Yoga: Finding Infinite Happiness Within

An introduction:

As we approach the United Nations International Day of Yoga, celebrated each year on June 21, we are reminded of the power of yoga to bring balance, clarity, and inner peace into everyday life. Those qualities emanate from our souls and lead us to an ever greater and joyful understanding of our oneness with the bliss of Spirit if we connect with our inner Self.

Paramahansa Yogananda helped bring this deeper understanding of yoga and human potential to the modern world in his Kriya Yoga teachings. He showed the practical utility of yoga’s universal spiritual principles for people of all backgrounds and faiths.

His Autobiography of a Yogi, now eighty years in print, has inspired countless seekers to see yoga not just as physical exercise, but as a scientific path of meditation where inner transformation and direct experience of truth, peace, and lasting happiness can move from the storied realm of sages into the hearts and homes of each of us.

Below you will find wisdom from Paramahansaji on how Kriya Yoga meditation can make that spiritual unfoldment possible. Through regular practice of this science of the soul, yoga becomes not only a source of peace during quiet moments, but a way of living with greater joy, wisdom, and harmony every day.

From the talks and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda:

Uniting the soul with Spirit is Yoga — reunion with that great Happiness everyone is seeking. Isn’t this a wonderful definition? In the ever new Bliss of Spirit you are convinced that the joy you feel is greater than any other happiness, and nothing can get you down.

The more you meditate, the more you will realize there is Something behind the kingdom of ordinary consciousness where a great peace and happiness reign. Practice the presence of this peace and happiness, for it is the first proof of God-contact. It is the conscious realization of Truth within yourself. That is what you need. That is how to worship Truth; for we can worship only what we know.

Most people worship God as Something intangible; but when you begin to worship Him as real, through your own inner perception, you will feel increasingly the presence of His power in your life.

No matter what happens, never give up your contact with Bliss. The only way to get it is by regular meditation. Your Bliss is your God. Sacrifice for others, but hold onto that Bliss; then God will be real to you.

All of you can have that state of Bliss. Listen to this teaching and practice it; do not indolently fall asleep spiritually. You will see a wondrous change in yourself — in your life.…If you regularly touch the depths of meditation even briefly, even for ten minutes, your zeal will never wane and die.

I have never known any pleasure of the world as great as the spiritual joy of Kriya Yoga. I would not give it up for all the comforts of the West or all the gold in the world. I have found it possible through Kriya Yoga to carry my happiness always with me.

Through use of the Kriya key, persons who cannot bring themselves to believe in the divinity of any man will behold at last the full divinity of their own selves.

Explore a wealth of wisdom and inspiration about the history and life-transforming power of the science of Kriya Yoga meditation on the SRF YouTube channel.

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