Read a little. Meditate more. Think of God all the time.
Interpretation
This quote encourages a balanced approach to spirituality and self-reflection.
Paramahansa Yogananda suggests that true understanding and spiritual growth come not just from reading, but from deep contemplation and constant awareness of the divine presence. He emphasizes the importance of meditation in cultivating inner peace and connecting with God, advocating for a life that balances acquiring knowledge with introspective practices.
In practice
During a meditation workshop, I shared this quote to emphasize the importance of meditation over mere study.
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.
No one who cannot limit himself has ever been able to write.
Rhetoric is not important. Actions are.
Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy and vain. To be a warrior one needs to be light and fluid.
My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I hadn’t fallen into the fatal folly of reading anything I could lay hands on. With just a touch more self confidence and a liberal helping of ignorance I could have been a famous evangelist.
Being able to articulate the gospel with accuracy is one thing; having its truth captivate your soul is quite another.
You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.
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