What is it that we do not realize? That is what the mind does not accept, due to delusion, due to the power of Maya to keep us deluded into believing that this Cosmic Dream is the reality. And so, “The Voice of God” is, we must understand it, it is our very life.
The Voice of God,” is a very important subject; one which we should understand thoroughly. “The Voice of God” is the great Cosmic Sound of Om, the Holy Vibration, the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. We should understand it, because in that vibration is the Great Intelligence, and Love, and Feeling of God. Realize, it is not just a vibration of sound, and light, and feeling, but it is the Presence of the Power and the Intelligence of the Master of the Universe, who has created all things, and has created each one of us. It is our very existence. And it is the way back home to God, from whence we have come – “The Voice of God.”
Dr. M.W. Lewis Hollywood, 10-2-55
The subject this morning: “The Voice of God.”
Now in Revelation, in the 1st Chapter, 10th and 12th Verses, we have an expression of “The Voice of God,” and I will read it to you at this time. Realize how necessary it is that we understand this Voice of God. Not only will we feel God’s Love, but understand that in that Holy Vibration, if we merge in it, we are in tune with the Heavenly Forces, which have made all things. The mind must be waked up, so to speak; it must be shaken, so that it accepts the realization of the necessity of knowing “The Voice of God” – being one with it. The trouble is, it’s there, but the mind, through ages, has been attached to this outward consciousness, and it does not realize what we have right within us. So we must make it realize that, if possible.
And so, in Revelation, the 1st Chapter, 10th and 12th Verses: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet…And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;” “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…” “The Voice of God” is not heard by outward consciousness. “I was in the Spirit,” means that the devotee was in the Spiritual Consciousness within, not in outward consciousness. “On the Lord’s day,” means any day. Not Sunday. Any day that you hear the Cosmic Sound you are in the Spirit.
So, there you have a beginning to understand “The Voice of God.” “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”― any day, in meditation, or calmness – that you can hear the Cosmic Sound, you are hearing “The Voice of God.” Isn’t that the Lord’s day? So, do not think that only on Sunday, or on days of inspiration, that you can hear “The Voice of God.” Any day is “The Voice of God”’s day. And as it says, “I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet.” “Behind me,” means that the Spiritual Consciousness manifests more in the Spinal Region, where we have the Centers of the spine, and the Supreme Center of the Brain. That’s where Spiritual Consciousness congregates, so to speak. That’s where it is reservoired – there. And so, that’s why it says, “I heard a voice behind me.”
So what goes on? “I turned to see the voice that spake with me.” Can you see a voice speaking? That shows that “The Voice of God,” the Holy Vibration, manifests as Light. Sound, as the trumpet sound; Light, as the Great Spiritual Light seen to those who meditate at the Christ Center; and those who meditate deeply can see the Centers of the spine and the Thousand-rayed Lotus. In that is “The Voice of God.” In that is the Intelligence of God. In that is the Great Love of God. “And being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;” simply refers to the Light of the seven conspicuous places in the spine, where the Presence of God manifests to such a great extent. So there we have one scriptural reference, which you can remember.
And now, a few words about the Voice itself, about the voice itself. The Voice manifests in various ways, as I have said; as Light, Sound, and Feeling. Feeling is the Intuition of God within you; Feeling is the Intelligence of God. That’s why all things come from the Holy Vibration – from that Vibration – due to the Intelligence of God in it. The arrangement is that all things are produced from the Vibration of the Light of that Holy Sound.
And so, “The Voice of God” produces all things. And we have a reference of that in St. John, the 1st Chapter, the 1st Verse, which I have said to you many times, but we can say it again, and again, until we realize it. “In the beginning was the Word…” In the beginning was the Holy Vibration, the Word of God, “The Voice of God.” “…and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Do we realize that? No. Sometimes, we get a great inspiration, and we feel, then we lose it, due to the bad habit of being attached to outward things. And so, this Voice, realize, is that from which all things have come, as I read in the scriptures just a moment ago, about the Amen; the True Witness; the Beginning and the End of the Creation of God. And so, this Voice of God, also manifests, or is the manifestation of, God Himself as Light, Sound, and Feeling.
Now let us take up those three things, in order, just in a few minutes, to show you that “The Voice of God” is knowable. It is not something mystical. It is not something mysterious, rather. It is knowable, as Sound – not ordinary sound – Cosmic Sound, Spiritual Light, and greatest of all, the Love of God.
