The world needs people
Who cannot be bought;
Whose word is their bond;
Who put character above wealth;
Who possess opinions and a will;
… Who are larger than their vocations;
Who do not hesitate to take chances;
Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
Who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
Who will make no compromise with wrong;
Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
Who will not say they do it ”because everybody else does it;”
Who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as prosperity;
Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
Who can say ”no” with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says ”yes”.
~Ted W. Engstrom
“To work with God’s happiness bubbling in the soul is to carry a portable paradise within you wherever you go.”
~ Paramahansa Yogananda
Happy Good Friday everyone! I hope this finds you preparing for a wonderful holiday weekend. And setting aside even just a few moments in church or in meditation to truly connect with the divine, that which Jesus gave his life for.
Upon waking and watching the warm sunrise this morning, I was drawn to think of my favorite book “Autobiography of a Yogi” written by Paramahansa Yogananda. It was named one of the 100 best spiritual books of the 20th century, and reads almost like a fairy tale. Yogi shares with us his unforgettable story of saints and yogis, science and miracles, death and resurrection. With chapters entitled The Saint with Two Bodies, The Tiger Swami, The Levitating Saint, The Cauliflower Robbery, The Law of Miracles, The Woman Yogi Who Never Eats …. He uses the mystical to open our hearts to all that is possible in this world, and beyond.
“The very purpose of religion is to control yourself, not to criticize others. Rather, we must criticize ourselves. How much am I doing about my anger? About my attachment, about my hatred, about my pride, my jealousy? These are the things which we must check in daily life.”
~ The Dalai Lama
Another enjoyable morning here in St. Thomas, with bright skies, and just the right amount of haze in the air to naturally filter the rising sun. The full moon last night was just as stunning.
“We are each here to be a continual unfolding of ourselves, by taking inventory, collecting the necessary ingredients, adding in what is most nourishing and seeing ourselves rise to new heights.”
~ Simran Singh
It was so deliciously still this morning, I almost felt like I was on the set of Dune or something. And the sunrise was pretty amazing. It’s supposed to be like this for a couple more days, but I won’t bet on it 😉
So the above quote came out of a beautiful email I received in my inbox yesterday. I’ve posted the complete email below for your enjoyment too.