Entries Tagged as 'Dr. M. W. Lewis'
August 29th, 2010
The conclusion of “Are Miracles Possible Today?”– a talk given by Dr. M.W. Lewis in San Diego on August 9, 1953
We are made in the Image of God, but we have to first realize that omniscience. Everything comes from that omniscience, which is the Light of God made from these little free electrons. Think of the work of His great Mind, His Intelligence. You cannot comprehend it–how, from that one little thing–both a particle and a wave–this great universe has been formed. That’s the greatest miracle–the miracle of Light.
I’d like to read just a word from the Autobiography about this Law of Miracles, and then I will be through. First, as I have said, God is Light. Science, as I have said, has shown, is showing every day that everything is reduced to electricity and finally, into the Light of God, the Flame of God. And in 1st Timothy, the 6th chapter, the 15th and 16th verses, we read this: “The King of kings, the Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality,” There’s only immortality in God’s great Light, in His Eternal Flame, and we can be that. “Dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto.” There we have what the reality of life is. And to perform miracles, to understand them, we must be that Light.
A personal experience
One time not too long ago I was meditating a long time, sitting there relaxed, just a bit into that land of the shadow between wakefulness and sleepfulness. And a tremendous bolt of lightning hit me, and with it a tremendous clap of thunder. I can’t describe it. I didn’t know whether I was dead or alive. But I was fully aware that that was the Flame of God’s Presence. So these things are real. Follow the Self-Realization techniques. Meditate, with devotion to God, and He will give you the greatest gift–oneness with His Presence–oneness with His Great Light.
And so, in the Autobiography of a Yogi, if you want to know about miracles, read this Chapter Thirty. It’s far more than I can tell you. Read it; meditate for years and years. Then perhaps you will know about it. There it says: “Through a Master’s divine knowledge of light phenomena, he can instantly project into perceptible manifestation the omnipresent light atoms.” Everything is from Light. “The actual form of the projection (whether it be: a tree, a medicine, a human body) is in conformance with a yogi’s power of will and visualization.” Those are God’s Powers. God visualized this Creation; by His Power of Will He put that visualization into effect. We can do the same thing, if we couple ourselves with God’s Will. These are the Laws of Miracles.
Finally, I’d like to read from the same page when it says: “Innocent of all personal motives….” You cannot know God if there’s personality. You have to be above ego, above personality. That’s why Jesus said, “You must be like little children.” Again, “Innocent of all personal motives, and employing the creative will bestowed upon him by the Creator…” All saints say, “Thy will be done, not my will, Thy will be done.” Using that will bestowed upon him by the Creator, “…a yogi rearranges the light atoms of the universe to satisfy any sincere prayer of a devotee.” “For this purpose were man and Creation made: that he should rise [up]” above “as” a “master” does, above delusion, “knowing his dominion over the cosmos.”
“We are made,” as Jesus said, “in the Image of God.” We are His children, and the things which Jesus did, we can do, and greater things if, if we merge ourselves in the omniscience and omnipresence of God.
Conforming to the law of miracles
And so in closing, miracles are possible today, if you conform to the law of miracles, the greatest of which is that you lift yourselves from outward consciousness of duality into the omniscience of God. Then you are subject not to the outward laws, but to the laws of His omniscience. If you do that, then you’ll understand miracles. Then, when you see a person who comes to you, and you see him receive the Presence of God, part of His great Spirit, and you see him change before your eyes; that’s the greatest miracle. Because there’s no miracle greater than the miracle to change a person, and give him the ability of his own free will and accord, to lift himself from delusion and outward consciousness, into the security and the Presence of God, into His great Power–and greatest of all, into His omniscient Love. That’s the greatest thing.
In Ezekiel, the 43rd Chapter, the 1st and 2nd verses we read, in effect: He took me by the way of the east gate–that’s this gate here, at the point between the eyebrows. He took me by the way of the east gate…and the glory of God shone by the way of the east gate. That’s the way into the omniscience of God, into His great Light.
Know that Light, you will know all about miracles. He took me by the way of the east gate and the glory of God shone by the way of the east gate, “and His voice was like the sound of many waters.” And He filled my whole being with His great Consciousness. This is the door. Self-Realization will give you the techniques and the way to enter the door into the omniscience of God–into His great Light. Because the Master, who promulgated Self-Realization Fellowship, had the realization–was one with that great Light of God; is now in that great Light of God. Follow him, be one with him, and you will know the omniscience of God, and that you are one of God’s children.
Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this communion together in Thee, with Thy saints. Heavenly Father, may each one of us, by Thy grace, perceive our oneness with Thy Eternal Light. And greatest of all, may we perceive, and know, our oneness with Thy great Love. Be with each one of us. Bless us. Om, Peace, Amen.
Previously: Are Miracles Possible Today? (Part 1)
Listen to the the full audio file of the talk by Dr. Lewis: Are Miracles Still Possible Today?
