In Mysore I visited a sandalwood factory; each piece of shaving of sandalwood contributes to the atmosphere of the whole place, and anyone who enters enjoys the wonderful fragrance. Similarly, when I come to our Self-Realisation Fellowship temples, there are so many good souls earnestly seeking God that I feel the spiritual vibration emanating from their collective goodness.

The overall quality and character of any community, any civilisation, is produced by mass karma, the accumulated effects of actions left in the ether by the populace in general. Each individual is responsible for contributing to the mass karma, which in turn influences every individual.

The person who keeps himself cleansed of all wrong vibrations produces a powerful uplifting effect on his contemporaries. One moon gives more luster than all the stars; so a mooned soul- one who purely reflects the light of God- can influence the masses much more than the masses influence each other. Thus, individual efforts can be even more important than mass karma. one who in every way tries to uplift himself, harmonising body, mind and soul with the Divine, creates positive karma not only in his own life, but in his family, neighbourhood, country and world. Hence it is not justified to say, ‘Thousands of people are misbehaving, so what does it matter if I am, too?’ No! The goodness of one soul may effectively neutralise the mass karma of millions.

Such was the accomplishment of Mahatma Gandhi: he brought freedom to 400 million people by his spiritual influence. He was scoffed at and spent many years in prison, but he still went on. Ultimately, his spirit of righteousness triumphed, and he became instrumental in freeing India by peaceful means. His life stands as a monumental example of the practical application of Jesus Christ’s doctrines. Because ones individual sowed goodness, millions reaped that goodness and freedom.

Each drop of water contributes to the existence of the ocean. So even if each ones life seems no more than a droplet in the sea of humanity, that life can have a significant influence. One who makes himself god-like automatically uplifts countless others on the divine path. One who makes himself evil demotes others from the spiritual plane by a negative effect on their potential weakness. He who has reformed himself has reformed thousands; for what one sows in the ether, by the vibrations of his thoughts and character, others will surely reap.”

~ Paramhansa Yogananda.

In the world of top flight sports, especially golf, snooker, darts there is a term known as confidence. Confidence is described simply as ‘concentrating on what you want to happen’ in comparison to what you don’t want to occur. Imagine the image of a top flight golfer, every shot is raining down on the flag and the commentators are raving on about the individual being ‘in the zone’!

This zone which is often spoken about in sports is simply a highly positive, confident state of mind where failure is never allowed to enter in to the thought process.

There can be a very simple transition from the world of sport, to life in general.
Look at the people who have made a massive impact on the world, ones who’s companies and lives have soared and made a positive impact on the world and humanity. These individuals would have been super-focussed and positive for many years despite many failures and setbacks which life brings with it.

So. To bring this attitude into ones daily life is the next step. Think positive and confidently. Focus purely on what you want to happen in your life; wether its regaining health, getting that perfect job or work role, finding that perfect partner or maybe achieving a higher state of consciousness. Anything is possible in this time we live in and anyone who tells you differently is most definitely not using the concept P.M.A regularly and should be ignored and avoided!

Go for it! What have you got to lose? What is the alternative? If you think for a second about the alternative you will see why a positive mental attitude is needed. The opposite is doubting yourself, thinking you could never achieve certain things, never aiming for the stars. The choice is yours.

“Gokarna says in the Shrimadbhagwatan: ‘This body is only flesh and bones; cease to be attached to it.’
This body is the vehicle and the Atman (Spirit) is the rider. Treat the rider separately from the vehicle. It is not easy to do so. It requires years of practice. We practice by thinking this is God’s property, not ours. The mind is God’s property, not ours; everything is Gods, and nothing is ours. In this way we free ourselves from all attachments, all constraints. Again, this concept is difficult for those who think that ‘I’ is the physical body.

