An introduction:
Paramahansa Yogananda taught that an extremely powerful way to build greater love, harmony, and understanding in our relationships with others is to try to perceive the Divine Presence in everyone. This, he said, is an essential practice for our spiritual growth and in order to know lasting happiness — as individuals and as a world.
Below we offer inspiration from Paramahansaji on how you can cultivate seeing yourself and each person you meet as a joyous soul — a child of the Divine and a true emanation of the one Bliss of Spirit.
From the talks and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda:
One thing you must learn here on earth is that you are a child of God. When you know that, you will know that everyone is a child of God even as you are. What a tremendous realization! that all persons are of God — that everyone and everything that comes to you comes from God! The more you appreciate the divine image in everyone, the more you are alive with God’s consciousness.
It is God, and God alone, who has encased Himself as the soul in the many human beings He has created. And when one human being loves another with pure divine love, he sees the spirit of God manifesting in that person.
In divine love, you see God not only in your friends, but in your enemies as well. You treat everyone as a child of God....All the great ones that I have seen are humble, because they see God in all, having found the image of God in themselves. That is realization.
You may ask: “How can I learn to love my enemies? I am not strong enough to do that.” My answer is this: “Constant communion with the Infinite by Self-Realization Fellowship methods of meditation fills one with divine love, which alone enables one to love one’s enemies.”
Yoga teaches us to know the divine nature in ourselves and others....When by persistence in meditation you realize God through communion with Him, your heart is prepared to embrace all humanity.
See God in everyone, as I see Him....Mentally put yourself in the position of others, and then with the utmost kindness you will be able to understand and help them. There is no greater joy.
[Affirm:] Bless me, that I may find Thee in the temple of each thought and activity. Finding Thee within, I shall find Thee without, in all people and all conditions.
You can read more excerpts from Paramahansaji’s writings on how to create greater love, harmony, and understanding in your relationships with others.
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The tragic circus that the outer world has become lately is the perfect training ground for us to embrace Master's words and instructions, and to lead others to God by our positive, peaceful, quiet example. I feel so grateful to have found these teachings, lovingly made available by SRF/YSS! Jai Guru!!! Jai Ma!
Paramahansa gave me a deep and profound love of God. Words cannot describe this.
So grateful for this clear reminder of love, humility. I so need these directions on how to live life with love for all, in all circumstances. Thank you
I will remind myself, especially when my ego is rasping up against the perceived ego-centricity of another. Here is a divine soul. I am a divine soul too.
I am so grateful for these teachings. I have every intention of living my life according to these teachings but I’m not always successful especially when it comes to certain people nearest to me. But I start again the next day. I’m sure one day I will surprise myself.
Banat, Banat, Banjai
With time, we learn to love our enemies.
It's a natural process, coming along with letting go of things and situations. It starts not easy bit becomes easier more and more, over the years of deep practice
I am learning every day how to do this through reading the lessons and listening to my soul
I will carry this with me into today's work and try to see if I can't see everyone as a divine soul ✨️
Thank you for sharing these words of guidance from Guruji! Jai Guru!