Hidden Gems on the Atma Jyoti Blog:
Tags: Dr. M. W. Lewis
August 19th, 2010
A Talk given by Dr. M.W. Lewis in San Diego on August 9, 1953
Are Miracles Possible Today? Yes, miracles are possible today, if we conform to the law, the Law of Miracles. Not too many years ago, if you told someone that machines would be flying around the way they are now, they wouldn’t believe you. But when we conform to the law, and offset gravity, then those things, which are seeming miracles at the time become facts, and realities. So miracles are possible, if we conform to the law.
At this time I’d like to just give you the definition of miracles: “A miracle is an event, or effect, in the physical world, beyond, or out of the ordinary course of things; deviating from, or transcending, the law of nature.” I’ll give one or two illustrations just to show you how a miracle means that some other law entered the picture, rather than the ordinary physical law with which we are familiar.
One example
One winter’s evening in Boston–where we have lots of ice and snow–I was driving fast to the center meeting in a borrowed car–my sister’s car. She was in the car, and one other lady, Sister Yogamata, who both are still living. And as we came up over the incline on this bridge–narrow bridge covered with ice–halfway across the bridge was this car that had skidded. And it stayed there, blocking the road.
Ordinarily, according to ordinary laws, there was no way of stopping. But I remember somehow just feeling in my heart, “Well, here’s the borrowed car; I am rushing to do God’s work; and look what’s going to happen.” As I came up over the bridge, it was just like a big giant stood there and just pushed. And that car stopped within just two or three feet of the other car. In other words, another set of laws was brought into play.
Both of the people are living–you can ask them. All felt the intercession of God’s higher law, which prevented that accident; because the pranic force of God’s great Power and His omniscience is everywhere, if you appeal to Him. His Power does not need wires, or instruments of hands and feet, or machines. It can work according to higher law in the way in which we would call a miracle.
Another example
One other instance comes to my mind, which you read of in the last Self-Realization Magazine. I wrote about the sound of the voice in my father’s home that spoke to me. When I was a young fellow, into lots of mischief, doing lots of things I shouldn’t be doing, this voice came right out of the ether–distinctly, loudly, not from any point in space, but from all around–and told me to behave myself and be a good boy. And not only I heard it, but others heard it in the house; showing that the ordinary law of sound, of speech, was superseded by a higher law of God’s omniscience. And so, there you have in a few words two illustrations of what a miracle is, of what miracles are.
Perhaps the greatest miracle is what we have right with us now. How, from the one great Light of God’s omniscience His Mind, His Thought, has produced this universe upon universe, with all its various and multitudinous manifestations. From light; because science has proved–those of you who are familiar with it–that matter resolves into energy and finally into light. And they have also now brought it back the other way–produced from light, energy and matter.
So that’s the greatest miracle, and that’s what we have to deal with in this subject: “Are Miracles Possible Today?” The entire phenomenal world is under the law of polarity, of duality. It’s that duality that has caused all the trouble and all the delusion–the duality which comes from the characteristic of the Light of God.
This subject is a little scientific, so I shall have to refer to a few references. I will try though, not to make it too boring. But just never mind–grasp the important parts, and remember that Jesus didn’t say, “Now you must know all about the Law of Miracles.” He didn’t say, “If you want to enter the kingdom heaven,” which is a miracle. No. All he said was, “Be like little children.” Be humble. You have to get above outward consciousness, above ego consciousness, then you can enter the kingdom of heaven. So if these scientific facts are too much, just forget them. In your heart, feel the Presence of God, and you will get the same result. You will know “the Light beyond the atoms,” from which all things have come.
Science and religion together
Duality, as I have said, is based on the electromagnetic phenomena of light. This cosmos, is simply the varied expression of that Light. The various things, which you see–this solid pulpit and all the things, automobiles, this church, this microphone–everything, is simply made from that one great Consciousness of God. The first manifestation of which is that electromagnetic force of Light.
In the beginning God created light (Genesis 1:3). First, “the Spirit of God moved” (Genesis 1:1). That’s the Thought of God. Then His Thought produced Light. And from that Light all things are made. Science is finding it out, now, that everything can be proved–that we come from that One Light. And so, the thing is that this varied experience we know as the cosmos is the different expressions of the Light. But in that Light–and this is the important thing–is the omniscience and the intelligence of God. So you can see, now, if you are going to perform miracles, what you’ve got to do. I’ll come to it in a minute.
Now, this Light, and the delusion; if you become one with this delusion, if you attach yourselves to this delusion, you have to obey the laws of delusion. Isn’t that so? If coming up over that bridge, I had forgotten all about God, or wasn’t trying to be in His Consciousness, I’d have followed the laws of this delusion, and we’d had a nice smashup. But somehow, by the grace of God, a higher law worked, and I was guided–not by outward laws, but the higher law. And so, if we cling to the laws of this delusion, we’ll be governed by that; but if you cling to the higher law, you’ll be governed by that higher law. Then you can produce miracles.
And so, that’s just what the saints did. The saints have shown, by their lives, and in spite of this delusion in which they found themselves–in spite of being in the world–they lived beyond the world, above the world. And they have shown that instead of being governed by the laws of this life, with the necessities of life, and being governed by the laws of the paradoxes and the injustices of life, they rose above that and took a long range view, and were governed by the higher law of God’s omniscience. They put the tremendous faith they had, in eternal things; in the value of eternal things; not these worldly things. That’s an important point.
