Once upon a time there was a remote monastery in the desert. The temple was carved out of the stone. There were a dozen simple monks who spent their days in prayer and meditation. One evening they were having dinner in silence as usual. Suddenly the silence was shattered with a cry of agony from the head monk. His eyes … Read More
“Without a Breath of Censure”
One evening, for a “movie night,” the Ananda Village monks watched Into Great Silence, a documentary film about a very strict French Catholic monastery. The monks live in complete silence, praying long hours in their cells, coming together only for meals and formal worship. Over time one monk seems to be sinking deeper into dementia. His monastic brothers treat him … Read More
The Secret of True Joy
St. Francis was the “patron saint” of Paramhansa Yogananda. There is a beautiful story of St Francis known as “The Secret of True Joy”. It goes like this: St. Francis and his close companion, Brother Leo, were walking in the winter through a snowstorm, trying to reach a monastery before it got too late. St. Francis called ahead to Brother … Read More
“Man’s power is limited, but God’s is without limitation”
One day I was greeted at the front door of our India monastery by a strange sight at my feet. What appeared to be an insect was moving very strangely across the ground. As I looked closer it seemed to be a small leaf or seed that had legs! It would move straight ahead for a bit, then turn and … Read More
Swami Kriyananda
One Act of Divine Love
Centuries ago, Saint John of the Cross said words to the effect that one act of divine love (that love which is the fruit of deep meditation) is of greater value to the Church than the combined activities of dedicated, but unmeditative, monks, priests, and nuns. The greatest thing we have to give to the world is our spirit – … Read More
