Paramahansa Yogananda ~ Proof of God’s Response

by **Sarveswara** Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:39 pm

Where There Is Light
~ Paramahansa Yogananda

Proof of God’s Response

“Sir, I do not seem to be progressing in my meditations. I see and hear nothing,” a student said. Paramahansa Yogananda replied;

“Seek God for His own sake. The highest perception is to feel Him as Bliss, welling up from your infinite depths. Don’t yearn for visions, spiritual phenomena, or thrilling experiences. The path to the Divine is not a circus!”

A common cause of spiritual discouragement is the devotee’s expectation that God’s response will come in a great blaze of awe-inspiring inner illumination. This erroneous notion dulls the devotee’s perception of the subtle Divine responses that are present fro m the very beginning of one’s meditative practices. God responds to the devotee’s every effort, every devotional call. Even as a novice, you will realise this is your own seeking if you learn to recognise Him as the quiet, inner peace that steals over your consciousness. This peace is the first proof of God’s presence within. You will know it is He who has guided and inspired you to some right decision in your life. You will feel His strength empowering you to overcome bad habits and nurture spiritual qualities. You will know Him as the ever-increasing joy and love that surges deep within, overflowing into your everyday life and relationships.

The more you feel peace in meditation, the closer you are to God. He moves nearer and nearer to you the deeper you enter into meditation. The peace of meditation is the language and embracing comfort of God. Therefore, God is present right on the throne of peace within you. Find Him there first and you will find Him in all the noble pursuits of life, in true friends, in the beauty of nature, in good books, in good thoughts, in noble aspirations …. When you know God as peace within, then you will realize Him as peace existing in the universal harmony of all things without.

“Thought I try to calm my mind, I lack the power to banish restless thoughts and to penetrate the world within,” a visitor remarked. “I must be lacking in devotion.”

“Sitting in the silence trying to feel devotion may often get you nowhere,” Paramahansa Yogananda said. “That is why I teach scientific techniques of meditation. Practice them and you will be able to disconnect the mind from sensory distractions and from the otherwise ceaseless flow of thoughts.

“By Kriya Yoga one’s consciousness functions on a higher plane; devotion to the Infinite Spirit then arises spontaneously in man’s heart.”

The essential proof of Self-realization – of God’s consciousness in you – is to be truly and unconditionally happy. If you are receiving more and more joy in meditation, without cessation, you may know that God is making manifest His presence in you.

Even true devotees think sometimes that God does not answer their prayers. He does answer silently, through His laws; but until He is absolutely sure of the devotee He will not answer openly, He will not talk to the devotee. The Lord of the Universe is so humble that He does not speak, lest in so doing HE influence the devotee’s use of free will to choose or reject Him. Once you know Him, there is no doubt that you will love Him. Who could resist the Irresistible? But you have to prove your unconditional love for God in order to know Him. You have to have faith. You have to know that even as you pray He is listening to you. Then He will make Himself known to you.

When God does not respond to your prayers, it is because you are not in earnest. If you offer Him dry imitation prayers, you cannot expect to claim the Heavenly Father’s attention. The only way to reach God through prayer is by persistence, regularity, and depth of earnestness. Cleanse your mind of all negation, such as fear, worry, anger; then fill it with thoughts of love, service, and joyous expectation. In the sanctum of your heart there must be enshrined one power, one joy, one peace – God.

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