Be Happy for No Reason

Our amazing soul power to “just be present” with whatever is at hand, is the highway to happiness. It is an assertion that what we are as Spirit, is greater than any situation or circumstance. We stand back, anchored in spiritual awareness. And then, there it is: we are whole. Contentment, even in the face of difficulty, arises. We discover we can be happy for no reason.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

In the teachings of Kriya Yoga, cultivating contentment is one of the ten lifestyle practices taught to bring peace to the mind and heart. Recently, while working on a project that had its times of difficulty, one of the leaders asked if I was happy. I replied, “Yes, I am.” But then I paused and clarified: I wasn’t just happy—I felt contentment with the work we were doing, how it was unfolding and how it was being received.

Contentment is a deeper, steadier peace, something we’ve all experienced at one time or another. Yet, when we face challenges—or witness others going through them—it isn’t always easy to accept things as they are. In those moments, our regular meditation practice can support us. It allows us to pause, breathe, notice our feelings, and accept what is, so we can discern the next right step to take.

These are the moments when we can truly cultivate contentment—and discover the quiet happiness already present in our lives.

Serenity Comes From Nonattachment

Serenity and freedom from attachment are linked. When you are upset, look to see where the attachment lies. Let it go and experience serenity.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Roy Eugene Davis translates the core teaching on non-attachment from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as "dispassionate non-attachment enables one to consciously control urges, cravings and instinctual drives."  We can live fully attached to outcomes or use the enhanced self-awareness from our meditation practice to make rightly guided choices in life, even after disappointment. When we are selfishly attached to the results of our actions, we squander the opportunity to learn something new and we suffer. As Yogacharya O'Brian has written "with non-attachment, one cares about their work because it is an offering to God... The core of non-attachment is the realization that God is the doer." We care about the results of our actions but are humbly ready to serve.

Plant Positive Seeds for The Future

The law of karma is perfect. Harming harms us. Acts of love return to bless us.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Karma is a Sanskrit word that literally means the results of actions. The Bhagavad Gita reminds us that we cannot refrain from acting. Everything we do is an action, even breathing. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali tell us that actions have consequences: good, bad or a mixture of the two. Even our thoughts have karmic consequences. We can get caught up in what happened in the past and think there's no hope but through our thoughts, words and actions we can plant positive seeds for the future. Even the seed for the sunflower in the photo brought the gift of beauty, even through a crack in the concrete. Daily meditation practice nurtures our witness consciousness which enables us to observe and modify our actions in real time. We are fully responsible for our own karma.  Especially in these difficult times it can be very liberating to act out of love. Let go of the past and move forward, making the commitment to plant positive seeds for our and the world's future.

Mantra—A Spiritual Tool for the Mind

The Sanskrit term mantra means a spiritual tool for the mind, a formula for reaching higher states of consciousness... Mantra practice liberates the mind from the confining structure of thought form. It frees the mind from the constraint of concepts and allows it to be a vehicle or conduit for higher understanding and insight.
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian   From her book The Jewel of Abundance

We can use a mantra from a sacred language such as the So Hum mantra in Sanskrit (So - That / Hum - I am, meaning I am that which I seek) or an English word like 'peace' or a phrase such as 'I am peace.' Silent repetition of the mantra at the beginning of our practice can captivate the mind and make it easier to reach a single point of focus. The normal chatter of random thoughts can fall away and leave us in that state of deep peacefulness which is our true nature and which we call meditation. Try using mantra at the beginning of your practice and you may find it a very valuable tool.

Let Your Life Open In Beauty

LET YOUR LIFE OPEN IN BEAUTY

To meditate is to be
like the flower at dawn
turning toward the sun.
Doing what it is naturally
inclined to do, the flower is

energized into opening.
This flower opening
is the fulfillment of life's
intention. Its beauty
is effortless.

The flower fulfills its destiny;
its beauty speaks to those
who pass by, saying:
Creator! Love! Possibility!

Each day, turn within
to the Source of life.
Be energized, be fulfilled,
let your life open in beauty.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Make Wise Decisions

To wisely decide on a course of action, first take time to become established in the awareness of the presence of God. Let divine peace fill your mind. Then inwardly inquire: what is in harmony with the highest good?
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Some decisions can be made on the simple basis of cost comparison. Other decisions can be more complicated and require that we use a broader range of possible resources. When making major life decisions we can utilize the higher resources of inner guidance. Patience and the practice of meditation is key to access our powerful intuition. When we concentrate on a single point of focus such as the breath or a mantra, the mind becomes quiet and  free of thoughts that distract so that we can access deeper intuition. The ego is our lower drive that wants I, me mine rather than the deeper universal consciousness. How do we recognize the difference between decisions based on ego versus those in touch with the presence of God, (or however you conceptualize the ground source of being)? The key is the abiding sense of peacefulness about the decision. How does this benefit myself and others? If you feel in a hurry to proceed, perhaps this is the mark of ego. And of course we can notice who and what benefits as a result. What is your process for making important decisions and has meditation helped with this?

