Inspiring Talks and Classes by Swami Kriyananda

“Faith is more than belief, faith is an experience.”- Swami Kriyananda Knowing God and believing in God are not one in the same. Swami talks about how to deepen our faith in and experience of God. Questions answered: How can we develop more faith in God? How would you differentiate between belief and faith? Many people reject the concept of … Read More

If we want success, we need to spend time with people who have achieved it, and we should avoid people who have what Paramhansa Yogananda called “failure magnetism.”  People, groups, even countries are influenced by their environment — we should strive to be ourself, Swami Kriyananda says, free from negative influences, but open to positive ones, like the those of … Read More

The one art whose impact is unavoidable, architecture plays an important part in our lives and can even influence our consciousness.  In this discussion of art and consciousness, Swami Kriyananda shares advice for how to create a more uplifting vibration in your own home, including creating a place that will deepen your meditations.  Questions include: Paramhansa Yogananda said that we … Read More

Art, Swami Kriyananda  says, should be a priesthood, and always try to uplift — the artist as well as his or her audience. No matter what medium he works in, the greatest masterpiece of an artist should be him or herself.  Questions include: You talked about art as being idealized reality — could you expand on that? Is beauty always … Read More

Swami Kriyananda shares thoughts, techniques, and experiences on the subject of how to be creative. “My secret to creativity,” he says, “is that I haven’t done anything. God has done it.” Questions and topics include: Is beauty a universal reality? Have you ever had to overcome writer’s block? How a playwright should write dialogue

There are so many people alive on earth today — if reincarnation is true, where did all those souls come from? Paramhansa Yogananda’s answer to this question was “from other planets.” Have other peoples visited earth, from space? What determines if we are born as human, animal, or something else? Questions include: What is your opinion about aliens coming from outer … Read More

Swami Kriyananda discusses the distinctions between Christianity and Churchianity. Institutional urgencies and control are prioritized by Churchianity, and it tends to place convenience over Truth. Christianity stresses the significance of truth, the divine, and God’s omnipresence. You cannot confine truth to an edifice or church structure and institutionalization in itself ought not be the central reality of a religious organization. … Read More

Swami Kriyananda discusses many fascinating concepts related to reincarnation and shares stories and ancedotes about previous lives and the tendencies we carry over many lifetimes of action. Kriyananda states that everything is preordained and explains the role of personal choice.  Kriyananda goes on to describe the astral world as a world of energy and brilliant colors and offers other insights … Read More

“Rejecting the church is often the first step to having true faith.” Swami Kriyananda’s devout mother read and shared this statement with Kriyananda when he was a teenager. He felt that now, after many tears and arguments, she finally understood him. This statement may also resonate with those truth seekers looking for the deepest meanings in their lives. Kriyananda says … Read More

God is the only force in our lives, Swami Kriyananda says, who is completely trustworthy, unbribable, and who is always on our side.Practicing His presence means to be aware of Him as a constant reality in your life — Swamiji describes how to do that and why.Questions include: How do we develop complete trust in God? Can you develop that … Read More

Popular music expresses the general consciousness of people, but in recent years, popular music has become more and more an expression of low consciousness. We should look for happiness more in ourselves, Swami Kriyananda explains, because that’s the only place where we can ever find it. Questions include: You talked about the negative effects on the consciousness of rock and … Read More

A talk about the importance of music in reference to how it effects our consciousness and energy. Swami Kriyananda answers the following questions: Does humility start by saying, “I’m no good”? What if one is a sinner, is it appropriate to say you are a sinner? Is suicide a greater sin then murder? How do we recognize uplifting music? What … Read More

When we die, we lose our physical bodies — but what remains? Swami Kriyananda talks about subtler, more esoteric aspects of ourselves — as well as how to become free from ego. Can you tell us a little bit about the astral body, the physical body, and the causal body? When we are created, are we a vibration that emanates … Read More

Most of us are imitations. It’s only when you go deep within yourself that you can find out who you really are. If you can take some time every day to be with God, to be alone, Swami Kriyananda says, then you begin to face what is in your life, not what is just froth. Questions include: I read a quote … Read More

Swami Kriyananda talks about why death is nothing to be scared of. Questions include: A lot of people have a great fear of death. Can you discuss how to overcome that fear? What happens, spiritually, at birth and death? When does life begin? What is the process of death?