A mahatma wished to live in complete solitude, in order that he could meditate undisturbed at all times. He recounted his wish to a rich man. The rich man had an isolated resthouse deep in the forest, rarely visited by mankind. He offered the resthouse to the Mahatma, and in addition provided a young servant to look after his comforts.
The young servant looked after his master so well that his heart was moved. He asked the young servant if he was content with his life, and if he could do anything to bring him happiness. The young man replied that he himself was content and happy, but he was afraid that his dead father had not achieved Self-Realisation as he was frequently appearing in his dreams. He asked the Mahatma for a remedy.
During the ensuing nights, the Mahatma was haunted by the problem of the young man’s father. One evening, the boy went to a neighbouring village to attend a marriage feast, telling the Mahatma that he would not return until the following morning. So the Mahatma locked up the house and went to bed. Now, the young servants bed was beside that of the Mahatma and lay empty. The mahatma’a mind was filled with the thoughts about the young mans father, and the failure to achieve Self-Realisation. He was quite unable to sleep in peace.
The marriage feast was over by midnight, so the boy returned to the house immediately instead of waiting until the morning. In the darkness he thought that the occupant must be the boy’s father (who had be haunting his son’s dreams because he had not achieved Self-Realisation). He recited holy mantras and sprinkled blessed water over the body, but the boy did not wake up as he was in so deep a sleep. Now the Mahatma became frightened out of his wits. He opened the window and jumped out in order to get away. In his haste he fell over with a heavy thud. The noise awakened the young servant. He chased after the Mahatma with a heavy staff thinking that he was a burglar escaping. Eventually they recognised each other before many blows were sustained, and the misunderstanding was cleared up.

In such a way, just a momentary thought stealing unconsciously into the mind, will make its home there; then it appears later at some inopportune moment to cause much mischief. Reels and reels of such thoughts from thousands of years (in many lifetimes) are lying imprinted in our minds. They will not let us have peace, unless we develop the same attachment towards God as we have towards the world.
Our desires (wishes) are like so many strings that pull us towards the world. (Mr Ouspensky: ‘man is a marionette pulled by invisible strings.’)
Let this pull be towards God, Instead of towards the world. The method is to think (see) that everything, including one’s physical body and mind, belongs to God. Whatever actions we do, including eating, drinking, reading, writing and looking after our duties, should all be dedicated to God.”

~ The Orange Book

~ Paramhansa Yogananda.

It is clear from the above quote that the choice is most definitely down to the individual. We have a level of free will and are able to make certain choices throughout our lives which shape our days.

Happy or sad, restless or calm, greedy or generous, it is a choice which must be made. It is all too easy to blame our outlook on life on external circumstances and surroundings but we are free to make the choices that are necessary to turn our lives around.

Begin today, right this second to turn the – into a + and reap the benefits that come with this choice. Whether you are religious or not, God and Satan can simply be taken as the principle of positive and negative in their greatest capacity. I know which one I choose and try to spend my days in good actions and ennobling thoughts which enrich my life no end.

If you look very closely, and spend a few minutes of careful introspection looking deep inside yourself you will find the answer that you are looking for. Good or Bad, its up to you!

~Paramhansa Yogananda.

I am unable to add anything more. All is said in the above. What I will say is Yogananda has opened up a new world for me, one which I new was there but not fully aware of. I hope you enjoy. If you enjoy, please share with others who may also.

“Vibrations of other people can be received by an exchange of magnetism. One who comes near a holy person will be benefited; this is baptism by spiritual magnetism. The saints thoughts and magnetic aura cast out a vibratory glow that changes the consciousness and brain cells who come within range. All who visit or live on the same grounds where a master lives or has lived will automatically be transformed if they are in tune. If that attunement is deep enough, even from thousands of miles away a holy person’s uplifting vibrations can be received.
If one loves poetry and is much in the company of a poet of noble ideals, one will be baptised with wholesome elevated feelings and the appreciation of the goodness and beauty in everything. Such baptism by feeling makes one aesthetically imaginative and sympathetic.
If one associates long with persons of high morality and self-control, ones own life will feel positive reinforcement of moral consciousness and self-control.
If purposely and attentively one associates with successful creative minds, the consciousness will be baptised with a creative business sense.”

~Paramhansa Yogananda

This is of course a two way process. We receive vibrations from others and we also send vibrations from ourselves to them. We can be aware of this in extremes when someone is very anxious, or down, sometimes maybe overjoyed or peaceful. But in its medium range we cannot sense what is going on within their inner life.
Great men of all generations have set examples for us, benchmarks to aim for if one is aware and interested. How would it have been to experience these great ones presence.

