Praying To Conceive A Spiritual Child, By Mary Kretzmann
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Praying for a Spiritual Child By Mary Kretzmann, excerpted from: Finding God in the Heart of Your Family Director of Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry Tim and I were wedded twice. We had a family wedding, and then packed up and moved, sight unseen, to Ananda Village as our honeymoon. It was Spiritual Renewal Week, (1978) a special week of classes all taught by Swami Kriyananda, direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. At the end of that week, on Saturday night, we took Kriya Yoga initiation for the first time, with Swamiji. The next morning, at Sunday Service, also with Swamiji, we were married using the marriage vows written by Paramhansa Yogananda, which includes the words: "To bring souls on earth to worship God as newborn souls.” It was a very special time for us, for we were newly married, newly initiated into Kriya yoga, and we knew we wanted to have a family. During the one of the classes at Spiritual Renewal Week, Swamiji told the following story from Yogananda, which he later put into his book, Conversations with Yogananda. “A couple expressed to me their desire for a spiritual child. I prayed for them, then showed them a photograph. This soul, I told them, would be suitable for them, and was also, I felt, ready to be reborn on earth. “‘Meditate on this soul,’ I said. ‘Concentrate especially on the eyes. Invite him to come dwell in your home. In addition, have no sexual contact for six months; abstinence will increase your magnetism. “‘When, at the end of that time, you come together physically, think of that person, and think also of God. If you follow my advice in all these respects, that soul will be born to you.’ “They followed what I’d told them, and, some time later, that was the very soul which was drawn into their home.” Conversations with Yogananda: Entry # 175 RECORDED, WITH REFLECTIONS, BY HIS DISCIPLE SWAMI KRIYANANDA (J. DONALD WALTERS) Since it was our very first week at Ananda, I assumed that Swamiji taught this often. However, it was another 20 years before I heard him mention it again! I can see why; it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. I was ready for this information because I loved children, and we knew we wanted a family. I was also very motivated to do what I could to draw in spiritual souls, as I mentioned in When Does the Soul Enter the Body?
Though newly married, we had already lived together for some time; we even owned a cute little home in Arkansas. But as we came on to this spiritual path, we no longer wanted to live in accordance with the norms of our generation; we wanted to align our lives with Yogananda’s spiritual ideals. Once we had that realization we entered a period of celibacy to pray for guidance. The question was not whether or not we loved each other, for we were happy together. But how do you know when to take a solemn vow? Suffice it to say, even though I’d had a deep intuition right before I met my husband that I was about to meet “the one,” I still needed a prayerful process to to trust that inner voice and “jump off the dock,” so to speak, and make it real with a vow. Also, as we were coming onto the spiritual path, I was surprised to find that I was feeling called to be a nun in catholic convent, even though I’d barely been to church since I had left home! When I was a girl, I wanted to be a nun, as a form of dedication to God, and Jesus and Mary. That seemed a long while ago, but that feeling came back at this time. It was not overwhelming, but it was strong enough to get my notice. We were new at meditating, but there were several times that I felt Divine Mother’s loving guidance in this prayerful time. One day, I felt Her grace enter the stillness of my heart with these words, “In this life, to learn unconditional love, be a mother.” My heart was at peace. I knew my path… So – by the time we heard Swamiji’s class, we were already prepared in many ways. We knew there was spiritual power in having extended times of celibacy, as well as (in general) waiting, perhaps for a month or more, between those special times of coming together as a couple. The mind enters a more sublime state. The practice of meditation, plus a vegetarian diet, gives the body a sense of calmness that makes this more readily attainable. (Fruit is especially calming and uplifting.) We were young and in love, and still very romantic. We would laugh, hug, and kiss, and generally enjoyed being with one another, but we also had this other goal, and so we wanted to save the energy, and we knew that it was worth it. I mention this because each couple has to find their own way with this process, but I couldn’t relate to being a cold fish about it all. There was a still natural sense of joy and affection in those times, yet with a sense of restraint. Sexual freedom and connection is almost worshipped these days (especially in the media) so I feel a bit strange mentioning that your life as a couple, and as a devoted soul, can be enhanced with periods of celibacy, or “moderation,” define it as you will. I also address this topic in my healing visualization, Psalm 23 in the Chakras: “He leadeth me beside the still waters” …The physical expression of love is an important, tender connection for many couples. It is often best, then, to focus on bringing in greater love, and lessening any sense of lust in the act, rather than to become radical and "renounce" it all prematurely, in the name of spiritual zeal. As a married couple learns the balance between sexual expression and inner stillness, great love can deepen between them, if they are mindful also to find other ways to express their purified
