The Inner Life with Asha

“The universe is teeming with life” • God’s consciousness is in every atom • All of creation is a mixture of 3 qualities of consciousness (gunas): darkening, activating, clarifying/elevating (Conversations with Yogananda: 37–39)

How important is good diet to the spiritual life? • “Always remain in the Self” • Are UFOs real? (Conversations with Yogananda: 33-36)

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)