Yogananda Quotations and Stories

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Yogananda Quotations and Stories

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) established himself in the United States between 1920 and 1952, and got a large following. Here is a part of what he taught in lectures and sermons, as collected in his book Man's Eternal Quest (1st ed. 1975), which is published by his fellowship. Overreaching oneself is a danger for guys who trust the guru.

Overcome all limitations and live without food too

A scientist must busy himself with going through several experiments in order to arrive at one fact. But the spiritually developed man is able to perceive the fact without going through a physical process. [242]

"The seeming state of wakefulness of the ordinary man is perceived by a sage to be, in reality, a state of delusive sleep." [258]

Beat life! If you have a strong will you can overcome all difficulties. [419. All against one another defies the idea]

Don't waste your time on cheap writings. [400. What are they?]

I don't lose my ordinary awareness . . . deep in the superconscious state.. [161]

I don't pray. That may seem a strange thing to say. [121]

Personality and its development are generally considered only in the light of realizing some material goal, such as increasing one's business or social opportunities. The real nature of personality is rarely analyzed. [149]

Your laughter must echo from the cave of sincerity. Your joy must flow from the fountain of realized soul. [326. "Must - must" - There are many Yogananda musts where there are sermons and lectures by him. And parental directives are awkward things to handle too.]

As I am engaged in talking . . . I live in His joy . . .This declaration is not a fairy tale. [432]

Everything I have tried to do with will power has worked. [187. Actually, not so.]

Human love has its limitations. [330]

Plain living and high thinking make for contentment. [388]

We should never neglect teachers, for they are soul molders. [351. Not all of them, for sure, and many are not molding in a good way either.]

Begin to discover that you can live without food. [102. If you do not have better things to do, all right, provided you keep on thriving and don't jeopardise your health through it.]

When you go to a dance or a party your mind is often restless, nervous, and excited. [79. Speak for yourself in such matters too. People are very different.] (2)

As you get older, it may be a wonderful adventure to reveal your age if you have become tough enough for it (and do not eat at all)

We can see life as a wonderful adventure when the Lord finally says, " . . . Nothing can harm you." [73]

As you get older, it is best not to tell others your age . . . Keep your age private. [94-95]

Perform miracles if you care to. Discretion is good, though. And to include daily dairy products in your diet miraculously again . . .

Consider the hard work of the president of the United States . . . We have to marvel that it is possible for a man to understand so much and undertake so much. [204] (5)

Strive for a personality that is derived from your living in the continuous consciousness of God. [154. Not striving for it thus works well enough. Striving is hardly good enough.]

Above all, be humble. [142. Be yourself frankly, rather.]

Don't fall asleep at night . . . Peer into that darkness. [Humorously 169]

Biting the nails is another foolish, useless habit. [417. So are his importunity sermons.]

Many souls that formerly were born in America have since reincarnated in India . . . to help India in the development of the material side of her civilization. [223-24. The claim has not been verified by science.]

The world has a habit of much teaching and little practicing. [165]

Jesus attained most of his perfection in his incarnation as Elisha. [231 - Proof lacking.]

You do not know how wonderful it is. It is much greater to meditate than to spend hours seeking money or human love. [174]

You are not the physical body. [265]

When you came into this world . . . everyone else rejoiced. [96. Did really all the Eskimos of Alaska? To be matter-of fact is good.]

Millions of people never analyze themselves. [73] (7)

Every one of us is going to die someday. [106]

Be loyal to your friends. [169]

Sin is that which causes you suffering. [309. Not necessarily your sin.]

The power to perform miracles comes naturally to those who know God. [295]

We should develop endurance, without being rash. [338]

Never be cranky. [427. "Never this, never that": Be as you are, yet avoid being tactless and rude.]

When a plant is growing in water in a glass jar, one can see that its roots are like hairs. [251. The likeness is superficial, only.]

When man is sick he may feel justified in eating anything . . flesh foods may aid in healing one illness. [84. Yogananda advocates vegetarianism, though.]

Your smile must spread . . . over the whole universe. [326. Try not to overreach yourself instead.]

When you have Christ Consciousness you will feel the bodily sensations of every human being you meet, and know all the thoughts they have ever had. [333. May it be good to be so massively disturbed?]

Every mother is a manifestation of God's unconditional love, though human mothers are imperfect. [371. He was halting along and idealising motherhood drastically, even introducing a practice termed "Cry to Divine Mother and She will come." Steer out of other unsound cults too.] (8)

Greedy people fill themselves and still they are looking for more food. [86. Now, you do well not to judge others before you have felt how they feel and know what they lack and aim for. Yogananda may be said to be "unreasonably greedy for Mom's love", also.]

Behind the subconscious is your superconscious mind, which never forgets anything. [331]

Include in your daily diet milk and other dairy products. [400. You do not have to forget daily milk if you are attuned to your superconscious mind, as he says -]

Gist

Overcome all limitations and live without food too. And overcome any Yogananda-imposed limitation of living without food as well.
As you get older, a wonderful adventure might be to reveal your age when nothing can hurt you.
Perform that daily miracle of drinking nourishing milk and have dairy products if you care.

It boils down to: Overcome all limitations, Yogananda-imposed ones and others, and have nourishing milk - good for you!

So-What? Stories

Once I was lecturing in Milwaukee when the weather was extremely hot. My mind said, "You cannot continue the lecture without wiping your face; it is wet with perspiration."
I reached for a handkerchief, but found none." [343 abr.]

Once my foot seemed completely mashed. "If Divine Mother tells me to see a doctor," I said, "I will go to one. If She does not, I won't go."
Day by day the pain in my leg became almost unbearable; there was no sign.
The following Sunday I could not get my foot into a shoe. Inadvertently I slipped . . . my injured foot was badly twisted. [377-78, abr.]

Once . . . I had a cold and I wanted to eat some tamarind, which is considered very bad for colds. My sister strongly disapproved, but because of my insistence she grudgingly brought me some of the fruit. I took one piece, chewed it, and spit it out. . . . [104]

One man in New York came to me and assured me that he could travel astrally. "I don't think you can," I said.
Still he insisted that I test him. "All right," I agreed, "go downstairs astrally and tell me what is in the restaurant there."
He was quiet for a moment; then he told me, "There is a big piano in the right-hand corner."
I said, "I think you will find there two women sitting at a table." [278, retold]

Literature
Yogananda, Paramahansa. Man's Eternal Quest. Los Angeles: SRF, 1975.

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