The following post is an excerpt from the talk “God-Communion: Man’s Greatest Necessity,” which can be read in full in Solving the Mystery of Life, Volume IV of Paramahansa Yogananda’s Collected Talks and Essays — soon to be released by Self-Realization Fellowship and available now for pre-order. The full talk was given at the second anniversary celebration of Self-Realization Fellowship Golden Lotus Temple, Encinitas, California, January 7, 1940.
This world will always have some defects. No matter what wonderful methods are discovered to benefit the human race, this material world will never be completely safe for mankind. Though Jesus could perform miracles of feeding five thousand with a few fish and loaves of bread, and even raising the dead, still he had to suffer for doing good. He showed by his powers that everything is of God, and when we cultivate that transcendent consciousness of Spirit we gradually go beyond all superficialities and realize the One Reality underlying all outer manifestations.
That is the only way we can be happy, the only time we can really consider ourselves safe and secure — in sorrow or pleasure, in health or illness, in life or death, in all dualities of existence. We should not expect perfection from ever-changing material conditions, but realize that it is the Father alone who can give lasting happiness.
Suppose you are dreaming that you have a terrible disease and you see someone else in your dream who is strong and healthy. Then you see that you are poor and hungry while someone else has plenty. While you are dreaming, your pain and hunger are real; but when you wake up you smile with relief.
So it is with this dream world we live in. I am seeing this all the time. Outwardly I have to contend with the limitations of the body and material existence in order to work for the Father in this dream world of maya; but in the inner wakefulness of God-awareness I am ceaselessly enjoying the bliss and unconditioned freedom of Spirit.
All the dualities of this world are the tests of God. He wants us to wake up from the illusion of mortal life, to rise to consciousness of our immortality. Even saints are tested; they have to undergo many trials. Read the life of Saint Francis — how he suffered even while he was healing others, but he never prayed to God for his own healing. Every night he saw Jesus Christ. He was born with sensual habits, but still he rose to sublime heights by his complete surrender to God.
God Is Moved Not by Our Praise, but by Our Love
It is not the ability to perform miracles that makes a saint. Such feats do not impress God; He is performing miracles all the time in everything in this intricate and marvelous creation. He is interested only in the love of those who love Him. To make your heart pure with love for God is the greatest miracle; and nothing else will fully satisfy your soul.
Nor can God be moved by praise, for in Him there is no vanity. When you do not crave attention from anyone but are only interested in true souls who love you, when you understand the meaning of true friendship, when you cannot be moved by words of flattery but only by the love of true hearts — then you know the love that God seeks from you and gives to you.
That is why temples such as this one are important — that we may all change the superficialities of religion into the direct experience of God. The great Jesus Christ and Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya and my Master conferred together to save the church from churchianity and bring back true Christianity. That is why I am here to serve you. This teaching will be the salvation of each individual. Not all the inventions of convenience in the world will bring you happiness. Coming here from the Orient, I was at first enamored about America’s ingenious machines and material progress; but I see that these things have not brought you peace and contentment. Real peace and contentment lie in the bliss of God.
No death, no disease, no trouble can ever enter there in the land beyond the dreams of delusion, in the eternal safety of your own consciousness of Spirit. Be anchored in that Refuge. Establish yourself in that consciousness by deep, regular meditation, and you will find Him there.
We invite you to learn more about Solving the Mystery of Life by Paramahansaji, the fourth volume in the Collected Talks and Essays on Realizing God in Daily Life. This beautiful work of timeless wisdom is now available for pre-order (and will be released by SRF this June).
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June 03, 2025
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I truly love you Guruji :) thank you 4 guiding us !
I love you, Master.
Thank you so much for all the comments and words of truth.
Always your beautiful prayers, warm protection,
and kind guidance have always helped me so much.
No matter how bad the content of my miscellaneous thoughts are,
I love each and every one of you with a pure heart and a deep spiritual love.
To return to the God I adore,
I will continue my efforts of spiritual cultivation forever.
With prayers of profound gratitude.
Heart felt gratitude to all who work to bring Gurudev's words to us online and offline. These are very inspirational and life changing. Thank you very much!
Sometimes when I stand before my Guru’s picture, it brings such joy and happiness to my heart and humble to know he is mine and I’m his. We all are so lucky to have a Guru who is beside us every moment of our lives guiding and protecting us, even from ourselves. I love you forever and beyond my Guruji Jai Jai Jai Guru
No words will ever be able to describe what Master and his teachings have done for me. Thank you so much to all of you for having, through your selfless and unceasing service, made all of this possible. Jai Guru. Jai Ma
Jai Guru to you all. So nice to hear this information that we will be able to read Volume 4 of our Guruji's lectures and writings in near future.. They are always inspiring and uplifting our spiritual consciousness. Hope to get it soon from YSS too. To wait for a nice spiritual gift from SRF/YSS is itself a reward to us. Thank you so much.
Thank you Guruji. It is so comforting to know there is a place where all the chaos and sorrow of the world cannot reach us.
Thank you for sharing this excerpt to inspire and encourage us all in our spiritual efforts, and remind us to always seek shelter in God. Paramahansa Yogananda’s words ring as true now as they did in 1940, imploring us to “stand unshaken amidst the crash of breaking worlds” through the science of Kriya Yoga. So looking forward to diving into more of his wisdom in this new volume.
Jai Guru
You are a beacon of light in this painful world
What a balm to hear truth from a liberated soul. How comforting to know God desires our reciprocation of love which alone satisfies the soul.
This is so true, beautiful, timeless words from our beloved Guru. Touched my soul deeply. Thank you.
Due to Paramahansa’s writings and the SRF, I have learned that to silently communicate my love for God, to God, as I move through each day, is the foundation for an inextricable connection with the Divine. This constant hum of devotion and faith has eradicated most of my fears and quelled longtime anxiety. Deep gratitude…
Jai Guru SRF, realising another Gem of our Guru Paramahansa Yogananda's teaching as Volume IV. Eagerly awaiting as additional Prashad of Beloved Guru.
Guruji's words are always so soothing and uplifting. Thank you for sharing this excerpt! Jai Guru!
Once more, priceless piece from our Guru in an ongoing troubled world as perceived by the senses but not existing within the soul.
Jai Guru.
Thank you for these truest of declarations. Namaste and Amen!