So, likewise, Self-Realization will teach you how to contact the eternal things of life, that you may be guided, not by worldly laws, and outward laws, but by higher laws of God. And so, miracles occur when you get out of this dream of God, and are governed by higher laws.
Transcending limitation
Now, the manifestations of electricity and gravity are known. Scientists know all about them, but how about the Force itself? How about electricity and gravity itself? No. You have to know the Sole Operator, if you want to know that. You have to rise above these trillions of manifestations in this life. If you want to know what electricity is, you’ve got to know the Operator Himself. You’ve got to know the omniscience of God. In that omniscience is the Power that has made universe upon universe. But greatest of all, in that omniscience is His divine love. That’s the greatest thing.
Now, you have to know that. If you want to know how electricity works, you can. Follow the scientists if you want to know what electricity is; what gravity is; what the power that holds the atom together is. Then you’ve got to be one with that Power, which is the atom itself; which is the Force which holds the atom together; which is the Force in the atoms of life, from which all things have come. And so, as I have been pointing out, you can see that we must get above outward things and know the Sole Operator. Know the man, or the one rather, who has made all these things. We must know His omniscience and His love.
And so, I will hurry along, and say this; that delusion, and outward consciousness, can be removed only by merging in the omniscience of God. How to do it is the point. By being in, going through, being one with, and passing through the Divine Eye at this point [between the eyebrows]. That is the Door from outward laws to inner laws, and the omniscience of God.
On the other side
On this side of the door what do you have? You have insecurity, paradoxes, injustices, uncertainty. On the other side what do you have? You have the peace and the security of God, and you can then be subject only to God’s Laws. That’s why the saints say one thing when they get beyond the door on the other side. The yogis you know “sail their consciousness into the omniscience of God.” That’s beautiful; yogis “sail their consciousness,” float it “into the omniscience of God. And in that omniscience you are subject to the laws of God, which are just, and which are exact, and which are eternal, and which are not subject to duality. That’s the important thing.
Now going on a little further to just a little bit about creation. Remember, the greatest miracle is creation. When you think about it, how, from this one Force of God’s Light, these things come with solidity, and all that. It doesn’t seem possible. But they have proved that the light atoms, from which all things have come, are made of nothing but free electrons, or the Light spoken of in Genesis, “God created light.” And there is a certain reason for that, which I will tell you in a minute.
Now as regards Creation, “…and the Spirit of God moved.” In other words, God created things first in His Thought. Then He condensed that Thought into Light, as spoken of in the Bible. Now that Light is made of free electrons. This is very important. There is no duality yet. But those electrons have a dual personality, a dual character. This is important. They have one characteristic of a particle, and the other characteristic is of a wave. And that gives them the characteristics of light. First from His Thought He condensed this substance known as light–just free little electrons. But those electrons have two characteristics: one is that of forming particles, the other is the wave action.
Now matter itself has those two characteristics of duality: one of forming particles of solidity; and the other the wave action–or light. Light and shadow come, because light is made up of the electrons with those two characteristics. That’s a very important point. And from that comes all the dualities.
Let there be Light
Now going on with the creation. From His great Thought and Consciousness, God first created Light. Then the Light was further condensed into atoms. And the essential part of atoms is Light. Light atoms is the substance from which even solid iron is made. That doesn’t seem possible, does it? From the Light atoms everything is produced. Then those atoms form into particles.
There you have the creation in a few words. But remember that the electrons have that dual personality of forming particles, solid substances, and the wave action of light. From that we get this world of light and shadows. This Dream of God, this Cosmic Delusion, and everything in this world, whether it be a good or a bad automobile, a person you like or don’t like, health or sickness, or wealth or poverty–all those opposites come because those little electrons have that dual personality; and from the atoms of light, all things have come.
This light that I have spoken of is the essence of the atom. The electron microscope has proved that atoms are formed from light, and then from that, due to the intelligence of God, all things are made–though how He does it is beyond us. And so, we have in a few words, the story of Creation from the standpoint that it is made from Light. There is no material universe–it is simply light and shadow.
Now light is the essence of the atom–free electrons with their dual characteristics, plus the Will of God, made the atom. Remember, the energy that holds the atom together is nothing but what Einstein is trying to prove in his “Unified Field Theory,” that the atomic energy which is in, and which has made and sustains the light atoms, is nothing butt he Thought of God. Mind Stuff, triggered by the Will of God, produces His Thought. That is Einstein’s “Unified Field Theory,” which the Master spoke of in that little poem “Thy Secret Throne.”
Thy Secret Throne
Behind the screen
Of all things seen
How dost Thou hide–
Elude the tide
Of marching human eyes,
That ’round Thee rushing hies?
’Twill not be long
Ere will be known
Thy hiding place
By children with Thine eyes and grace.
Sage science splits
Each atom knit
By Thee, to find apace
Thy hiding place.
Is heart of atom–electron,
Thy secret throne?
Deep we bore
To find Thy art, and lore
Of doings all sublime;
E’er hidden betimes.
Yet Thy abode
Seem far remote;
’Tis still to find
With deeper mind.
