Inspiring Talks and Classes by Swami Kriyananda — a Disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda

"If you could point to a single greatest accomplishment in your life, what would that be?" Swami Kriyananda talks about Yogananda's mission, his own role in helping to fulfill that mission, and shares advice for how to face any obstacle in life and still come out on top.

Questions include:

Can you describe Yogananda's mission?

Do you see yourself as having a mission?

Are there aspects of Yogananda's mission that you have not been able to accomplish?

What is the most important book that you've written?

If you could point to a single greatest accomplishment in your life, what would that be?

You've had so many challenges; how were you able to overcome them and keep your peace of mind?

One way to overcome fear is to imagine the worst possible happening to you, and then accept it.

But what if it looks like the worst possible thing is going to happen? Cooperative communities are a great help in that way, and even more so in a spiritual way.

Questions include:

How can one overcome fear?

Swamiji, suppose that some disaster does come — what would be the right way to respond to that?

There isn't some escapism in living in spiritual community — running away from the real world, let's say?

Do people grow as much in an artificially created community as they do out in the "real world"?

What ties these communities together — what keeps the group together?

Does it require a particular set of skills to live in a community?

How did you come to found these communities, Swamiji?

Is there life after death? A better question might be, ‘Is there death after life?’ The good news is there is only LIFE, only consciousness. Swami Kriyananda explains and answers this profound question. The truth is all around us, and the Masters tell us that God does not want us to find out too soon!

Our departed loved ones are also ever near and they can come to us in dreams and visions. We have so many relatives and relations that we have known throughout time and that is why it is best now to learn to love everyone.

In every atom, there is the still reflection of the Infinite Spirit. We are never lost.

Questions Swami Kriyananda answers in this episode:

Is there life after death?

Most people don't remember being aware after death, or in between lives — how can we know that such a thing exists?

Why is this reality hidden from us?

When a loved one dies, we naturally feel a lot of grief. Is there a way to contact people who have passed away?

You mentioned having a dream about your cousin that was a "true dream" — how can you differentiate between that type of dream and the normal kind?

What does the term maya mean?

Mental illness, depression, how to be happy, and the evolution of the soul through many lives as animal and humans.

Questions include:

It seems that mental illness in this age is in the ascent. Many people suffer from depression, melancholy, or other things like it — such as anger and other kinds of emotional disruption. Do you have any advice for what people can do to alleviate that?

Mental illness seems to come when one tries to escape reality.

You can become happy at will?

What can we learn from our past incarnations when we finally do remember them?

It sounds like pain is one of the primary ways that people evolve?

Whatever energy you give out has to come back — that is one way to explain the law of karma. In this question and answer session, also discussed is how to neutralize and overcome karma.

Questions include:

Can you explain to us the law of karma and how it works?

Will someone who is striving for success automatically experience failure as often as he experiences success?

Why would some yogis suggest not to enjoy anything?

How do we overcome the emotionally reactive process in ourselves?

A master who reaches a breathless state — he's not holding his breath, is he?

Releasing attachment releases pain associated with that attachment?

What is the astral body?

Does the astral body have a shape or form?

Is the astral body the same as the aura?

Can an aura be expanded?

How should we see karma? And can we do anything to change it?

Questions include:

Some people will speak of karma as a burden, and will say, "It's my destiny, I can't avoid it." A fatalistic approach. Is that correct?

What is dharma?

What does the word "freedom" mean to you?

How do we get our energy to flow upward?

What is free will?

To create a strong aura, is there a technique or method you would recommend?

We can all develop intuitive and psychic abilities. We cultivate them by deliberately focusing, by increasing our attention, and by sensitivity to the words and feelings of others.

Superconsciousness is the intuitive part of our awareness. Everything is consciousness. The ability to know both what can come and what the right choices are in life is possible.

The body is both a broadcasting and receiving station when we ask for guidance with clarity and willpower. A strong thought with strong energy will generate a magnetic field so that we can feel the answers in our receiving station—the heart.

Integrity is "supremely important," says Swami Kriyananda. It means to be true to yourself, and to be true in your statements, but in a helpful way. "Truth is always beneficial."

Questions include:

What is integrity, and how important is it?

What if you are supposed to give something to someone, but your suppliers let you down?

Is there a power that comes from always speaking the truth?

If I'm obliged to fight in a war, I may be called upon to kill someone to help defend my country. Is that still OK?

What other habits, like being truthful, would help us?

"I've never tried to teach people. I've tried to share what I know." Swami Kriyananda talks about developing self-confidence in lecturing (and in everything), and offers many pointers on sharing truths with an audience.

Questions include:

How can one develop sweetness in oneself?

How do you develop self-confidence?

For people who are trying to develop that kind of centereness where you're not nervous in anything that you have to do, you're not wanting anything, you're only thinking of giving; how can they achieve that?

Why would your Guru have asked you to lecture?

Did you find it difficult in the beginning to lecture?

How do you experience God talking through you?

Can you feel people's thoughts when you’re speaking to them?

Do you have to adjust your talk, then, to the level of your audience?

You can't change karma that was created in the past, but you can change how that karma affects you.

You were discussing karma earlier; could you explain family karma, group karma?

Is there any way to alleviate group karma?

How could Germany offset their karma from World War II?

In turbulent times of atomic warfare, the only truly reliable bomb shelter is within?

On a smaller scale, when we're trying to go in a direction that's different from our family karma, for example, how can we make our own way?

Do animals have karma?

Freedom from karma means what? What would it mean in the case of a master like Yogananda?

Can a non-enlightened person take on the karma of others?

Are karma and magnetism related?