I have enjoyed a happy career as a psychiatrist, as well as my evolving search for spiritual truth.

My spiritual journey has been a very organic process over this lifetime, as well as many previous incarnations. I was raised Catholic, and probably the single most valuable thing that I came away with from that religion was the experience of the Holy Communion. Catholicism has a very mystical tradition of inner communion with the Christ.

As a boy I remember taking communion, returning to the pew, and entering into a very meaningful experience. I don't know how self-aware I was at that young age, but I can look back and see that I was very inspired to connect with my inner mystical nature.

By my late teens and early adulthood, I became disenchanted with the Catholic Church itself. It somehow became non-relevant to me as I became more interested in personal growth and my relationships during those years. My life was very dynamic then. Even though I certainly had challenges, I was more focused on finishing my education and developing as an individual, especially in interpersonal relationships, so I did not embark on a true spiritual search until later.

There were some interesting interludes, however, that sparked my interest. In my mid-twenties a girlfriend gave me an astrological reading as a birthday present. I had never thought much about astrology, but the reading knocked my socks off. The reader told me things about myself that he could not possibly have known, unless there was really something to it. That experience taught me there has to be an overarching principle connecting the universe and us. This led me to explore more esoteric material, and I developed a further interest in astrology. I learned how to plot and read charts and I continue with an interest in it to this day. I also explored the I Ching and the Tao, and the writings of Confucius. I had an innate sense that all teachings, all people, and all the happenings in the universe are connected.

I was in New Mexico the last year of medical school, around 1973-74. I lived in the Corrales and Albuquerque areas, and spent time in Santa Fe, and was fortunate in meeting people who were interested in metaphysics and various spiritual teachings.

As I was working on my medical studies, I read a lot of Eastern religions and philosophies, such as the Buddhist and Hindu teachings, as well many of the Christian mystics. I became involved in a wonderful group called the Symphony of Life. A friend told me about it and suggested I check it out. I went to a little building in Corrales, walked in, and knew it was the right place for me at that time. The minister was a woman named Helen Brungardt. We had a very close connection right away. We seemed to already know each other. It was from her teachings, which had evolved out of her own path, that my meditations grew in leaps and bounds. Through Helen, I had the opportunity to meet and study with many wonderful teachers, among them J. Sig Paulson of the Unity School of Christianity. His loving and accepting energy would fill a room. Helen was also steeped in Yogananda's teachings and meditation practice, which she shared with the rest of us.

It was during this time that I was first introduced to Autobiography of a Yogi.

It spoke to me as nothing had up to that point. I can remember Sri Yukteswar recounting his travels in the astral and causal worlds, and what those worlds were like, and I remember I was astounded by it all. To me it was very believable, very right on. The cosmology made absolute sense to me, and the AY became intrinsic to my way of looking at the world. Still, I was not ready to settle on a path. I had much on my plate at the time, and it was years later that I came to realize that this was my path.

About a year later I moved to California to finish my psychiatric studies. I was soon immersed in psychiatric theory, and was trained to look at things from a personality point of view. During those years, my meditation practice and spiritual studies were sporadic. Eventually, I opened a practice in the Stanford area, got married, and had children. I settled into my career and family. I set aside a spiritual search during those years.

My wife was a traditional Christian. I thought it would be beneficial if we could possibly share a spiritual path together. I went to church with her, and there were wonderful, loving, good people in that environment, but I knew in my heart and soul that it wasn't the right path for me. It was a conventional Christian religion which was too restrictive for me. Jesus was put into a box and the universe was put into a box. Some of my more esoteric interests were not accepted. Certainly, Yogananda and his teachings or any other metaphysical beliefs were from the moon to that community.

Later we moved to Colorado where I practiced psychiatry. While there, I started feeling itchy and yearning for more spiritual depth. I had read many other wise authors by this time, but I came to realize that in order to move more deeply within I was going to have to settle on a path instead of sampling around the spiritual smorgasbord as I had been doing.

At a certain junction my wife and I divorced. We did not share a higher consciousness connection; and other difficulties on the personality level were highlighted as our children matured and began leaving home. I value her and the beautiful children from that marriage, but I had to make the tough transition. I was hungry for spiritual fulfillment.

Self-Realization Fellowship had emerged over time as the most fitting path for me to sink my teeth into. About the same time I realized this, and in a synchronistic way, a friend of mine told me of a small group of Self-Realization Fellowship devotees who were meeting in a little chapel. I didn't even know there were such SRF groups around that area. I contacted them, started going to meditation, and knew immediately it was the right thing for me. I dove deeper and deeper into the teachings. A study group was forming and six of us met regularly for three years. I was initiated into Kriya Yoga in 2008 at Convocation.

