If you don't overstretch, you can avoid dangerOctober 19, 2008 The book consists of thematically arranged quotations of Paramahansa Yogananda. The quotations are called "insight and inspiration" for meeting life's challenges. A stray sample:
"Why go on suffering over the unwise actions of your past? Cast their memory from your mind, and take care not to repeat those actions again." (p. 98)
To that: If you cast memories away (as in amnesia) you lose your best help to take care not to repeat the actions associated with them too. I bet such help is not royal. I think it is far better to say instead, "Learn from the past to draw strength from it." So instead of just forgetting about wrong things you have done, which Yogananda advocates, you do better to extract useful lessons from them, for example, and do good too.
It shows up that at least parts of Yogananda's counsel is too shallow, although he has genuinely positive things to say too, such as, "An unceasing demand for anything [eg, "give me the moon"], mentally whispered with unflagging zeal and unflinching courage and faith, develops into a dynamic power that so influences the entire behavior of the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious powers of man that the desired object is gained." (p. 30).
However, big words repeated a lot do not come true in all cases. For example, the project of possessing the old moon in the sky has not succeeded for any one child or single person so far. And what if several men affirm that they want the moon singly, are all bound to have it, on the world of Yogananda? Reconsider.
It is a problem with inspiration that talks too big and instigates unrealistic or unattainable goals. But if affirmation activity helps towards good goals - step by step would be fine - so be it. It is documented that visualization (related to affirmations) can improve performance by up to 27 percent.
I do think affirmations can help a lot, but overstretched expectations is not a fit thing.
Yogananda's counsel to meditate, gain strength from it, and be guided from within, is fine indeed.
As she lay dyingAugust 23, 2008 My husband read excerpts from this beautiful work to his mother as she lay dying. He felt it helped her to calm, and made her transition much easier.
Where There is LightDecember 2, 2007 I have read this book over and over. For lovers of Yogananda, this book is a gem. Evey page is filled with encoouragement for daily living.
Where There is LightNovember 2, 2007 I love the book. I have been giving it out as gifts to friends and family for years. It's wonderful to have something to read when you think that God has forgotten you and it teaches you to hang on. It shows that you are not alone during the tough times. Also teaches when times are good to share the wonderful gifts you have been given.
Coming out of the shadows and into the light.November 17, 2006 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I found this book to be truly amazing in it's wisdom. The author who died in body in 1952 has truly wrote a post-newtonian book on transformation. The movie "What the bleep" has nothing to add over the wisdom and teachings of this book. The author has a complete understanding of the ideas of Candice Pert who wrote "Molecules of Emotion," which came out recently, but Paramahansa Yogananda was writing about these concepts over half a century ago. Paramahansa Yogananda takes it a notch further and brings in the spiritual domain where the real transformation occurs.
This book "Where There Is Light," gives great tools in the form of instruction in using meditation and affirmation to change the patterns of thought that have become like grooves in our brains. So many of us have been stuck in repeating the same habits over and over again and we have all felt the frustration and suffering of being a slave to habits we want to be rid of. This book gives the answer to being free.
This book is truly a gift of mercy and compassion for all those who truly wish to lighten up and start living a life of more comfort and ease. Reading and following the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda takes the struggle out of life, and all for the small price of a paper back book.
