In a world where from cradle rock to last breath our wellbeing and survival are founded upon physical security – a home, a job, money in the bank – the notion of a life not concerned with these things, and not measuring its success by their abundance, is most definitely not in vogue.

A large proportion of the human population of course does live without these consoling buffers which insulate the rest of us from hunger, homelessness, despair – and for them the quest to simply survive is necessarily paramount. Relevant, however, in either scenario – having and not having – are the timeless spiritual commentaries that can be found in the wisdom of our greatest teachers, in the words of Christ; the sutras of Buddhism; the discourse of Sri Krishna to his dearest disciple Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra; and in the conversations of Sri Ramakrishna, to name a few.

Their insights and commentaries on the deepest truths of human life offer an alternative view of security which differs radically from the prosperity ideals in which most of us have been immersed from childhood.

These luminaries tell us that while it is legitimate and proper to seek a reasonable standard of living, every effort to find happiness exclusively in the outer world will finally fail and only the inner accomplishments – inner peace, desirelessness and detachment, love of God, self-discovery – can truly give us happiness. Some go further. My own teacher Sri Chinmoy speaks often of the relative merits of self-reliance versus God-reliance – and that for those following a spiritual path and seeking oneness with God, our dependence on God attracts immediate grace. The father loves all his children but will take special care of the one who most depends on him and trusts him completely.

Over a number of years of being with Sri Chinmoy I have heard this message reiterated many times and had occasion to see its fruits and benefits. Those who put their spiritual life first, who dare to 'whistle in the dark', are unconcerned with the accumulation of personal wealth to meet tomorrow's needs, these are invariably happier. For this is a step towards faith and abandonment in God, and God always assumes responsibility for the needs (as opposed to the wants) in their lives.

Speaking of those disciples who try to live this way Sri Chinmoy once said, "You will see how in the future you will be most surprisingly rewarded." I was deeply moved when I heard this comment for it conveyed such a powerful message. Simply through our trust in God, here is the assurance of shedding all the bonds and attachments and problems that bind us to the world and to endless lives – our 'surprising rewards' will include a fearless God-reliance, freedom from anxiety regarding the future, the knowledge that all our inner and outer needs will be met, and that through our abandonment and faith alone God will take full responsibility for our lives. This is a huge short cut in our evolution, the shedding of a great burden, the discovery at last of an abiding inner peace and calm, 'the peace that passeth all understanding'.

In the West we are virtually marinated in a culture of acquiring and possessing from the very beginnings of our life, and the alternative philosophies espoused by our great liberators and pathfinders are rarely practiced. But the soul finally is not satisfied with self-interest and the fulfilment of personal ambitions – it has greater promises to keep that lie far beyond personal gain. "For my disciples," Sri Chinmoy commented, "to worry about your future is an insult to the Master, an insult to your soul and an insult to God."

    – Jogyata.

I've only ever been to two weddings in my life. One was my own – hardly a wedding at all but a registry office formality about as inspiring as a visit to the bank.

'Sign here, and here – address there – none? OK, put no fixed abode. You can present the ring to your wife now – no ring? – that's fine! – you're now married!' Now someone who had been a close friend on the brink of deportation was suddenly my wife and we could continue our journey together, wherever and however far that might lead.

The second was a more solemn and elaborate affair, I best man to a faraway friend. Indisposed in a remote place, I phoned my mother who lived in the town where the wedding was scheduled and asked her advice and help in regard to a suitable gift. She talked about cutlery sets and pyrex oven dishes, furniture, practical things while my eyes began glazing over with indifference. "Get him a pair of socks or an egg whisk," I joked. She promised to buy a gift and send it along to the wedding on my behalf – and there our conversation ended.

The wedding went smoothly, the usual dreadful mix of suits and bonhomie and that mysterious air of triumphal achievement and afterwards the bride and groom passed along an impressive display of wedding gifts acknowledging and thanking each person. I had no idea what my mother had bought and surveyed the many items with curiosity. Would it be the bedroom linen, the hairdryer, the Waterford crystal set, that casket of champagne, the pearl handled dinner set, furniture, the golf clubs – which was my present? The table groaned under the weight of expensive and elaborate gifts. Then, with horror, there at the end of the long table I saw it, my name embossed beneath on a card. My mother had taken my wry suggestion literally and bought a three dollar hand-held egg beater. I quietly slunk away and drove off into the sanctuary of night...

    – Jogyata.

In spiritual literature the lamb is an often recurring symbol of the qualities we should desire to have in our relationship with God – helplessness, purity, innocence, sweetness.

Sri Chinmoy's fondness for New Zealand and its iconic lambs have even seen him composing a number of lamb songs, one almost an alternative anthem dedicated to and about New Zealand.

During this spiritual masters 1995 visit we had the novel idea of having two pet lambs in our centre premises. An ample straw filled space was provided, a low trellised white fence installed to contain our guests, and a team despatched out into the green hills of rural Auckland to acquire two super-friendly candidates.

Sri Chinmoy was delighted by the lambs and even fed them, holding in each hand a bottle of milk while the lambs tugged lustily away. The rapid tide of events briefly turned our attention away from the lambs – there were concerts, meetings, outings to attend to – then finally Sri Chinmoy and our overseas visitors left New Zealand for their long journey home. After our departure farewells I returned to the centre – opening the doors I heard a thundering of tiny hooves on the wooden floor and the two escapee lambs swept towards me, launching themselves at me like excited puppies and bleating delightedly.

They had leapt their modest fence and now happily liberated, spent their hours of freedom chewing, exploring, rearranging, even lounging on a couch judging by the many tiny black droppings all over the sofa covering. All the plants in the centre had been eaten below one metre, a CD stand toppled, a seated Buddha was now a reclining Buddha, meditation stools overturned.

It was with mutual reluctance that our young friends were returned to their farm – they had enjoyed meeting our group, the dotage of a spiritual master, a taste of city living; while we had been charmed by their joyful innocence and a deeper understanding of the qualities needed to approach God.

– Jogyata.