I have often seen people on the spiritual path who think they can have their feet in two boats, who think they can combine a worldly life and a spiritual life and do well at both.
Ramakrishna used the illustration of a woman who had lost her husband and, before casting herself on the ground in an “agony of bereavement,” carefully removed her glasses and jewelry for fear of breaking them.
Many people pretend great love for God, but first they want to be sure that everything’s in order, that the stock market’s behaving itself, and that they’ve been practical on every possible level.
They say, “Oh, Lord, I give myself to you,” but one eye is on the door to make sure it’s locked.
It’s not possible to have your feet in two boats.
Inevitably, a moment of decision will arrive and it will be necessary to decide whether to please the world or to take the more difficult step of pleasing God.
God watches the heart. If you love Him but give Him a secondary place in your heart, He won’t be able to come to you.
What is true devotion?
True devotion means to love God purely and not to think of anything except, “I long to know You. I long to serve You. I long to be one with You.”
In pure love, there are no ulterior motives, no likes and dislikes, only the desire to please Him. Saint Therese of Lisieux said, “I would like to go to hell to be able to love God even there.” It is beautiful to think: “Wherever I am, I don’t want to lose my love for You, Lord.
This would be the worst possible mistake. You can put me wherever You wish, if You give me the grace not to lose my love for You. This is all I ask.” So pray for devotion. It’s a gift of God and by your very act of prayer you will be putting out the magnetism to draw that gift to you.
Pray this simple prayer as often as you remember: “Divine Mother, awaken your love in me, and then help me to awaken that love in all.”
When you meditate, do so with an attitude of self-giving, with no thought of any reward, only of His pleasure.
Try to develop the kind of love that says, “I want Him now but if it be His will, I’m willing to wait forever.”
The more you offer yourself up to Him in that way, the more His love will be able to flow through you.
“God, my life is in your hands” A very good attitude to have when difficulties and trials come to you suddenly is: “God, my life is in your hands.” Try to develop that attitude by practicing over a period of time until you can come up with it instantly. It’s very helpful to imagine the worst. God will give you joy if you live in Him and, even if calamities come to you, his blessing will be there.
People who leave their bodies with God in their hearts don’t suffer — any pain they might feel is minimized or non-existent. Those who die thinking of God or for God, like a Joan of Arc, go in bliss. If in the face of death itself you feel joy, that itself is a great victory. All victory depends upon being in tune with God, the source of all truth. So try to love in a divine, unconditional way as much as possible.
Swami Kriyananda is a living disciple of Paramhamsa Yogananda. He is also the founder of Ananda Sangha with nine communities around the world