love for each other, lest they become too austere. Be deeply kind to one another, always. Seeing the Divine Beloved enshrined in one another's forms, the couple can both give and receive deeper love. In this way, love can, over time, be transmuted from the second chakra up to the heart center. This process must proceed with self-honesty, and compassionate consideration toward the needs of the beloved and of oneself… So, we were ready to ask the blessings of God, Christ, Guru in our marriage, and in our desire for spiritual children. There was a deep blessing, and a powerful opening at my spiritual eye, that accompanied the time of our daughter’s conception. I felt the grace of our Guru perfecting the process, helping to uplift our consciousness, because we were still such neophytes on the spiritual path. A special grace, power and upliftment accompanied the conceptions of our other children as well. In addition, I sensed their basic soul essence, and needs for growth in this lifetime. This has helped me as a parent. It is a noble goal even to attempt this process of inviting a spiritual soul to your family. God grace answers such prayers, and sincere intention and efforts, in this direction. Your prayers and your intention are a magnet in and of themselves. This is an important point, and it must be a large part of the reason that Paramhansa Yogananda put that line is his marriage vows, "To bring souls on earth to worship God as newborn souls.” That registers as a prayer in the ether, and helps those couples, I believe, even if they aren’t able to practice the 6-month celibate period as stated, above. The principle of conserving your sexual energy, to build spiritual magnetism for this prayer, however is very important. Do whatever seems kind and reasonable for your marriage. Stretch yourselves, but not to the breaking point. Over the years, I have counseled some couples on this matter, and that is why I stress this directional, rather than absolute, approach. I have seen that it can be helpful to some couples, and more attainable, to have a 6-month period of intentional “moderation,” rather than complete celibacy. This can still help build spiritual magnetism for your meditations, and for your prayers to invite a spiritual soul to your family. Some traditions suggest only coming together physically once a month. This will help the process. Again, think about it, and pray about it; ask to be guided on what would be right for you now. Some very saintly couples are naturally inclined to be celibate, living mostly as “brother and sister” except when coming together solely for the purpose of having children. The parents of Paramhansa Yogananda were such a couple, as were the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. So, if your marriage is also in this category, you are in very august company, and you should able to apply Yogananda’s instructions rather naturally. The parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, Louis and Zelie Martin, prayed for saintly children; all 5 of their children were deeply dedicated to God.
This is from St. Therese’s sister, Celine: “…Not only my father when he was young, but my mother also, had desired to enter the Religious Life. With the disappointment of their hopes, they both turned towards the married state, but aimed at realizing in it the maximum of Christian Spirit…After having lived for many months as brother and sister, they then wished to have many children in order to offer them to God… …Between our parents there was a perfect agreement of heart and mind. My father often spoke to us of our "saintly mother," as he called her. On her part she wrote to her brother: "What a holy man my husband is! I wish every woman in the world could have his equal." The Father of the Little Flower: Louis Martin (18231894) By: Celine Martin (St. Therese's Sister)
Saintly Parents of Yogananda Paramhansa Yogananda’s mother confided to his sister that only once a year did they unite together as husband and wife, for the purpose of having children. Otherwise, they each had a private bedroom, which suited their deeply spiritual and meditative natures. He wrote of his parents in Chapter 1: My Parents and Early Life: …Father and Mother were Bengalis… Both were blessed with saintly nature. Their mutual love, tranquil and dignified, never expressed itself frivolously. A perfect parental harmony was the calm center for the revolving tumult of eight young lives… Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa Yogananda Yogananda at age six
Saintly Parents of Yogananda So, my purpose is only to inspire you in your next step. I certainly don’t mean to intimidate you with these wonderfully noble examples. If nothing else simply get a holy picture or statue that reminds you of God’s love, and every time you see it, ask God to bless your family with spiritually inclined children. Even that will help, because it gets your energy going in that direction. And then, add in whatever else of what I have said here that you feel able to do, while being loving toward your spouse, and yourself.