So you can see there, step-by-step, how the yogis knew years and years ago. Now science is saying it–that it comes from the one omniscience of God, nothing else.
And we have proof of this, which I will not go into due to the shortness of time. There are certain equations which show these things. One is that only a material body whose mass is infinite, could equal the velocity of light. What does that mean? In simple terms it simply means that you and I must expand our consciousness to the omniscience of God; then, as God does, we can do.
Now that’s the key to the Law of Miracles. The key to the Law of Miracles is to be the omniscience of God. Be that Light. Then you’re not subject to the light in this shadow world–to the law in this shadow world–you are not subject to that at all. You’re subject to the laws of omniscience, which means that your consciousness is everywhere, and that the Force of the Universe is your consciousness. Because Jesus said, “These things I do ye shall do and greater things, because I go to my Father” (John 14:12)
Next: Are Miracles Possible Today? (Part Two)
More by Dr. Lewis:
Tags: Dr. M. W. Lewis · Yogananda
June 28th, 2010
This is a talk given by Dr. M. W. Lewis, one of the first disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda, in San Diego in June of 1957. A link to an audio file of this talk can be found at the end of this transcription.
The subject this morning is “A Church in Your Home.”
When Paramhansa Yogananda, founder of Self-Realization, established the work in America, in the Articles of Incorporation was this particular tenet: “to establish in every home in the United States and even throughout the world, a little room for quiet and meditation, a temple where devotees can meditate in an effort to establish oneness with Cosmic Consciousness or God the Father, which is the goal of life.”
So in these few words we can see the importance of establishing a little church or a little room where one can with definite effort try to make that contact with God and realize that that is our goal and that’s what we are and that’s what we are here for–to know our oneness with God.
Now occasional church services are not enough, but they must be augmented by daily contact, daily contact with God, because insecurity of this outward existence is so deeply ingrained in this physical consciousness, that unless we do that we will not escape it. We will not escape the delusion and its insecurity. That you can realize.
And so, occasional services like these, and like the meditation services which we have at the SRF Retreat in Encinitas and in Hollywood, give us the inspiration, because everyone who comes with sincere heart feels the Presence of God. But that Presence will leave unless you, unless I, regularly keep the contact by meeting God in that little temple in our own home–it is absolutely essential.
How long has Christianity been among us, and how long has it been a failure? We cannot deny that. Why? Because not enough people have a little church in their own home where they can put into practice the principles of Christianity, and all true religions, and contact God. That’s why it has failed. Now we do not want to fail. We want to succeed, and realize our oneness with God.
Yogananda’s words
Master has said these wonderful words, and if you will just remember these words, you will have everything you need. He says this, “The sense of security and inner assurance we crave are a natural result of meditation and God communion.” Can it be any clearer? We do not feel secure in this outward consciousness. We do not have that inner assurance. Why, because there is no inner assurance in our security in it. The security is in God, and we have the ability by concentrating upon Him. As the Master has said, “A natural result of concentration and meditation, which gives God Communion.”
And here we are looking. We are being sidetracked by the power of delusion and iniquity–the evil force in this world–to look outside, and to listen to all sorts of things that come from outside, and not to go within and find God. That’s why we have trouble–that’s why people are in trouble. Instead of listening to God within, they listen to outside things, and worldly things. There’s the answer.
So let us remember these words of the Master, once more. “The sense of security;” don’t we all want that? An inner assurance–if we can but know God is with us and feel His Presence, we’ll have all the assurance we need. And that those things which we crave are “a natural result of meditation” in this little room, this little church in your home, which will give you God Communion. Those are most wonderful words. Remember those few words, if you forget all else.
Why is this so? Because the soul craves union–it craves union with God. When you get discouraged and are assailed on all sides by problems and troubles, your soul cries out for what? For union with God, where there are no troubles, and where there is security and assurance that He is with us. Then no one can stand against us. That’s why this is so, that’s why the Master’s words are so wonderful, because the soul craves one thing–Union with God the Father, Union with Cosmic Consciousness, Union with the Great Spiritual Sun of Righteousness from which we have come, in which we are arrayed. Let us realize that. That’s why the church in the home is necessary, and that’s why we should enter it every day. Yes, more often, if possible.
Daily worship
Now the Master has also written words to this effect when he says, “The benefit of daily worship cannot be overestimated. Seldom do men realize how often God responds to prayer when it is given by a devotee who really trusts God.” These are also most wonderful words: “The benefit of daily worship cannot be overestimated. Seldom do men realize how God heeds prayers. He is not partial to a few.” Thank God for that. He is not partial, but as the Master says, He listens to everyone who approaches Him trustingly. How simple, but how true. So, let us realize that prayer is not wasted, if it is done scientifically, and with a true and contrite heart, trusting in God. Then prayer is a Reality. And, how to do that? Know His Presence; know the Presence of God within, and be one with that.
And you can do it easily by hearing the Great Sound of His Voice within you, the Holy Vibration, or seeing the Light of His Cosmic Light, or feeling in your heart His Great Love. If you do any of those things–or all, if possible–there you have God with you. Surely He will answer. As Master has said, and I never get tired of repeating it, “God loves us so wonderfully and silently, more than we can imagine, and through His devotees.” I think we need a little church in our home, and we need to enter it every day.
