Self-Realization Fellowship Blog

“We Are Worthy of the Blessings of Spiritual Consciousness” by Brother Chidananda

September 03, 2025

 

 

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.

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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.  

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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).

Leave a comment
Maggie Wilson

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.

thangamani

Very inspiring Will start this practice today snd strive to do this everyday

Liliana

Me parece una espléndida enseñanza, confirma lo que ,por momentos fugaces, he sentido de la presencia de Dios y de la Madre Divina.Gracias

Sathya

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!!!!

David Karroll

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

Todd

Shifting the perspective on this chant is profoundly inspiring. Thank you.

Nicole Sachen

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!!

Maryam

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.

Aloke Biswas

Very inspiring and practical advice. It is as if Guruji is himself speaking.

Kazu

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.

Anahid Moradian

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.

Caroline

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!

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