It’s All For You
Dear friends,
I had a very interesting experience that has recently come back to mind...
Some years ago we had a ceremony at Ananda, my spiritual home and spiritual family of Yogananda devotees. I live in an apartment complex in Mountain View that is Ananda's intentional spiritual community (we have apartments available from time to time; you can check it out here). As part of the ceremony we do a bit of fundraising for needed projects of various sorts. As I walked up to make my offering I looked into the eyes of the bust of Yogananda and said mentally, “All for you…” I felt a strong surprising response in my heart, “No it isn't! It’s all for you!”
That sort of put me back on my heels, as it was quite unexpected. It took a moment for me to recompose myself as I wondered what that was about. Then I realized, it is all for me! We serve others because that is how we transcend our own ego and desires. We pray because prayer purifies our own consciousness, and not to make suggestions to God. We love because through pure love we become truly selfless. We make offerings because gratitude leads to freedom and joy. As my teacher once put it, “I love because I feel much better when I am loving.”
It is very nice that this world is put together in such a way that when we do the things that serve and uplift others, we in turn are served and uplifted. It is such a strong temptation to give in to littleness and to close in on ourselves, like the little hermit crab on the beach who tentatively comes out, but scurries back inside his shell at the slightest disturbance. We need to make it a practice to expand into our challenges and embrace what comes because, after all, truly, “It's all for you.”
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the staff at East West