On the day known as “Palm Sunday” we remember the gathering in Jerusalem when those welcoming Christ with palm branches sang out “Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest…Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Yet we know that worship and songs of praise have no limitation, religious or cultural. The expression of devotion has no boundary. The mystic has this sublime realization. 

The subject of this realization is faith, trust in the divine and holy attributes of the soul. The subtle and illuminating powers of the soul gently touch the world about us. Patience and persistence are required in such pursuit. Though our expression has an outward form, it is truly an inner path that gives rise to such a glorious exaltation.

“In the name of…” is a phrase that is commonly used to mean “by the sanction or authority of.” A few examples are: “in the name of the law”, “in the name of love” and “in the name of science.” At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount it is said of Jesus that “the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority". What was the source of that authority? In whose name did he act and speak? We may also ask, what authority guides our thoughts, word and deeds? Unfortunately, we often act in the name of ego. Let us ever aspire to live our lives “in the name of God.”

In our meditation, we will reflect upon the story of creation from the standpoint of our own involution and evolution as spiritual beings. In addition, we will review the revelations of the truth contained in the symbology of this story as revealed in the Book of Genesis and the scriptures of mankind. We look forward to your attendance

As human beings we experience with great difficulty the weaknesses and limitations of the body and the mind. We desire to overcome the obstacles of our physical and mental frailties though they often seem insurmountable. But life is a process of self-discovery, and we seek a philosophy of living that will give us the strength to move forward with equanimity and inspiration. 

What is that power of oneness that can transmute our lives and make, to quote from Kalidas, every day “the very life of life,” every yesterday “a dream of happiness” and every tomorrow “a vision of hope”?

Beyond the measurements of time and the physical processes of change, we also have our subjective experiences of time. As a child we may not have developed much patience and things seem to take way too long. As an adult time seems to “fly.” And we wonder where the time has gone. In these instances, time is relative to our perception. But is there an experience of time which we have not yet fully realized? 

God, the Supreme Self, has given each of us the inestimable gift of our soul, comprising divine love, life and wisdom. The Supreme Self is the “universal lover” that has presented each of us with the special valentine of divine love. With that Valentine, we are given the opportunity to grow and unfold love in our lives. 

How does the soul communicate? 

Ralph Waldo Emerson expressed it beautifully. He said: “When it breathes through our intellect, it is genius; when it breathes through our will, it is virtue; when it flows through our affection, it is love.”

In life we so often fail to allow the soul to express through our wisdom, will and love. Our critical lens often distorts its light.

The Bhagavad Gita has been translated into some eighty different languages, including numerous translations into English. Which translations come closest to giving the meaning of the original Sanskrit? What is lost in translation? Even the original Sanskrit is a “translation” of deep truths that transcend the grasp of written language. All of manifestation is the sacred scripture of God. Through our lens of mental habits and experiences each of us “translates” that scripture into the language of our own unique understanding, life and expression. What is lost in translation? What is the true language of God?

This Sunday we have chosen for our meditation the subject The Wisdom of Shankara. In our meditation, we will reflect upon the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, or Absolute Monism, and discover how this philosophy furnishes us with the foundation for the understanding of our nature and that of the universe.

In addition, we will review the life and contribution of this great soul in an effort to understand the philosophical truth that still baffles scholars and philosophers of East and West. We will also learn what it means to be a “Swami” as well as the philosophy and idealism of the Swami Order of Absolute Monism. 

St. Paul wrote in a letter to the Thessalonians, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.”

If we think of God’s will in terms of divine law, such as the Eternal Law described by the Buddha, then giving thanks in all circumstances reminds us to move beyond the experiences of cold and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and criticism. No longer is our experience that of a temporary nature but of eternal truth.

Each year we share together the words of the “Sermon on the Mount” on the first Sunday of January.  They are not merely sacred verses to recite but words to live by.

A student of religion may commit to memory and recite by heart the Qur’an, the Bible or the Gita.  But to live by the words requires a different kind of commitment and the sometimes painful admission that we are not always up to the task.

With such dedication of body, mind, heart and soul we realize immediately and continuously how difficult is the path. Yet, it is our devotion to an ideal that keeps us moving ever forward.

Our holy scriptures are a profound source of inspiration, illumination and guidance for all humankind. They are typically subdivided into chapters and verses, yet there is always a central truth that pervades the whole and binds these diverse chapters and verses together into a sublime message of unity and oneness. The light of the sun is one; its rays are many. What is it that can impart unity and harmony to the many and varied “verses” of our lives and make them sacred and holy?

“If you're worried and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep and you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings.”

A familiar expression… one can almost hear the gentle melody associated with these beautiful lyrics by Irving Berlin. The words remind us not to fear, not to worry, but to find comfort in the many blessings of life. They also call to mind this passage from the Bible: “And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy.'” 

“Good news of great joy,” of course, refers to the Mystic Birth. The Mystic Birth is not only the birth of one being, in one place and one time. It is the eternal blessing of the life of Soul. The angel of the Lord pronounced, “Do not be afraid.” This wise counsel to the shepherds is also wisdom for us to heed. Life is the opportunity to know, guide and nourish the Soul in this world of creation. “Count your blessings.” The good news of great joy is ours to realize, today and everyday of our lives.

Have you ever gazed up at the stars at night and noticed that as your eyes adjust to the darkness you begin to see more and more stars? At first you see the brightest, the nearest, and the familiar. But if you continue to gaze upon the starry heavens more and more galaxies open up to you revealing an endless ocean of twinkling lights. One cannot help but think of the splendor of it all. As we still the senses and concentrate on the light of Soul, an infinite universe is revealed to us.

This Sunday we have chosen the subject The Mystery of the Tao” for our reflection and meditation.  Together we will explore the wisdom and message of the enlightened Master, Lao Tzu and what he referred to as “The Tao” (The Way).  We will review Lao Tzu’s realization in the context of its universality and show the unity of our subject with the lives of all of the Messengers of Truth  and how his message can assist each of us in our spiritual journey. 

With the beginning of Advent comes the anticipation of a holy season of light. It is a time of preparation. Let us remember that our preparation is an effort to inspire ourselves and those around us to the divinity of soul that abides within us. By holding a spiritual ideal, we hold the lantern that will guide our lives with the consciousness of God.

What is it that guides the pilgrim soul on its journey?

Let us be eternally grateful for the gifts of love, light and life that God so freely and abundantly bestows upon all of creation through his divine grace. Let us, in turn, share those gifts with all beings. May we live always in the consciousness of God’s grace. 

This Sunday we have chosen for our meditation the subject, "The Truth Centered Life." We will explore such questions as “What is Truth?” and “What is its role in our own quest for life’s meaning?” We will highlight our journey to spiritual enlightenment and the means to discover and implement that mission.  We will also explore how we should view the lives of the "Messengers of Truth"—the Avatars, Mahatmas, Saviors and Savants of all times and in all lands? Finally, we will conclude with an understanding that ‘Truth is One, Men Call It by Various Names" and that Truth is an integral dimension of our journey to the Absolute.