The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul’s power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God.
Interpretation
Religion is more about personal experiences than mere belief. True understanding comes from one's intuition and connection with the divine.
This quote emphasizes that the essence of religion lies not in dogmatic beliefs or rituals, but in the personal, intuitive experiences one has with the divine. Intuition, described as the soul's ability to perceive God, suggests that true knowledge and understanding of religion require an inner, personal connection rather than external validation or imposed doctrines.
In practice
In a discussion about spirituality and personal growth, one might say, 'As Paramahansa Yogananda said, the true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience.'
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.
In sinning, each man sins against all, and each man is at least partly guilt for another's sin. There is no isolated sin.
I believe that a worthwhile life is defined by a kind of spiritual journey and a sense of obligation.
Wit is the appearance, the external flash, of fantasy. Hence its divinity and the similarity to the wit of mysticism.
Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.
Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple wavers to the dust.
In the sphere of thought, absurdity and perversity remain the masters of the world, and their dominion is suspended only for brief periods.
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