Contents Editorial + Where are you Now? + New Year Blessing + message for 2006 + A scripture of love + Swami replies + Paschimottasana Prana Pran Mudra Asana + Marigold Essence + Crystal Formations + Increasing Longevity part 1 + Saint valentine + The World is Full of Happiness + Rajarsi Janakananda + Eckankar + The Power of Enquiry + Wanting a North Star + Inspiration
Selected Articles
Editorial
Namaste all.
A warm welcome to the first official edition of Transcendence 2006!
Swami Shankarananda has returned from His visit to Sri Lanka and India and we are very happy to welcome Him back. Devotees comments can be found in Reportback on page 31.
Everyone yearns to love and be loved, most of us not realising that the ultimate Love lies not in a physical union, but in Union with God, and it is this Divine Valentine that we celebrate in this month, but that should be practised each day.
We find out who Saint Valentine really was and why the 14th of February is regarded as a day of romance worldwide. Healing from Within offers a two-part article entitled Increasing Longevity, about how we can extend our years of life (in order to experience Samadhi in this lifetime, of course).
Swami Murugesu tells us why the world is full of happiness, an article that will be continued in March. Letters from Heaven presents a delightful read by Gloria Wendroff on Love and finding our North Star.
Paramahansa Yogananda’s Scripture of Love from his Divine Romance, is an inspirational piece on man’s misunderstanding of love, explaining why so many people never find satisfaction in love and continue to wonder aimlessly from one relationship to another, never quite capturing the elusive angel of Love.
To top it all off, and to further celebrate Divine Love, a Divine Valentine card is included as a free gift to each reader who purchases a copy of this month’s Transcendence. Each of these cards carry an inspirational saying on Love by Swami Shankaranda. Enjoy!
In Love and Service always,
Editor.
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Message from the Master
Where are you now?
The cycles of birth and death have now become endless. Each of you is diseased and in pain. Consumed by the passion of desire, your enjoyment is derived from the senses, making your existence more useless. Many of your thoughts are caused by this strain; your feet carrying you only to satisfy your mind, yet, with a single ‘high voltage’ thought of the Divine, all doubts and desires can be cleared; in speech, in perception, in body language. May all of you attain such a devotion.
Message from the Master
Where are you now?
The cycles of birth and death have now become endless. Each of you is diseased and in pain. Consumed by the passion of desire, your enjoyment is derived from the senses, making your existence more useless. Many of your thoughts are caused by this strain; your feet carrying you only to satisfy your mind, yet, with a single ‘high voltage’ thought of the Divine, all doubts and desires can be cleared; in speech, in perception, in body language. May all of you attain such a devotion.
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New Year Blessing
from Swami Shankarananda
May the enlivening Divine Energy set in the presence of That Supreme Being, God, bless each one of you abundantly during this year, 2006. Everyone of you is aware that the fullness of the Pure Reality of Truth is present always, wherever you may be. Do not get caught up in the darkness of simple insults, worrying for no good reason. Humans are such people that enjoy inflicting physical or mental pain upon themselves. Now is the time to journey within to that Ultimate Reality - Truth, or God.
As your nurturing continues to create that God-presence awareness, you will attain peace of mind, great personal relationships and ideal circumstances for your highest good in this simple life.
During 2006, Turn your back on any kind of violence, but be not a victim of a supporter. Do not associate yourself with acts that bring pain upon yourself. Meditate deeply and encourage family and groups to join you. Speak to me about arranging a session in your area. Pray always for the well-being of all in this world. Always express freely the presence of God and engage yourself in constructive thoughts, encouraging words and pleasant deeds. Your influence should benefit everyone all of the time.
What changes have you made or promised to make for 2006? You are already into the second month; one sixth of 2006 is almost over. Have you made those you promised yourself? Look again at your promises.
Do not watch television. Avoid excessive worrying about the changing violent trends of the current world. First maintain your inner Self by peace of mind, stability and confidence in the orderly processes of life. In today’s violent world, the awakening towards peace is slowed, many other transformational changes are taking place quickly, yet spiritual transformation is slow. Make your spiritual transformation rapidly and you will be saved from disaster. Pray Daily.
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Feature Saint Valentine
Saint Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.
Saint Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.
Almost everyone (especially ladies) looks forward to the 14th February with starry eyes. Couples celebrate with romantic outings and single people send cards and flowers to secret lovers. Yet, sadly, this is the time of year when the most suicides take place. We are pre-programmed that we have to have a ‘partner’ in order to fit into the confines of normality, causing people who are on their own to sometimes become ‘lonely’ and fall prey to being outcast because of their single status and, unable to bear the torment any longer, end their own lives. Most who celebrate Valentines day have no idea of the origins of the holiday or why it is so widely celebrated. To try and shed some light on the matter, we have unearthed the interesting facts below.
The origin of Saint Valentine, and how many Saint Valentines there were, remains a mystery. One opinion is that he was a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Other historians hold that St. Valentine was a temple priest jailed for defiance during the reign of Claudius. Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman cata-comb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honour of his martyrdom.
The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in a The Nuremberg Chronicle, a great illustrated book printed in 1493. (Additional evidence that Valentine was a real person: archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine.) Alongside a woodcut portrait of him, text states that Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth (Claudius II). Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under the Emperor Claudius in Rome (when helping them was considered a crime), Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned.
Claudius took a liking to this prisoner - until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor - whereupon this priest was condem-ned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn’t do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate (circa 269).
Saints are not supposed to rest in peace; they’re expected to keep busy: to perform miracles, to intercede. Being in jail or dead is no excuse for non-performance of the supernatural. One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer’s blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer’s daughter, signing it, “From your Valentine.”
The greatest part of St Valentine’s relics are now in the church of Saint Praxedes. His name is celebrated as that of an illustrious martyr in the sacramentary of Saint Gregory, the Roman Missal of Thomasius, in the calendar of F. Fronto and that of Allatius, in Bede, Usuard, Ado, Notker and all other martyrologies on this day. To abolish the heathen’s lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls, in honor of their goddess Februata Juno, on the fifteenth of this month, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets given on this day.
Reprinted from: www.catholic.org
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Rajarsi Janakananda
A Great Western Yogi
Published by Self Realization Fellowship
A Great Western Yogi
Published by Self Realization Fellowship
This is the story of the Life of Paramahansa Yogananda’s First Spiritual Successor, James J. Lynn, a man who achieved tremendous success in the material world, and, at the same time, became a God-illumined saint. This expanded edition includes a detailed account of his dramatic life story and more than 60 pages of excerpts from Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal correspondence with him—words of guidance and love that offer glimpses of the intimate spiritual accord they shared, and powerfully conveys the depth of the guru-disciple relationship.“. . . of all the men I have met here (in America), I think the one who has found highest favour with God is Saint Lynn.” Paramahansa Yogananda
“No words of mine can adequately convey to you Mr Lynn’s unselfish devotion. His one thought during his visits, is to pour out his wonder-power for our sakes.” Sister Gyanamata
In the words of Saint Lynn
“Do not concern yourself with the thoughts of others, or what might be their reactions to you.”
“Surrender thoughts and feelings to God. Know Him to the exclusion of all else and you will swim in that perennial joy and bliss of Spirit.”
“Be brave and calm and know that God is with you and His will be done.”
To subscribe to a set of 2006 Transcendence issues
email Deepak.Folly@uec.co.za
email Deepak.Folly@uec.co.za