Now about sound – we have lots of references about sound. I’ll just give you one or two, so that you can, you can go through yourself, and pick them out in the scripture. The first is where reference is made to the great Cosmic Sound of Om. In us we hear a little bit of it. We’re a miniature universe. But the Great Universe itself is produced by the Great Cosmic Sound of Om, and the rumble of it, so to speak, is known as the Great Cosmic Sound of Om.
And in Matthew, pardon me, Samuel, 2nd Samuel…22nd Verse, 14th, 2nd…22nd Chapter, 14th Verse, we read, “The Lord thundered from heaven…” the Lord thundered from heaven, “and the most High uttered his voice.” That’s the Great Cosmic Sound of Om. And those who concentrate their attention at the Christ Center, and merge in the Cosmic Sound, will hear that Great Cosmic Sound of Om thundering, if you merge in it, because it is the Cause and End of all things. We have another reference to the “trumpet sound,” and “the sound of many waters.” You’ll find “The Voice of God” is spoken of as the “trumpet sound,” of which I just referred to in Revelation, and also “thesound of many waters.” And this we find also in Revelation, and many other places in the Bible – just two or three references about the sound.
Now about the Light: “The Voice of God” also manifests at Light, as Light. “If thine eye be single, thy body will be filled with light.” And that Light is perceived where? It is not perceivable through these ordinary eyes. Many people have been looking a long time to find God. You can’t find Him with these eyes. But, “if thine eye be single,” then you can see “The Voice of God.” You can see the manifestation of the Great Cosmic Sound of Om – the Amen, and the Amin.
Now we have one reference here, a beautiful reference in Ezekiel, the 43rd Chapter, the 1st and 2nd Verse, showing that you can see the manifestation of “The Voice of God” at the Christ Center. It says, “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:” This is the East of the body, as you know (Doctor points to the spiritual eye – the point between the eyebrows.) The West is behind, where the Centers in the spine are located, (Doctor points to the medulla oblongata), the North is here (Doctor points to the top of the head) and the South is at the base of the spine (Coccyx). And so it says, “Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east; And, behold…” what happened? “the glory of [the] God of Israel came by the way of the east; and his voice was like the noise of many waters; and the earth” which means body in this case, “shined with his glory.” So there you have a direct manifestation of “The Voice of God” perceivable, as Light and also Sound.
Now how about the feeling? What good is the Light of God; what good is the Sound of His Presence, without the Feeling of His Love? That’s the most important thing. And we have a reference to that. The Knowing Power of God, realize, is in the Holy Vibration – the Great Sound of Om, the Amen. The Feeling Power of God Himself – the Great Intuition of the Presence of God is in that. And so, if we can but know this Voice of God, we can take advantage of His All-pervading, Knowing, Omniscience, can we not?
And we have a wonderful reference speaking about the Feeling aspect of “The Voice of God.” It is in Isaiah, 30th Chapter, the 21st Verse: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee,…” – “word” is the Vibration once more – “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way,” this is the way, “walk ye in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.”
Could it be any clearer? The necessity to know “The Voice of God,” because in that Voice of God is God’s Intelligence; people do not realize that. They act first. Then, when they’re in trouble, they say, “Lord, get me out of it.” But we must know “The Voice of God.” Then we can perform right action.
And so, that takes us to the question, the practical use of “The Voice of God.” What is the practical use of it? As I have said, people do not listen to “The Voice of God,” and make the contact first. But they act first, when they should make the contact. If we can contact “The Voice of God,” because His Great Intelligence is in it, and His Love, we’ll find everything we need, and we will do right action. But, as I have said, people do not take God with them first, but they act first, and then sometimes, they have to pray awful hard to get out of their dilemma.
Reminds me of a little story; I hope I can tell it right. Sometimes, I make, I just get confused in these stories. I know what it means. But these two fellows were out in a boat. They’d been shipwrecked, and they were alone out on this boat for two or three days, and they’d practically given up all hope of ever getting back alive. Then one said to the other, he said, “Why don’t you pray about it?”
And the other fellow said, “Well I’ve been awful bad in my lifetime, and I’ve done so many things, I don’t know…” he’d been drinking and carousing. But, he said, “If, if, God would get me out of this, I’d be willing to give all those things up, even, if I’d just get out of this mess.” And the other fellow said, “Well, why don’t you pray?” So he got down and he started, “Lord, I’ve been awful bad, I’ve done lots of things, but Lord I’ve done so many things I don’t know what to say, but…” The other fellow said, “Wait a minute, Bill. Just a minute. I see a sail on the horizon.”
