Who We Are
INSPIRATION
At Hidden Valley Ashram we are here to encourage one another to achieve Self-realization by living the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda through group meditation, divine service, wholesome fellowship and recreation, seeking to make all our activity God-remiding activity.
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Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda

Sri Yukteswar

Anonymous

Paramahansa Yogananda

Sri Daya Mata

Paramahansa Yogananda

Sri Daya Mata

Sri Daya Mata

Paramahansa Yogananda
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Paramahansa Yogananda
A man who used to own a ranch near here was quite materialistic. I urged him to come to Encinitas from time to time, and he did so. After the first few visits, he said, with tears in his eyes, “I never realized there was a place whose very atmosphere could speak so much of God’s presence. ” You see, religion must be practical. It must create some change in you – in your consciousness, and in your behavior. All those who have been coming here regularly have changed their lifestyle for the better. They have been spiritually influenced by this environment. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
If one wants to find liberation and to understand what right actions are, he needs to seek the society of those who love God and meditate on Him. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
Change yourself by yourself. It can be the easiest thing to do, or the hardest thing to do: easy if you meditate and keep good company; difficult if you don’t meditate and if you mix with people who wrongly influence you. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
Analyze your own life. In the morning you get up and quickly say a short prayer. Then you eat and go to work. Next comes lunchtime, more work, and then dinnertime and some useless diversion; and before long you are off to bed. The same old thing, every day! And every day your will is being broken by the dictates of your habits and environment. Why do you allow this? You excuse yourself and say, “Someday I will try to do those things I know I should do. ” But that day may never come. Why limit your capability to the adage, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew”? I believe you should bite off more than you can chew, and then chew it! Don’t be useless. Make your life worthwhile. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
My master Swami Sri Yukteswarji used to remind me: “Always be watchful of your company—the company of your friends and the company of your thoughts. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
Greater than all riches is true friendship. If you can be a true friend to people, you will find God. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
Friendship is the purest human expression of God’s love, because it springs not from any dictates of biological or social instincts but from the free‐will choice of the heart -
Paramahansa Yogananda
To me, true friendship is the greatest of all treasures. I love friendship that is given without any demand, friendship for the sake of friendship, without expectation of anything in return. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
Grateful friends are only the Lord in disguise, looking after His own. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
That God has given me the privilege to serve is my blessed good fortune. I want nothing; my only desire is that I may establish this work as a divine oasis where aspiring souls may quench their thirst. -
Sri Yukteswar
So long as you breathe the free air of earth, you are under obligation to render grateful service. -
Anonymous
Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
When one identifies no longer with his little self but with his divine Self, he rejoices, as does God, to be the servant of all. -
Sri Daya Mata
To receive and communicate love, divine love, is our God‐given duty in life. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
Here I lay at Thy feet my life, my limbs, my thoughts and speech. For they are Thine; for they are Thine. -
Sri Daya Mata
Some individuals are so full of tension and restlessness, it is impossible for them to look at the beauties of nature—a tree, or a sunset—and appreciate them. -
Sri Daya Mata
I don’t think anyone enjoys the beauties of nature more than I do. But I don’t have to see a whole forest; I don’t have to visit a whole field of flowers. I find that joy in the breeze flowing through one tree, or in the patterned elegance of one tiny desert flower. One is enough, because I see the hand of God behind it. -
Paramahansa Yogananda
O Infinite Beauty, Thou art more beautiful than all things beautiful that come from Thee. The beauties of nature are but waves of Thy beauty, dancing in Thee, O Invisible Spirit of Beauty!