Choosing Joy In The Midst of Challenge

Joy is innate to the soul. We have it always. The secret of knowing joy even during challenges is refusing to let anyone or anything take it away.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

There are so many times in our life when we have some kind of challenge. It may be as simple as being late for an appointment but we get stuck in traffic and every stoplight is red. It could be a relationship or work challenge or it may be the loss of someone that we love or loss of a job. It is our human situation to have difficulties in our life. But how do we handle these challenges? Yogacharya O'Brian reminds us that joy is an inherent part of who we are, it can't be taken away unless we allow it. We can let an external situation disturb our peace or we can look at the situation and discern what is really bothering us and then figure out the best way to deal with that, remembering that everything is subject to change except our deep abiding joy, contentment and wisdom. This is where our meditation practice supports us. In the stillness of meditation, we learn to pause, observe, and create space between stimulus and response. It offers us a moment of clarity—an opportunity to return to our center and respond from a place of calm rather than reactivity. 

We can decide to live in that place of joy rather than allow anyone or anything to take it away. It's not that we ignore the issue but we remember that our joy is ours. We have the power to choose it.

Success Begins With Meditation

Success is either hastened or delay by one's habits.  It is not you passing inspirations or brilliant ideas so much as your everyday mental habits that control your life.
~Paramahansa Yogananda

A consistent daily meditation practice gives us the mental self awareness to judge our thoughts and speech as they arise and to make necessary adjustments. When we let less useful thoughts and speech fall away we avoid negative consequences and attract only the support that positive speech and actions naturally acquire. What we experience as success comes from the harmony of our actions with a supportive universe. Success begins with meditation. Meditation helps us to judge our thoughts and actions and to evaluate our habits. What habits would you like to acquire? Which would you like to drop?

Choose Equanimity

Our state of mind profoundly shapes our reality. When our mind is disturbed, restless, or burdened by attachment, worry, or regret, we see it reflected in our interactions, body language, relationships, and overall experience of life. Conversely, a mind anchored in equanimity expresses itself in clarity, grace, and harmony. By carefully observing ourselves, we learn to recognize our mental states early on and consciously return to balance. We learn to choose equanimity repeatedly, deepening our spiritual practice moment by moment.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian  from her commentary on The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 V.54 Steadfast Wisdom: Living with Clarity and Equanimity

With a steady meditation practice we can live a life of equanimity. We learn to observe our thoughts in meditation and then we take that out into our daily life. When we find ourselves upset, anxious or fearful we can slow down and observe ourselves. Rather than blindly react, we can choose our response. We can choose a calmer way of approaching life.

Meditation Is The Solution

It is on the inward condition that the outer reality depends.
~ Roy Eugene Davis

Our inner state is the foundation upon which our outer world is built. Through daily meditation, we gain the tools to shape our thoughts, calm our minds, and cultivate positive attitudes. Meditation is not just a practice; it's a pathway that empowers us to approach life's challenges with clarity, patience, and resilience.

Having meditated for nearly my entire adult life, I’ve come to realize how much this practice has nurtured my optimism and strengthened my ability to face adversity.

A few years ago, I found myself in a high-stakes situation at work. I had been the IT manager at a small company for ten years, and one week, we were confronted with a potentially catastrophic issue involving our main servers. The problem was so severe that without a solution, the company could have faced collapse. It was my responsibility to find a fix, but there was a catch—our two primary vendors were pointing fingers at each other, leaving me feeling stuck. They claimed no solution was possible.

In the face of growing tension, I paused. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment, and meditated. In those brief seconds, I was able to center myself, quiet my mind, and gain perspective. I made one last call to tech support at one of the companies. This time, I spoke to a cheerful, calm representative who assured me that a solution was indeed possible—and within two hours, everything was running perfectly.

To paraphrase Paramahansa Yogananda, "Whatever the problem, meditation is the solution." Even if we hadn't found a solution that day, meditation would have ensured that I stayed grounded and at peace, knowing I had done my best. Meditation doesn't just help us solve problems; it gives us the strength to remain unshaken, no matter how big the challenge. When we master our inward condition, we unlock the power to transform our outer reality.