These meetings, as this one and other gatherings, are wonderful, because through united effort there is much more power. I realize that. But the sad thing is that it is the Law that unless you augment it with daily contact with God, you lose it. You lose the touch which God gives you. So let us not forget that it is absolutely necessary to have that little church in your home and to enter it and to worship and contact God.
Jesus said what? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God…and all these things shall be added unto you”–all things that you need (Matthew 6:33). Don’t you think that means daily? Master said the same thing to me one time, and I have never forgotten it. As usual I was in trouble, as I always was most of the time in my earlier days, and I came to him with a big problem. And I was ruffled and I didn’t seem to stir him up much, and so he comforted me and said it will be better–and it was the next day.
Yogananda answers Dr. Lewis
And so I came to him and I said, “Sir, I wish I had your stability; I wish I could feel God was with you as you do.” He said, “Remember Doctor, the same Father who protects me protects you. He is our common Father.” Isn’t that wonderful? But we don’t trust God. We trust outward things and what people say rather than what God tells us inside. Let us realize those words of the Master. And also another time Master said, “No matter whether seemingly you fail, if you watch carefully you will see the Hand of God working through your life.” And I have found that so. I have found that absolutely so. And, if God will give us that inner realization where we know we are one with Him, that’s far better than material success or position, because that’s lasting. That’s our life–that’s what we are. God is our Father, we are His children.
Now, when troubles come–and they surely will–Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). And, I say, there is plenty of it. We don’t deny that. People go around and say everything’s perfect. There is no trouble in [the] world. Everything’s fine. It is not. All the great saints and sages have said that Jesus said that “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” but he did say also, “…be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” That’s why we need that little church in our home–to overcome this world by contacting that which is above the world: the Presence of God, His Great Light, and His Love.
Don’t leave God’s side
The Master said one time to me on another occasion, he said, “Leave all else, but never God’s side.” And so when those troubles come, and you feel like shaking the whole world and correcting it, don’t try it. You can’t do it. But don’t leave God’s side, and He will do it for you. Because He says, “Vengeance is mine. I will judge; don’t you judge” (Romans 12:19). You may make a mistake, but let God judge, and He will judge correctly, and He will never forsake you. Master said, “Don’t worry, God will never forsake you,” So don’t worry. None of us should worry. If we would but trust Him and realize we are His children, [praying:] “Father, we are Thy children. Help us never to leave Thy side.”
Master said the most wonderful words. He went through many tests, as many of you know, to establish this work of Self-Realization in such a short time. It took tremendous energy, but it took tremendous suffering. And that’s what he did. Why? Because you and I might be able to have that little church in our home and contact God. He opened the channel. And, if he had not done it, it would not be so easy for us–let us not forget that.
Master had his troubles. And he told me many times, “If it were not for God Alone, I would not have been able to preserve my sanity.” I’m sure that church is necessary in our home, even from that one testimony. Jesus had his troubles–he had his tribulations, so much so that he had to go and pray in that little church, wherever it was. He had no home like we have perhaps, but he went into that little temple, wherever it was, and contacted God. That’s how he was able to stand up against tribulation and these tests which come, because “the way of the cross leads home.” There’s no other way. You have to rise above worldly consciousness to reach that home, and in that worldly consciousness is trouble. So you are going to have trouble. That’s why the way of the cross will take you out–if you trust God and enter that little church within every day and regularly.
Right meditation and concentration on God
And so, finally, even though our faith is weak, it will be strengthened, it will become dynamic, if we will daily meditate and contact God. Through right meditation and concentration on God within, we can be one with His Presence, because as our Master said, “Our very consciousness is God’s Consciousness,” When you feel the Peace and Bliss which you feel as we meditate together this morning, that’s the Presence of God. Now, if you regularly, every day, concentrate on that Presence, what [do] you do? You become that Presence, because we are made in the Image of God. We are His children, and as such, if we can but know it, and realize it, as He has all things, so will we. And that means we will have security, and inner assurance that no force in the universe can touch us, if we daily enter that little home, little church in our home, and keep the contact with God.
And so it is very necessary, very essential, and all families who do that, if you look about you, and read, you will find those who contact God and join together in prayer, and especially those in Self-Realization who will daily make the contact with God–they will succeed, and they will see the Hand of God guiding them regularly in everything they do.
A friend of mine who is in Connecticut and is the head of a large church there, had these words to say, “In my quarter century of ministry, I have never known a single instance of those who have prayed and worshipped together habitually to have been separated,” And so let us realize that. Gandhi said the same thing, speaking about his mate, he said, “I don’t know what it is, but I do know this thing about her; that there is an inseparable indissoluble bond between us,” And that’s the bond which is between all of those people who regularly pray, and meditate, and contact God. And that inseparable bond is His Great Love. And if we have that, we need fear nothing. If we, in our daily activity, feel God’s Love with us–who can touch us, who can disturb us–no one. If God is with us, who can be against us?
And so let us remember the Master’s words. “That inner security and inner assurance will always be with us, if through that little church in our home we keep contact with our one Loving Father, our common Father.”
