Spiritual Q&A

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Beauty of True Friendship

Dear Natalie, Thank you for your question. Here is a beautiful poem taken from Whispers from Eternity by Paramhansa Yogananda that can be very soothing to read and reread. These are words to aspire to when you think about finding true

Saints: in the World But Not of the World

Dear Alex, There are many levels of wisdom. That one special stage called “enlightenment” is hard to define and even harder to recognize in another soul. The yoga teachings of India have itemized a number of different levels though this

How to Remain Unruffled in the Face of Challenge

Dear Pooja, Life offers up challenges to everyone, but for the devotee challenges must be considered spiritual opportunities. How else will we realize that God must be invited into every corner of our lives unless all of the corners are

I Feel Responsible for My Parents’ Deaths

Dear Alia, I feel for your loss on both counts of your father and mother. It is completely normal for the survivor to revisit his/her actions and to feel a sense of regret or guilt for not having done something

With So Many Negative Events in My Life, What Can I Do?

Dear Veronika, This in general is a tough time for many people. In truth it’s a good thing: we are being asked to grow stronger right now. Here are things you can do to counteract these negative influences and states:

Can Meditation Pose a Threat?

Dear Inam, Taking into account your situation, why not meditate for shorter periods of time? At the same time, however, I can assure you that you are not going to die. What you are on the brink of is actually

I Feel a Particular Sensation at the Heart and Spiritual Eye During the Day

Dear Alim, Yes, this is normal. Some people feel a particular sensation or a slight pressure at the point between the eyebrows during the day. Others feel some effect in the heart area. It’s just an energy experience, and it’s

How Is the Human Body Formed, According to Yoga?

Dear Andreas, There are indeed differences according to the text one reads. Even among the masters of Self-realization and their chief disciples such things are expressed differently. It is not to be seen as conflicts so much as differing points

Should I Eat Before Morning Meditation?

Dear Friend, I can attest from personal experience, endorsing the basic teaching that it is best not to eat before meditation! There are circumstances that prevent this—either once in a while or in some cases for periods of time—but, generally,

Calming Anxiety and Grief in the Present Moment

Dear A.J., It does take steady, daily practice to bring the mind to a clear and calm focus. There are innumerable ways to focus the mind in meditation and during daily activity. In meditation an excellent technique to focus the

Should I Meditate Facing North or East, or Would Northeast, too, Be Beneficial?

Dear Kenzo, The reason for facing east or north in meditation is that in this way you cooperate with the earth’s magnetism. It’s like setting your sails for a natural vibrational “wind”. The earth generates a powerful magnetic field. Our

How to Hold on to the Bliss of Meditation?

Dear Aila, Thank you for your question. Experiences such as you are having happen to many devotees as they move along the spiritual path. In a few words — don’t give up! Keep up the steady regular meditations the best

Dealing with Disappointment and Fear of Failure

Dear Sean, The responsibilities we are given can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if we feel we are alone in the effort. A fear of failure compounds the burden. If I understand your question completely you feel others are disappointed in

Practicing Kriya with Spinal Challenges

Dear Frank, As a young monk Swami Kriyananda spoke with Yogananda about Kriyananda having a deviated septum (nose) and wondering if a surgery to repair it was okay. Yogananda commented that it is generally best not to operate (surgically) on

I Want to Go Deeper in Meditation

Dear Pradeep, I think you are ready for your next step with meditation! You have made some progress with your techniques, but meditation must be dynamic, always taking you deeper. Your note indicates you long for this. I encourage you

Fear of Failure

Dear Sean, Fear of failure is common and natural. To build up confidence, place your trust in God and gurus first. Ask for guidance and start with goals that are within your reach or just a little past it. Sometimes

Developing Magnetism

Dear Sammantha, Thank you for your question. If it is appropriate, you might try asking him if he would like to study together or have lunch together and see what he says. Then you will know. But you do run

Are Mantras Effective if Chanted Mentally?

Dear Ananya, A great plan! Chanting mentally is effective, but requires more concentration, to be powerful. Sound has power. So without that outer sound, the inner sound must really be strong. It is (to use one example) like doing Yogananda’s

Two Steps of Meditation

Dear Aasheesh, The two steps you describe are well-understood and accurate. There are other ways of expressing it, but essentially we need to internalize our consciousness and then raise that consciousness to the kutastha (spiritual eye). The means by which

How to Communicate with Higher Spiritual Realms?

Dear Mikael, I assume you mean “to communicate with beings who live in higher planes, and their activities”? The father of yoga, Patanjali, gives an interesting answer: when one becomes perfect in his practice of swadhyaya (Self-study), he attains the

Meditation

What Is the Difference Between Meditation and Prayer?

Spiritual Growth

What is the Difference Between Contentment and Satisfaction?

Yoga Philosophy

What is a Soul?

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How Are We Affected By Diet?

Health and Healing

How Can I Calm My Anxiety?

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See God Even in the Challenges

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A Touch of Light Podcast

Miracle of Miracles

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Harmonious Relationships Part 8

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Finding Meaning in Life

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The Perfect Resolve

10:12

Original Lessons of Paramhansa Yogananda

3:57
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How to Stay Centered in a Changing World

30:31

Be Willing to Compromise ~ How to Work with People Ep. 51

39:38
Sunday Service at Ananda Village

Did God Create the Universe or Become It?

4:04
Ananda Music, Chanting at Ananda, Chanting with Swami Kriyananda, Chanting with Swami Kriyananda

Door of My Heart (Chanted by Swami Kriyananda, Direct Disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda)

45:03

Self-Expansion: Inspiration for the Week

27:51

Energy Has Its Own Intelligence ~ How to Work with People Ep. 47

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A New Tomorrow

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A Touch More Light Podcast

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A Touch of Light Podcast

Priorities

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Images and Video from the Life of Yogananda

Explore Autobiography of a Yogi

Autobiography of a Yogi

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Hold Him Tight

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Yogananda’s Early Years on the East Coast

1:42:24

Yogananda 100th Anniversary: Celebration at Ananda Village

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Yogananda Coming to the West

News About Ananda

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Yogananda Performs Wedding Ceremony

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Yogananda Visits New York

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An Experience of Yogananda at Ananda Village

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How to Attune Yourself to Yogananda

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O Master — Ananda World Brotherhood Virtual Choir

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Master Works in Mysterious, Miraculous Ways 

Meditation

How to Meditate According to Paramhansa Yogananda

Ananda Writers Group

How the West Was (Spiritually) Won by Paramhansa Yogananda

2:04

Yogananda in Samadhi

3:17

A Century of Spiritual Awakening With Paramhansa Yogananda – Yogananda Fest 2020

7:55

100 Years Since Paramhansa Yogananda’s Coming to the West: Message from Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi

2:57

Yogananda’s Early Years in America

1:11

Paramhansa Yogananda Talks About Spiritual Communities

1:22

Yogananda: A Brief Biography

39:24

Paramhansa Yogananda: India’s Messenger to the World

1:13:28

What Was Yogananda Like? Personal Qualities, Characteristics

1:46:54

Paramhansa Yogananda: Avatar of the Modern Age

2:20

Paramhansa Yogananda’s Influence in the West (with Phil Goldberg)

13:38

Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi — a Documentary

 

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