Special Circumstances Some couples go through the heartache of miscarriages or infertility, and simultaneously also want to pray for a spiritually receptive child. This requires special prayers suited to this situation. The couple may be reluctant to practice long periods of celibacy in order to build magnetism to draw a high soul. They don’t want to create an obstacle toward conception. Several needs may coexist at once: 1) The desire for a child, in general 2) The need for the body to be healed in order to conceive 3) The hope for a spiritually inclined child 4) Prayers for guidance on how long to “try” 5) How many options and expenses are worth pursuing 6) When to let go, and simply enjoy the blessings of a peaceful meditative life 7) How to feel that life is always a gift, even when our deepest desires are denied or delayed? How to avoid having this upset our lives, or marriage, or friendships? 8) How to gracefully enjoy the children of your friends and relatives You may be going through all of this, simultaneously. If so, you must give yourself space to find the right balance for you and your spouse in this situation. Pray your way through this – together and individually. For the most part, men are more easily philosophical about all this. That’s because fatherhood seems an abstract idea, and responsibility, yet his loving concern for his wife, and her happiness, is very real. Strive to remain a source of love, joy and comfort to each other. Keep it that way, no matter what the process and outcome. Prayer and peaceful meditation will help you very much in this regard. Couples vary in what steps they will take in order to conceive. One couple asked for prayers because they were going to try in vitro fertilization. This was their only chance, and I knew the prayers could also help with inviting a spiritually inclined soul to them. It was successful all around, and they were blessed with a healthy baby girl. The child is still very young, and has a lovely, joyful nature. Praying to conceive, while also practicing times of celibacy, are not at cross purposes with each other, because physically the process is enhanced with a time of waiting. Often couples are counseled to wait until the woman is more fertile each month, as this allows the husband’s sperm count to increase and strengthen. This waiting period could be spent praying for a spiritual soul to be born to you. Think and pray about what you can offer the child in terms of spiritual guidance and fulfillment. (You can read my book, “Finding God in Your Family” for ideas on that.) Hold this intention and feeling up in prayer, and then leave the results in the hands of the Divine.