Notice The Good Each Day

Take heart by noticing the good. Talk about it. Magnify it. Look for it. Share it. Give it attention. Build on it.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

In this time of polarization, anger, fear, anxiety and strife and war it is really easy to focus on the negative and get pulled down by it. It is easy to lay blame on others. If we are focused on all of that, that is all we see. The energy that we are personally experiencing is the energy that we put out into the world. If we are angry or upset, others feel that, even if we don't say anything. But Yogacharya O'Brian says "Take heart!"  When we look for the good in life, we lift up our own energy and others feel that. In the teachings of yoga, that principle of luminosity is called Sattva. Those of us who are striving for a more peaceful and happy life have a responsibility. In difficult times, it is our responsibility to bring positive energy into the world. Postive energy always overcomes negative energy, but sometimes it takes some work. As Yogacharya says, start by noticing the good and take some time to let it sink in. Give it attention and then share it. Start each day by setting an intention to notice the good and end each day by taking stock of the good you have seen or experienced that day. The more of us that participate in life in this way contribute to peace and good in the world. 

Actualize Your Ideal Life

Discard thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and actions which are inconsistent with your highest ideals. Whatever concept of the ideal life you have, actualize it now. You do not have to wait to make useful changes.
Roy Eugene Davis

What are your highest ideals? Does your ideal concept of life involve you being a kinder person to all those around you? Can you envisage being more in the flow of abundance and giving generously to others? Are you ready to accept situations as they truly are move ahead efficiently without wasting time complaining? Will wiser use of your personal time and energy allow you to accomplish more of your highest goals? Personally I have decided to focus more on the right use of my time and energy. Let go of what you perceive as obstacles to achieving your highest ideals. How will you take advantage of this opportunity to move ahead? The possibilities are infinite and the time to begin is now.

Cultivate Balance

Balance renders life fruitful.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

We often hear about having balance in our life, but what does that really mean and how do we achieve balance?  It is easy to get out of balance with the busyness of our lives and so many things to do, pushing ourselves beyond what is good for our bodies and minds. We can get overtired. We may get out of balance with what and how much we are eating. The teachings of Kriya Yoga are all about balance. At the basic level we can look at what we eat. Do we eat food that brings us health and well being or do we eat food that might taste good in the moment but bring us discomfort in the long run? Are we getting enough sleep so that during our waking hours we are able to respond to stressful situations with discernment rather than react and maybe say or do something that is not useful? During our busy day do we take breaks for rest and sweetness? Do we take some time in the silence of meditation each day? Do we take time for light exercise each day? Can we turn away from what we find stressful (like the news) and turn towards things, situations and people that are uplifting and bring us joy? Turn away from what you know doesn't support your highest good and towards what lifts you up. When we do that, our lives are more grace-filled and our lives are fruitful. We feel content and at peace. That is balance.

Simplify Your Life

Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.
~Paramahansa Yogananda

The pursuit of simplicity in life is in harmony with the core spiritual practices taught by Yogananda. Right use of our energy frees us from the wasteful expenditure of time and energy. When we look at how we spend time we can liberate great amounts of it for useful purposes. The practice of non-stealing, not feeling like we lack for anything, can lead us to reduce clutter from our homes and transfer things to others who can make better use of them. Devotion to harmlessness can free us from compulsive attempts to tell others what they should be doing and free energy for our own self-transformation. Harmlessness makes us better listeners and can save us from saying things we might later regret. Simplicity can lead us to inner contentment, that powerful practice that frees us from seeking happiness in the gratification of desires and puts us in touch with our own innate joy. Spend some time pursuing simplicity and see what it can do for you.

Awaken to Compassion

Compassionate action flows naturally from one who sees the underlying unity of all life with the light of the awakened heart. We know compassion because it is a divine quality that already exists in us. We yearn to experience it more fully because we have tasted it. The sweetness of it is within our own hearts; our conscience speaks of it daily.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book Living for the Sake of the Soul

Our meditation practice opens up our hearts and minds to observing and experiencing all of life as one. We experience the unity of all of life and understand how we are not individual beings in a separate existence from this manifest world. We come to know and experience how our existence affects all of life as all of life affects us. We are interconnected. As we understand our connection with life, compassionate action just flows from that. It is natural to us. Yogacharya has given the example that we wouldn't desire to taste ice cream if we hadn't already tasted it. We have many soul qualities—divine qualities that are the essence of our being. Love and compassion are two of them. Taste the sweetness. Be the sweetness. 

