An introduction:
Why do we feel so drawn to connect with others in friendship, and why do we find strong, harmonious relationships to be so meaningful?
Paramahansa Yogananda revealed that the friendship instinct is actually the universal force of love drawing souls together — toward unity in Spirit.
He taught that we can develop our capacity for friendship to the fullest — unfolding our soul’s highest potentials, and giving us an ever-greater joyful awareness of the One Divine Friend behind all friends.
Below we share inspiration from Paramahansaji’s soon-to-be-released book, The Spiritual Expression of Friendship — on how true friendship can expand our love until it embraces all humanity and all of creation.
From Paramahansa Yogananda’s The Spiritual Expression of Friendship:
Friendship is the universal spiritual attraction that unites souls in the bond of divine love.
Real friendship is a manifestation of God’s love for you, expressed through your friends….The heart purified by friendship provides an open door to unity.
It is not necessary to know and love all human beings and other creatures personally and individually. All you need do is to be ready at all times to shed the light of friendly service over all living creatures whom you happen to meet.
Consider no one a stranger. Learn to feel that everybody is akin to you. Family love is merely one of the first exercises in the Divine Teacher’s course in friendliness, intended to prepare your heart for all-inclusive divine love.
Be true to yourself and to others, and you will gain the friendship of God. Once you make your love felt in other people, it will expand until it becomes the one Cosmic Love that flows through all hearts.
We are happy to announce that The Spiritual Expression of Friendship, a new book in which Paramahansa Yogananda unveils the profound spiritual depths waiting to be discovered in our relationships with others, will be released this January — and is now available for pre-order.
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"Consider noone a stranger" - may this become true in all hearts everywhere! My heart goes out to all Souls that feel strangers where life has put them. May God open all our hearts for one another.
How sweet and joyous it is to give friendship to everyone! - just like our Guru did and does.
To know his understanding of friendship is why I’ve ordered the book, Thank you for making this possible.
My Dears! I picked up my phone today, just picked it up, and Divinity dropped this message into the screen. I didn't press anything, just the button to light up the screen. Sweet Master, thank you for this gift and thanks to all who brought this book into the world. I have been praying for help in this very area. G*d is so good.Master is so wonderful. This path is amazing. Jai!!!
Ahhh!! Friends are but an extension of ourselves. They mirror us. Unconditional friendship is a virtue/ gift God has bestowed upon us.
The quotes are very helpful! As always! Our Guru has an unparalleled ability to go straight to the core. Ordered.
Friendship to me is a difficult relationship, there has always been that idea that blood is stronger than water, but I guess that is because I have not yet met true friends that I can really create bond/friendship. I have also learned if I continue to look for perfection it is unfair to my friend. We are all gods children and certain friendships will be stronger naturally.
Friends for a season and friends for a reason.
Yes for sure Kruben. True friendship is the sweetest relationship . Sometimes the closest friendships God chooses for us are in our immediate family and sometimes outside. Our Gurus words encourage me to look beyond my desired definition of a strong close reciprocal relationship and be a friend to all as a giver without expecting something deeper to develop. Even a smile is friendship and could mean the world to someone having a difficult day. Jai Guru.
Jai guru