A short movie for peaceful and meditative inspiration:
Thoughts on Spiritual Evolution, by Swami Kriyananda …The Bhagavad Gita urges us not to be discouraged if we don’t find immediate selftransformation at all levels… We should proceed steadily, by natural degrees, and always joyfully. We should accept our own nature, for the time being, as it is, but seek to harmonize it ever more perfectly with our higher realities. As Krishna puts it in the twelfth Chapter: “Cling thou to Me! Clasp Me with heart and mind! so shalt thou dwell Surely with Me on high. But if thy thought Droops from such height; if thou be’st weak to set Body and soul upon Me constantly, Despair not! give Me lower service! seek To reach Me, worshiping with steadfast will; And, if thou canst not worship steadfastly, Work for Me, toil in works pleasing to Me! For he that laboureth right for love of Me Shall finally attain! But, if in this Thy faint heart fails, bring Me thy failure!” Paramhansa Yogananda wrote concerning these lines that they are what make the precepts of the Bhagavad Gita “so sweet, sympathetic, and useful in healing the manifold sicknesses of suffering humanity.” Indeed, in all of God’s Truth there is no room for any kind of negativity, and certainly none for judgment either of others, or of oneself. We are God’s children. He has placed us all together in this School of Life that we might learn – from one another, as well as by our own inner reactions… It takes time to grow in understanding. Not everyone by any means has reached the point in his spiritual evolution where he can offer his devotion one-pointedly to God. A St. Francis of Assisi or a St. Teresa of Avila is that rarest flower in the garden of earth: an almost-perfected being… …The Bhagavad Gita tells us not to be unduly upset over our imperfections, but to do what we can, with whatever good qualities we have to hand already, to climb toward God… (Excerpted from Chapter 16) The Promise of Immortality, By Swami Kriyananda The True Teaching of the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita,
“Healing With Divine Energy” Seminars, with Mary Kretzmann “When Does the Soul Enter the Body?” By Mary Kretzmann
Finding God…in the Heart of Your Family, By Mary Kretzmann
Prayer-Demands for Children, By Paramhansa Yogananda
Life's Little Secrets - For Children, by J. Donald Walters
Meditation Supplies: From our family to you, with love:
Though newly married, we had already lived together for some time; we even owned a cute little home in Arkansas. But as we came on to this spiritual path, we no longer wanted to live in accordance with the norms of our generation; we wanted to align our lives with Yogananda’s spiritual ideals. Once we had that realization we entered a period of celibacy to pray for guidance. The question was not whether or not we loved each other, for we were happy together. But how do you know when to take a solemn vow? Suffice it to say, even though I’d had a deep intuition right before I met my husband that I was about to meet “the one,” I still needed a prayerful process to to trust that inner voice and “jump off the dock,” so to speak, and make it real with a vow. Also, as we were coming onto the spiritual path, I was surprised to find that I was feeling called to be a nun in catholic convent, even though I’d barely been to church since I had left home! When I was a girl, I wanted to be a nun, as a form of dedication to God, and Jesus and Mary. That seemed a long while ago, but that feeling came back at this time. It was not overwhelming, but it was strong enough to get my notice. We were new at meditating, but there were several times that I felt Divine Mother’s loving guidance in this prayerful time. One day, I felt Her grace enter the stillness of my heart with these words, “In this life, to learn unconditional love, be a mother.” My heart was at peace. I knew my path… So – by the time we heard Swamiji’s class, we were already prepared in many ways. We knew there was spiritual power in having extended times of celibacy, as well as (in general) waiting, perhaps for a month or more, between those special times of coming together as a couple. The mind enters a more sublime state. The practice of meditation, plus a vegetarian diet, gives the body a sense of calmness that makes this more readily attainable. (Fruit is especially calming and uplifting.) We were young and in love, and still very romantic. We would laugh, hug, and kiss, and generally enjoyed being with one another, but we also had this other goal, and so we wanted to save the energy, and we knew that it was worth it. I mention this because each couple has to find their own way with this process, but I couldn’t relate to being a cold fish about it all. There was a still natural sense of joy and affection in those times, yet with a sense of restraint. Sexual freedom and connection is almost worshipped these days (especially in the media) so I feel a bit strange mentioning that your life as a couple, and as a devoted soul, can be enhanced with periods of celibacy, or “moderation,” define it as you will. I also address this topic in my healing visualization, Psalm 23 in the Chakras: “He leadeth me beside the still waters” …The physical expression of love is an important, tender connection for many couples. It is often best, then, to focus on bringing in greater love, and lessening any sense of lust in the act, rather than to become radical and "renounce" it all prematurely, in the name of spiritual zeal. As a married couple learns the balance between sexual expression and inner stillness, great love can deepen between them, if they are mindful also to find other ways to express their purified
