Ultimate Freedom

John Friend's 2009 Anusara Yoga Tour is called "Ultimate Freedom," and today is a day in which those of us who live in the United States and call it home, celebrate our nation's independence.

The readings in Paramahansa Yogananda's Spiritual Diary for the first week of July provide rich insights on this subject...

"Freedom means the power to act by soul guidance,
not by the compulsions of desires and habits.
Obeying the ego leads to bondage;
obeying the soul brings liberation."

"Before you act, you have freedom,
but after you act, the effect of that action
will follow you whether you want it or not.
That is the law of karma.
You are a free agent, but when you perform
a certain act, you will reap the results of that act."

"Man's freedom is final and immediate,
if he so wills; it depends nor on outer
but inner victories."

"The way to freedom is through service to others.
The way to happiness is through meditation
and being in tune with God...
Break the barriers of your ego;
shed selfishness; free yourself
from the consciousness of the body;
forget yourself; do away
with this prison house of incarnations;
melt your heart in all, be one with all creation."

Happy Independence Day!

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