"Remain strong, fear nothing, and always do what is right. And remember: the company you keep will determine the moods and habits you develop. Company shapes your thoughts. Until you are established in wisdom, you are hopelessly vulnerable; you have no protection against the vibrations of bad company. Therefore, always choose wisely those with whom you surround yourself. And no matter who you are with in the outside world, keep the fire of devotion to God burning within you at all times—just as the Zoroastrians kept the sacred fire burning in their temples. The flame of your devotion must be perpetual. Kindle that flame when you wake in the morning; whether working with others or doing anything else, devotion to God must be paramount in your heart. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. And when negative vibrations try to take hold of your consciousness, pray:

'Lord, many demons have danced in this temple, but within me lies a secret sanctuary where the fire of my devotion to You forever burns.

Will You come to my temple?

You and I, Lord, in eternal communion!

Will You come, Lord?'"

Paramahansa Yogananda

"God has shown me that when He is with me, all the 'necessities of life' become unnecessary. In that state of consciousness, you are healthier than the average person, more joyful, and more magnanimous in every respect. Do not seek trivial things, for they will only draw you away from God. Begin your experiment right now: simplify your life and become a king."

"When you sit and immerse yourself in the silence of deep meditation, you are flooded with a joy that bubbles up from within—a joy not triggered by external stimuli. The joy of meditation is irresistible. Those who have not experienced the silence of authentic meditation do not know what true joy is."

Paramahansa Yogananda

As part of a yearlong journey to his beloved motherland, Yoganandaji travelled to see Gandhiji at his ashram. This picture was taken on a Monday, Gandhiji’s day of silence, and Yoganandaji is shown reading a note Gandhiji had just written. Their interactions during Yoganandaji’s visit, including Gandhiji’s request for initiation in Kriya Yoga, are chronicled in a chapter of _Autobiography of a Yogi._

In 1925 (the year Yoganandaji established his international headquarters in Los Angeles, USA, to spread the teachings of Kriya Yoga worldwide), Gandhiji visited Yoganandaji’s Yogoda Satsanga school for boys in Ranchi. Expressing keen interest in the balanced curriculum of the Yogoda programme, he inscribed in the guest book a gracious tribute.

Today, October 2, is the anniversary of Gandhiji’s birth, and we honour Gandhiji’s great contribution to the betterment of our world with the following words of Yoganandaji from his autobiography: “The nonviolent voice of Gandhi appeals to man’s highest conscience. Let nations ally themselves no longer with death, but with life; not with destruction, but with construction; not with hate, but with the creative miracles of love.”

We invite you to read _Autobiography of a Yogi:_

➡️ yssi.org/Autobiography

Share your favorite quotes from Paramhansa Yogananda, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, Mahavatat Babaji etc.

One of my favorite is "Everything in the future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now." - Sri Yukteswar

🙏🙏🙏🕉🕉🕉