Product Description

This book of daily inspirational selections invites the reader to begin each day on a positive note. In a convenient and popular format, it effectively imparts Sri Swami Satchidananda's key teachings on the spiritual life, emphasizing how to serve others and realize peace, truth and union with the Divine. Culled from 25 years of lectures to spiritual seekers in the West and the East, its teachings clearly reflect Sri Swamiji's humor, warmth and practicality--and convey the authority of one who speaks from his own experience.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #301108 in Books
• Published on: 1987
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The following is the daily reading for February 7 from The Golden Present.

Let us talk a little bit about samadhi. In the yogic sense, we are talking about the transcendental state of enlightenment. But in India, normally if you say "he has attained samadhi". that means he has died and is buried. That is the normal connotation for that term. In a way, samadhi is like that. Your are dead, yet you are alive. My Master Sri Swami Sivanandaji used to sing this song: "When shall I see thee? When "I" ceases to be." He was asking this question of the Lord. "Lord, when can I see You? I know that will be when "I" ceases to be." That means that if the ego or "I" dies, you can truly live.

If the egoistic "I" goes away from you, you are free from the ego. You are clean, pure. At that stage you are fit to go to heaven, to experience the highest knowledge or the highest truth. That is what we call samadhi. This is the essence of all spiritual teachings and practices, no matter what the label. One can be a Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, a Hindu, Buddhist, Moslem, or of any religion. Even if you don't have any faith at all or don't believe in any organized religion, it doesn't matter. That is not the criterion to have this realization. All you have to accomplish is to see that all selfishness goes away.

Where does the "I" dwell? In ego. Where does the ego live? In the mind. The ego is, in a way, the very source of mind. All the expressions of the ego, thinking, feeling, willing, could be put together under one term, "mind." If the mind gets completely purified, then it's no longer an obstruction to your experience of the Truth. When it is clean and clear, the mind doesn't color the appearance of the pure Self. It becomes a pure reflector of the Self to see its own true nature. that is the essence of spirituality.

Customer Reviews

Really helpful and practical
This book is set out in such a way that you have a page for each day of the year.

The content is very helpful and will provide you with guidance along the path of living.

Satchidananda writes in a simple and gentle style that is full of warmth and love.

I always come away from it feeling that little bit better and that my faith is a little stronger.

Who could ask for more than that.....

I adore anything from Swami Satchindananda
I feel a connection with Swami Satchindananda, I happened to meet probably one of the only people in my area that was blessed to be under his direct teachings. Anything I have read from him comes from a very humble and peaceful place, and helps me to stay focused in my humble and peaceful place.

The Only book you'll ever need for personal growth
This book helps in a very simple, practical and gentle way shows why there is pain in our lives and that if we can conquer of egos and truly apply these gems of truth into our daily lives how we can reach our full potential as human beings. He speaks the undeniable truth, no matter what your background is.