The Purpose of Life

Excerpts from the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda

Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest
for that something else he hopes will
bring him happiness complete and
unending! "or those indi#idual souls
who ha#e sought and found $od the
search is o#er% &e is that 'omething
Else!
Man( people ma( doubt that finding
$od is the purpose of life) but e#er(one
can accept the idea that the purpose of
life is to find happiness! * sa( that $od is
&appiness! &e is +liss! &e is Lo#e! &e is
,o( that will ne#er go awa( from (our
soul! 'o wh( shouldn-t (ou tr( to
acquire that &appiness. /o one else can
gi#e it to (ou! You must continuousl(
culti#ate it (ourself!
E#en if life ga#e (ou at one time
e#er(thing (ou wanted 0 wealth
power friends 0 after a while (ou
would again become dissatisfied and
need something more! +ut there is one
thing that can ne#er become stale to (ou 0 1o( itself! &appiness that is delightfull( #aried
though its essence is changeless is the inner experience e#er(one is seeking! Lasting e#er new
1o( is $od! "inding this ,o( within (ou will find it in e#er(thing without! *n $od (ou will tap
the 2eser#oir of perennial unending bliss!
'uppose (ou are going to be punished b( not being allowed to go to sleep when (ou are
desperatel( in need of rest and suddenl( someone sa(s% 3ll right (ou ma( go to sleep now!
Think of the 1o( (ou would feel 1ust before falling asleep! Multipl( that one million times4 'till it
would not describe the 1o( felt in communion with $od!
The 1o( of $od is boundless unceasing all the time new! +od( mind nothing can disturb (ou
when (ou are in that consciousness 0 such is the grace and glor( of the Lord! 3nd &e will
explain to (ou whate#er (ou ha#en-t been able to understand) e#er(thing (ou want to know!
5hen (ou sit in the silence of deep meditation 1o( bubbles up from within roused b( no outer
stimulus! The 1o( of meditation is o#erwhelming! Those who ha#e not gone into the silence of
true meditation do not know what real 1o( is!
3s the mind and the feeling are directed inward (ou begin to feel $od-s 1o(! The pleasures of the
senses do not last) but the 1o( of $od is e#erlasting! *t is incomparable4
6er( few of us know how much we can put into life if we use it properl( wisel( and
economicall(! Let us economi7e our time 0 lifetimes ebb awa( before we wake up and that is
wh( we do not reali7e the #alue of the immortal time $od has gi#en us!
8o not while awa( (our time in idleness! 3 great man( people occup( themsel#es with
inconsequential acti#ities! 3sk them what the( ha#e been doing and the( will usuall( sa( 9h *
ha#e been bus( e#er( minute4 +ut the( can scarcel( remember what the( were so bus( about4
*n an instant (ou ma( be required to lea#e this world) (ou will ha#e to cancel all (our
engagements! 5h( then gi#e an( other acti#it( first importance with the result that (ou ha#e no
time for $od. That is not common sense! *t is because of maya, the net of cosmic delusion which
is thrown o#er us that we entangle oursel#es in mundane interests and forget the Lord!
*f we are attuned to $od our perception is limitless per#ading e#er(where in the oceanic flow of
the 8i#ine Presence! 5hen the 'pirit is known and when we know oursel#es as 'pirit there is
no land or sea no earth or sk( 0 all is &e! The melting of e#er(thing in 'pirit is a state no one
can describe! 3 great bliss is felt 0 eternal fullness of 1o( and knowledge and lo#e!
The lo#e of $od the lo#e of the 'pirit is an all:consuming lo#e! 9nce (ou ha#e experienced it
it shall lead (ou on and on in the eternal realms! That lo#e will ne#er be taken awa( from (our
heart! *t shall burn there and in its fire (ou shall find the great magnetism of 'pirit that draws
others unto (ou and attracts whatsoe#er (ou trul( need or desire!
* tell (ou truthfull( that all m( questions ha#e been answered not through man but through $od!
&e is! &e is! *t is &is spirit that talks to (ou through me! *t is &is lo#e that * speak of! Thrill after
thrill4 Like gentle 7eph(rs &is lo#e comes o#er the soul! 8a( and night week after week (ear
after (ear it goes on increasing 0 (ou don-t know where the end is! 3nd that is what (ou are
seeking e#er( one of (ou! You think (ou want human lo#e and prosperit( but behind these it is
(our "ather who is calling (ou! *f (ou reali7e &e is greater than all &is gifts (ou will find &im!
Man has come on earth solel( to learn to know $od) he is here for no other reason! This is the
true message of the Lord! To all those who seek and lo#e &im &e tells of that great Life where
there is no pain no old age no war no death 0 onl( eternal assurance! *n that Life nothing is
destro(ed! There is onl( ineffable happiness that will ne#er grow stale 0 a happiness alwa(s
new!
'o that is wh( it is worthwhile to seek $od! 3ll those who sincerel( seek &im will surel( find
&im! Those who want to lo#e the Lord and (earn to enter &is kingdom and who sincerel( wish
in their hearts to know &im will find &im! You must ha#e an e#er:increasing desire for &im da(
and night! &e will acknowledge (our lo#e b( fulfilling &is promise to (ou throughout eternit(
and (ou shall know 1o( and happiness unending! 3ll is light all is 1o( all is peace all is lo#e! &e
is all!