Paramahansa Yogananda

1893 - 1952

IN THE SANCTUARY OF THE SOUL

The mule that carries a bag of gold on its back does not know the value of
that load. Likewise, man is so absorbed in toting the burden of life,
hoping for some happiness at the end of the trail, that he does not realize
he carries within him the supreme and everlasting bliss of the soul.
Because he looks for happiness in "things," he doesn't know he already
possesses a wealth of happiness within himself.

As a broken microphone cannot broadcast a message, so a restless mind cannot
transmit prayers to God.
Do not give up after one or two tries if God doesn't seem to respond. You
cannot get an answer merely by calling someone through a microphone and then
running away. So don't stop after one or two mental broadcasts; with
conscious effort and zeal, go on talking mentally to God, with ever
increasing longing in your heart.

During every little period of leisure, plunge your mind into the infinite
thought of Him. Talk to Him intimately; He is the nearest to the near, the
dearest of the dear. Love Him as a miser loves money, as an ardent man
loves his sweetheart, as a drowning person loves breath. When you yearn for
God with intensity, He will come to you.

Pray intelligently, with a bursting soul - not loudly, but mentally -
without displaying to anyone what is happening within. Pray with the utmost
devotion, knowing God is listening to every word flowing from your heart

.

Your soul is the divine temple of God. The darkness of mortal ignorance
and limitations must be driven out of that temple. It is wonderful to be
in the consciousness of the soul -- fortified, strong! Be afraid of
nothing. Hating none, giving love to all, feeling the love of God, seeing
His presence in everyone, and having but one desire -- for His constant
presence in the temple of your consciousness -- that is the way to live in
this world.

Faith, or the intuitive experience of all truth, is present in the soul. It gives birth to human hope and the desire to achieve. Ordinary human beings know practically nothing of this intuitive faith that is latent in the soul, which is the secret wellspring of all our wildest hopes.

Say to the Lord: "Please tell me Thy will." Don't say, "I want this and I want that," but have faith that He knows what you need. You will see that you get much better things when He chooses for you.

We have come down from God, and we must re-ascend to Him. We have seemingly become separated from our Father, and we must consciously reunite with Him. Yoga, union with God, teaches us how to rise above the delusion of separation and realize our oneness with God. The poet Milton wrote of the soul of man and how it might regain paradise. That is the purpose and goal of Yoga -- to regain the lost paradise of soul consciousness by which man knows that he is, and ever has been, one with Spirit.

When my trials become very great, I first seek understanding in myself. I don't blame circumstances or try to correct anybody else. I go inside first. I try to clean the citadel of my soul to remove anything that obstructs the soul's all - powerful, all -wise expression. That is the successful way to live.
Wrap yourself in the thought of God. His holy Name is the Power of all powers. Like a shield it deflects all negative vibrations.

When you know a thing is right, why shouldn't you go after it? Why shouldn't you cry for the Lord until the skies are shaken with your prayers?..... Remember, it is the naughty baby who gets the mother's attention. The easily pacified infant is soon satisfied with toys. But thenaughty baby wants the mother only, and goes on crying until she comes.

JUST ONE THOUGHT MAY REDEEM YOU. You don't realize how effectively your thoughts work in the ether. Every thought we think sets up a particular subtle vibration ..... When you mentally utter the word GOD, and keep on repeating that thought within, it sets up a vibration that invokes the presence of God. He cannot be bribed at any time, yet it is easy to move Him with sincerity, persistency, concentration, devotion, determination and faith. Saturate everything with the thought of God. 

Realize that all that exists is centered in God

.

You must remove from your mind all doubt that God will answer. Most people don't get any response because of their disbelief. If you are absolutely determined that you are going to attain something, nothing can stop you. It is when you give up that you write the verdict against yourself. The man of success doesn't know the word "impossible."

The secret of effective prayer is to change your status from beggar to child of God; when you appeal to Him from that consciousness, your prayer will have both power and wisdom. Develop the consciousness that God is with you. Give God the gems of prayer lying deep in the mine of your own heart.

The moon's reflection cannot be seen clearly in ruffled water, but when the water's surface is calm a perfect reflection of the moon appears. So with the mind: when it is calm you see clearly reflected the mooned face of the soul. As souls we are reflections of God. When by meditation techniques we withdraw restless thoughts from the lake of the mind, we behold our soul, a perfect reflection of Spirit, and realize that the soul and God are One.

It is a fact that sometimes your most fervent prayers and desires are your greatest enemies. Talk sincerely and justly with God, and let Him decide what is right for you. If you are receptive, He will lead you, He will work with you. Even if you make mistakes, don't be afraid. Have faith. Know that God is with you. Be guided in everything by that Power. It is unfailing.

Pray intelligently, with a bursting soul - not loudly, but mentally -
without displaying to anyone what is happening within. Pray with the utmost
devotion, knowing God is listening to every word flowing from your heart.

Your soul is the divine temple of God. The darkness of mortal ignorance
and limitations must be driven out of that temple. It is wonderful to be
in the consciousness of the soul -- fortified, strong! Be afraid of
nothing. Hating none, giving love to all, feeling the love of God, seeing
His presence in everyone, and having but one desire -- for His constant
presence in the temple of your consciousness -- that is the way to live in
this world.

You must claim your divine birthright. Your constant prayer, your
boundless determination, your unceasing desire for God, will make Him break
His tremendous vow of silence, and He will answer you. Above all, in the
temple of silence He will give you the gift of Himself.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend, and may we always have boundless
determination.

The Lord is both LAW and LOVE. The devotee who with pure devotion and faith
seeks the unconditional love of God, and who also brings his actions into
harmony with divine law, will surely receive the purifying, mitigating touch
of God.

The Divine Power of its own accord wants to help you; you don't have to
coax. But you do have to use your will to demand as His child, and to
behave as His child.

Lazy people think that just by virtue of prayer God will listen to them and
fulfill their desires. But it is necessary to exercise will power, to strive
to tune it with the divine will. When your will resolves continually around
one definite purpose, it becomes dynamic will. This is the quality of will
power possessed by Jesus and by all other great sons of God.

You must claim your divine birthright. Your constant prayer, your
boundless determination, your unceasing desire for God, will make Him break
His tremendous vow of silence, and He will answer you. Above all, in the
temple of silence He will give you the gift of Himself.

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