love for each other, lest they become too austere. Be deeply kind to one another, always. Seeing the Divine Beloved enshrined in one another's forms, the couple can both give and receive deeper love. In this way, love can, over time, be transmuted from the second chakra up to the heart center. This process must proceed with self-honesty, and compassionate consideration toward the needs of the beloved and of oneself… So, we were ready to ask the blessings of God, Christ, Guru in our marriage, and in our desire for spiritual children. There was a deep blessing, and a powerful opening at my spiritual eye, that accompanied the time of our daughter’s conception. I felt the grace of our Guru perfecting the process, helping to uplift our consciousness, because we were still such neophytes on the spiritual path. A special grace, power and upliftment accompanied the conceptions of our other children as well. In addition, I sensed their basic soul essence, and needs for growth in this lifetime. This has helped me as a parent. It is a noble goal even to attempt this process of inviting a spiritual soul to your family. God grace answers such prayers, and sincere intention and efforts, in this direction. Your prayers and your intention are a magnet in and of themselves. This is an important point, and it must be a large part of the reason that Paramhansa Yogananda put that line is his marriage vows, "To bring souls on earth to worship God as newborn souls.” That registers as a prayer in the ether, and helps those couples, I believe, even if they aren’t able to practice the 6-month celibate period as stated, above. The principle of conserving your sexual energy, to build spiritual magnetism for this prayer, however is very important. Do whatever seems kind and reasonable for your marriage. Stretch yourselves, but not to the breaking point. Over the years, I have counseled some couples on this matter, and that is why I stress this directional, rather than absolute, approach. I have seen that it can be helpful to some couples, and more attainable, to have a 6-month period of intentional “moderation,” rather than complete celibacy. This can still help build spiritual magnetism for your meditations, and for your prayers to invite a spiritual soul to your family. Some traditions suggest only coming together physically once a month. This will help the process. Again, think about it, and pray about it; ask to be guided on what would be right for you now. Some very saintly couples are naturally inclined to be celibate, living mostly as “brother and sister” except when coming together solely for the purpose of having children. The parents of Paramhansa Yogananda were such a couple, as were the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. So, if your marriage is also in this category, you are in very august company, and you should able to apply Yogananda’s instructions rather naturally. The parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, Louis and Zelie Martin, prayed for saintly children; all 5 of their children were deeply dedicated to God.
This is from St. Therese’s sister, Celine: “…Not only my father when he was young, but my mother also, had desired to enter the Religious Life. With the disappointment of their hopes, they both turned towards the married state, but aimed at realizing in it the maximum of Christian Spirit…After having lived for many months as brother and sister, they then wished to have many children in order to offer them to God… …Between our parents there was a perfect agreement of heart and mind. My father often spoke to us of our "saintly mother," as he called her. On her part she wrote to her brother: "What a holy man my husband is! I wish every woman in the world could have his equal." The Father of the Little Flower: Louis Martin (18231894) By: Celine Martin (St. Therese's Sister)
Saintly Parents of Yogananda Paramhansa Yogananda’s mother confided to his sister that only once a year did they unite together as husband and wife, for the purpose of having children. Otherwise, they each had a private bedroom, which suited their deeply spiritual and meditative natures. He wrote of his parents in Chapter 1: My Parents and Early Life: …Father and Mother were Bengalis… Both were blessed with saintly nature. Their mutual love, tranquil and dignified, never expressed itself frivolously. A perfect parental harmony was the calm center for the revolving tumult of eight young lives… Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa Yogananda Yogananda at age six
Saintly Parents of Yogananda So, my purpose is only to inspire you in your next step. I certainly don’t mean to intimidate you with these wonderfully noble examples. If nothing else simply get a holy picture or statue that reminds you of God’s love, and every time you see it, ask God to bless your family with spiritually inclined children. Even that will help, because it gets your energy going in that direction. And then, add in whatever else of what I have said here that you feel able to do, while being loving toward your spouse, and yourself.
