Jesus taught that the kingdom of God should not be sought “here” or “there,” for the kingdom of God is within.

There is no tension between the teachings of Jesus and of Krishna, or of any of the great masters. The tension arises in our efforts to understand their teachings.

The fruits of the divine life are selfless love, humility, and all divine qualities.

India—the real India—is an ancient culture that has survived the disintegrating influences of time.

When I first met Yogananda, I had many doubts that I determined to “put on a shelf” for the time being, since I was in no position to resolve them.

I’m not going to ask you even to imagine gratitude for what you’re suffering, but I do ask you to suspend judgment for the time being.

Any time we suffer in life, our greatest need is to see what it is in ourselves that has attracted that suffering.

It would be idle for me to say that I am not the guide for those who come to Yogananda through me and Ananda.

Swami Sri Yukteswar, the great saint of wisdom, wrote that the first thing one must develop on the spiritual path is the heart’s love, and one cannot move one step without it.

When I was new at Mt. Washington I was talked into following the “grape cure.” When my Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, found out about it, he remarked scoldingly that a pure heart is more important than a pure body.

No prophecy should be accepted in a spirit of helpless acquiescence. The probability of war, for example, can be nullified if there is sufficient activity directed towards harmony and love.

Yogananda once told us, “I see all of you as images of light. Everything—these trees, bushes, the grass you are standing on—all are made of that light. You have no idea how beautiful everything is!”

It seems self-evident that different aspects of God fulfill different people. Consider the numerous manifestations of both male and female gods and goddesses in Hindu temples. Each one represents certain combinations of divine qualities, enlivened by the stories that accompany each one.

All trials are in the last analysis self-generated. God doesn’t will them on us. They come as a result of the misuse of our own will, whether recently or in the distant past.

When we mix with people who are basically positive, it tends to make us strong in ourselves. The company of strong people influences us to discover ways to surmount our own problems.

There is only one true goal in life: to please God; to come closer to Him; to love Him; to unite our souls to Him.

Wherever Master saw the slightest hope, he encouraged people in the paths of righteousness. He never judged them.

Lots of positive energy is the main ingredient of success in all parts of your life. As you continue to define who you are, know that God is in you. Let God be your friend in everything you do.