← Originals
Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

31 books

meditation

What they argue

Paramahansa Yogananda is a spiritual teacher who works in the territory of internal spiritual realization, focusing on the recognition of the human soul as a divine spark. He provides a systematic framework for moving from a state of 'spiritual amnesia' to a conscious relationship with the Divine through disciplined meditation and the mastery of the physical body and mind.

  1. The Triple Personality of Man

    Humanity is composed of three layers: the Subconscious (instincts), the Conscious (daily awareness), and the Superconscious (the region of divine perception). Understanding these layers is essential for navigating the spiritual path.

    From Autobiography of a Yogi (book)

    • Says much the same Sigmund Freud — The Tripartite Structure of the MindThe human psyche is divided into three functional regions: the Id (the instinctual reservoir of raw desires), the Ego (the executive branch balancing reality and…Ich und das Es
    • A related idea Eric Berne — The Three Ego StatesHuman personality is not a single, unified 'Self' but a collection of three internal positions: the Parent (internalized rules and voices of authority), the Adult (the…Games People Play

  2. The Illusion of the Ego

    The ego is a false sense of 'I-ness' created by social roles, physical appearance, and mental chatter. It is a temporary construct of the mind that we mistakenly identify as our permanent identity.

    From Journey to self-realization (book)

    • Says much the same Eckhart Tolle — The Illusion of the 'Self' as a StoryThe ego is a mental construct built on a continuous stream of thoughts and labels, creating a story we tell ourselves about who we are. This mental noise obscures our…Stillness speaks
    • Says much the same Alan Watts — The Illusion of the "Self" as a SubstanceThe "I" is not a permanent inhabitant of the body but a linguistic shorthand for a complex flow of memories, sensations, and habits. There is no "me" behind our…Talking Zen

  3. The Divine as a Person

    God is not an abstract force like gravity or electricity, but a conscious, loving Presence. Spirituality is a living, breathing relationship with this Presence rather than a set of rules or a philosophy.

    From Spiritual Relationships (book)

    • Pushes the other way Robert Wright — God as Cultural TechnologyGod is not a literal supernatural entity but a 'cultural technology' developed by the human brain to facilitate group survival and social cohesion. This explains the…The evolution of God
    • A related idea Marshall B. Rosenberg — Practical SpiritualitySpirituality is the lived practice of applying Nonviolent Communication to the internal self and external relationships. It is synonymous with the path of…Practical Spirituality

  4. The Distinction between the Ego and the Self

    The 'I' that suffers, worries, and desires is the ego, which is the personality. The true Self (Atman) is the 'I' that observes the ego.

    From The Bhagavad Gita (book)

    • Says much the same Eckhart Tolle — The Illusion of the 'Self' as a StoryThe ego is a mental construct built on a continuous stream of thoughts and labels, creating a story we tell ourselves about who we are. This mental noise obscures our…Stillness speaks
    • Says much the same Ram Dass — The Illusion of SeparationThe belief that 'I' am a separate entity from the universe is the root of all suffering and spiritual stagnation. Once you realize that the 'self' is a mental…Paths to god

  5. The Internal Kingdom

    The Kingdom of God is a state of consciousness and the realization of the indwelling Spirit, rather than a geographical location or a future era. The 'Second Coming' is the internal awakening of the Christ Consciousness within the individual.

    From The second coming of Christ (book)

  6. The Dual Nature of Humanity

    Every human being possesses a 'higher' spiritual nature that seeks unity with God and a 'lower' physical nature that seeks sensory gratification. Evil is the result of the soul's choice to identify with the lower senses rather than the higher spiritual consciousness.

    From Why god permits evil and how to rise above it (book)

    • Says much the same Erich Fromm — The Human Condition of SeparatenessReligion is a psychological response to the human predicament of 'separateness,' which is the existential dread of being a solitary, finite being in an indifferent…Psychoanalysis and Religion
    • A related idea Niccolò Machiavelli — The Reality of Human NatureHuman beings are generally fickle, selfish, and motivated by immediate gains rather than abstract virtues. Systems must be built on this reality rather than the…Discourses by Niccolo Machiavelli

Every idea names the summary it came from. Written by a local model from this mind’s own work, never from memory.

Books 26

All 26 in Originals →

Open Paramahansa Yogananda in Originals