A Message for the Spiritual Celebration of Christmas

By Paramahansa Yogananda

Thousands around the world are celebrating Christmas; for most it is primarily a time for festivities and the exchange of presents. But Christmas is far more than a holiday celebration for the masses. For me, Christmas has a greater meaning: the consciousness of the significance of Christ to bring the actual realization of Christ into our observance of Christmas.


What is Christ Consciousness? Christ is God’s Infinite Intelligence that is present in all creation. The Infinite Christ is the “only begotten son” of God the Father, the only pure Reflection of Spirit in the created realm. That Universal Intelligence, the Kutastha Chaitanya or Krishna Consciousness of the Hindu scriptures, was fully manifested in the incarnation of Jesus, Krishna, and other divine ones; and it can be manifested also in your consciousness. You, too, are a child of God. That same consciousness can be yours. Those who meditate devoutly will receive Christ on the altar of calmness in their own consciousness.

Realizing the Christ Presence
Do not think of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem as a helpless little baby; even as the tiny infant Jesus, within his consciousness was omnipresent God. How else could he, when only a young boy, talk in a manner that startled even the wise men of the temple? While he had a little-boy brain, behind it and manifesting through it was the almighty spirit of God. The universal spirit of Christ Consciousness was with him from the beginning. That is the real reason why we should celebrate his birthday -- to remind ourselves of the divine qualities of Jesus, and to awaken ourselves to a realization of the enlightening, loving Christ Presence in our own consciousness.

Take this Christmas celebration seriously and through deep and sustained meditation invite the Christ to manifest himself to you. His beloved disciple St. John said: “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” Then why not make yourself ready to receive him now? It is easier at this season than at any other time, for a spirit of goodwill, love, and peace radiates throughout the world. The entire cosmos celebrates this season of joy for the Light that permeates all space. Remember what Jesus was in reality. But he came on earth as a human being and went through all the struggles and suffering of a human being and came through victoriously. That is why he can be an example for us, an ideal toward which we may strive. If he could succeed, we may also.

We must live life unselfishly as he lived it and must faithfully practice the method of interiorization for realizing the presence of that Almighty Grace within -- the method of persistent meditation. Christ must come in that cathedral of inner silence. Go so deep within the great silence that you feel the one Life that pervades all creation. Then you will find the Christ Presence....

Be sure that love and goodwill accompany the gifts you give, and recognize the spirit and the hand of the Father in those you receive. Give extra time to meditation for at least the week preceding Christmas, devoting several hours to divine communion on one of those days; and be sure to meditate on Christmas morning. Accept this great gift of the life of Jesus, which the Father meant for you. Do not let Jesus’ living and his suffering be in vain. He came to bring you joy, and glory, and peace, and light. These he offers to you always, but with especial tenderness and love at this holy season. Wake up and accept the Christ-gifts of life.

Christ is the joy felt in meditation. Christ is the perception realized in the deepest hours of silence. Clear away all the bars of material desire and let Christ into your heart. Open the portals of devotion and meditate until the Christ child is born within you.

May you have a very merry Christmas, and may you receive the greatest gift that anyone can wish for you -- the perception of the Christ spirit in your own heart. May you feel his presence on Christmas Day and every day throughout the new year. Open your hearts to receive the wonderful gift of Light. Meditate. Meditate until you get results. The answer is sure if you persist. Love, serve, meditate.

Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi and founder of Self-Realization Fellowship, many years ago began a tradition of celebrating the spiritual significance of Christmas with an eight-hour meditation at the Los Angeles headquarters of his society. This tradition is still carried on today at SRF temples and centers worldwide, including in Atlanta. These are excerpts from messages he gave during some of the Christmas meditations, which are published in his book The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You. For information about the Christmas meditation at the SRF Atlanta Center, call (770) 434-7200 or visit www.yogananda-srf.org.