Paramahansa Yogananda Meditations are widely practiced worldwide wherever there are seekers of the divine! I first came to know about Yogananda Paramahansa as a result of my endeavors to understand the depth of Yogic culture.
Although not all yogis were able to make an impact on me, Swami Yoganada stood out with great authenticity and truth to what he taught!
Talking of meditation, meditation in its own right has become the go-to practice for sharpening the mind, and who better to learn from than Paramhansa Yogananda, the man who brought yoga and meditation to the West, right?
Believe it or not, Paramahansa Yogananda teachings on meditation hold profound secrets to unlocking mental power and inner peace.
So, I’m going to share with you seven amazingly transformative meditation tips based on my reading of Yogananda wisdom. See how you can use them to boost your mind power!
Secrets from Paramahansa Yogananda Meditations
1. Breathe with Awareness
The very first secret is something so simple, we often overlook it—our breath. According to the Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, conscious breathing is the key to calming the mind.
When we breathe deeply and intentionally, it soothes the nervous system, slows down racing thoughts and makes you awake Yogananda believed. Try it now, so you’ll experience it for yourself. Start by focusing on your breath for a few minutes, inhaling deeply through your nose, holding it for a moment, and then exhaling slowly.
Make it your daily practice. This shifts your mind away from distractions and grounds you in the present moment!
2. Observe the Restless Mind
Ever noticed how difficult it is to stop thinking? Of course, you have!
Our minds jump from one thought to another like a monkey swinging from tree to tree. Yogananda Paramahansa calls this the “restless mind.”
The secret here is to learn to observe your thoughts rather than get caught up in them. This is where meditation plays a crucial role. OK, let me take a moment here. Honestly, you can’t observe your thoughts!
People often mistake observing thoughts as watching them with a watcher, which is you.
The idea is not to observe or watch them but just letting them go. Don’t even make an effort to observe. Just don’t cling. Let them all be.
So, by sitting still and focusing on your breath or a mantra, you train your mind to calm down and stop reacting to every thought.
3. Concentration is Your Superpower
Happiness is man’s eternal quest. Swami Yogananda believed that focused concentration was the ultimate mind hack for happiness!
Whether it’s during meditation or throughout your day, being able to focus on one task at a time can do wonders for your mental sharpness.
Meditation teaches you to hold your attention on one point, like your breath or a sound, without being easily distracted. Over time, this mental discipline carries over into your daily life, improving your ability to stay sharp and clear-headed.
You could begin with small and simple exercises like sound watching or candle gazing. When I stepped into yoga my main practice was watching fire. It was something!
4. Stillness = Power
In our fast-paced world, stillness seems like a luxury.
Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda emphasized that stillness is where true power lies. When your body and mind are still, your awareness deepens. This is also what Eckhart Tolle and other enlightened people of our time talk about.
But bear in mind that this silence is not just an absence of noise—it’s a state of heightened awareness.
Silence, actually and practically, means that you don’t worry about how your boss will react to a gaffe tomorrow. That’s being silent. It comes with practice and understanding.
In the autobiography of a Yogi Paramhansa Yogananda affirms that when you practice this stillness during meditation, you tap into your mind’s latent power.
It’s in this stillness that intuition, insight, and creativity are born.
5. Use a Sacred Mantra
Mantras are like mental anchors that help keep your mind from drifting. You may also call them scientific healing affirmations!
But, I don’t recommend chanting mantras. I have tried many over the years and found that only a few will actually silent the mind. So, you have got to be very careful with what mantras you choose for yourself.
According to Swami Yogananda, repeating a sacred word or phrase can help guide your focus during meditation. This repetitive sound creates a soothing rhythm in your mind, quieting mental chatter.
Choose a mantra that resonates with you, such as “Om” or “Peace,” and use it to center your mind whenever it starts wandering.
Note: Law of Success by Paramahansa Yogananda is a great book to find many peaceful and energizing affirmations.
6. Practice Energization
Before diving deep into meditation, for inner peace Yogananda taught a technique called Energization Exercises – or Kriya Yoga!
These are simple physical movements designed to help you control your life force, or prana. By tensing and relaxing different parts of your body, you can recharge your energy levels and prepare your mind for focused meditation.
Think of it as a warm-up before the main event—it wakes up both your body and mind.
7. The Power of Devotion
Meditation isn’t just about controlling the mind; it’s divine romance Yogananda believed. Yogananda stressed the importance of devotion in meditation.
Also, Paramahansa Yogananda talks about the “divine consciousness” that resides within all of us.
When you meditate with a sense of love or reverence, whether for God, a higher power or simply for life itself, your mind naturally becomes silent and focused.
This devotion creates a powerful energy that helps to deepen your meditation practice and align your mind with higher consciousness.
My tip to bring devotion in your meditation practice is to simply look at yourself in wonder. See the muscles, the veins and the skin. Looking at life in wonder naturally cultivates devotion and selflessness in your mind.
Paramahansa Yogananda Sayings
These are my personal favorite quotes of Paramahansa Yogananda. Just go through them and feel the cosmic energy gushing through your blood!
“The soul is born on earth to grow, to awaken, to evolve, and to remember its divine origin.”
“You must not let your life run in the ordinary way; do something that nobody else has done, something that will dazzle the world.”
“Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. The future will take care of itself.”
“The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success.”
“The more you meditate, the closer you will feel to your inner joy, to God.”
“Be as simple as you can be; you will be astonished to see how uncomplicated and happy your life can become.”
“You are walking the earth as a sleeping god, not knowing who you are.”
Final Word
For self realization Yogananda meditations can be a good start.
Meditation is like a workout for your mind. Just as lifting weights strengthens your muscles, meditation strengthens your focus, concentration, and mental clarity.
So far, the Autobiography of Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda is my favorite Yoganada book. Apparently, Apple founder Steve Jobs loved it too. It offers timeless wisdom for anyone looking to boost their mind power.
Having said that, there are numerous other books as well as Paramahansa Yogananda scientific healing affirmations which you could experiment with and test out.
Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or just starting, these seven secrets can help you unlock new levels of mental energy and inner peace.
So, take a deep breath, find a quiet space, and let the journey to mind mastery begin!
P.S. For more on Paramahansa Yogananda books teachings as well as cosmic chants by Paramahansa Yogananda, I suggest you check out the official website for original resources.
