Self-Realization Fellowship Blog

The following is a message from Sri Daya Mata, third president and sanghamata (“mother of the society”) of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, who served in that role from 1955 until her passing in 2010. This message was originally published as “A Letter From Sri Daya Mata” in Self-Realization magazine in 2009; such messages being much loved for their encouragement and wise counsel by readers of the magazine over the decades.

In our journey to God — and in striving toward our other goals in life — it is important to nurture a healthy and positive attitude toward ourselves.

This, Gurudeva Paramahansa Yogananda always emphasized: What we strongly think and believe, we draw into our lives. If we establish a joyous attitude of seeing ourselves as souls — having faith in our spiritual potential and our innate goodness, and cultivating these — we manifest more our real Self, the divine atman or soul within us.

Each individual soul was specially created by God as a unique expression of His resplendent qualities. It is thrilling to dwell on this truth! Inherently there is nothing we lack. We only need to rediscover by the power of meditation and by right living the completeness that is already ours.

“What you are,” Paramahansaji said, “is much greater than anything or anyone else you have ever yearned for. God is manifest in you in a way that He is not manifest in any other human being. Your face is unlike anyone else’s, your soul is unlike anyone else’s, you are sufficient unto yourself; for within your soul lies the greatest treasure of all — God.”

Feel and believe this more. Why ascribe to ourselves limitations, or errors of the past? Let us begin anew each day — with full faith in God’s unconditional love and active assistance in our sincere and continuous efforts. Drive away the gloom of doubt and discouragement with the bright light of happiness-creating thoughts and deeds; that is the soul’s natural way of dealing with every circumstance.

Learn to appreciate and express the divine qualities within yourself, not out of egoistic pride, but because you are dearly cherished by the Eternal Beloved who wants to give something of Himself to this world through you.

“Always be proud that you are a child of God,” Paramahansaji said. “It is His power that is behind your ability to talk, move, and feel....You can commune with Him right within you....Meditate regularly....You will find emancipation; and the influence of your life will show others the way to emancipate themselves.”