Listen to the audio file of this talk.
More from Dr. Lewis, and from Paramhansa Yogananda:
Tags: Dr. M. W. Lewis · Practical Wisdom
March 7th, 2010
Today is the 58th year since the passing of the great master, Paramhansa Yogananda. This is a transcript of a talk given by Dr. M. W. Lewis, Yogananda’s first American disciple, on March 10, 1952, just three days after Yogananda’s mahasamadhi. It includes his personal account of the Master’s last days. An audio file of the talk can be found at the end of this transcript.
This photograph, often called the “last smile,” was taken just hours before Yogananda’s mahasamadhi, or passing from this world.
For the Bible reading this morning, in honor of the Master, I’m going to read the 23rd Psalm, and add a few comments.
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.…” As we know, the shepherd is he who takes care of the sheep. “The Lord” means Christ Consciousness. And so, it is the Christ Consciousness with which the Master keeps us together. If we stay in that, we are secure. Now a great saint, as the Master, has that Christ Consciousness, as many of you know. And no matter whether he is here or not, when you’re in that consciousness, you are with him. He is with you, watching over you.
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters.…” Now, in “green pasturess” we find luxurious growth, and it is like that illustration, if we follow the Christ Consciousness, we will be in, so to speak, green pastures. We will have all we need. Because everything comes from God, everything is in His great consciousness in all creation. Be in that. You will be in green pastures.
“He leadeth me beside the still waters.…” The “still waters” here can be likened to the pure Holy Ghost flowing in through us, coming from the great cosmic energy, in through the medulla center, spreading out through the body, spoken of many times as the river Jordan, and by the Hindus as the Ganges. If you follow God, He will lead you in that still peace by virtue of His presence. He leads me besides the still waters.
“He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.…” If you unite your consciousness with the great consciousness of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost, the Aum vibration that is the Name of God, the remembrance of your soul, as a child of God, will be restored without doubt.
“He restoreth my soul.…” Keep in that vibration. You will realize that you are not this body, but something which does not pass away. You will realize the soul.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.…” Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: in material consciousness, there is death, nothing else. It passes away. And as we begin to rise above material consciousness and the functions of the body, the senses and the movement of the body lessens and slows down. That is the shadow of death. But, if we go beyond that, we find the great life eternal. And so, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, “I will fear no evil.” Why? Because beyond that is the real life. This body passes away. But that life which you contact in meditation, by deep prayer, or the Light, when you see the Light of the Infinite. That does not pass away.
“For Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.…” We have the rod and the staff. Sometimes the spinal chord is spoken of as “the rod,” “the rod of David.” Because there is the power of the Spirit. And through the Holy Vibration you’ll feel its power, and that will always be with you. That will comfort you. No matter how depressed you are. No matter how bad things seem. If you can lift your consciousness from outer things, and place it in the spine–or at the point between the eyebrows)–those other things cannot exist. Because the only reality is the presence and the power of God.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.…” “Thou preparest a table before me” means that in spite of all the enemies, both outward–the enemies of the physical habits, the different tendencies which are within us, pulling us down–in spite of those, the Presence of God, at table of all things we need, is there. If you will just be one with His presence, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence….” Despite all those devices of bad habits, or real enemies, God can always be contacted. No matter how great the difficulty, if you look within, [you can] feel, and be one with His Holy Vibration.
“Thou anointeth my head with oil. My cup runneth over.” You know, the Sanskrit word for oil means “energy.” And when you’re in His Holy Vibration, in the spinal region, and rise up to this point [between the eyebrows, you] feel the Presence of God, His great energy flows over you, and anoints you. These are facts. Meditate. Go within. You feel your consciousness lifted to this point, and you’ll feel as a benediction His great power and cosmic energy naturally flowing through you. That’s what real anointing with oil means. “Thou anointeth my head with oil. My cup runneth over.…” If you feel the Presence of God, you need nothing else. Your cup is full.
And finally: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Contact Him. Contact the Holy Vibration. You will have eternal life. No other way. Living in outward consciousness, you will pass away, because the body passes away. Living in the eternal Presence of God, you will have eternal life.
Now, this morning I’m going to vary the service just a bit. In these difficult times, excessive speech is uncalled for. But rather I’ll give you a few words, a few humble words, from the heart.
Of course, as you know, the Master has left this vehicle in which we are accustomed to see him. But, as I have said, and will point out shortly in these few words which I give you, that he is, and will be, nearer to you now that the limitations of the body have been taken away.
When your best friend, your greatest friend, is suddenly removed from you, there is a great emptiness left within the soul. And when he who has lifted you from delusion and uncertainty into the Light and Presence of God has gone, then that void seems bottomless. But, then I remember his words wherein he said, “Remember. I’ll be closer to you when I leave the body, than I have been while in the body.” And I feel the power to carry on and go forward, because I know that that promise will be kept. Because in all the years that I have known the Master, he has never once broken a promise.
And so I know that I can tell you: Be not distressed. We will miss him, naturally. But he will be nearer to you in a much easier way, when you struggle and try to lift your consciousness from outward things to the consciousness where he is, which is the Christ Consciousness found at this point [between the eyebrows]. Contact that just a little. And the Master, as all great masters, is one with that consciousness.
