Where the Rubber Meets the Road

"Son, this is where the rubber meets the road…"

My earthly father was selling worldly “wisdom” to me on generating income and residuals from insurance. His advice seemed like it was straight out of an East Coast gangster movie. Though I can't recall the exact money-making scheme he was referring to, that one phrase stuck with me: "This is where the rubber meets the road."

But where does our spiritual journey intersect with practical reality? Where does our spiritual "rubber" meet the road of divine experience? How can we sustain the inspiration to follow the spiritual path for a lifetime?

Paramhansa Yogananda once advised, "Follow the living link of the Masters..."

My first encounter with the "living link of the Masters" occurred when I visited Ananda Village for Spiritual Renewal Week. I had the privilege of meeting several remarkable souls whose kindness and joy overwhelmed me, not just through their words, but also through the way they lived their lives—a true source of inspiration.

Swami Kriyananda once said, "Today I think civilization is going to desperately need communities like this, not so much to preserve skills such as engineering, but rather to preserve spiritual values. When you have people scattered, it’s very hard to uphold spiritual values. Seeing one person who is calm, for example, is not going to draw people, but seeing a community of people who are calm, you have to say that it’s what they are doing that makes them that way.”

So, what are people doing in Ananda communities? They are living the teachings to the best of their ability. Our spiritual journey finds its true expression in the moments of our everyday lives—the moments we live and experience. It's not confined to a Sunday sermon but rather embodied in the exuberant dance of divine joy discovered in the most unexpected places. It's in a smile exchanged from a distance or the serene demeanor of a peaceful warrior.

When we encounter others who embody and live these teachings, their shared divine magnetism possesses the power to transform our own lives.

We warmly invite you to join us (in person or online) for Spiritual Renewal Week with Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi. This year's theme is "Living the Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda." Additionally, Jyotish and Devi will be launching their new book, "Touch of Divine Wisdom."

When we live in spiritual communion and community with others, our lives truly align.

Only then will the rubber of our realization meet the road of divine joy!