This blog post is an edited excerpt from SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda’s satsanga at the 2025 Self-Realization Fellowship World Convocation. The full talk, “How-to-Live Skills to Survive, Thrive, and Be Victorious in the Material World,” can be viewed in our Teachings Library and on the SRF YouTube channel.
I would like to share a story from Paramahansa Yogananda, in order to focus on an important aspect of resilience, enthusiasm, and really the meaning of discipleship. Paramahansaji told this story back in 1941 in his talk “Man’s Eternal Quest.”
He said: “Last summer, I stopped at a monastery where I met one of the priests. He was a wonderful soul. I asked him how long he had been on the spiritual path as a monk.
‘About twenty-five years,’ he replied.
Then I asked, ‘Do you see Christ?’
‘I don’t deserve it,’ he answered. ‘Maybe after death he will visit me.’
‘No,’ I assured him, ‘you can see him from tonight if you make up your mind.’”
And Paramahansaji said, “Tears were in his eyes, and he remained silent.”
“You can see him from tonight if you make up your mind.” He wasn’t just talking about “making up your mind” in the sense of a supreme effort of will power or trying harder. Of course, making more of an intense effort is part of it; but most importantly, for many of us, it means making up our minds that we are worthy, that we can have that blessing, that we can have that spiritual consciousness.
How many blessings in meditation and in our spiritual lives become unavailable to us simply because we think of ourselves as not being worthy? You are worthy. “Make up your mind,” our Guru said, “from tonight.”
Just picture: Suppose somebody is softly whispering in a room how much they love you, how much and highly they think of you, how much they esteem you and admire you. But you are simultaneously saying, “No, no, I’m no good; no, no, I’m no good.” And you drown out completely that other voice. Can you relate to that? That is what we mistakenly all too often do in our relationship with God and Guru.
I have mentioned before how much I rely on and benefit from Paramahansaji’s “Cosmic Chants,” as I am sure all of you do as well. From the time when I was just beginning on the spiritual path, one that spoke very powerfully to me — because I needed it so much and it was really filling a great gap in my temperament up to that point — is that beautiful chant “Door of My Heart”:
“Door of my heart, open wide I keep for Thee.
Wilt Thou come, wilt Thou come? Just for once, come to me?
Will my days fly away without seeing Thee, my Lord?
Night and day, night and day, I look for Thee night and day.”
That chant carried me through many years of my early journey on the path.
But here is what I want to point out to you in connection with this idea of being worthy. There came a time when I realized, “You know, I have only gotten half of the meaning of that chant.” Because as powerful as it is to use that chant to increase our devotion, our longing, our yearning, our persistence — “Wilt thou come, wilt thou come? Just for once, come to me?” — the other half of it is when we realize that actually Divine Mother is also singing that song to us.
You can put this into practice. Turn it around, and instead of you calling to Her, think that She’s calling to you. Think of that! She’s saying to each one of us, “My dear children, the door of My heart, open wide I keep for you. Wilt thou come, wilt thou come? Just for once, come to Me?” Because She knows if we just come to Her once, we will never want to leave.
And then, our soul answers back and says, “Will my days, Mother, fly away without seeing You?” And She doesn’t directly answer, but She just repeats, “Night and day, night and day, I look for you night and day.”
Take that into your practice of meditation, and see what that does to the delusion that you are unworthy.
You can listen below to the SRF nuns’ kirtan group performing the chant “Door of My Heart,” from the recording Light the Lamp of Thy Love (available, with many other chanting recordings from SRF, on popular streaming platforms).
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Jai guru thank you!
Esto es lo que he sentido muchas veces. Espero comenzar a superarlo con la ayuda de Dios y gueuji.
Gracias infinitas.
Thank you, Swamiji
This discourse from Sri Chidanandaji is simply very profound and beautiful. I remember words of Sri Sri Daya Mata’s recollection from her teen days advice from public lectures in Salt Lake City of Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansaji lecture about nightly practice of this chanting in privacy of her home which brought calmness and peace to her. Now, in current context I see full picture of the Guruji’s advice. I feel very blessed to have received this message in developing devotion. Jai Guru.
Gracias hermano Chidananda, cuánta falta me hace saber que si soy digna del amor de nuestra Madre Divina y que es ella la que me busca y ama profundamente. Necesito convertirlo en certeza.
Thank you Swamiji. Jai Guru
Merci! Nous ne mesurons pas toujours la chance que nous avons de désirer Dieu et d'être aimer.
Reverend Swamiji,
Pranams
This spiritual inspiration is just what I needed to feel that I am worthy enough to advance in this path of Self Realization. Thank you very much Brother Chidananda for sharing his experience. Jai Guru Jai!!
Thank you Brother Chidanandaji, your insight has helped me open my heart to this beautiful chant.
