Paramahansa Yogananda - Guidance and Inspiration for Daily Life

Born on January 5th 1893 Paramahansa Yogananda was a YA author and Indian yoga guru who is probably best known for his book the Autobiography of a Yogi, which popularised meditation and Kriya Yoga among Westerners.

Below are 10 short but powerfully inspiring thoughts from the speeches and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda and his close disciples.

The Purpose of Life

When you sit in the silence of deep meditation, joy bubbles up from within, roused by no outer stimulus. The joy of meditation is overwhelming. Those who have not gone into the silence of true meditation do not know what real joy is.

Secrets of Lasting Happiness

Avoid a negative approach to life. Why gaze down the sewers when there is loveliness all around us? One may find some fault in even the greatest masterpieces of art, music, and literature. But isn’t it better to enjoy their charm and glory?

Achieving True Success and Prosperity

The secret of success and happiness is inside you. If you have found success and prosperity outside, but not inside, you are not truly successful. A millionaire who is not happy is not successful. I don’t mean that if you have a million dollars you cannot be a success. Whether you are rich or poor, if you get happiness out of life you are a real success.

Health and Healing

Thy perfect light is omnipresent in all my body parts. Wherever that healing light is manifest, there is perfection. I am well, for perfection is in me.

Forgiveness

Today I forgive all those who have ever offended me. I give my love to all thirsty hearts, both to those who love me and those who do not love me.

Overcoming Anger

There are roughly two kinds of people: those who continually lament what is wrong with the world, and those who smile away life’s difficulties and remain always positive in their thinking. Why take everything so seriously? How wonderful this world would be if everyone were more positive, more harmonious!

Conquering Fear, Anxiety, and Worry

Fear comes from the heart. If ever you feel overcome by dread of some illness or accident, you should inhale and exhale deeply, slowly, and rhythmically several times, relaxing with each exhalation. This helps the circulation to become normal. If your heart is truly quiet you cannot feel fear at all.

Death and Loss

How glorious is life after death! No more will you have to lug about this old baggage of bones, with all its troubles. You will be free in the astral heaven, unhindered by physical limitations.

Love

If you could feel even a particle of divine love, so great would be your joy—so overpowering—you could not contain it.

Creating Harmony in Our Relationships

To develop pure and unconditional love between husband and wife, parent and child, friend and friend, self and all, is the lesson we have come on earth to learn.