Summary
Highlights
Paramahansa Yogananda explains that talking to God is not a one-sided prayer, but a real, reciprocal conversation. By citing biblical examples like Solomon and David, he asserts that God responds to those who seek Him with a heart filled with unconditional love.
God is moved by the fervor of the heart rather than just the mind. Yogananda stresses that one must approach God as a 'Divine Mother' with absolute confidence and persistence, refusing to stop calling until a response is received, regardless of how long it takes.
Drawing from his own life experiences, Yogananda describes his early visions and hearing the divine voice as a child. He explains that through deep concentration and meditation, one can open their inner spiritual sight to behold light, wisdom, and God's presence.
Addressing the debate of whether God is personal or impersonal, Yogananda argues that God is both. Because we are created as personal beings with individuality and feeling, our Creator must possess those same qualities to maintain a relationship with us.
God communicates through cosmic vibration, which underlies all energy and matter. When a devotee prays with sufficient intensity, these vibrations can manifest into audible language or intuitive guidance, as God understands all forms of communication.
The greatest barrier to hearing God is human doubt and lack of persistence. Yogananda concludes by encouraging the seeker to develop unceasing zeal, treating the pursuit of God as a non-negotiable priority that will eventually lead to direct, face-to-face communion.