Recently, I wrote about a book called Autobigraphy of a Yogi by Paramhausa Yogananda. The book is, more or less, a litany of miracles and gurus the author witnessed firsthand—and it is quite lengthy. My first reaction: how did one fairly normal young man growing up in India meet so many enlightened masters in one lifetime? I mean, granted, he was training to be one, too. But seriously.
My conclusion, which may or may not be true, was that at least at the time the book was written, India was a culture of belief. Even people who were without the author’s fanatical, wholehearted search for God (like his brother Ananda) believed strongly in omens, predictions, etc., as evidenced by the stories in the book. Therefore, more miracles actually occurred.
This reminds me of the beloved Indonesian guru in Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. His parents told him his whole life that he was spiritually gifted, so he just never questioned it. As a result, he became a very intuitive miracle worker.
There is, and was, and always will be, a whole lot to be said for simple faith.
What do you think? Does more faith mean more miracles? Or are there the same number of miracles happening either way, but when less faith is present more of them just go unnoticed?
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I think miracles are occurring at the same rate — the speed of belief. It’s just that now we can only accept them through ‘understandable’ means, so they come that way. They come through avenues we can accept. Money from a job, a family member. Healing through a doctor or healer we’re in tune with.
I agree that miracles are happening all the time–the more “mundane” kind. And yes, they happen at the speed of belief. I think what you are saying is that everything is really a miracle because we are all part of God and creating. I agree. SO, that said, when people believe in miracle-miracles, the really out-there sci-fi type stuff, more of that happens. So–my point is–let’s all do more of that. Cause that’s cool.
Agreed!
When I was raising my children, I told them from a very early age that they were special. I told them they could do anything and spoke to them a lot about the powers of the mind.
Today, my daughter has received her PhD in Psychology and is a gifted counselor in a very good marriage. My son lives out of state and is a very good technology programmer/consultant and has aspirations of being an alternative medicine practitioner. Both are happy and successful. I believe my words and my faith helped them to create their own. I also believe in the faith of many producing miracles.
That is awesome. I know of others who did the same. So will I. Very inspiring. Wish there were more New THought books for young people. There are just a few I’ve found.