratitude and love.  We can never repay our debt to our Mothers, but we can show our appreciation and gratitude for the myriad of blessings and joy they have brought to our life. 

How do we reconcile our ideal of oneness with God in serene tranquility with the “reality” of day-to-day living? In this world we all experience pleasure and pain, beauty and ugliness, life and death, and so forth. How do we reconcile these life experiences with our chosen ideal when the two appear to be almost antithetical to one another? This was the crisis that Arjuna (Bharata, the soul) faced in the Bhagavad Gita, that most sublime scripture of the spiritual journey all souls must undertake. Krishna (God) counseled him: “These [pleasure, pain, etc.] come and go. They are temporary in their nature. Bear them patiently, O Bharata. He alone is fit to attain immortality, O best among men, who remains serene and undisturbed in pleasure and pain.”

We are guided along the innermost path by all noble souls. By turning our minds and hearts to the lives of great souls, we learn of the devotion and determination with which they pursued the greatest wisdom. The story of Gautama the Buddha enriches our study in untold ways. He set the course of his life in the direction of the highest aspiration. This led him to engage in the subjective struggle along the path of self-realization. Certainly his commitment to his inner search has been an example of illumined and righteous effort for all the world.

We are all striving for the perfection of life.  We want perfect love, perfect understanding, perfect beauty.  But how do we go about attaining such perfection? What is the secret to the “perfect” life?

What motivates us? What drives us forward? What knowledge bring us closer to our goal? How do we practice the art of living?