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| Everything else can wait, but your search for God cannot wait. |
The Voice of Paramahansa Yogananda |
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Para-Grams by Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda Quotes
Happiness |
Freedom |
SUCCESS
To create dynamic will power, determine to do some of the things in life that you thought you could not do. Attempt simple tasks first. As your confidence strengthens and your will becomes more dynamic, you can aim for more difficult accomplishments.
Success or failure is the just result of what you have done in the past, plus what you do now... You should transfer your attention from failure to success, from worry to calmness, from mental wanderings to concentration, from restlessness to peace, from peace to the divine bliss within.
Success is hastened or delayed by one’s habits. It is not your passing inspirations or brilliant ideas so much as your everyday mental habits that control your life.
All successful men and women devote much time to deep concentration. They are able to dive deeply within their minds and to find the pearls of right solutions for the problems that confront them.
It is better to die struggling than to abandon your efforts while there is still a possibility of accomplishing something more; for even when death comes, your struggles must soon be renewed in another life.
He who is wise does his best to overcome difficulties, but he smiles, first, last, and all the time. There is no better panacea for sorrow, no better revivifying tonic, than smiles. There is no greater power with which to overcome failure than a real smile. There is no more beautiful ornament one can wear than a genuine smile of peace and wisdom glowing on the face.
Spiritual success lies in constantly attuning yourself with the Cosmic Mind, and in maintaining your peace and poise no matter what irremediable events occur in your life, such as the death of dear ones, or other sorrowful happenings.
Before embarking on important undertakings sit quietly, calm your senses and thoughts and meditate deeply. You will then by guided by the creative power of Spirit. After that you should utilize all necessary means to achieve your goal.
Environment is stronger than will power. If you want to be spiritual, seek good company and don’t mix with those whose bad habits may wrongly influence you. Be always with people who inspire you; surround yourself with people who lift you up.
Try again, no matter how many times you have failed. Always try once more.
The power of God is within you, so when your mind tells you a thing can’t be done, say to that thought, ‘Get out! It can be done’. And it will be, if you make up your mind.
If you keep on trying, you will improve. 'A saint is a sinner who never gave up.'
Learn everything about one thing, and something about everything.
Recognize the tendencies that make you unique.
LOVE
Just as oil is present in every part of the olive, so love permeates every part of creation.
Love gives without expecting anything in return. I never think of anyone in terms of what he can do for me. And I never profess love to someone because he has done something for me. If I didn’t actually feel love, I wouldn’t pretend to give it; and since I feel it, I give it. Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another. Be certain of your feeling before you say to anyone, 'I love you'. Once you give your love, it must be forever. Not because you want to be near that person, but because you want perfection for that soul. To wish for perfection for the loved one, and to feel pure joy in thinking of that soul, is divine love; and that is the love of true friendship.
Real love is when you are constantly watching the progress of the soul. As soon as you cater to someone’s physical desires and bad habits you are not loving that soul anymore. You are just pleasing that person to avoid ill will. No matter how unpleasant it is to tell a friend that he is wrong, if you say it with love in your heart and stand firm on it, sometimes that person will respect you if you are right. If you are wrong, even then he will know that you did it with sincerity, out of love.
In this world everyone wants to use us for his own purpose. Only God—and a real master who knows God—can truly love us. The ordinary human being does not know what love is. When somebody gives you pleasure you tend to think you love that person. But in reality it is yourself you love—your ego has been pleased by the other person's attention; that is all. Would you go on 'loving' that person if he should cease to give you pleasure?
We love because it gives us such intoxicating happiness. So love is not the ultimate; the ultimate is bliss. God is Sat-Chit-Ananda, ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new Bliss.
In the state of love, no matter what you do, it’s going to be good.
Love is short-lived unless it is divine love. What of all the lovers through the ages who have promised eternal fidelity to one another under the light of the silvery moon. Their skulls are strewn over the earth, and the moon laughs at most of them and says, "How they lied, for their love has not been forever."
Love outlasts death and the ravages of time. All those that I have loved before, in this or other lifetimes, I love the same now.
There was in India a devoted husband who loved his wife very deeply. Another man became infatuated with her. She ran away with her lover, who eventually left her without friends or funds. One day her husband came to see her. He spoke gently. ‘Are you through with this experience? Come home with me, if you are.’ She demurred. ‘I could not think of disgracing you further.’ ‘What do I care about the opinion of society?’ he replied. ‘I love you. The other man loved only your body. I love the real you - your soul. What has happened doesn’t make any difference. That was real love. The husband wasn’t concerned for his honour; he was thinking only of the welfare of his beloved.
MEDITATION
What is meditation? Becoming one with the soul. It means banishing the consciousness of being related to the body and to human limitations, and trying to remember that one is a soul.
Meditation is the science of reuniting the soul with Spirit. The soul, descending from God into flesh, manifests its consciousness and life force through seven chakras, or centres of light, in man's cerebrospinal axis."
First practice the presence of God in daily life by making your meditation very deep. It is better to meditate a little bit with depth than to mediate long with the mind running here and there. If you do not make an effort to control the mind it will go on doing as it pleases, no matter how long you sit to meditate.
God has not be earned. He has only to be sought. Meditation is the only way. Beliefs, reading books — these cannot give you realization. ... Meditation brings proof of the existence of God. ... The more you meditate the more you will feel the endless joy of God.
Spiritual advancement is not to be measured by one's display of outward powers, but solely by the depth of his bliss in meditation.
Meditation must be practiced every day. Start now! Do not look to the future. Begin this very moment to think of God. In this thought you are a king. Why be a prisoner of mortal moods and habits? To carry out one's resolutions is a constant battle. Never give up your good resolutions.
Most people live on the surface of life. But it is by deep-sea diving in the ocean of thought that you receive the pearls of knowledge.
Many students of yoga perform their exercise in a haphazard way; then wonder why they do not 'get anywhere' and why they fail to feel communion with the Infinite even after apparently serious meditation.
Each tomorrow I will meditate more deeply than today. I will meditate during most of my leisure hours.
Awake, sleep no more!
Happiness |
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