The Master’s last days
Now I want to tell you a few things of the last days of the Master here, which I have just jotted down on the way down here. It was in the desert a few days ago before coming here, that he had wonderful experiences of ecstasy, during some of which I had been with him. And the last few days out in the desert he didn’t sleep at all, but was in that state of ecstasy. And out there he told [Miss Wright:] “It may be a matter of days or hours.”
And so, although we knew these many things, which I will point out shortly–as he has told me and others–although we know these things, the Lord is so clever that he keeps it from you. He keeps that which is coming from you to spare you too much of a shock. The shock is great for those who just see the final event when the Master leaves. Those who have followed and have listened carefully will see that naturally it is coming.
A few years ago when he was so much in ecstasy due to the weakness of the body from taking the karma of so many people, and he was practically gone–they’d given him up–he called me up early in the morning, and I could just hear his voice over the telephone. And he said, “Doctor,” he said, “they nearly killed me today.” Some nurse was real rough with the body, which was racked in pain and so forth, he said, “they nearly killed me today.” He said, “I’ll tell you about it sometime.”
And then in a few days after that they were weeping and crying because he seemed gone. But I remembered his words, that he had said, “I will tell you about that someday.” So I knew he would tell me. And so he did stay on, and he told me about it. And at that time I spoke to him, and he said, “This body, is nothing.” “This shell,” he says, “is nothing.” “But,” I said, “I know, but how about the rest of us? Why not wait awhile?” He never said. He just looked down. But he has stayed two years now–a year and a half. I’m not saying my words did it; I’m telling you facts.
And then, from then on it was a terrific fight. For a long, long time he just laid there. Because you cannot take the karma of thousands of people, thousands of people, without a reaction–that’s the spiritual law. It is not ordinary sickness. People make that mistake. It is because he takes the sins and the karma of others. And he has told me two things which were a direct result of the taking of karma of others. One was the condition of his legs. The other was the condition of his heart.
And so, from then on, for months he laid without moving. Gradually up, and walking about. He said many times, “I have no interest.” He said, “It’s only a few little things I have to make myself want to enjoy the senses,” and so forth. “But,” he said, “for a few of you, I stay.” Now these are facts.
And so, in the desert before coming in, he told us, “It looks like it may be a matter of days, or it may be a matter of hours.” And then he came in.
And he had a meeting scheduled with the new ambassador from India. The other ambassador he had been unable to contact, and there was not that feeling for him. But this ambassador felt for the Master. And he was so pleased, because you know that his greatest joy was in his efforts to help India, and bring better relations between India and the United States. And he was the one who would have done it in the right way. He has worked for peace in the right way by changing the hearts of men. No actual peace will come until the hearts of men have been changed. And all of you who have met the Master know that when you left him your heart was changed. And all of you who have read his books and his words know that when you read those books, in his writings, that your heart is changed. And so, he’s worked along those lines to bring peace into the world by changing the hearts of men. That is the only way to bring lasting peace. And the cause of world peace has an irreparable loss in the passing of the Master.
And now, going on–as I say, his relationship with the new ambassador from India, was the right relationship. I met his Excellency, Mr. Sen, and he had just the right spirit. That had been cemented and established in the last day or two before I met the Master. He was very happy. He says, “I feel this is the happiest day I’ve had, because that had been accomplished.” And so they had a little luncheon at the India House, and the Ambassador was there, and the Consul General of Asia, and severalothers–Mr. Sen and several other members from the Indian embassy. And so we had a nice luncheon.
And that night we talked to the Master for quite a while. And Mrs. Lewis was talking to him a little bit and he told her, “It is so hard to be interested–for me to be interested in the body. It is nothing but a shell.” You could see that. I’d seen it for days. But still I hoped, and hoped that he would stay even longer and longer. So he told her, he said, “The body’s nothing but a shell. This is the last step.” And then he said, “No matter what happens, I want you to be always happy.”
Then he said, “How is the Doctor?” I wasn’t there, I was in the other room. She said, “Oh, he’s all right.” He said, “No. He isn’t. He’s very much depressed.” Well, Mrs. Lewis passed it off. And I will say that I had been very much depressed lately. And Monday he called to come up there, and I said, “Well, I don’t feel I can go up.” And I understand that Mrs. Lewis had to urge me pretty much to go, as I remember it now. Then, when I went up, I told him, I said, “I wasn’t coming up, but I thought I’d like to because perhaps you’d want me.” He said, “I understand.” That’s all he would say. “I understand how you feel.” And I went up. And now Master leaves, and I see why the depression was there. The soul knows everything, even though sometimes we’re not conscious of the exact cause of these things that are happening. The soul realizes those things.
And he also told Mrs. Lewis when she was alone with him, “Now, I have been cross many times.…” He used to give it to her. Oh, boy! And to all those near him. We got it good. I know those times. But we could never leave his side. Otherwise he would not be where he is. He said, “I want you to be always happy, no matter what happens.”