Desire Can Lead to Sorrow

Sorrow and desire are married. When desire leaves, sorrow cannot remain. 
We often cling to desire, thinking it will lead us to happiness without 
realizing that it also brings suffering.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

 Any desire coming from an egocentric perspective is bound to lead to sorrow because constant change is the nature of worldly fulfillment. If we pin our happiness on a shiny new acquision, we will eventually be disappointed when its allure fades or the relationship doesn't go the way we think it should. It is fine to have desire but not to pin our complete happiness on that thing or relationship. Our true happiness lies within ourself. So where does this leave us? In the spiritual teachings of Kriya Yoga we are advised to attune our consciousness with that divine order which guides the universe. When we follow our intuition, our soul guided wisdom, we will always do or say the right thing and not be attached to the outcome of what we think the desire will bring. Our daily practice of meditation unleashes intuition and shows us the way forward.

Grace and Gratitude

Grace is how wisdom arises, and we receive the light of inspiration. Grace supports the earth and its atmosphere—all things are possible through divine grace and power. Each breath we take, we take through divine grace.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her blog The Transformative Power of Divine Grace.

This topic of grace is a favorite of mine. I think it is because I can imagine grace blowing like a soft breeze all around me, giving life to me and to all. It is not something that we see and we can easily ignore it but it is always there. When we remember it, we can appreciate this divine gift and it makes our lives so much easier. We don't have to do anything to earn it or work hard to see it, we just have to open our hearts and our minds to allowing the awareness of it. The famous spiritual teacher Ramakrishna said "The winds of grace are always blowing, all we need to do is raise our sails."  Gratitude is one way to have the awareness of grace. When we grateful for whatever comes into our lives, we become aware of grace. Even when we are experience a difficult time in our lives we can experience grace. Sometimes those difficulties take us in a direction that we might not have gone in and through that we have new positive experiences. If we take the time to be grateful, even just being grateful for the food on our table and those who made it possible for the food to be there, we can experience the grace in our lives. We have so many opportunities to experience grace each day, if we stay open to it. In the same blog as the above quote came from Yogacharya O'Brian says "Life is infused with divine grace and beauty. It is always, forever, trying to show us that. When we look upon it with gratitude, we are free to see it."

Open Your Mind to Contentment

Indulging in moods is a great cause of unhappiness that hurts us and others, too. Remember that you are the soul with the  power to resist and overcome any mood. With soul power, open your mind to contentment.  It is available to you in this moment.  Call it forth and claim it.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian Living for the Sake of the Soul

When we leave on the TV or listen to the news too much, it is easy to fall into a sour mood. Just as we wouldn't expose ourselves to toxic chemicals, why overexpose ourselves to what may be toxic around us? Yogacharya O'Brian also says "With contentment practice, one plants seeds of happiness and peace in the present moment. These seeds contribute to the healing of the past and the flowering of peace in our future." Contentment comes from focusing on the divine, on grace and on bright possibilities.  When we mentally affirm positive outcomes and work to support them, wonders occur.
What could you do to empower a practice of contentment?

Our Vital Force: The Energy of Spirit

Vital force is the conscious energy of Spirit that gives life to the soul. When we are living according to divine guidance, expressing the soul's purpose in thought, word, and action, then we are appropriately using our vital force. 
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian from her book Living the Eternal Way: Spiritual Meaning and Practice for Daily Life. 

The right use of vital force is an important spiritual practice of Kriya Yoga which is spelled out in the scripture of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In the Yoga Sutras it says "Let nothing distract you from right living and experience great vitality." This is about using our energy wisely and focusing on what supports our life purpose. I find that when I overdo, feeling that only I can do a particular task or that this task has to be done at a specific time, or I can't say no to someone, I find that I can get tired and cranky with people and I begin to feel put out and not happy. Others don't want to be around me. When we focus on what is important, that which supports our mental and physical health, connecting with our soul guidance—doing what we know we should do, we are energized in a way that brings a deep sense of fulfillment. Observe what depletes you or energizes you. Follow your inner guidance. When we are connected with that, our thoughts, words and actions benefit those around us and the world. Connect with your inner vital force and experience great vitality. 

Affirm Abundance in Your Life

The belief “I need this or that to bring me happiness or security” affirms lack. Realize your wholeness now. Then watch what is added unto you from your abundance consciousness. Watch.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian

Our daily meditation practice makes us aware of the contents of our mind 
and gives us the power to change what goes on in the mind. When we catch ourselves complaining about what we don't have we can recall the principle that 'like attracts like.' Thoughts of lack attract that experience in the real world. A strong gratitude practice reminds us of what we do have and attracts abundance in an entirely graceful way. We begin to see all in our life as a gift. Try this every day for a week and you may be surprised. Affirm abundance.