O' Cosmic Birther

The Christ as Viewed by Swami Vivekananda

Lecture by Swami Prapannananda

O cosmic birther of all radiance and vibration!

Soften the ground of our being and create a space within us 

where your Presence can abide. Fill us with your creativity 
so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission.

Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with our desire.

Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what 
each being needs to grow and flourish.

Untie the tangled threads of destiny that binds us, 
as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes. 
Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true 
purpose, but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment.
For you are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth-power 
and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again.

- Neil Douglas-Klotz from Original Prayer: 
Teachings and Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus

A Mother's Love

Refuge of Divine Love

Lecture by Swami Chidbrahmananda

Mary did you know that your baby boy will some day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Oh Mary did you know

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

- Mark Alan Lowry, "Mary Did You Know" Song lyrics

Jesus Christ : Historical and Universal

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda

Happy Day of the Birth

I learned that in Ecuador the Catholic tradition places emphasis on the Nativity scene rather than the Christmas tree as in the USA. As a result, baby Jesus dolls are quite popular in Ecuador. The people honor baby Jesus in an effort to earn grace and mercy from God. People will pray to baby Jesus because they think he is more likely to be merciful and much kinder than an adult Jesus. It's very common to see grown ladies carrying their exquisitely adorned and treasured antique wax or porcelain Jesus baby dolls in a miniature laced bassinet or basket to the church altar during a Sunday service to be blessed with holy water by the priest. This parade of baby Jesus dolls continues until January 6th of every year when the kings wise men would then return home. Every year a magnificent feast is given by the family member who received the baby doll in the annual exchange. Next year that same doll will be exchanged and a new family member will take on the responsibility of presenting the baby Jesus doll at the church altar for the blessing and then host the feast. Feliz Navidad! The Spanish greeting for Christmas means "Happy Day of the Birth".

Religious Festivals of Ecuador

Truth is One

"The Master [Sri Ramakrishna] said that one day he sat in a parlor room at Dakshineswar, where a painting of Mary and baby Jesus was hanging; and intently studied that image, thinking of the wonderful life of Jesus. Just then he saw the picture become animate and luminous. Rays of light emanated from the bodies of Mother Mary and the child Jesus, entering his heart and revolutionizing his mental attitudes. … After he returned to the Dakshineswar temple garden, the Master remained uninterruptedly absorbed in meditation on those experiences pertaining to Jesus. He completely forgot to visit the Divine Mother in the temple. The waves of Christian faith that swayed him lasted for three days. When the Master was walking in the Panchavati at the end of the third day, he saw a beautiful but unfamiliar godman with a fair complexion advancing towards him, gazing at him steadily. … The Master was charmed by the unique divine expression on his serene face and wondered who he could be. Very soon after that the figure drew near, and a voice from within told him, 'This is Jesus Christ, the great yogi, the loving Son of God who is one with his Father, who shed his heart's blood and suffered torture for the salvation of humanity.' Then the godman Jesus embraced the Master and merged into him. In ecstasy, the Master lost external consciousness and his mind remained united with Saguna Brahman for some time. With this vision, the Master became convinced that Jesus was truly a divine incarnation." —Swami Saradananda, Sri Ramakrishna and His Divine Play, p 355-6

Truth is One lecture by Swami Chetanananda

Prayer 
of Unity

May He who is 

Father in Heaven of the Christians, 

Holy One of the Jewish faith, 

Allah of the Muslims, 

Buddha of the Buddhists, 

Dao of the Chinese faith, 

Great Spirit of Native Americans, 

Ahura Mazda of the Zoroastrians, 

and Brahman of the Hindus, 

lead us from the unreal to the real, 

from darkness to light and from death to immortality. 

May the all loving being manifest himself unto us, 

and grant us abiding understanding and all consuming divine love. 

OM shanti, shanti, shanti, 

peace, peace, peace be unto us all.

Madonna and Child

Had I lived in Palestine, in the days of Jesus of Nazareth, 

I would have washed his feet, not with my tears, 

But with my heart's blood!

-Swami Vivekananda