Achariya George Adams
Speaks on "Our Father, A Living Metaphor"
Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 11:00am
We begin our meditation with gratitude to God for the life and example of our earthly fathers. Each of us has special memories of our relationship with our father that we treasure in our hearts, and on this special day, we extend our love and thankfulness for his life, idealism, example, love and gift of our life.
There are other “fathers” for whom we should be grateful. These are the “father figures” who have influenced our journey through life by their example and who have inspired us along the way. We extend our gratitude to these “fathers” as well.
In addition, we extend a special thankfulness to God for the life, guidance and ideal of our “spiritual fathers.” These God-realized individuals include such enlightened souls as the Gurus, Buddha, Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi and the many other spiritual lights who have graced our life. In particular, I know that the fellow devotees of our Church are immensely grateful to Swami Premananda and Swami Yogananda for their love, guidance and spiritual example.
Finally, we thank God, our Father, for the most precious gift of all, the gift of our Soul. God in me is my Soul. God in you is your Soul. You and I are sons and daughters of God. We are one in Soul.
Each of us is on a journey of spiritual perfection. The ancients described this journey as a journey from “the unknown to the known, from darkness to light, from death to immortality." This journey is exemplified in the life of the Christ, the soul, God, within each of us.
The Blessed Nazarene used the metaphor of his relationship with his Heavenly Father to teach his disciples the truths about themselves and their journey to perfection. This Sunday, in honor of our earthly fathers, we will explore these eternal truths and how this metaphoric journey of the soul pertains to each of us.
—Achariya George Adams
From Gurus and Swamis: AUM
“…Look at the great and spiritual work of the Kriyaban Jesus; ‘The Father in me doeth the works’ he said with wisdom, humility and inspiration. He taught his disciples to meditate. He initiated them into the light of Kriya, and he gave them the charge of bringing the greatest ministry the world can receive from any servant of God: ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’”
—The Mystic Cross by Swami Kamalananda
“O God, thou Father of the universe,
The whole creation is thy manifestation.
Heaven and earth proclaim thy glory.
In the immensity of space and the eternity of time,
The sun, the stars and the planets play thy mystic symphony.
O thou Almighty,
Thy will guides the destiny of creation,
Life moves in obedience to thy command.
O thou omnipresent Being,
Thy presence permeates all.
Thy harmony shapes the beauty of the universe.
Thy love fills it with peace and joy.
Inspire us to realize thy beauty, love, peace and joy everywhere.
But let us realize thy glory within us first.
For thou art the soul of man, as of all created beings.”
—Prayers of Self-Realization by Swami Premananda
Noble Thoughts: "Let Noble Thoughts come to us from every side." —Rig Veda
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
“The Father in me doeth the works.”
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
“The Kingdom of Heaven cometh not with observation. The Kingdom of heaven is within.”
“My Father’s house has many mansions. I go now to prepare a place for you that where I am ye may be also.”
“None come to the Father except by the Son.”
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”
—Jesus of Christ Consciousness
"Purnam adah purnam idam
Purnat purnam udacyate,
Purnasya purnam adaya
Purnam eva avasisyate.
SHANTI SHANTISHANTI”
“That is Perfect; this is perfect;
Out of That Perfection emanates this perfection;
In the ocean of Perfection surge the waves of perfection;
Yet That Perfection is never lost
PEACEBLISSPEACE”
—Ancient Invocation