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You may be thinking, “What, 8-hours! I can’t possibly do that, I just learned to meditate!” Or, “I don’t have the time.” If these or other objections are filling your thoughts, read on!
Yogananda felt Christmas to be a very sacred holiday. Not only does it celebrate the birth of the great avatar, Jesus Christ, it also highlights the opportunity we all have to embrace the Christ consciousness in our own self, through meditation.
Jesus Christ is an important part of Ananda’s spiritual lineage. As Paramhansa Yogananda states in his Autobiography of a Yogi, it was Christ who appeared to Mahavatar Babaji asking that the lost, sacred teachings of inner communion with the Divine, which He had given to the world in his incarnation as Jesus, be reawakened.
(Paramhansa Yogananda at a Christmas banquet, 1951.)
Yogananda observed that the inner message of Christmas is often lost entirely to shopping, greed, intoxication, etc. He therefore divided Christmas in two: “spiritual Christmas,” celebrated by an all-day meditation, and “social Christmas,” celebrated by gift-giving and a festive banquet. This tradition continues today at Ananda centers around the globe.
In 1976, as I was preparing to leave Ananda Village to finish my last year of college, Swami Kriyananda said to me, “Come at Christmas and join us for our eight-hour meditation.” Without waiting to respond or thinking about it, I said, “Yes, I will do that.” Afterward I wondered, “How can I do that? I’m new to meditation! And… sitting that long?” So my friends, I totally understand if you are hesitating!
The first half of the meditation focuses on our meditation techniques and is interspersed with periodic devotional chanting. Most of second half is dedicated to enjoying the fruits of our efforts and expanding upon them. Selections of inspirational music are periodically played during this half to further inspire one to go deeper in the eternal joy of the soul.
A great part of spiritual growth, success, and attunement can be summed up by simply trying to be present with the Guru. Trying to do what he has lovingly suggested we do to grow spiritually. We don’t simply “wake up” one day being able to meditate longer. I’ve seen often enough that it’s best to “dive in!” God will keep us afloat in deep waters when we are willing to at least try. And, with such an effort, unforeseeable, unimaginable Grace does flood in.
(Walking to a Christmas morning meditation at Ananda Village)
Why wait? The power of these Christmas meditations to lift the novice meditator into experiences undreamed of is priceless. And, when the meditation ends, quite possibly you will feel, “How was that possible? It went so fast!” Your life will be different. You’ll see.
For details about this event at Ananda East Los Angeles, visit here.
