We are very happy to announce that Paramahansa Yogananda’s The Spiritual Expression of Friendship — a book that unveils the profound spiritual depths waiting to be discovered in our relationships with others — is now available for purchase.
Brother Chidananda, president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, officially released The Spiritual Expression of Friendship for worldwide distribution on December 25 during the annual monastic Christmas banquet held at the SRF International Headquarters in Los Angeles. At that special occasion, Brother Chidananda spoke to SRF/YSS monks and nuns gathered in person and attending online about the wealth of inspiration given in this book by Paramahansaji. “It is a small book,” Brother Chidananda noted. “But as with just about anything that has the touch of Master’s consciousness and life on it, there is a lot packed into it!”
The book is composed of three sections, beginning with Paramahansaji’s beautiful poem, “Friendship,” from Songs of the Soul. Then comes an in-depth inspirational essay on the divine nature and spiritual power of friendship. The final section presents a poetic inspiration, “Love Is the Breath of Spirit,” in which Paramahansaji is “speaking from his realization and experience of divine love flowing through and permeating all creation,” Brother Chidananda explained.
The SRF/YSS President also touched on the genesis and evolution of the sublime essay from which the book takes its title, and which constitutes the majority of the book. Originally written by Paramahansaji in the 1930s, it had first been published as part of an early series of SRF Lessons. When the new complete edition of Lessons (released in 2019) was being prepared, past presidents Sri Daya Mata and Sri Mrinalini Mata decided that instead of leaving this essay in the confidential home-study series where it would not be accessible to the general public, this universally applicable message on spiritual friendship should be published in book form instead, in order to ensure its maximum circulation and effect on humanity at large. Brother Chidananda also mentioned that Paramahansaji had gone over his essay again in 1949, adding elaborations and clarifications that have never been published until now. Thus, in this new book, Brother Chidananda said, the world now has “the definitive presentation of Paramahansa Yogananda’s magnificent treatise on spiritual friendship, divine friendship.”
Readers will find that the book’s third section is enhanced by unique illustrations to accompany the profound spiritual imagery in each paragraph of the poetic inspiration. This too was envisioned by Sri Daya Mata and Sri Mrinalini Mata, when they prepared this inspirational gem for Self-Realization magazine in 2000 and left instructions for its eventual publication in permanent book form.
Brother Chidananda concluded his remarks by noting the significance of the release of this book at the SRF International Headquarters on Mt. Washington during its centennial year. For the theme and ideal of divine friendship, he shared, is truly the “nurturing principle” woven into the dedicated service of the monastic community founded on this site by Paramahansaji, and is also the bedrock of his worldwide work that was destined to emanate from this special center. “If you all work together with love, harmony, kindness, and humility, the work will sweep the world,” the Guru said.
“Paramahansaji often reflected that the love of God has no purer expression in this physical world than in true friendship,” Brother Chidananda observed, “the kind of friendship so beautifully explained in this book. Our world today is obviously in great need of these teachings and principles. And I am happy to officially release this beautiful publication on Christmas, during our celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ. In the book our Guru says: ‘Why does Jesus have such a wide following? Because he, like other great masters and avatars, excelled in service to humanity. To attract friends, one must possess the qualities of a real friend.’ That is what our Master encapsulated powerfully and memorably in this small but mighty book that I am so thrilled to be able to release and share with all of you today.”
True Friendship: A Universal and Unifying Practice for All
In this beautifully illustrated book, one of the most revered modern masters of yoga and spirituality outlines the universal practices underlying true friendship, offering a timely prescription for strife-torn humanity. He shows that when pursued in its purest and noblest form, friendship has the potential to take us beyond our ordinary everyday consciousness into an expanded, all-encompassing consciousness, wherein we feel a unifying divine kinship with others, and ultimately with all life. We come to experience the inclusive and embracing love that is the true nature of the soul.
Topics include:
- How to apply the unfailing laws of friendship
- Recognizing friends from past lives
- Developing the magnetism that draws true friends wherever we go
- How to practice loving those who do not love us
- ...and more!
Gradually extend the boundaries of the glowing kingdom of your love to include your family, your neighbors, your community, your country, all countries — all living, sentient creatures. Be a cosmic friend, imbued with kindness and affection for all God’s creation, sowing love everywhere.
Paramahansa Yogananda in “The Spiritual Expression of Friendship”
Leave a comment
How exciting! My wife and I look forward to immersing ourselves in this beautiful book. Jai Guru!
In gratitude for your exquisite love and care, Dearest Yogananda!
Thank you. The affirmation, As I radiate love and goodwill to others, I will open the channel for God's love to come to me . Divine love is the magnet that draws to me all good.,it is very inspiring.. This truth itself will fulfill hope of divine love and divine friendship.
I will voraciously yet savoringly consume yet another release of Master's wisdom. We are so blessed to have such amazing stewards of Master's work, you make his work available, approachable, and alive with devotion! Thank you! Jai Guru!
I look forward to cultivating friendships beyond personal relationships, and “extend the boundaries of the glowing kingdom of your love to include your family, your neighbors, your community, your country, all countries — all living, sentient creatures. Be a cosmic friend, imbued with kindness and affection for all God’s creation, sowing love everywhere.” Thank you
Thank! Thank you!! with joy and gratitude for the book The Spiritual Expression of Friendship.