The Wisdom of Yogananda

Make the Lord the Shepherd of your soul. Make Him your Searchlight when you move along a shadowy pathway in life. He is your Moon in the night of ignorance. He is your Sun during the wakeful hours. And He is your Polestar on the dark seas of mortal existence. Seek His guidance. The world will go on like this in its ups and downs. Where shall we look for a sense of direction? Not to the prejudices roused within us by our habits and the environmental influences of our families, our country, or the world; but to the guiding voice of Truth within.

Paramahansa Yogananda,
The Divine Romance
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

2 hours ago | [YT] | 216

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda often quoted this saying: “The Lord helps him who helps himself.” When having to make a decision, we would like nothing better than for some divine force to just tell us what to do. It would be so easy; we would not have to make any effort if at any given moment we knew we were receiving God’s direct guidance. But it is not meant to be so simple, and the reason is this: We are a part of God, but we don’t know it — and we will never know it if all we do is put the burden on Him and say, “You tell me what to do,” as though we were dumb puppets and He the Puppeteer. No, He expects us to use the mind He has given to us, while asking His guidance.

Sri Daya Mata,
Intuition
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

1 day ago | [YT] | 1,260

The Wisdom of Yogananda

The test of whether your life is lived for God alone is that you do not grieve over any frustrated personal desire, but only when you have displeased God. I take better care of others’ things than my own. Because I perform all actions for God, I do them with more ambition and care than I would for myself. And if the results of those actions go wrong I don’t suffer personally, because I acted only for Him. I did my best; and I will try again with greater joy and determination, but without attachment to my efforts and their outcome. If I were working for myself, I would be worrying all the time. But, since my object in working is only to serve God, the results are His, not mine. This is the way to transcend the law of karma.

Paramahansa Yogananda,
The Divine Romance
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

2 days ago | [YT] | 1,551

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Sometimes we would come to his rooms, our minds very much filled with work matters—decisions that we needed him to make, projects that he had asked us to work on, and so forth. We would be full of enthusiasm for getting things done, all immersed in business and activity consciousness. He would give his attention to these matters for a time and then—right in the midst of it all, when our minds were busy trying to solve the many problems inherent in running an organization—he would suddenly say, “All right, now sit down and let’s meditate.” We would sit for meditation; and if our minds were at all restless, Master knew it. He would say: “Is your love for God so little, so stale, that you cannot keep your mind from wandering and being attracted by these restless thoughts?

Pinpoint the mind on God. Drop the thought of anything else and plunge the whole consciousness into God. ” So we learned to do that. Then after a period of meditation, Master would say, “All right now, go back to work.” Instantaneously we had to change our consciousness and resume our duties—with the same enthusiasm, the same attention, the same concentration—picking up right where we had left off. “This is the way the true yogi, the true devotee, goes through life, ” Master told us.

Sri Mrinalini Mata,
Manifesting Divine Consciousness in Daily Life
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

3 days ago | [YT] | 1,201

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Every day you look into a mirror to observe your face and body, because you want to look your best before others. Is it not even more important to look daily into the inner mirror of introspection, self-analysis, to insure the proper visage of that which is behind the superficial appearance? All outer attractiveness derives from the divinity of the indwelling soul. And as even a little pimple or scar on the face can spoil its beauty, so are there psychological disfigurements of anger, fear, hatred, jealousy, worry from the uncertainties of mortal existence, which mar the reflection of the soul. If every day you strive to free yourself from these defacements, the beauty of your inner being will shine forth.

Paramahansa Yogananda,
Solving the Mystery of Life
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

4 days ago | [YT] | 1,429

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Most of the time, people talk and act from their own viewpoint. They seldom see, or even try to see, the other person’s side. If, lacking understanding, you enter into a fight with someone, remember that each of you is as much to blame as the other, regardless of which one started the argument. “Fools argue; wise men discuss.”

Paramahansa Yogananda,
Where There is Light
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

5 days ago | [YT] | 1,667

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Make your meditation so intense that its effect lasts throughout all the day’s activities. Do not be too busy to seek the One who created you. If you become king of the world, what then? If you conquer all nations, what then? One day you will find you are dying and helpless. Why should you crave to own worldly things? They can be taken away from you anytime — as they surely will when you pass through the portals of death. Rather, make the effort to know that Something which can never be wrested from you. God is the most uncertain to those who do not meditate, yet the yogi knows Him as the most dependable Certainty. And “great will be their reward” who find Him.

Paramahansa Yogananda,
Solving the Mystery of Life
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc?si=nfKkK...

6 days ago | [YT] | 1,940

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Do not give up until God responds: “You must speak to me, Mother Divine. I die a thousand deaths if Y ou do not talk to me.” When you convince Her that you are absolutely sincere, you will find the fulfillment of what I am telling you.

Paramahansa Yogananda,
Solving the Mystery of Life
https://youtu.be/rTB6RtJarzc

1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 2,021

The Wisdom of Yogananda

Like an insistent child, constantly call to the Divine Mother until She says: “All right, what is it you want?” She is so busy with creation, She doesn’t reply at once; but to the naughty child who cries and cries for Her, She will come.

The Divine Mother is most anxious to have you back with Her, but first you must prove to Her that you want Her alone. You must cry urgently and unceasingly; then She smiles and is with you instantly. Divine Spirit has no partiality; the Mother loves all. But Her devotees appreciate Her love, respond to Her love. I see the effect on people who have gained a little human love, or a little money — how happy they are! But if they could see what strength, what joy, what love is in the Divine Mother, they would fly away from all else.

Paramahansa Yogananda
https://youtu.be/6TcMhlTEs44?si=SvKXH...

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,967

The Wisdom of Yogananda

To be with God is to be richer than Croesus. To be with God is to own the whole universe and be its master. To be with God is to free yourself from misery and fears for all eternity. To be with God is to know all that is to be known. These attainments cannot be had by a mere few minutes of silence. You have to put your whole attention to work. Meditation is the only way. Jesus taught, "Pray unceasingly." What does that mean? Not just to sit for five minutes of scattered prayer and then rush off; but to meditate until you have received an answer to the cry of your soul to know God. As the infinite Transcendental Absolute, He is impersonal. Yet as the Father-Mother-Friend of all, that Supreme One is intimately personal; and as such, He will answer you. He is silent in the beginning; but if you are persistent in your demands, He will reply. I can feel that some of you are nearing the place where He is about to whisper to you.

Paramahansa Yogananda,
Solving the Mystery of Life
https://youtu.be/EsUUoGpmPhw?si=5Fq8D...

1 week ago | [YT] | 1,872