The Wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda

Religion & Spirituality

About

Self-Realization Fellowship monks and nuns share Paramahansa Yogananda’s profound inspiration, and their own stories of applying his practical teachings on meditation and balanced living, to encourage you to have a truly victorious life — transcending limitations, fear, and suffering — by awakening to the infinite power and joy of your real Self: the soul. The teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda (author of Autobiography of a Yogi) and his renowned line of gurus offer to people of all cultures, races, and creeds the means to free themselves from physical, mental, and spiritual inharmonies — a way of life of inner happiness and all-round success. To facili...

Episodes

  • Developing an Intimate Relationship With God Through Prayer

    Sister Draupadi discusses Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on prayer, emphasizing its role in developing an intimate relationship with God. This talk was recorded at the 2015 SRF World Convocation in Los Angeles.

  • Experiencing the Inner Harmony — Questions and Answers About Spiritual Living

    Brother Satyananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on experiencing inner harmony amidst modern life's demands. The talk provides insights on cultivating contentment through meditation, responding compassionately to others, and re…

  • Be Messengers of God’s Light and Love

    In this episode, Sri Mrinalini Mata discusses being channels of God's light and love and how to achieve spiritual progress. She also shares personal reminiscences of her time with Paramahansa Yogananda and the spiritual efficacy of Kriya Y…

  • Developing the Invincible Power of Initiative

    Brother Vimalananda shares insights from Paramahansa Yogananda about awakening the power of initiative. This talk explores how initiative can help in overcoming obstacles and approaching life situations with creativity and confidence.

  • Gaining the Wealth of Inner Happiness

    In this episode, Brother Padmananda of SRF discusses Paramahansa Yogananda's wisdom on experiencing lasting inner happiness. He explains that perfect joy is the soul's inherent nature and can be accessed through spiritual practices that fo…

  • The Deeper Teachings of Jesus

    Brother Nikhilananda explores Paramahansa Yogananda's insights on the universal teachings of Jesus and how they relate to experiencing oneness with the Divine. The talk provides practical guidance on cultivating a personal relationship wit…

  • Embracing Our Spiritual Resilience

    SRF monk Brother Jayananda explores how the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda help develop spiritual resilience, enabling individuals to face challenges with faith and calmness. This talk was recorded at the 2016 SRF World Convocation in…

  • Intuition and Trust in God: Guiding Lights in a Chaotic World

    SRF monk Brother Ishtananda discusses the importance of cultivating intuition as a means to make better choices and find spiritual peace, based on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. This talk was recorded at the 2007 SRF World Convoca…

  • Cultivating a Close Relationship With God

    Brother Devananda explores how to build a deeper personal relationship with the Divine using the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. The talk, which includes a meditation, explains how to cultivate love and attunement to experience God's g…

  • Attuning Our Lives to the Love of God | Brother Chidananda

    Brother Chidananda, president of SRF/YSS, discusses how to maintain a connection with the Divine while navigating life's challenges. He explores three yoga sciences—identity, vibration, and psychology—as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda to…

  • Finding Your Role in Life

    Brother Keshavananda shares teachings from Paramahansa Yogananda on discovering one's life purpose and achieving true happiness through spiritualizing daily activities. The talk explores aligning unique talents with service to others to fi…

  • Right Attitude Toward Life’s Experiences

    SRF monk Brother Anandamoy discusses the importance of maintaining the right attitude and spiritual perspective when facing life's challenges. The talk explores how remembering the divine purpose of life fosters positivity on the journey t…

  • Our Loved Ones Never Die

    SRF nun Sister Ranjana shares Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on life, death, and the soul. The talk explores how shifting identification from the body to the soul helps us understand that our relationships with loved ones are eternal.

  • Compassion and Understanding: Cornerstones of Spiritual Living

    Brother Achalananda, a monk of the Self-Realization Fellowship, discusses Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on how practicing compassion and understanding leads to spiritual fulfillment. This talk was recorded at the 2004 SRF World Convoca…

  • The Soul’s Nature Is Love

    Brother Saralananda discusses Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on discovering divine love within oneself through meditation and devotion. Recorded in December 2024 at the Hollywood SRF temple, the talk explores how this inner love can exp…

  • The Purpose of Life

    Brother Govindananda discusses the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda on discovering one's divine purpose and living in the awareness of God. The talk offers practical methods for finding personal fulfillment and inner peace.

