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For many years I owned a distribution business. We drove regular delivery routes. Whenever we hired someone new to drive for us, we did a few things to make sure that it went well. One was that someone who already knew the route taught the new person. That meant going with them when they first drove the route. The new person always actually drove while the teacher described the steps. The teacher might say “Get in the left lane now and go up to the next set of lights.” If the instructions were not complete and clear, the trainee simply wouldn't know what to do.
This naturally reminds me of having teachers on our spiritual path. Why would you want to flounder around trying to figure it all out yourself when others have been down this road? But, your spiritual path is indeed yours. While teachers can show us the way, we have to drive the route.
Back to the delivery business: When the teachers were sharing aloud how to drive the route, they recorded what they said. That meant that the next time the new driver went out, there were clear, complete directions.
This brings to mind the extraordinarily detailed explanations of how to follow the spiritual path left us by Yogananda & Kriyananda. Books and recordings on virtually every spiritual topic are available. Ananda Lightbearers have added hugely to this inspirational library. (See www.ananda.org and Treasures Along the Path if you don't know what I'm talking about.)
The best advice we gave new drivers before their first solo trip was remember that all you ever have to do is get to the next stop. If you start thinking “I've got 79 more stops spread over 11 towns! How will I ever get through them all?” then you either won't get through them - or you will suffer the whole way. Relax and take it a step at a time.
After interviewing prospective drivers for years I learned that I could pretty much know who would succeed and who would not. Those who said “Okay, I’ll try it.” would not succeed. Those who said “Okay, I’ll do it!” would do fine.
On the spiritual path, the great ones show us how. Decide to do it yourself.
The Expanding Light teachers have been following the route for decades. They know the way. Come; let them share with you what they have learned.
Happy driving,
Timothy
PS. There are too many programs I'd like to feature this month! Please do check out the list of programs to the right, and click through to see the full list.
Inner Renewal Week
Join the residents of Ananda Village on retreat.
Feb 5 - 12, 2012
If you are serious about your spiritual practice, and would like to join with the great souls of Ananda Village for a week of going deep, join us for Inner Renewal Week. Programs through the week, many led by Jyotish & Devi, are designed to help devoted pilgrims find their way along the path. It doesn't get any better than this!
Inspiration from Yogananda
Tranquilled, unbroken thrill, eternally living, ever-new peace!
Enjoyable beyond imagination of expectancy, samadhi bliss!
Not an unconscious state
Or mental chloroform without wilful return,
Samadhi but extends my conscious realm
Beyond limits of the mortal frame
To farthest boundary of eternity
Where I, the Cosmic Sea,
Watch the little ego floating in Me.
From: From Autobiography of a Yogi
Walking with William the Conqueror
June 17 - 24, 2012
7 day pilgrimage in France
Do Paramhansa Yogananda and his Autobiography of a Yogi inspire you?
Did you know that there are shrines in Europe where Yogananda's blessings can be felt? And those of his great guru,
Sri Yukteswar?
Yogananda told his disciples that in a former incarnation he was William the Conqueror. He also said that Sri Yukteswar had incarnated as William's spiritual advisor, Lanfranc.
Join this pilgrimage led by two authors on these topics.
Inspiration from Swami Kriyananda
Will Power
Will power, and not the vague abstraction luck, is the secret of true achievement. Will power, on subtle energy levels, generates what only looks like luck, by magnetically attracting to us opportunities. Our will is strengthened by removing from our minds the “no-saying” tendency: the obstructions of doubt, of laziness, and of fear - yes, even of the fear of success!
Will power is developed by persevering to the conclusion of whatever one attempts. One should start first with little undertakings, then proceed to bigger ones. Infinite will power comes from harnessing the little human will to God’s infinite, all-powerful consciousness.
From: Affirmations for Self-Healing
You Can Change Your Brain
Self-Transformation through Superconsciousness
Feb 24 - 26, 2012
Led by Dr. Peter Van Houten.
Offered for the first time!
Based on the huge popularity of the class on the brain that Dr. Peter gives as part of bigger programs here, we asked him to deliver a weekend long expanded program.
Who do you want to be in 6 months? Learn how your brain can help you!
Expanding Light News - coming soon
A Conference on the Yugas
May 25 - 28, 2012 (Memorial Day Weekend)
The Expanding Light Presents:
The Yuga Cycle of the Ages and Our Awakening Consciousness
In partnership with Ananda College - Higher education for higher consciousness
 At the end of May, we will be hosting a Conference on the Yugas here at The Expanding Light.
World renown speakers who have already agreed to join us include Swami Kriyananda, Amit Goswami, Joan Borysenko, Robert Schoch, Uma Krishnamurthy, Walter Cruttendon, Claude Swanson, Christopher Dunn, and Ananda's own Joseph Selbie and David Steimmetz.
Come and meet some of the leading authorities in Quantum Physics, Spiritual Philosophy and more. It's going to be big!
If you haven't learned about the Yugas - the Cycles of the Ages - yet, we recommend this book: The Yugas
We'll share conference details with you as they shape up.
Save the date!
NEW PROGRAM coming to Gaia House
A Celebration of Women's Spirituality
2-day weekend
April 13 - 15, 2012
Join Devi, Shanti, Carianne, and other teachers for this weekend dedicated to the celebration and expansion of all that is unique to living this life as a woman, learning how to free ourselves to become all that we were meant to be.
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