Life Is Full of Small Miracles

I had decided not to bring my harmonium to Pennsylvania this year since I noticed last year that there was a nice looking harmonium right there in the Temple that I could use for chanting whenever I wanted to. Well, I went to use it for the first time last week and discovered that it is in very poor condition (the only person I’ve seen playing a harmonium here brought his own). I could not play this harmonium without being constantly distracted by it’s challenges. What to do? I could ask someone to send me one of my two harmoniums from California, but concluded that it would most likely get damaged. I decided that I cannot last in Pennsylvania until January without a functional harmonium. Chanting is just that important to me. So, next I thought of fundraising to get the Temple a decent harmonium that I could use, and anyone else could use, too. I put out a few feelers and gave it some time, but ended up deciding not to go that route. The temple does enough fundraising, and I don’t want to be the new guy in town asking people for money for a harmonium that probably only I would use. Ok, so, what to do? The only option I saw remaining was to buy another harmonium for myself. We’re talking $700 for a good one. I decided to bite the bullet and go for it. After some online research, I discovered that the best harmonium store in the US is only about 100 miles away! I could borrow a car and go buy one (I won’t buy a harmonium without playing it first). I sent a text to the general manager here at the ashram to ask if there’s a car that I could borrow for such an excursion. While waiting for his reply, I was busy getting audio and video equipment setup in the Yoga Hall for a group of 60 that was going to be doing a workshop this weekend. I was told that the portable projection screen is stored underneath the stage in the Temple, so I went to get it. I got down on my knees and lifted the stage skirt to look under there. What do I see? Another harmonium! I pulled it out and played it a little. It works fine! I asked if I could use it. The answer was Yes! I couldn’t believe it. I was practically one foot out the door to go buy a harmonium, and one appeared, as if out of nowhere. Praise God! ?

Love,
Sahadev

QUOTES FROM MY NOTES

Pay attention to your inner disposition. Don’t think that you can do more good to society by doing something that is against your nature. It will be like swimming against the current of a river. 

Concepts of who God is can help, but you must go beyond thoughts and feel who God is. Feel God in your own heart. God is present in the body and mind even as electricity is present in all the gadgets, making them function. Don’t think that God is far away and unattainable. Search first in your heart, where you feel love. God is always associated with love. 

The highest mental strength is to be established in self-surrender. It is surrender to God. All the while, remain faithful to your duties in life. Make all actions an offering to God. To all the stressful questions about the future, answer “We’ll see.” It is glorious uncertainty. Your insecurity and unhappiness disappear. You will attain a Supreme Peace that cannot be disturbed by anything or anyone. You are free!

Many recordings of classes presented by the swamis here at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam are available to listen to for free online at www.avgsatsang.org. Just click on one of the swamis pictures to get to a list of their topics.