  • The Divine Nature of Christ

    Brother Kartikananda shares teachings from Paramahansa Yogananda on the nature of Christ Consciousness, exploring how to embody divine qualities through meditation and compassion. The talk discusses the spiritual significance of Jesus Chri…

  • The Bhagavad Gita: Masterful Guide for Everyday Spiritual Living

    Brother Chidananda discusses the Bhagavad Gita's relevance for everyday spiritual living, citing Paramahansa Yogananda's assertion that the scripture illuminates all stages of the spiritual journey. The talk was given at the 2008 SRF World…

  • The Hidden Love and Joy of God

    SRF monk Brother Jayananda discusses Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on using meditation to find God’s presence within as love and joy. The talk was the opening class of the 2019 SRF World Convocation, which Brother Chidananda opened wit…

  • Gratitude: Pathway to God’s Blessings

    Brother Bhimananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on gratitude as a spiritual practice. Cultivating thankfulness during both good and difficult times can strengthen faith, deepen devotion, and enhance awareness of divine presence.

  • The Interior Life

    Sri Mrinalini Mata explains the importance of inner communion with God through meditation, enabling an ego-less existence and soul expression. This practice brings lasting fulfillment, joy, and awareness of the Divine in daily life.

  • What Is the Soul?

    Brother Kamalananda explains Paramahansa Yogananda's view of the soul as a reflection of God's consciousness, distinct from physical limitations. He suggests that through meditation and yoga, one can quicken the process of realizing one's…

  • Facing Life With a Spiritual Perspective

    Brother Bhumananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's wisdom on adopting a spiritual perspective to view life experiences as opportunities for growth. By prioritizing the divine relationship, one can face challenges with courage and joy, movin…

  • How to Be a Friend to All

    Brother Prafullananda discusses Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on friendship, emphasizing unconditional love, kindness, and understanding towards all beings as a path to fulfilling relationships and spiritual oneness.

  • Finding Soul Guidance to Navigate the Maze of Life’s Experiences

    Brother Sevananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on developing intuition to receive divine guidance for life's decisions. Practices include meditation, devotion, and faith to connect with inner wisdom.

  • What Is Truth?

    Brother Govindananda discusses Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on the search for truth. He emphasizes moving beyond intellectual concepts to personal spiritual realization through meditation and living by moral principles to experience o…

  • How to Be Master of Your Habits

    SRF monk Brother Vimalananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on mastering habits by cultivating positive ones through repetition, meditation, and affirmations. This approach helps overcome limiting habits and achieve inner joy and…

  • World Peace Through Meditation

    SRF monk Brother Satyananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's wisdom on fostering world peace through meditation and prayer. The practice cultivates inner peace, which can then be radiated outward, enabling individuals to act as peacemakers e…

  • Fulfilling the Soul’s Deepest Needs

    Sri Daya Mata, third president of Self-Realization Fellowship, shares wisdom from her experience as a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. She discusses how God-communion offers solutions to life’s challenges and how to balance spiritual pra…

  • Balancing Our Material and Spiritual Lives

    Sister Ranjana shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on harmonizing daily life with spiritual goals. By simplifying life and meditating, individuals can cultivate inner peace, engage meaningfully with responsibilities, and experience ha…

  • How to Overcome Fear

    Brother Kamalananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on overcoming fear, explaining it arises from ego identification. He suggests meditation, positive affirmations, and realizing our oneness with the Divine to dissolve fear and fi…

  • Living Supremely Well Now

    SRF monk Brother Tyagananda discusses Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on living in the present. The talk explores how to release past regrets, alleviate future anxieties, and foster a devotional connection with God, transforming life wit…

  • The Universe — God’s Cosmic Dream

    Brother Saralananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on viewing the universe as God's cosmic dream. The episode explores how practices like yoga meditation and devotion can help individuals awaken to their true, divine nature and o…

  • Great Saints: God’s Messengers of Truth

    SRF monk Brother Nikhilananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on spiritual development, emphasizing the guru’s guidance, unconditional love, and the importance of meditation and faith for divine realization.