I was singing this same song when I woke up this morning and when I read what brother Chidananda said about the song, I felt jut like the priest of the story, I'm not worthy...
So I'll keep in mind that Divine Mother is also calling me, it's not just me, it's She who is calling me, probably before I have been...
Thank you
Thank you so much.
Pranams Swamiji,Really great inspiring words and concept in which we are submerged.Thank you very much for this thrilling experience.
Ever grateful to you and all our Gurus for increasing
Deep gratitude to Rev Br. Chidananda ji and everyone who has made it possible to bring the uplifting digital spiritual weapons of protection to us.
What a wonderful reframe to use! Thank you
Very insightful and Inspiring x
Reversing the message, now coming from God to us is a simple yet incredible insight. Very very encouraging and uplifting. Thank you!
I listened to this as though it were Divine Mother singing to me, it brought tears to my eyes.
Brother Chidanandaji
Thank you so much for your service and these wonderful words. They really touched my heart and soul bringing tears to my eyes as I read them because of the tremendous truth conveyed.
Thank you for encouraging us to make up our minds that we are worthy of the blessing of spiritual consciousness., and to take the chant into our hearts in meditation. This is something I will definitely do.
Jai Guru
This message was so endearing to my soul. I am so glad to be on the path with the right directions.
Thank you Brother Chidanandaji for such an inspiring message. I am truly grateful for the way you shared the deeper spiritual meaning of Guruji’s chant “Door of my heart”. What you shared touched me deeply and gave me a new perspective. I will definitely start practicing this from today.
Thank you. Jai Guru
A living conversation with the Mother. Chanting not to Her but with Her. It changes everything. I love Door of My Heart much more now. Like Caroline, who posted earlier, I too have been chanting it for 40 years. But it has never been my favorite. Because of this new way of seeing, the conversation becomes more personal, more intimate. It makes my heart say, "I'm coming, Mother." Thank you, Brother.
Thanks so much Swami ji. This is a profound and inspiring message that it’s beyond words. The Truth you told about this beautiful chant is likely true for most of us, especially for me. I’m about to sit for my evening meditation and what a sign from Divine Mother that I read your message
Thanks again brother
What a beautiful heart and soul felt interpretation of Guruji's chant 'Door of My Heart', as a sacred conversation between each one of us and the Divine Mother - rather than simply a 'one-way street' where we plead for Her divine presence, She also humbly responds by revealing Her own reciprocal and intimate heart-felt desire to unite in spirit with us also - so exquisitely expressed.
Very inspiring Will start this practice today snd strive to do this everyday
Thank you!!!!!
Me parece una espléndida enseñanza, confirma lo que ,por momentos fugaces, he sentido de la presencia de Dios y de la Madre Divina.Gracias
Thank you Brother. You gave a different and heartfelt meaning to this lines! When I was reading it, I had goosebumps which made a me to realize I didn’t understand it, I can realize the deep meaning and I can feel it! I am so blessed to be in this path! Jai Guru!!!!
It’s 6:10 am September 4, I have been up studying and thinking since 4am, I was led to study, OM shanti, shanti, shanti, Shivaya Namah. I was initiated Aug 22, Spirit and my consciousness has been vibrating at a high level since then. Since I started following Gurujis teachings, every invocation, of FATHER/MOTHER/FRIEND/BELOVED GOD, I have vibrated so much higher at the mention of MOTHER, my MA. That tears start to come, so again this morning with the arrival of your message and envisioning HER calling out to me is Deeply Moving. Blessings on you and all who are on this path. Jai Guru
Shifting the perspective on this chant is profoundly inspiring. Thank you.
Very useful
I am grateful of the posting of these wonderful words from Paramahansaji.
The talks and publications are often released at just the right moment, providing the perspective and resonance needed, and I deeply appreciate this reminder. Thank you!
Jai Guru!!
Thank you, this is a beautiful message reminding us of who we are. In a sense this means the path itself is the destination- the place where we are already in God’s divine embrace if we can relax in to this knowing, we can let it carry us in to the highest states.
“relax into this knowing”…..yes, yes, yes!
Very inspiring and practical advice. It is as if Guruji is himself speaking.
How beautiful and encouraging! Jai Guru!
I am grateful that my beloved God always loves me deeply.
As I tackle the challenges before me,
I live each day as a place of spiritual practice.
Thank you Brotherji,
I really love how you reversed the chant and make me believe that it’s Divine mother who is longing to see me. I knew that Guruji “helplessly” loves me, so I was trying not to take advantage of his love for me. And now my dear Mother is longing to take me in her heart, so I have added duty to make my effort to go to Her.
Grazie, meraviglioso. .
Jai Guru.
Muchas gracias por estar presente en mi vida... Jai Gurú
I’ve been singing Door of my Heart for 40 years and had only looked at its meaning as one directional for all these years! I love this new way of approaching this chant. Thank you!