The most amazing part of that experience was the night before initiation I had a dream of Master. In the dream I was looking at the photo in AY of him as a boy. His eyes grabbed me. As I was looking into his eyes, he became the adult Master. He then spoke to me: "I have been watching you all along as you have matured, in this incarnation as well as in past incarnations." This was a final verification for me. It was loud and clear.

That dream at Convocation was the cincher in my realization that Yogananda is my Guru. It was more than a regular dream; it was a superconscious soul level dream.

I often feel the omnipresence of Master when I'm able to be out in nature and hike. It helps me to connect with Master. He is all around. If you are tuned into him, he is right with you all the time. It is very sweet.

To me it's more than just a few revelations here and there that have helped me to grow. It's the way Master is able to articulate the teachings in such clear ways that make sense to me and to hundreds of others. I can clearly see the consequences of doing "this," or not doing "that." This is intuitive, it's practical, and it's logical. All of his teachings offer good advice, it's all very solid. Other teachers also use these universal teachings, but the value of Yogananda's teachings is the way he talks about them and writes about them.

In my practice as a psychiatrist, I strive to work with people at the highest level of consciousness possible. Most people are trying to just get the basics of right living in this world, but sometimes they can't relate to the higher levels of consciousness. However, Master's spiritual principles permeate any good psychological theory, so I take people where they are and help them up a next step or so. And when someone is receptive to talking on a spiritual level, we might then meditate together. I use it as a healing tool for patients.

The world is continually crashing all around us. Most of the time on this planet there are wars and turmoil, political and economic uncertainty, and people running scams and generally misbehaving. But it's important for us to remember that this world is not perfect, nor was it meant to be.

There is an idealistic part of me that wants the world to be perfect, but it's been helpful to read Yogananda's teachings and understand that even though the world isn't perfect, we should do the best we can. We should live by the principles of behavior and deepen our relationship with God. With the many changes in my life, it would have been much more difficult without the guidance of Guruji. I've had the sense that the choices I've made have been right for me; and I've felt I have received a lot of confirmation from Master, including his helping some major transition steps click into place. I'm grateful that I had the courage to make changes in my life. I have always felt the divine personages, the Gurus, helping me.

What stands out to me is that Master's teachings are a huge blessing to not just a limited few, but to anyone who wishes to partake. These teachings can open the consciousness of the world to express our higher divine selves. Anyone who wishes can study and get in tune with the Gurus.

When each of us is connected and Self-Realized and more deeply experiencing our own unique relationship to God, then the better it is for the world and the universe. This activity has ripple effects throughout the entire universe. I'm hopeful that as more and more of this mass effect occurs, all people on Earth will advance as a whole and that the gears will start clicking in a more positive direction. The more we can get away from fear-based behavior, the more we will all express ourselves from a love and joy-based consciousness.

Be aware of the principle of the presence of God right where you are. Whether you are stuck in traffic, or harried in your workplace, bring that awareness to mind, shift your consciousness. If able, go into your office for one minute and be quiet, breath in and out, practice Master's techniques, invoke the presence of Divine Mother, God, Master and the Gurus. Thank them and realign yourself.

At the Harvard Mind Body Institute, they teach people the "Relaxation Response" to take timeouts to deep breathe, count to ten, etc. Their research has shown this simple technique to consistently help people to release stress and focus better. But if you add the spiritual dimension, you ramp it up a big notch.

It's important to set aside specific times and a place to meditate. Use repeat practices such as lighting a candle, having your altar set up, developing a habit of spiritual practice. This helps to give your practice a more consistent energy. It's a matter of setting up a habit, because we are creatures of habit. It only takes a few minutes to set up your space and it gives you a very healthy sense of self-respect and self-discipline.

We are at a point on Earth where it's absolutely crucial to have the teachings and guidance of Yogananda and other masters. We are here not by coincidence but for an important purpose: to help evolve the world. Self-Realization Fellowship plays a large role in this goal. We are not here only for our own evolution, but for the evolution of the world at large.

Remember that these teachings take time to sink in, but have faith that it will be very worthwhile to you if you stick with it. Trust in your own process. Just the fact that you are attracted to this path means that you are ready for something more in your eternal search, so try to discover what that is for you. Be open to how Master speaks to you.

I'm very pleased to be on this path. It's wonderful to have our SRF family. There are so many amazing people always available for encouragement and love.