The Wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda

Dec 1

In this deeply encouraging talk, Brother Chidananda delves into how India’s beloved scripture of yoga, the Bhagavad Gita, can provide us with tremendous wisdom for how we conduct our everyday lives and pursue our highest goals. As Paramahansa Yogananda said, no matter where one is on the spiritual path “the Gita will shed its light on that segment of the journey.” This talk was recorded at the 2008 SRF World Convocation in Los Angeles. Brother Chidananda became president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India in 2017. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! For more information on Paramahansa Yogananda's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, God Talks With Arjuna, please visit srfbooks.org . You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living by enrolling in the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, his home-study course available to all. To learn more and enroll: https://srflessons.org If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

Nov 27

SRF monk Brother Jayananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on how we can practice the yoga science of meditation to discover God’s presence within — as the limitless Source of all-fulfilling love and joy. This talk, which was the opening class at the 2019 SRF World Convocation in Los Angeles, begins with special words of inspiration from Brother Chidananda, president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. He welcomes all those participating to the truly transformative experience of Convocation, and leads an invocation to officially open the annual weeklong program on Paramahansaji’s Kriya Yoga teachings. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his SRF Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org During his talk, Brother Jayananda refers to the following books published by Self-Realization Fellowship: “Autobiography of a Yogi,” Paramahansa Yogananda’s acclaimed life story, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/autobiography-of-a-yogi-ebook/ “The Science of Religion,” an amplification by Yogananda of his maiden speech in America, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/the-science-of-religion-ebook/ “Visiting the Saints of India With Sri Daya Mata,” by Sri Mrinalini Mata, fourth president of SRF/YSS, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/visiting-the-saints-of-india-with-sri-daya-mata/ To view more talks from this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3PzvgapvuKmZMZzL8eloisokH6 If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

Nov 21

SRF monk Brother Bhimananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on the spiritual practice of gratitude. Would you like to know how the simple act of expressing gratefulness can transform your life? Looking for the good in others and showing our appreciation can bring joy to us and those around us — and create a ripple effect of kindness in our world. When we cultivate gratitude for our blessings, during both good times and difficult times, it will strengthen our faith, increase our devotion, and deepen our awareness of God’s loving presence in every moment of life. This talk was given at the SRF temple in Glendale, California, in June 2024. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his SRF Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org During his talk, Brother Bhimananda refers to the following recording published by Self-Realization Fellowship: “Follow the Path of Christ, Krishna, and the Masters,” No. 6 in the Collector’s Series of recorded talks by Paramahansa Yogananda, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/follow-the-path-of-christ-krishna-and-the-masters To view more talks from this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3PzvgapvuKmZMZzL8eloisokH6 If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

Nov 14

Sri Mrinalini Mata (1931 – 2017), fourth president of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, draws on her personal training from Paramahansa Yogananda and decades of experience living a God-centered life to convey the supreme importance of cultivating a deep, personal relationship with God. She explains how inner communion with the Divine through meditation becomes an anchor as we navigate the complexities of life, enabling us to see our external experiences as opportunities to let go of the ego and allow the soul to express its divine nature ever more perfectly. Ultimately, we can live in constant awareness of God, which brings all-satisfying love, joy, and fulfillment. This talk was recorded in January 1969 at the SRF International Headquarters in Los Angeles. Sri Mrinalini Mata served as the fourth president of SRF/YSS from 2011 until her passing in 2017. For many decades she also served as SRF vice president and editor-in-chief of SRF/YSS publications. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda's practical wisdom by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! During her talk Sri Mrinalini Mata often refers to Paramahansa Yogananda, guru and founder of SRF/YSS, simply as “Master,” one who has achieved self-mastery. To view more talks by Sri Mrinalini Mata: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3Pzvi9fMgSyq8Dayb20fFcuTTC You may also be interested in the following books by Sri Mrinalini Mata published by Self-Realization Fellowship: “Manifesting Divine Consciousness in Daily Life,” available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/manifesting-divine-consciousness-in-daily-life “The Guru-Disciple Relationship,” available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/the-guru-disciple-relationship “Visiting the Saints of India With Sri Daya Mata,” available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/visiting-the-saints-of-india-with-sri-daya-mata You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org

