The Wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda

As part of the 2020 SRF World Convocation, SRF monk Brother Kamalananda provides answers to questions submitted by Self-Realization Fellowship students and members on applying Paramahansa Yogananda’s "how-to-live" teachings in daily life. The 2020 Self-Realization Fellowship World Convocation was a week of free online classes, meditations, virtual pilgrimages to ashram centers where Yoga...

SRF monk Brother Bhumananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on how to make introspection a positive experience and use it as a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Our true nature is the perfect divinity of the soul. The flaws and bad habits we have acquired are only temporary. Through regular introspection we can learn to see not only our strengths but any negative qualities or moods tha...

SRF monk Brother Nakulananda explains how the secret for success on the spiritual path lies in developing a “never give up” attitude: “We will be delving into the subject of perseverance and having that indomitable will and determination to accomplish whatever we set out to do in our lives; and in particular to be determined to seek God, to love God, until we have that final union with God” He poi...

SRF monk Brother Bhumananda shares insights into Paramahansa Yogananda’s stating that this world in which we live is—in an ultimate sense—a cosmic motion picture. He explains that although our life experiences seem so very real and compelling, the message from the great ones who know God—such as Jesus, Krishna, and the Self-Realization Fellowship lineage of Gurus—is that this ‘reality’ is not what...

SRF monk Brother Jayananda shares insights from Paramahansa Yogananda into how to progress on the spiritual path. First, "What is the true purpose of life?" After revealing the answer to this, Brother Jayananda explains how to achieve this purpose by applying various universal methods of spiritual seeking found in the SRF/YSS teachings, especially that of the technique of Kriya Yoga. In...

SRF monk Brother Anilananda discusses the importance of having a true guru on the spiritual path, in this talk given at the 2014 SRF World Convocation. He quotes Paramahansa Yogananda’s words: “Most people could not become millionaires in this lifetime no matter how much they wanted, because it would take several lifetimes for them to bring about the right circumstances. But…all of us, ‘being alre...

SRF monk Brother Govindananda discusses Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on how to harness the power of the mind through understanding its relationship to the spiritual eye and by applying the techniques of meditation taught in the SRF Lessons. Brother Govindananda explains that by practicing a powerful form of pranayama such as the Hong-Sau Technique, the yogi can gradually but surely bring the...

SRF monk Brother Vishwananda discusses how we can more quickly and effectively achieve the ultimate goal of human life—Self-realization, oneness with the bliss of God—by understanding what devotion truly is and practicing it daily as we learn to “live in the moment.” He explains: “Very few people understand what the purpose of life is. But our guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, has told us: The purpose...

SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda shares how the comprehensive science of Kriya Yoga—which includes the specific technique of Kriya Yoga as well as the other meditation techniques taught by Paramahansa Yogananda—works in a systemic way to “reverse the searchlights of the senses” away from matter so that we can discover the bliss of the Divine within ourselves. As Brother Chidananda states in hi...

SRF monk Brother Nakulananda explains how we can face all of life’s challenges through applying Paramahansa Yogananda’s scientific Kriya Yoga teachings on meditation and balanced spiritual living and how-to-live principles: “Our Guru [Paramahansa Yogananda] has given to us so much in his vast teachings—in his lectures, his writings, his recordings, his how-to-live principles, the techniques of med...

SRF nun Sister Draupadi discusses the Mother aspect of the Divine, and explains that by applying Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings, we help our families live in a higher age of understanding and spiritual balance. She further affirms that as parents deepen their own relationship with God, they also guide the lives of children with ever-increasing love and acceptance. At the beginning of this servi...

SRF monk Brother Satyananda explores how to understand the idea of “Taking Shelter in God” in Paramahansa Yogananda’s Kriya Yoga teachings. When the trials of life suddenly encroach on us, do we seek inner peace in meditation: “are we putting first our fear, or are we putting first our faith?” Brother Satyananda explains that seeking the protective shelter of the Divine is a choice we can all make...

SRF nun Sister Priya shares her insights into how to find spiritual balance in our lives with meditation as the foundation. In this talk, recorded at the 2000 SRF World Convocation in Los Angeles, she also discusses how we can allow the problems of life to drive us closer to God; the importance of forgiveness in our finding balance; and the power or prayer to bring about change in ourselves, our l...

In this inspirational service conducted at the SRF Hollywood Temple, SRF monk Brother Govindananda speaks about “Rediscovering Your Higher Self.” He explains how we can use Kriya Yoga meditation and the power of affirmation to uncover “your higher self” — the hidden soul nature that resides in every human being. He quotes Paramahansa Yogananda’s words for overcoming the limitations of human consci...