Apart from a burning desire to find God, a common theme that animated the lives of Paramhansa Yogananda and his disciple Swami Kriyananda was an intense zeal to serve God and spread afar the message of Self-Realization. Master and Swamiji were also united in their energetic expectation that we, as disciples, have that same zeal toward this God-ordained mission. In … Read More
Ananda Seva – Practical Suggestions
Within our path of Kriya Yoga, we give great emphasis to balancing our lives: on the one side with the practice of meditation, deepening our inner life; on the other side, by doing service, spiritualizing our outward life. We have many teachings and materials on how to develop our inner life, but what does it mean to serve within our … Read More
One Picture and a Thousand Words
There is an old saying: “One picture is worth a thousand words.” This blog tells the story of one well-known picture of Swami Kriyananda—that photo is also worth using a thousand words. As a photographer of many years, I would look at photos of Paramhansa Yogananda and wonder: “What was going on in the room during that photo? Why does … Read More
Letter to B. M. Catrill
To B. M. Catrill With prayer for all round welfare from Swami Yogananda Dec 8 1928 “There is an invisible cord which binds the east & the west and all strangers. Let the Eternal Song echo thru your mortal flute and it will be immortal” S.Y.
Dreamers All
I am only awake When I enter the chamber of slumber. Then I forsake all dreams of wakefulness Or nocturnal dreams of fancy. I am awake when I silence my mind And its dreams of this cosmic puzzle. The dreams of sleep are one dream for me And the dream of wakefulness is another dream. When both these dreams Disappear … Read More
Compassion’s Castle
While shots and shells of hate Fall around thee Remain castled in love. While bombs of misunderstanding Keep bursting Remain hidden ‘Neath the deep caves of compassion. While poisonous vapors of delusion Seek to choke the life of thy wisdom Mask thy soul with taintless love. For the castle of love divine Is a safe haven From temptation’s armies. Dig … Read More
Letter to Mr. Bijlani (November 1951)
Original letter from Paramhansa Yogananda to Lajjuji’s Father, Mr. Bijlani:
Letter to Mr. Bijlani (January 1952)
Original letter from Paramhansa Yogananda to Lajjuji’s Father, Mr. Bijlani:
The Story Behind Lahiri Mahasaya’s Photograph
This black and white photograph is, according to Paramhansa Yogananda, the only one for which Lahiri Mahasaya posed. The origin of the said photo is narrated by Paramhansa Yogananda in his Autobiography: The Fugitive Figure The picture had a miraculous origin. It appears that the master had an aversion to being photographed. Over his protest, a group picture was once … Read More
Prayer for Planetary Healing
It is important to note here that one can pray for world peace without being drawn into judgments that can happen around complex political issues. The beauty of prayer is that you don’t need to know the answer to the many questions that arise in one’s mind in order to pray effectively. Ultimately, we all want peace and harmony in … Read More
Yogananda’s Healing Prayer Techniques
Prepare for these techniques with prayer and meditation, calming the mind and asking God that Divine Will be done. Feel God’s presence as the source of all healing energy and visualize as clearly as possible the person receiving this blessing. Yogananda often prayed to the Divine Mother aspect of God since She seems more accessible to us, Her Divine Children … Read More
A letter to Fellow Disciples
(I wrote this letter years ago as a Christmas present to my fellow disciples in the monastic order of Self-Realization Fellowship, in Los Angeles. I have been uncertain whether to adapt this letter to the general reader, or to offer it to him substantially as I wrote it, asking him rather to adapthis mind to what might impress him as … Read More