Nov 7

SRF monk Brother Kamalananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on the nature of the soul and how we can discover for ourselves the answers to profound questions such as, “Why are we here and what is the purpose of existence on this planet? How did we get here and where are we going?” As a soul we are a perfect individual reflection of the eternal, ever-newly blissful consciousness of God — but usually we are mistakenly identified with the limitations of the body and mortal consciousness. Through progressing through many incarnations we gradually desire to awaken from that delusion. And by practicing the yoga science of meditation we can greatly quicken that process to fully realize our true identity — ever one with infinite Spirit. This talk was given at the SRF temple in Glendale, California, in July 2025. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! During his talk, Brother Kamalananda refers to two of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons: Lesson 9, “God and His Universe”; and Lesson 10, “The Cycles of Life and Death.” You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his SRF Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org Brother Kamalananda also refers to the following book published by Self-Realization Fellowship: “Autobiography of a Yogi,” Paramahansa Yogananda’s acclaimed life story, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/autobiography-of-a-yogi-ebook/ To view more talks from this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3PzvgapvuKmZMZzL8eloisokH6 If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

Oct 31

SRF monk Brother Bhumananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on how to cultivate a spiritual outlook that allows us to see every experience as an opportunity for growth and transformation. Would you like to know how to approach life in a way that brings the greatest strength and fulfillment? Life is a cosmic school, and its challenges are meant to help us awaken the limitless potential of the soul — our true nature. By giving our relationship with the Divine primary importance we can face trials with courage, faith, and joy — and move steadily toward the ultimate goal of union with God. This talk was given at the SRF temple in San Diego, California, in November 2024. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom and teachings of yoga by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! During his talk, Brother Bhumananda refers to the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons. You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org To view more talks from this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3PzvgapvuKmZMZzL8eloisokH6 If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

Oct 17

SRF monk Brother Prafullananda shares wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on the power of friendship to transform our lives. Would you like to know how to build friendships that are deeply fulfilling and uplifting? True friendship is unconditional and all-inclusive. By striving to express kindness, love, and understanding to all, we can deepen our close relationships and also broaden the reach of our friendship to include everyone around us. And by offering unconditional love to the Divine in meditation we can draw ever closer to the ultimate goal of life — oneness with God. This talk was given at the SRF temple in Fullerton, California, in March 2023. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom and teachings of yoga by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org During his talk, Brother Prafullananda refers to the following book published by Self-Realization Fellowship: “God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita,” Yogananda’s translation and commentary on the teachings of Krishna, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/god-talks-with-arjuna-the-bhagavad-gita-ebook/ To view more talks from this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3PzvgapvuKmZMZzL8eloisokH6 If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

Oct 10

In this episode, SRF monk Brother Sevananda conveys wisdom from Paramahansa Yogananda on how to become receptive to divine guidance. Would you like to know how to approach all of life’s decisions with a sense of clarity and inner assurance? Our own limited perceptions and understanding can often lead us astray, but intuition is the soul’s direct knowing of truth. Through the practice of meditation and humbly asking for God’s help with devotion and faith we can develop our intuition — and feel more and more the loving presence of the Divine guiding us from within. This talk was recorded at the 2012 SRF World Convocation in Los Angeles. During his talk Brother Sevananda often refers to Paramahansa Yogananda, guru and founder of SRF/YSS, simply as “Guruji” — “ji” being a suffix denoting respect, added to names and titles in India — or “Master,” one who has achieved self-mastery. You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom and teachings of yoga by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support! You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living through his Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, a home-study course available for a nominal fee. To learn more and about how to enroll: https://srflessons.org During his talk, Brother Sevananda refers to the following books published by Self-Realization Fellowship: “Autobiography of a Yogi,” Paramahansa Yogananda’s acclaimed life story, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/autobiography-of-a-yogi-ebook/ “God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita,” Yogananda’s translation and commentary on the teachings of Krishna, available at https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/god-talks-with-arjuna-the-bhagavad-gita-ebook/ “Intuition: Soul Guidance for Life’s Decisions,” by Sri Daya Mata, third president of SRF/YSS, available at: https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/product/intuition-soul-guidance-for-lifes-decisions-ebook/ To view more talks from this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCqADxk3PzvgapvuKmZMZzL8eloisokH6 If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org