How to achieve a state of deep meditation • The purpose of evil and suffering • Everyone has the sacred right of free will (Conversations with Yogananda: 28-32)

Reading the lives of great saints • Which saints Yogananda recommended as “in our own line” • Who made God? • What is the cause of the universe? • The guru as a mirror • How the guru trains us to see our limitations • What is the difference between devotion and emotion? • How Yogananda chose ministers • Churches of the future) spiritual laboratories for testing the teachings (Conversations with Yogananda: 22-27)

Does God judge us when we fall short? • The relationship of the guru with an errant disciple • What if we think the guru is wrong? • Keen intelligence on the spiritual path—a two-edged sword (Conversations with Yogananda: 19-21)

Taking a vow of renunciation • The guru teaches through suffering, if needed • God will never let us down • How to overcome failure • When do our desires take root in us? • Suicide seems like an effective way to leave this delusive world; why do spiritual teachers say not to commit suicide? (Conversations with Yogananda: 17-18)

The guru knows every thought we think • How to win respect from others • How do we know what is right to do? • Is divorce contrary to spiritual teachings? Lower and higher duties—and how to tell the difference • What is a vow? • Is it right to take a vow if we are not living up to it? (Conversations with Yogananda: 11-16)

The dual nature of the universe • How to achieve freedom from pain and separation • How to find God (Conversations with Yogananda: 10)

What is the guru’s consciousness? What is the nature of the Self? • Who am I, really? • Why did God create the universe? • The dream nature of the world • How to achieve spiritual liberation (Conversations with Yogananda: 10)

The guru as a spiritual doctor • How we grow in understanding • Why some of us grow much faster than others, spiritually (Conversations with Yogananda: 8-9)

Why did God create us? • What is the purpose of the ego? • How science and religion differ in their search for truth • Why did God make the material world so appealing? (Conversations with Yogananda: 3-7)

What did Paramhansa Yogananda talk about when he was with close disciples? Asha shares insights and spiritual gems to help guide our lives as we slowly read through, and talk about more than 300 Conversations with Yogananda. These conversations, many of which are answers to questions, were lovingly captured by his disciple, Swami Kriyananda, in the 466-page book that is the basis for this series. Each class stands alone, so you may listen in any order you wish. Topics in this first talk include) How to be at peace with ourselves • How to be at peace with God • What is the difference between the guru and the disciple? • The goal of life (Conversations with Yogananda: 1-2)