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.
Knowledge is only potential power.
The hard soil and four months of snow make the inhabitants of the northern temperate zone wiser and abler than his fellow who enjoys the fixed smile of the tropics.
The fool,fixed in his folly,may think He can turn the wheel on which he turns.
If an actor knows how to milk a cow, I always know it will not be difficult to be in business with him.
The fool, with all his other faults, has this also, he is always getting ready to live.
Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
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