Dear Ones:

It’s New Year’s Eve here in India. My wish and prayer for all members and friends of Ananda is that you devote next year to striving ever more diligently to live by the words of the chant, “Lord, I am Thine, I am Thine, I am Thine! Be Thou mine, be Thou mine, be Thou mine! I am Thine! I am Thine!”

Offer your egos up to him to wash them clean, expand them, reduce them to nothing, absorb them in Him completely! Therein lies the only joy and fulfillment you can ever know.

Love all, as extensions of your own Self.

Forgive everybody by thanking them mentally for everything, including any hurts they may have given you, for these hurts, too, will nudge you closer to your own salvation.

Be kind to everybody, as you would have them be kind to you.

See the veriest stranger as your very own, for so is he, in God.

Hold no grudges, but hold rather the thought that everyone on earth, whether he knows it or not, is trying to find the same end you are, eventually: eternal bliss in God.

Laugh inwardly with God at every slight, every misunderstanding, every deprecating word or gesture. No one owes you anything. YOU owe everything that you have and are to God!

Love Him, above all.

And try to share His love with all.

With deepest love in Him,

Swami