Monday, June 29th, 2015

Monday, June 29th, 2015

Toronto, Ontario

 Advance!

In my humble travels throughout the neighbourhood of our ashram I see so many physical improvements being made; the exteriors to people's homes, the landscaping and, in some cases, whole new structures coming up.  This is a fairly established residential area.  All the face-lifting and sprucing-up gives a grand appearance.  In nearby Yorkville the streets are now being laid out with an interlocking cobblstone effect.  It looks smart, impressive.  Some of the cosmetics have to do with the upcoming Pan Am Games no doubt.

It's all about make-over, upgrade, betterment and enhancement.  I got to thinking about the great investment not only in time and money expended in this area of renovation but how, if we dovetailed as much energy into our spiritual investment, how it would go a long way to the true advancement of life.

The "good life" usually runs in parallel lines, as in the material and the spiritual.  And that usually comes about through the element of sacrifice.

I like the way it is worded in the latest rendition of the Bhagavd-gita, a comprehensive guide by our guru's disciple Hrdayananda Goswami, when speaking of sacrifice.  From Chapter Three verse 9 he says, "Of old, the lord of creatures sent forth creatures with sacrifice and said, 'By this shall you flourish!  Let this yield your chosen desires' and 'prosper the gods by this, and let the gods prosper you.  Prospering one another, you will achieve the highest good.  Prospered by sacrifice, the gods will certainly give you desired enjoyments.'"

Chapter Three primarily deals with karma yoga, material advancement.  Students of the Gita understand that the goal ultimately leads, however, to spiritual improvement in life.

May the Source be with you!

5 km