  • The Soul’s Greatest Need

    Brother Prafullananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on finding lasting happiness through inner divine connection and daily meditation practice. He suggests that spiritual business practices can lead to a more fulfilling life.

  • Achieving Spiritual and Material Success

    Brother Achalananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's wisdom on achieving spiritual and material success by cultivating inner divine powers and attuning to Divine Will through meditation. This practice leads to a soul-centered life.

  • Anchor Yourself in God

    SRF nun Sister Ranjana discusses Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on finding inner peace and safety by anchoring oneself in God through Kriya Yoga, positive thinking, meditation, and affirmations.

  • Living in Attunement With the Divine

    Sri Mrinalini Mata discusses living a God-centered life, drawing on Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings to achieve divine attunement and navigate life's challenges. This talk was recorded in Ranchi, India, in November 1977.

  • Opening Our Hearts and Minds to the Guru

    Sister Bhakti explains the significance of a guru in spiritual development, drawing on personal experiences and stories of Paramahansa Yogananda's disciples. The talk offers practical guidance for daily spiritual practice.

  • Deepen Your Meditations—Let Go of the Drama

    SRF monk Brother Satyananda explains how to let go of emotional drama during meditation, drawing from Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on the Bhagavad Gita. The episode offers guidance on calming the mind for spiritual communion.

  • Keep On Keeping On, Taking God With You

    SRF monk Brother Achalananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on maintaining divine awareness. The talk, given at the 2005 SRF World Convocation, emphasizes that while God is omnipresent, conscious awareness requires practices that…

  • Satsanga on Nurturing a Personal Relationship With God

    Sister Draupadi discusses how to nurture and sustain a personal relationship with God, offering spiritual strength and understanding to navigate life's challenges. This satsanga includes guided meditation and chanting.

  • How to Spiritualize Our Daily Lives

    Brother Saralananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on spiritualizing daily life by focusing on devotional thoughts of God. Centering consciousness on God's presence and love elevates actions and deepens the relationship with the…

  • Your Thoughts Can Change Your Life

    Brother Anandamoy shares Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings on the power of thought, explaining how our minds can either limit or liberate us. He covers universal thought principles, benefiting from life challenges, and finding happiness an…

  • Developing a Moment-to-Moment Relationship With God

    Brother Govindananda explains Paramahansa Yogananda's meditation teachings, focusing on experiencing God's presence continuously, not just in meditation. He emphasizes offering spiritual efforts as a divine offering, referencing the Self-R…

  • Yoga and the Steps to Unconditional Love

    SRF monk Brother Bhumananda shares Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings on the steps within yoga for achieving unconditional love. This service, recorded in January 2021, also includes a guided yoga meditation.

  • Kriya Yoga: Universal Science of God-Realization

    Brother Anandamoy explains the power of Kriya Yoga, a scientific meditation and spiritual living practice brought to America by Paramahansa Yogananda. This 1998 talk details how Kriya Yoga can uplift consciousness.

  • God as the Divine Mother

    Sister Usha shares Paramahansa Yogananda's wisdom on viewing God as the Divine Mother, embodying unconditional love and nurturing care. Approaching God this way allows the realization of our true nature as shining souls, one with Spirit. T…

  • Giving Thanks for Life’s Blessings: Attitudes of a Yogi

    Brother Jayananda explains how yogis can approach life with gratitude, viewing positive attitudes as foundational to yoga practice. He emphasizes maintaining thankfulness to perceive God’s guidance, even amidst difficulties, based on Param…

  • Guru and Disciple: An Eternal Covenant of Love

    Brother Bhaktananda shares insights on the guru-disciple relationship, emphasizing simplicity, obedience, and loyalty as paths to freedom. He highlights practicing God's presence, meditation, and SRF Lessons as keys to spiritual developmen…