Special Circumstances Some couples go through the heartache of miscarriages or infertility, and simultaneously also want to pray for a spiritually receptive child. This requires special prayers suited to this situation. The couple may be reluctant to practice long periods of celibacy in order to build magnetism to draw a high soul. They don’t want to create an obstacle toward conception. Several needs may coexist at once: 1) The desire for a child, in general 2) The need for the body to be healed in order to conceive 3) The hope for a spiritually inclined child 4) Prayers for guidance on how long to “try” 5) How many options and expenses are worth pursuing 6) When to let go, and simply enjoy the blessings of a peaceful meditative life 7) How to feel that life is always a gift, even when our deepest desires are denied or delayed? How to avoid having this upset our lives, or marriage, or friendships? 8) How to gracefully enjoy the children of your friends and relatives You may be going through all of this, simultaneously. If so, you must give yourself space to find the right balance for you and your spouse in this situation. Pray your way through this – together and individually. For the most part, men are more easily philosophical about all this. That’s because fatherhood seems an abstract idea, and responsibility, yet his loving concern for his wife, and her happiness, is very real. Strive to remain a source of love, joy and comfort to each other. Keep it that way, no matter what the process and outcome. Prayer and peaceful meditation will help you very much in this regard. Couples vary in what steps they will take in order to conceive. One couple asked for prayers because they were going to try in vitro fertilization. This was their only chance, and I knew the prayers could also help with inviting a spiritually inclined soul to them. It was successful all around, and they were blessed with a healthy baby girl. The child is still very young, and has a lovely, joyful nature. Praying to conceive, while also practicing times of celibacy, are not at cross purposes with each other, because physically the process is enhanced with a time of waiting. Often couples are counseled to wait until the woman is more fertile each month, as this allows the husband’s sperm count to increase and strengthen. This waiting period could be spent praying for a spiritual soul to be born to you. Think and pray about what you can offer the child in terms of spiritual guidance and fulfillment. (You can read my book, “Finding God in Your Family” for ideas on that.) Hold this intention and feeling up in prayer, and then leave the results in the hands of the Divine.
A short movie for peaceful and meditative inspiration:
Thoughts on Spiritual Evolution, by Swami Kriyananda …The Bhagavad Gita urges us not to be discouraged if we don’t find immediate selftransformation at all levels… We should proceed steadily, by natural degrees, and always joyfully. We should accept our own nature, for the time being, as it is, but seek to harmonize it ever more perfectly with our higher realities. As Krishna puts it in the twelfth Chapter: “Cling thou to Me! Clasp Me with heart and mind! so shalt thou dwell Surely with Me on high. But if thy thought Droops from such height; if thou be’st weak to set Body and soul upon Me constantly, Despair not! give Me lower service! seek To reach Me, worshiping with steadfast will; And, if thou canst not worship steadfastly, Work for Me, toil in works pleasing to Me! For he that laboureth right for love of Me Shall finally attain! But, if in this Thy faint heart fails, bring Me thy failure!” Paramhansa Yogananda wrote concerning these lines that they are what make the precepts of the Bhagavad Gita “so sweet, sympathetic, and useful in healing the manifold sicknesses of suffering humanity.” Indeed, in all of God’s Truth there is no room for any kind of negativity, and certainly none for judgment either of others, or of oneself. We are God’s children. He has placed us all together in this School of Life that we might learn – from one another, as well as by our own inner reactions… It takes time to grow in understanding. Not everyone by any means has reached the point in his spiritual evolution where he can offer his devotion one-pointedly to God. A St. Francis of Assisi or a St. Teresa of Avila is that rarest flower in the garden of earth: an almost-perfected being… …The Bhagavad Gita tells us not to be unduly upset over our imperfections, but to do what we can, with whatever good qualities we have to hand already, to climb toward God… (Excerpted from Chapter 16) The Promise of Immortality, By Swami Kriyananda The True Teaching of the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita,
“Healing With Divine Energy” Seminars, with Mary Kretzmann “When Does the Soul Enter the Body?” By Mary Kretzmann
Finding God…in the Heart of Your Family, By Mary Kretzmann
Prayer-Demands for Children, By Paramhansa Yogananda
Life's Little Secrets - For Children, by J. Donald Walters
Meditation Supplies: From our family to you, with love:
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