There is an NLP technique called re-framing where the individual imagines them self at some point in the future having acquired certain virtues. This can be done today, right now. Just imagine vividly where you would like to get to. Be it in the spiritual world, the world of business, family, schooling. Imagine yourself where you are heading and continue to make daily efforts to reach these goals.

How many of us have as our main daily priority ‘evenmindedness’? It is a possibility.. To be neither depressed by the bad, nor jubilant with the good will have a profound effect on your day!

Take from it what you will. But know that there are forces working at all times bringing into your life what your thoughts revolve around the most.

Our family moved to Lahore in the Pubjab. There I acquired a picture of the Divine Mother in the form of the Goddess Kali. It sanctified a small informal shrine on the balcony of our home. An unequivocal conviction came over me that fulfilment would crown any of my prayers uttered in that sacred spot. Standing there with Uma (Yoganandas sister) one day, I watched two kites flying over the roofs of the buildings on the opposite side of the very narrow lane.
“Why are you so quiet?” Uma pushed me playfully.
“I am just thinking how wonderful it is that Divine Mother gives me whatever I ask.”
“I suppose She would give you those two kites!” My sister laughed derisively.
“Why not?” I began silent prayers for their possession.
Matches are played in India with kites whose strings are covered with glue and ground glass. Each player attempts to sever the string of his opponent. A free kite sails over the roofs; there is great fun in catching it. Inasmuch as Uma and I were on the balcony, it seemed impossible that any loosed kite would come into our hands; its string would naturally dangle over the roofs.
The players across the lane Began their match. One string was cut; immediately the kite floated in my direction. It was stationary for a moment, through sudden abatement of breeze, which sufficed to firmly entangle the string with a cactus plant on top of the opposite house. A perfect loop was formed for my seizure. I handed the prize to Uma.
“It’s just an extraordinary accident, and not an answer to your prayer. If the other kite comes to you, then I shall believe.” Sisters dark eyes conveyed more amazement than her words.
I continued my prayers with a crescendo of intensity. A forcible tug by the other player resulted in the abrupt loss of his kite. It headed towards me, dancing in the wind. My helpful assistant, the cactus plant again secured the kite string on the necessary loop by which I could grasp it. I presented my second trophy to Uma.
“Indeed, Divine Mother listens to you! This is all too uncanny for me!” Sister bolted away like a frightened fawn.

pg. 130, Autobiography of a Yogi

“Very strange, very wonderful, seemingly very improbable phenomena may yet appear which, when once established, will not astonish us more than we are now astonished at all that science has taught us during the last century. It is assumed that the phenomena which we now accept without surprise, do not excite our astonishment because they are understood. But this is not the case. If they do not surprise us it is not because they are understood, it is because they are familiar; for if that which is not understood ought to surprise us, we should be surprised at everything- the fall of a stone thrown into the air, the acorn which becomes an oak, mercury which expands when it is heated, iron attracted by a magnet, phosphorus which burns when it is rubbed… The science of today is a light matter; the revolutions and evolutions which it will experience in a hundred thousand years will far exceed the most daring anticipations. The truths- those surprising, amazing, unforeseen truths- which our descendants will discover, are even now all around us, staring us in the eyes, so to speak, and yet we do not see them. But it is not enough to say that we do not see them; we do not wish to see them; for as soon as an unexpected and unfamiliar fact appears, we try to fit it into the framework of the commonplaces of acquired knowledge, and we are indignant that anyone should dare to experiment further.”

Charles Robert Richet, Nobel Prizeman in physiology

Do we wish to see these unforeseen truths? Or do we have blinkers on which keep us blinded to what is happening all around us?

How exciting are the times in which we are living? I am communicating with you with relative ease. Information is available in an instant, even quicker than that..

We must create a new framework of what exists and of what is possible. The power of the mind; great men who have existed and will come to exist; the stars and their effects on mankind; the positive benefits of faith, prayer and meditation to name but a few.

Yogananda helps us to see things clearer, if we choose to accept the challenge of course. Alternatively we can tighten our blinkers and continue to live in the dark. I know which I prefer. Now for you to choose…