The Wisdom of Paramahansa Yogananda

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The Bhagavad Gita: Masterful Guide for Everyday Spiritual Living

Dec 1, 2025

Guest

Brother Chidananda

Brother Chidananda, the president of Self-Realization Fellowship, shares how the Bhagavad Gita offers timeless wisdom for modern life. He explores the Gita's teachings on aligning with higher consciousness and the importance of meditation coupled with action. Discussing the inner struggle symbolized by the Kurus and Pandavas, he emphasizes choosing divine guidance for victory. Through personal stories and practical insights, he illustrates how introspection, Kriya Yoga, and a desire for God can lead to spiritual growth and fulfillment.

01:01:56

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Episode notes

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ADVICE

Ask And Fix Your Mind

When confused, ask for help and seek inner guidance as Arjuna did.
Fix your mind on God and keep ceaseless worship to unite with the guiding inner wisdom.

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ANECDOTE

Miramata's Inner Guidance

Miramata meditated to discover Guruji's idea for a bookroom layout and drew an eight-sided structure.
Guruji told her he had been guiding her inwardly all along.

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ADVICE

Daily Introspection Routine

Practice daily introspection: review actions and responses after meditation to learn and improve.
Keep a short personal list of spiritual goals and review it each evening to remember your aims.

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Why the Gita Matters Today

00:41 • 2min

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Kurus and Pandavas as Inner Forces

02:55 • 3min

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Hope in the Ascending Age

05:52 • 3min

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Spirituality for the Modern Age

08:48 • 4min

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Gita's Core Teaching: Meditation Plus Action

13:15 • 2min

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Living in the Now and Right Action

15:28 • 3min

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Learning to Hear the Inner Song

18:55 • 2min

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Asking for Help and Fixing the Mind

21:23 • 3min

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Lower Mind versus Higher Mind

23:58 • 1min

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Choosing Krishna: The Basis of Victory

25:17 • 1min

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Surrender in Guruji's Life

26:25 • 2min

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Introspection as Daily Practice

28:08 • 5min

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How to Use Introspection Effectively

33:16 • 16sec

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Inner Renunciation Explained

33:32 • 3min

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Transmutation: The Third Option

36:06 • 1min

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Reminding Yourself What You Want

37:33 • 2min

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Using Buddhi to Reason with Desire

39:56 • 3min

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Affirmation for Transmutation

43:00 • 3min

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Kriya Yoga: The Practical Science

45:51 • 2min

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Scientific Parallels to Yogic Insight

47:28 • 3min

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Withdrawing Energy Into the Spine

50:16 • 5min

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Kriya as Devotional Cry

55:29 • 2min

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Personal Revival Through Kriya

57:26 • 3min

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Final Encouragement from the Gita

The Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita

Sri Krishna Prem

Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita is a concise version of Paramahansa Yogananda's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, designed for modern readers seeking spiritual guidance. It extracts key teachings from the Gita, focusing on practical applications for daily life and self-realization. The book emphasizes the integration of yoga principles with the Gita's philosophical insights, offering tools for inner transformation and spiritual growth. It covers themes such as duty, action, devotion, and the nature of the self, encouraging readers to cultivate inner detachment and divine love. The teachings are presented in a clear and accessible manner, making them relevant to individuals from all backgrounds and spiritual paths. Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita serves as a valuable resource for those seeking wisdom and inspiration from the ancient scriptures.

#55733

God talks with Arjuna

The Bhagavad Gita

Paramhansa Yogananda

God Talks With Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda, first published in 1995. It presents Yogananda's interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita's verses, offering insights into yoga philosophy, spiritual practice, and the nature of reality. The book aims to make the ancient wisdom of the Gita accessible to modern readers, emphasizing its relevance to everyday life and spiritual growth. Yogananda's commentary integrates Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, providing a unique perspective on the teachings of the Gita. It explores themes of self-realization, divine love, and the path to liberation, guiding readers toward a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationship with the divine. The book encourages readers to apply the Gita's teachings to their own lives, fostering inner transformation and spiritual awakening.

#56

• Mentioned in 238 episodes

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Hinduism, embedded within the epic Mahabharata. It recounts a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatar of the god Vishnu. The text explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action), and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes, emphasizing the concept of nishkama karma (nonattached action). The Gita synthesizes various strands of Indian religious thought, including Vedic concepts, samkhya yoga, and bhakti (devotion), providing a coherent vision of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice.

#394

• Mentioned in 73 episodes

Autobiography of a Yogi

Paramahansa Yogananda

This book is a detailed account of Paramahansa Yogananda's life, from his childhood in India to his spiritual quest and eventual establishment of the Self-Realization Fellowship in the United States. It includes his encounters with various spiritual figures, his experiences with Kriya Yoga, and his mission to spread the teachings of yoga and meditation to the Western world. The book also delves into the prophesied writing of his autobiography and its significance in spreading the message of yoga globally.

In this deeply encouraging talk, Brother Chidananda delves into how India’s beloved scripture of yoga, the Bhagavad Gita, can provide us with tremendous wisdom for how we conduct our everyday lives and pursue our highest goals.

As Paramahansa Yogananda said, no matter where one is on the spiritual path “the Gita will shed its light on that segment of the journey.”

This talk was recorded at the 2008 SRF World Convocation in Los Angeles. Brother Chidananda became president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India in 2017.

You can help more people find and benefit from Yogananda’s practical wisdom by rating and reviewing this podcast. We greatly appreciate your support!

For more information on Paramahansa Yogananda's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, God Talks With Arjuna, please visit srfbooks.org.

You can receive Paramahansa Yogananda’s personal and comprehensive instruction in the science of meditation and art of balanced living by enrolling in the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, his home-study course available to all. To learn more and enroll: https://srflessons.org

If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of SRF, please click on this link: https://donatesrf.org

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