Wisdom Stories

Stories from India This treasury of Indian tales will delight both the casual reader and students of Eastern thought. Featuring a gamut of characters-from saints to thieves, God-realized masters to lions and frogs-these stories were all told by Paramhansa Yogananda in his lectures, informal talks, and writings. Yogananda, author of the best-selling spiritual title Autobiography of a Yogi, knew that stories have a way of bringing out a childlike openness within us, regardless of our age. In that openness, heart and mind make connections the intellect alone may miss. He told these tales to illustrate the spiritual and practical truths he was teaching. It is not enough to be inspired by spiritual truths. We must be able to apply those teachings to our daily lives. Each story is followed by a "Wisdom Gem," illuminating spiritually vital topics such as Right Action, Courage, Unconditional Love, Faith, and Wisdom-an enjoyable way to explore and reflect on these universal principles. For ease of use, the stories are indexed by the qualities they illustrate. Whether you are a teacher, parent, student, or devotee, these stories are resource to turn to again and again for inspiration, sharing and personal study.

“The Wisdom Stories” Series from the Teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda They enter into our consciousness, captivating our imagination with interesting characters and fantastic storylines. Beneath the surface, they recount the age-old human drama with circumstances and plots not so very different from our own. Certainly parallels, and more importantly lessons, can be drawn that continue to instruct, and to change the way we live and relate to one another. This volume picks up where volume one left off, with stories shared by the great yoga master Paramhansa Yogananda (author of the bestselling spiritual classic title Autobiography of a Yogi) and his close, direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda. These stories have been told for generations, imparting universal values of compassion and understanding, virtue, dharma (right action), and the ability to relate to another's reality.

Paramhansa Yogananda delighted audiences, students, and friends with stories drawn from his own life experiences and the people he met in his native India, as well as during his global travels and cross-country teaching campaigns in the United States. Lovingly told by his direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda, his nephew, Hare Krishna Ghosh, and Yogananda himself, these stories are timeless in their relevance. Addressing the age-old challenges of society at large, as well as the individual human predicament, these stories often offer an impersonal perspective on our traits and tendencies. Paramhansa Yogananda's stories demonstrate an expanded worldview that includes everyone. While fully engaging in the modern world of his day, he never identified with its limitations or tantalizing, illusive promises. With courage and willingness to stand up for universal truths, he shows us that we have a choice in how we are going to live and in using our inherent soul ability we possess to adapt and change, even drastically, when called upon to do so. This is the third book in the Wisdom Stories series. Each story includes a "Gem of Wisdom" in Yogananda's own words. By giving us a clear path to overcoming the limitations of ego, adjusting our attitudes, and expanding our hearts, he offers us a priceless and lasting gift that we can then share with receptive hearts of any age.