Treasures Along the Path

How to Deepen Your Spiritual Life – do everything for and with God. Offer everything up to Him. When we do good works and serve God, we move beyond our little selves and become God’s instruments.  We come to realize that we are a part of a greater reality and our sense of identity expands. It doesn’t do any good to repress the ego. Live joyously for God. You will become more and more free, more an...

God as Divine Mother – feeling close to God as Her child God can be visualized as having a form. First, we need to think in terms of God with a form to be able to reach the realization of God in a formless state. God is neither male or female. God is not literally a mother but an aspect of consciousness. Yogananda said, ‘thoughts are universally, not individually rooted.’ Depending what level of c...

Devotion and Spiritual Growth – do everything for, and with God. In this talk Kriyananda goes right to the heart of the teachings: how to love God more. He reminds us that God doesn’t care what we know, but how much we love.  Divine Mother likes simple devotion, and in prayer she responds to the quality of our hearts, not our words.  When we meditate with just our minds it doesn’t feed the soul; w...

Arrive at understanding using the mind & the heart The subject of intellect vs. heart is a very, very important one. They have found that there is a certain amount of gray matter in the heart. Western culture has been one-sided in the direction of intellect. Yogananda said the motivation of human beings is twofold: to avoid suffering to attain happiness. The joy of God and the joy of your soul...

When we develop intuition we can transcend the limits of the intellect. We need to have balance in our lives with using both intuition and the intellect. Kriyananda encourages us to develop our intuition, explaining that through the intuition, we gain access to the wisdom of the universe. In fact, it is only through the intuition that we can gain complete understanding of anything. We each have ou...

The Importance of Individual Effort – we need to do our part to put forth our own energy to grow spiritually. God responds when we make the effort to reach out to Him. Kriyananda makes clear that outer conditions do not determine whether or not we make spiritual progress. Many people think that when they have more time, they will meditate more, or that when this or that happens, then they will fin...

Balancing the head and heart can help the world. Human nature has become unbalanced. Whenever this has happened in history, when people have gone too far in any direction such as the current emphasis on reason and intellectuality vs. considering compassion and kindness of heart, there is always some kind of force coming up to correct it. A sadness can come to a population of people who are under a...

“You can accomplish extraordinary things through affirmations.” – Swami Kriyananda This talk is a thorough discussion of how you can bring stronger and more dynamic energy into your efforts to attune yourself more deeply to God and Guru. When you want to change a habit, bring the energy up from the subconscious, through the conscious, then into the superconscious state where change can take effect...

Develop an attitude of a devotee and you will become a good disciple. When you want to advance spiritually, adopt attitudes that will help you minimize your sense of self. Respect and love God in everyone. Try always to see the good side in people. Live to please God. Be impersonal. The great masters have their consciousness totally in the Divine Light, nothing else. They don’t have likes and disl...

A sadness can come to a population of people who are under a system that suppresses all initiative. Mankind can’t put up with those things for too long. Sooner or later that population has to come back to its own nature of openness of the heart, kindness and harmony. Whenever man forgets God, man suffers. Whenever man remembers God, everything starts to shine. We are not going to be satisfied with...

Aspects of Healing -  a discussion of the subtle and universal principles behind healing of body, mind and soul. In the beginning Kriyananda describes the development of the age of energy. Science has discovered that matter is really only a manifestation of energy. Matter doesn't exist except as energy in a particular state of vibration. Certain cultures have gotten away from more natural ways of...

Simple Living in Complicated Times – when you can simplify your life and be centered in God you will be even-minded no matter what happens. Kriyananda explains the meditation technique Hong Sau. Hong means “I” sau means “I am That.” When you chant Hong, you can go deep in the feeling of your “I’ness” until you reach the point where the “I” no longer exists. You can see yourself as very much part o...

How to Live a Divine Life – see God in everything and everyone. You could by happy right now. It’s a curious tendency  for people to look for what they already have. You already have joy in your heart, you are joy.  The happiness we seek is within ourselves. The best way to find your own divine potential is by starting exactly where you are. Wherever you are, begin there! Don’t identify with darkn...

Bringing Yoga into All Aspects of Life creates harmony among all people you interact with. When you work with others, let them be themselves.  Serve God through them. Learn to turn your will toward harmony with everyone and everything. Respecting people where they are is a part of yoga. A Way of Awakening Aasta TV series from India – 365 twenty minute talk series Kriyananda reads a passage from hi...

Clarity of the Heart – What God is trying to express through you? Swami tells us in detail, using specific examples how he’s been able to ask for and receive creative guidance from God. We must first get clear on who we truly are—the Infinite Self. Then rising above our desires, likes and dislikes, we clarify our feelings. Feelings can sometimes be confused with emotion. Yogananda had a way of ref...

Cosmic Symbolism Explained reveals the deep symbolism behind the image of the Divine Mother in nature, Kali. The intention of all  images of God is to take us inward. The symbols are a guide, reminding us of our inner reality and of higher truths. To support this work, go to: https://www.ananda.org/support/treasures/

The Power of the Voice is healing. All people and creatures are looking for love and there is a link between the expression of love and the sound of our voice. It’s not a matter of merely developing a good singing voice by technique. We can all tune in to our higher Self and try to express uplifting qualities to others through speaking or singing. Through the practice of meditation and yoga, we na...

"Don't be afraid of who you are! To accept yourself, is to forget yourself. Be true to yourself, be honest, face yourself. You want to be aware of things you need to work on so you can improve and grow." — Swami Kriyananda Be honest with yourself. Don't be afraid to face who you are. Look at yourself with detachment. Try not to hide your faults by suppressing them. When facing your challenges, cho...

Art of Spiritual Counseling - sometimes it is better to wait to give advice, until you feel the person is ready to hear what you have to say. Kriyananda explains how and when to counsel others. If you want to encourage someone to change their behavior or go in a different direction, approach it with the thought of how best to help them, not necessarily how to help the situation. It is better not t...

Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies - is an inspiring message about the duality within each of us, both male and female. We express both qualities at different times, and seek balance between the two. Women are an uplifting and guiding force in society. When women are respected and looked up to and inspired to become worthy of respect they in turn, give that same quality of inspiration and u...

How to Achieve Emotional Maturity – working with our positive and negative emotions to grow and spiritually.  how to determine whether an emotion is positive or negative positive emotion is calm and points toward greater expansion, empathy and love An exceptional talk! To support this work, go to: https://www.ananda.org/support/treasures/

Seek the help of a true guru to help you give up the ego. Have gratitude for everything and accept life as it is – not how we wish it would be. To support this work, go to: https://www.ananda.org/support/treasures/