The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are merely actors in the divine play who change roles through reincarnation; mankind's deep suffering is rooted in identifying too closely with one's current role, rather than with the movie's director, or God.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that life is a performance directed by a higher power, and that suffering arises from our attachment to our current existence.
Paramahansa Yogananda's quote implies that life is akin to a cosmic movie directed by God, where each person plays various roles throughout their existence. The idea emphasizes that much of human suffering originates from a misidentification with the roles we embody rather than recognizing the greater divine nature that oversees the entirety of existence.
In practice
During a philosophical discussion about the nature of life, one might use this quote to illustrate the concept of detachment from life roles.
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.
Life does not agree with philosophy: There is no happiness that is not idleness, and only what is useless is pleasurable.
Atheism is having a heyday in the born-again United States.
The Eucharist is a fire that inflames us, that, like lions breathing fire, we may retire from the altar being made terrible to the devil.
We live under threat from painful emotions: anger, desire, pride, jealousy and so on. Therefore we should always be ready to counter these with the appropriate antidote. True practitioners may be recognized by their unfailing mindfulness.
Men's ideas are the most direct emanations of their material state.
There is a spiritual side to me that goes real deep, but I confess right up front that I'm the biggest sinner of them all.
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