The greatest romance is with the Infinite.
Interpretation
True romance transcends human relationships and connects with the divine or universal forces.
In this quote, Paramahansa Yogananda emphasizes that the most profound and fulfilling love is not just found in romantic relationships between individuals, but in a deep, spiritual connection with the Infinite. This suggests that understanding and embracing a higher power, or the universe itself, can lead to a greater sense of love and fulfillment than any earthly love could provide.
In practice
In a discussion on finding deeper meaning in life, this quote can illustrate the idea that true love transcends the physical.
Man is important in one sense only. He was made in the image of God: That is his importance. He is not important for his body, ego, or personality. His constant affirmation of ego-consciousness is the source of all his problems.
When, by meditation, we withdraw restless thoughts from the lake of the mind, we behold our soul, a perfect reflection of Spirit.
It is wisest to be impartial. If you have health, but are attached to it, you will always be afraid of losing it. And if you fear that loss, but become ill, you will suffer. Why not remain forever joyful in the Self?
From joy people are born; for joy they live; in joy they melt at death. Death is an ecstasy, for it removes the burden of the body and frees the soul of all pain springing from body identification. It is the cessation of pain and sorrow.
It is better to meditate a little bit with depth than to mediate long with the mind running here and there. If you do not make an effort to control the mind it will go on doing as it pleases, no matter how long you sit to meditate.
Millions of people never analyze themselves. Mentally they are mechanical products of the factory of their environment, preoccupied with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, working and sleeping, and going here and there to be entertained. They don't know what or why they are seeking, nor why they never realize complete happiness and lasting satisfaction. By evading self-analysis, people go on being robots, conditioned by their environment. True self-analysis is the greatest art of progress.
We tend to think of the erotic as an easy, tantalizing sexual arousal. I speak of the erotic as the deepest life force, a force which moves us toward living in a fundamental way.
She seemed to melt against him in her terror, and he caught her in his arms, held her fast there, felt her lashes beat his cheek like netted butterflies.
How can I, that girl standing there, My attention fix On Roman or on Russian Or on Spanish politics? Yet here's a travelled man that knows What he talks about, And there's a politician That has read and thought, And maybe what they say is true Of war and war's alarms, But O that I were young again And held her in my arms!
Whether you call my heart affectionate, or you call it womanish: I confess, that to my misfortune, it is soft.
Some people care too much. I think it's called love.
Of all the things you must earn in life, God's unending affection is not one of them. You have it.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.