February 28, 2021

Let Wisdom Guide Your Will

Paula Whang-Ramos

“Our direction in life is set by our power to choose. Let wisdom guide your will."
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Ancient yogic teachings remind us of the divine power that enlivens our thoughts, words, and actions. And we are blessed with the power to choose which thoughts, words, and actions we will use to express our lives. The choices we make, consciously and unconsciously, impact the direction of our lives and the footprint we leave on all life. Infused with divine power, we are gifted with the opportunity to use our presence to bless, support, and offer gratitude for life.

In divine wisdom, we realize that we are not powerless victims of unexpected change. Even during challenging times, we are still empowered with the choice to compassionately process these changes, as we source our guidance from the indwelling, unchanging peace, love, and wisdom that Spirit is, and that we are. When our choices are guided by this Source of power, we can consciously use our thoughts, words, and actions to accept, grow and heal through all earthly circumstances. Join us this week at BLC, as we use our divinely powerful presence to consciously cultivate and generously share peace, hope and wholeness within ourselves and all life.

Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

February 21, 2021

Yogananda's Timeless Wisdom

Paula Whang-Ramos

“Don't allow yourself to be too concerned about what others do or don't do. Don't look back.
Don't look to the left or to the right. Look straight ahead to the goal, and go all the way in this lifetime. You can do it."
~Paramahansa Yogananda, February 1952

Sixty-nine years ago, Paramahansa Yogananda offered this advice to his disciple, Mr. Roy Eugene Davis, during their last visit before Yogananda's passing in March 1952. Over the years, Mr. Davis, Yogacharya O'Brian's Spiritual Teacher, generously shared this wisdom with his students around the world. When I hold Yogananda's wisdom gift in my heart, I realize that his timeless wisdom is just as relevant today as it was almost 70 years ago.

Today, wouldn't we appreciate more inner peace by avoiding codependent tendencies that rely on others to define our thoughts, words, and actions? Couldn't we benefit from greater empowerment in our lives when we discern life choices based on our current experience and wisdom, instead of past experiences and our reactions to them? Even in the present moment, wouldn't we like more clarity that naturally arises when we maintain the single point of focus cultivated during meditation, to minimize distractions away from our essential priorities and highest life calling? And wouldn't we all like to achieve the direct experience of our essential indwelling, unchanging, ever-present peace, love, and wholeness that is the promise of Yoga - in this lifetime?

If you answered "yes!" to any of these questions, then join me in taking a prayerful moment to listen into soul wisdom revealed from Yogananda's teaching. Offer gratitude to these beloved Teachers for freely sharing timeless divine wisdom to support our spiritual awakening in this lifetime. Listen into the inspiration revealed when you accept their wisdom gift. Keep listening and follow it into freedom.

Study, meditate and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

February 14, 2021

Lead With Love

Paula Whang-Ramos

“‘I have loved you with an everlasting love' — See yourself and others through the eyes of God’s unconditional love."
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, 07/25/2017

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about Valentine's Day as it is recognized in this culture. On one hand, I appreciate any opportunity to celebrate love in its many forms. To have one day when love is publicly acknowledged is wonderful! On the other hand, as I reflect on the past year, I wonder about the depth of our individual and collective consciousness to put love first, to lead with love in our thoughts, words, and actions towards ourselves and others. And, I wonder, if we actually committed, to the best of our ability to lead with love, then maybe we wouldn't even need a specific day to remind us to do so.

If we tell the truth, none of us want fabulous love for just one day, right? Wouldn't we rather be completely held, filled, and overflowing with an unconditional love that sees our wholeness through our humanity, that forgives our mistakes and blesses our course corrections, that stands with us through our accomplishments and our difficult growing edges, and joyfully celebrates the divine uniqueness that we all are?

Well, here is the best part...the heart of all wisdom traditions, including Kriya Yoga, reveals an unconditional love that the Source of creation has for all of Its expressions, including us. This divine love is not contingent upon our religiosity, our political affiliation, our gender orientation, our race, our income, or any other earthly characteristic by which we may define ourselves. Eternal, divine, unconditional love is the Source of creation Itself. And as individual expressions of the Source, this powerful love is also within us, waiting to be realized and shared by us all.

Imagine, if we recognized today as the day in which we generously commit to courageously lead with love in our thoughts, words, actions? Imagine what our lives could be like if we consciously chose to actively realize, receive, and honor unconditional divine love every day, not just today? Imagine the deep healing that could be available for ourselves and our country? We would see and experience love everywhere because the Source of love is everywhere. Then, every day would be a celebration of authentic, unconditional, fabulous divine love!

Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

February 7, 2021

Living and Serving In Grace

Paula Whang-Ramos

"If anything disturbs your peace, practice having faith that divine grace is already actively at work restoring

wholeness and well-being. Then make any necessary adjustments in harmony with that insight."
~ Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian 03/15/2020

Last Wednesday, the most amazing thing happened in the town in which I live. The communication lines were accidentally cut and our entire town lost cell phone, land phone, and internet connection, all day and all night. To some, it was a time of added stress to an already challenged day. To others, it was a day of confusion and fear. To others, it was an opportunity to appreciate the silence and to live into the power and grace of the present moment.

To me, the most inspiring response came from the beloved BLC Seva volunteer team. The team mobilized, realized I was completely unavailable, and discerned how to offer the BLC Wednesday evening meditation group in my absence. Rather than choose to be stressed, fearful, or so confused that they canceled the weekly meditation group, the BLC team united in grace and discerned right action. By the time I was able to get to a physical location where I had coverage for a few minutes, the BLC Seva team was already well prepared to serve the holy One in all, without me.

In the face of unexpected change and possible limitations, the calm, spiritually intelligent consciousness and generous action of these individuals exemplified the natural benefit that emerges from within, when we learn and live yogic lives. Divine Grace is always present, inviting us to live in Its wholeness. Deep bows of love and gratitude to the BLC Seva volunteer team for having spiritual ears to hear and follow It in service to the One in all.

Study, meditate, and grow with others devoted to thriving in peace, love, and wholeness. Make this the year that we affirm and skillfully live in peace - in our minds, our hearts, our families, our community, and our world. Blue Lotus Meditation & Yoga Center welcomes sincere seekers from all backgrounds.

Inspirational Messages

Blue Lotus

Meditation & Yoga Center:

CSE south county meditation center

“If anything disturbs your peace, practice having faith that divine grace is already actively at work restoring wholeness and well-being.

Then make any necessary adjustments in harmony with that insight.”
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian, Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment