"God
is For Everyone provides us a wonderful new reworking of Paramhansa
Yogananda's profound yet practical voice on the complex but crucial
issues of religion, spirituality and yoga. It leaves the reader
in touch with their higher Divine nature apart from all outer
differences of religious belief and practice."
Dr.
David Frawley, Founder of The American Institute of Vedic Studies,
author Yoga and Ayurveda, Vedantic Meditation
"This
book reaches out to every person and therein lies its natural
and powerful attraction. It speaks to the deep well of wisdom
within and beckons us to our highest calling. Anyone seeking to
extend and deepen their spiritual horizons will find great inspiration
in God Is for Everyone."
Michael Toms, Cofounder of New Dimensions Radio,
author of A Time for Choices and True Work
"Walters,
who was born in Rumania and educated at Haverford College and
Brown University, became a disciple of Yogananda in 1948. A much
published writer in his own right, Walters has rewritten and updated
Yogananda's earlier The Science of Religion into this clear and
thoroughly captivating book, making the original work eminently
more accessible to large numbers of contemporary spiritual seekers.
"Yogananda
offers an extraordinary ecumenical outlook even as he embodies
age-long traditions of Indian spiritual wisdom. The rational,
cognitive Western approach to religion is balanced with the wisdom
and compassion so honored in the East. By synthesizing these two
valuable frames of influence, God Is for Everyone helps the modern
reader consider concepts of God and spiritual meaning within an
intelligent, religiously unified framework. Religion, spirituality,
and especially spiritual religion provide a balanced view through
the mind-heart combination. Readers are told that the Divine Spirit
is the hidden inspiration behind all action, the one true experience
that everyone seeks, the lasting happiness that eludes when sought
elsewhere. No mere abstraction, God is real, ever-present, ever-conscious
force available for anyone to tap into at all times.
""The
best possible definition of God," writes the author, "is
Ever-Existing, Ever-Conscious, Ever-New Bliss." While there
are additional ways to define God, such as Love, Peace, Power,
and Light, Bliss is stressed in this work because "Bliss
fulfills humanity's need not only for complete freedom from suffering,
but for freedom in divine completion. All men want to be aware
that they are blissful. Conscious bliss will give them that awareness."
"This
book makes accessible the inspired pursuit of Bliss in simple,
understandable ways. Written as an introduction for those just
starting on the spiritual path, it is also a rejuvenating and
inspiring boost for experienced seekers. Clear, practical techniques
are offered to enhance personal spiritual practices. The author
maintains that "everyone in the world is on the spiritual
path" whether they know it or not, even if they are temporarily
merely seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. Sooner or later, "They
will want to experience Him (God)." Experiencing God-and
specifically experiencing God as Bliss-is that underlying goal
of this work, based on the teachings of a self-realized teacher.
It hits the mark for contemporary spirituality."
ForeWord
Magazine
"How
are we to cultivate a personal relationship with God, in an age
dominated by scientific practicality? Paramhansa Yogananda, the
great master of yoga, attempted to reveal, in a 1920 book, The
Science of Religion, the inner methods by which spiritually thirsty
souls can most easily find God-communion in the present age. Yogananda
was insufficiently familiar with the English language at the time
to write the book himself, however, and so he asked a disciple,
Swami Dhirananda to serve as his ghostwriter. The results were
infelicitous: heavy and pedantic, reflecting the pride Dhirananda
took in his intellectual attainments.
"Nearly
thirty years later, Yogananda told a young American disciple,
J. Donald Walters, "Your role will be writing and editing."
Swami Kriyananda, as the young disciple would eventually be known,
revealed from the first a unique depth of understanding of his
guru's teachings. He would write more that 80 books showing the
relevance of those teachings in fields as diverse as meditation
and marriage. If proof of his worthiness to resurrect this important
work is required, it can be found in the quality of the results.
As rewritten by Kriyananda, God Is for Everyone glows with Yogananda's
inspiration. Its message of a nonsectarian, practical path by
which all can experience their inner oneness with God, shines
forth in its original, intended glory.
"This
is religion looking forward eagerly toward the future, not sighing
lamely over its past glory, and retreating into dogma and text
before science's bold advances. It is spirituality not in conflict
with science, but fully embracing the scientific method, with
recommendations for practical experimentation and careful evaluation
of results. This is religion's next glorious hour. It is in human
nature itself that the author discovers the roots of the spiritual
urge, as well as the method of its flight and its final fulfillment
in God-joy. "Highly recommended" would be pathetically
inadequate. This landmark work of universal spirituality deserves
to be read by everyone."
East
West Magazine (George Beinhorn)
God is for Everyone
Inspired by Paramhansa Yogananda
As Taught to, and Understood by, his Disciple,
J. Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda)
Copyright 2003 by Hansa Trust