Personal memories
Now I’ll tell you one or two things about my own experiences with him the last few days. Lately he has been reminiscing about how we started way back in Boston, 32 years ago. He said, “Remember Electric Avenue?” That’s where we used to live. “All the good times we used to have?” And I said, “Yes.” And he said, “We’ve had a good life, haven’t we?” I said, “That’s right.” I said, “Yes, we might have been hanging around a night club and things like that. But no. This is better. We can let go.” Then he said quickly, without much emphasis, “We’ll be parted for a little while and then we’ll be together again.” But the delusion is so great that even then I wouldn’t accept it. I knew my soul went just right back when he said it. Sure, the Lord keeps it covered up pretty well.
When he said we’d be separated for a little bit but then together again, then he said right at that time, I remember so distinctly, “But remember, I’ll be closer to you when I’m out of this body, than I have been in the body.” So remember, there is the key. So let us not be depressed. Let us not feel bad. God is running the show. We are His children, and His Infinite Light is with us. In that Light is the Master and all great saints. There is nothing to fear except if we do not stay in that Light and Consciousness. That’s all.
And so, I feel better. A load has been lifted. I didn’t know what the load was, with some physical trouble going with it. But the load was that coming events cast their shadow, and the Soul knows it. And so be of good cheer. The Master is not away from us. He is with us more, and more.
Now coming to the last days when the Master came in, and we had the luncheon at India House. I stayed with Him that night and the next day, and then I had to come back here. And there was to be a banquet, as you know, at the Hotel Biltmore. And there the Master was the guest of honor with the Ambassador from India. Master had a room in the Biltmore Hotel, and he stayed in that room before going down to the banquet. But just as he was going down he told Miss Wright, “I feel shouldn’t go down.” Then she said, “Why not sir? Why don’t you just cancel?” He said, “No. But I must go. I feel I shouldn’t go down.” Then he said, “But I must, I must go through with it.” And so he went down. And I know you all know the outcome and what happened at that banquet.
And so the Master’s body was brought back to Mount Washington. And I went up with St. Lynn as soon as I heard the word. I had finished my class here Friday night. And Mrs. Lewis didn’t tell me until I got home. And then she told me. So we got ready and went right up. And they had brought the Master’s body back and it was in his room. And he looked as if he was sleeping, as if he was at peace. And I know I’d often felt the last few days that though we hate to have those leave us, when you see them struggling just to stay to help others…when we know that he has said many times, “My time is up long ago,” you feel, “Well, how much better that he can be always in peace:.” And so, that was the expression that came on his face.
And so we sat there for a long time. All sat around, of course, with much feeling, naturally. But that went on until the next day. Several were in there. I was in a room near there. And then they were chanting and meditating. A great Light came to many, and the Om vibration was very strong and seemed to fill the room. And I know in my own case, I’d come back from sitting in the room and I was meditating and looking, and the Great Light came easily. And in that Light I could see the Master lying with his body covered with Light, in gold. Laying there just as he was.
And just right after that there was a severe electrical storm, and then things lifted and things were better. His body changed. His body remained just the same, I think, for about 24 hours, until that point, and then it began to change. You felt it began to change. The changes set in. We noticed that. And I feel that that is the reason–that great responsibility [was lifted]. Because he told me many times, “My life is different. My life is a ransom for many.” If you ask, it was true. I might, to give
answers with him.
Experiences of others
Many others had similar experiences. I want to tell one of the experiences my daughter had, which was very interesting. A few days ago she had a dream. She never dreams much, but she said, “It was a distinct dream; I can’t get over it. The Master was there, and you and I were there, and he had us by the hand. And we were strolling on the clouds, running here and there, and I know it was in the astral.” So I passed it off. I think that we were talking with Mrs. Lewis together, and my daughter said, “Well we left you out. You couldn’t join us.” But that was a significant thing, seeing what happened.
And so, yesterday I had called up and told her [of the Master’s passing]. She was quite depressed, so she came over to the hermitage and walked around the grounds, very depressed. And then she came into my apartment and sat down and we began to chant. And the whole room was filled with Light. And up in the corner came a little cross in Light. We started to close our eyes and then open them. And then she said Christ was with her–she felt free. That is the same as happened in Mt. Washington. That depression lifted.
When great saints pass, there is a great disturbance in the counterpart, in the spiritual side. And so, these things are interesting, showing that although the Master seems to be gone, he is not. He’s steadfast more now than ever. He will nearer to us than he ever has been.
As I have said, when your best friend is taken you feel, naturally, the emptiness. And when the one who has gave you soul, then lifted you from uncertainty and delusion into Realization, into the Light, the Presence of God, when he goes, naturally, there is a great void [from the absence of] his [physical] body. And remember his words, “I am nearer to you all now” having left the body. I am closer to you than I could have been, or ever was, while in the body. So let us be of good cheer. Not be depressed, but feel his presence.
And so, in closing, let us, in this little part of the service, let us rise and repeat together one of the Master’s Whispers, a part of it, a tribute to his guru. And as you repeat with me, feel that is your tribute to your guru, Paramahansa Yogananda.
Audio file of Dr. Lewis’s talk:
Yogananda’s Last Days, a talk by Dr. Lewis
Articles by Paramhansa Yogananda:
Tags: Dr. M. W. Lewis · Yogananda
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