So you see, the depth of that man’s wanting God is quite obvious. I hope you got the point of the story. I don’t know whether I told it right or not, but you see what I mean about these stories. You must get the point over. No matter. There’s a man told me, when I first started in practice, he said, “Young man,” he said, “You’ve got an opportunity here now,” he says, “use it. “Make the money. Make the money, honestly, if you can, but make the money.” And so, there we have it.
Now going on about our subject; as I have said, people do not take advantage of the guidance of God, which is right within them. We miss that opportunity. How much trouble we would save ourselves, if we first made acquaintance with “The Voice of God,” and then took its guidance in everything we do. People even forget Jesus’ words. They forget to follow the words of Jesus when he spoke about “The Voice of God.” In St. John, the 14th Chapter, the 26th Verse, “But the Comforter…” the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost; the Comforter is the Holy Vibration, “…whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Everything we need; and how seldom we take advantage of that. Everything we need is in the Presence of God – “The Voice of God” within us, of which Jesus spoke as the Great Comforter.
Now, that we can hear and know “The Voice of God” is our most precious possession. Realize that – that we can hear and know “The Voice of God” is our most precious possession. That’s why the Master always said to me, many times, over, and over: “Leave all else, but never God’s side.” “Leave all else, but never God’s side.” If we realize how precious “The Voice of God” is, we will merge in it, because it is the straight way to our home in Cosmic Consciousness, our home of Light. It is the straight way to our home, our Spiritual home.
And it says exactly that in our own scriptures. In Isaiah, the 40th Chapter, the 3rd Verse: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” And therefore, we should realize that at the door, at this point [Doctor points to forehead between the eyebrows to the Spiritual Eye], is the way, the straight way to our Cosmic Home. The straight way, where we all must meet, sometime, and will meet. All those who live, and act right, will meet in a conscious
way, in our Cosmic Home of Light. Now the door is at this point [Doctor points to the Spiritual Eye], and the door is known by the Presence of “The Voice of God.” The Great Cosmic Sound of Om, with its many aspects, is perceivable at this point, at the door.
Now, therefore, we should heed that Voice of God. We should not only heed it, hear it, but we should merge in it. Why? “Why,” you say? Because, all things are found there – everything we can ever hope for. Everything; the greatest thing we can long for we will find in “The Voice of God,” because it leads to our Cosmic Home. And we also have, in our own scriptures, a wonderful reference, which you all know as follows, Revelation, the 3rd Chapter, 20th Verse[1]: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; and if any man hear my voice,” if you hear “The Voice of God,” and then it says, “…open the door…”
People hear “The Voice of God” – many hear the Cosmic Sound, many see the Light at the Christ Center, many feel God’s Love tugging at their hearts – but they don’t open the door. So it says, “Any man that heareth my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” How wonderful. But we have to open the door.
It is not enough to hear “The Voice of God.” It is not enough to see the Great Cosmic Light. It is not enough to feel God’s Love in your heart. You have to be one with it. You have to merge in it. That’s opening the door. And, if you open the door, what’s the greatest thing that will happen? The greatest thing will happen is this, and we should never forget this one point; that, if we hear “The Voice of God,” and merge in it, open the door, what happens? God Himself comes and lives with us. God Himself comes into His tabernacle, which is right within us. Not just His Love – God Himself comes.
You say, “Is that so?” Yes, it is so. And we have a Bible reference, the last one I will give, which points that out distinctly. In Revelation the 21st Chapter, the 3rd Verse, listen carefully: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men…” We do not have to go way off somewhere to find the tabernacle of God. We do not have to go way off to find our Spiritual home, somewhere in space.
It says, “…the tabernacle of God is with men, and God [he] will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Isn’t it necessary for us to heed and know “The Voice of God?” People do not realize what they have in the channel of Self-Realization, which gives the ways and the means to know God; to hear His Voice; to be one with it. And what’s the reward. What’s the promise? God Himself will dwell with us. We must realize “The Voice of God” is with us, and “The Voice of God” is knowable. https://yogananda.org/lessons
And finally, those who merge in that Voice – hear it first, and merge in it – what is the reward? God Himself comes and dwells in the heart of that humble devotee.