Paramahansa Yogananda on Finding Direction in Life

Dear Divine Atman,

In this month’s newsletter we present divine wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda on finding direction in life. YSS/SRF President Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri spoke on this subject at the closing event of this year’s SRF Convocation, quoting some of Paramahansaji’s words that appear below. Also featured is a moving excerpt from Swami Chidanandaji’s talk.

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.

When you are in direct contact with the Creator of this universe, you are in direct contact with all wisdom and understanding.

Understanding is the most precious possession of each soul. It is your inner vision, the intuitive faculty by which you can clearly perceive the truth — about yourself and others, and all situations that arise in your path — and correctly adjust your attitudes and actions accordingly.

Restlessness — that which ruffles and diffuses the mind — blurs vision and causes misunderstanding. Emotion blurs your vision. Moods blur your vision. Most people act, not out of understanding, but according to their moods….In my experience with the great ones in India, the first thing I learned was to clear my vision of all forms of restlessness and mental prejudice that might blur my understanding.

With guru-given techniques of divine communion, the devotee’s spiritual intelligence grows from sense-bound rationalism to the developed intuition of deep meditation.

When my trials become very great, I first seek understanding in myself. I don't blame circumstances or try to correct anybody else. I go inside first. I try to clean the citadel of my soul to remove anything that obstructs the soul’s all-powerful, all-wise expression. That is the successful way to live.

In this video excerpt from his 2021 SRF Convocation & closing talk, “Finding a Spiritual Compass in Our Changing World,” Swami Chidanandaji recounts a personal experience of what he terms “soul fog” and what happened when he put into practice Paramahansaji’s counsel on going within to find direction during times of uncertainty.

Watch video

Upcoming Events on the YSS Online Dhyana Kendra

“Importance of Seva and Sadhana for a Devotee” a Satsanga in Hindi

Saturday, September 18, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (IST)

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Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya
Commemorative Meditations

YSS sannyasis will lead special meditations to commemorate the mahasamadhi and avirbhav divas of Lahiri Mahasaya.

Commemorative Six-Hour Long Meditation (in English and Hindi)

Sunday, September 19, 6:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (IST)

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Mahasamadhi Divas Commemorative Meditations

Sunday, September 26:

6:10 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (IST) — in English

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (IST) — in Hindi

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Avirbhav Divas Commemorative Meditations

Thursday, September 30:

6:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (IST) — in Hindi

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (IST) — in English

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Yogoda Satsanga Magazine — A New Direction

For many decades, the magazine created by Paramahansa Yogananda has been introducing seekers of higher consciousness to the truths of Yoga, India’s ancient science of communion with the Divine and living a life of harmony and well-being.

Yogoda Satsanga — a magazine devoted to healing of body, mind, and soul — now features a special annual large-format print issue (replacing the previous quarterly issues) alongside an assortment of online material, including a forthcoming digital library of hundreds of pages of material from issues over the past several decades.

At the link below you can find more details and also reach the new online home for Yogoda Satsanga to experience several free articles from the magazine.

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