Honoring the Ideals of Inner and Outer Freedom

An introduction:

This July, as the United States of America marks the 250th anniversary of its independence, we are invited to reflect on what the ideal of freedom means from the enduring perspective of yoga.

In addition to being an inalienable right enshrined in America’s Declaration of Independence — and in hearts worldwide — liberty is an unchangeable quality of the soul. And when Paramahansa Yogananda came to America’s shores more than a century ago, he expounded the universal truth that the liberation we most deeply seek must be discovered within.

Coming from India during the independence movement that inspired so many of his generation, Paramahansaji had a very personal understanding that outer freedoms are truly precious. But he reminds us in his teachings that we will remain bound and limited — by ego, habits, and attachments — unless and until we win the inner freedom of the soul. And he points us to the supremely effective method of achieving that — the science of meditation:

“Meditation is nothing magical; it is the natural process of doing away with attachment to the flesh and transferring your consciousness to the spiritual side of your nature. We meditate not only for the peace and joy and happiness it brings, but also to free ourselves from the limitations of material existence.”

Below we present a sampling of Paramahansaji’s wisdom urging us to make the most of our opportunity to understand and joyfully express our ever-free, limitless soul-nature.

From the talks and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda:

Long accustomed to living in the body, we have forgotten what real freedom means….It is vital to every man that he discover his soul and know his immortal nature. Yoga shows the way.

By identification of our consciousness with this world we see it as a place of suffering. What is going to free us from suffering? Will money do so? Nothing material can. Knowledge of God, and realization that we are forever one with Him, is the only way to freedom. Remember this always.

Every night the Divine Mother comes to wipe away all your mortal sorrows in the subconscious joy and freedom of sleep….Meditation brings you conscious contact with that joy. You go beyond the land of sleep and keep that joy with you during the day.

That happiness in Spirit is the only thing to live for. Meditate each day; and when you have contacted that happiness, then go about your work. Without that inner awareness of God’s joy, you cannot enjoy life — indeed, you are not even truly living.

The great ones are not specially manufactured by God. They became masters through their own efforts. They had to work and fight for liberation, just as all the rest of mankind is struggling toward the light of soul freedom.

India loves her freedom. England loves her freedom. America loves her freedom. All nations love their freedom — it is the birthright of the soul. But in the pursuit of this freedom, we become divided. Atom bombs will not bring it — atom bombs will bring only more destruction, more suspicion and fear. The physical forces are teaching us that unless we employ them for constructive purposes, we shall never have happiness and freedom. This is not a time for hate and division. We have our choice: to live in fear of an atom bomb, or to live in love and brotherhood….  We must have one world — one race of God — one religion of love. God is our Father, and we are His children. He has created the dark and the yellow and the white. Let no man be proud of his skin, but of God’s one light shining in the multicolored lamps of flesh.

You are God’s greatest creation, greater than all else He has made. You are blessed with the power to think and reason. God says, ‘I gave you will; I gave you freedom and free choice. Perchance you will forsake all things and love Me, who gave those gifts to you.’

If by deep meditation you attain soul freedom in God-consciousness, His bliss will be yours through all eternity.

Each of you can be a messenger of unity among religions and harmony among nations….Feel the fatherhood of God, and that every human being belongs to you. As soon as you feel God in your heart, you will contribute to world civilization as no king or politician has ever done before.