Srimati Carrie
Speaks on "Spiritual Sacrifice"
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Spiritual sacrifice is the offering of life freely and completely into the Infinite by overcoming a sense of separation from that Infinite Self that resides within us. Such renunciation is the foundation of our spiritual life. It is living with the awareness of God. It is the dedication of all our actions to God. It is the realization of God.
—Srimati Carrie
From Gurus and Swamis: AUM
“In the likeness of God, soul comes to God through ever-expanding consciousness of its true being. Sacrifice, the ‘making sacred’ of life, is the most natural offering of the beauty, love, goodness and wisdom of heart and soul, body and mind of man. The greater the consciousness of sacrifice, the greater the realization of freedom, oneness and selflessness. Spiritual sacrifice is a positive power, beneficent and harmonious, because it is in accordance with all spiritual progress everywhere.”
—Swami Kamalananda, Frontiers of the Spirit
“The real significance and purpose of renunciation is subjective. It is the discardance of those finite and self-limiting concepts, ideas and impressions which hinder the full and perfect unfoldment and manifestation of all the godly qualities of our soul. Inner renunciation is more vital to our life and spirituality than outer discardance. Spirituality begins with our inner life. When the inner life of thought, desire and feeling is spiritualized the outer conduct automatically follows the ways of righteousness. Let us become renunciates in our mind and heart.”
—Swami Premananda, The Blessedness of the Inner Life
Noble Thoughts: "Let Noble Thoughts come to us from every side." —Rig Veda
“Reverence for life...does not allow the scholar to live for his science alone, even if he is very useful to the community in so doing. It does not permit the artist to exist only for his art, even if he gives inspiration to many by its means. It refuses to let the businessman imagine that he fulfills all the legitimate demands in the course of his business activities. It demands from all that they should sacrifice a portion of their own lives for others. When we are truly filled with the idea of reverence for all life, all our attitudes, thinking, actions change. We must go deep into ourselves to find this inspiration.”
—Albert Schweitzer
“‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you.’ This is the one great duty. This is renunciation. Live for an ideal, and leave no place in the mind for anything else. Let us put forth all our energies to acquire that which never fails — our spiritual perfection.”
—Swami Vivekananda
“There's only one effectively redemptive sacrifice, the sacrifice of self-will to make room for the knowledge of God.”
—Aldous Huxley