Using the Power of Spirit to Create Health - and Happiness

Did Yogananda really write this? Or did someone just take some of his teachings and cobble together this little pamphlet? I have trouble believing that such a wise sage produced this. The book is a collection of VERY short essays on the following topics:

* My Divine Birthright
* The Law of Success
* The Power of Thought
* Will is the Dynamo
* You Can Control Destiny
* Fear Exhausts Life Energy
* Failures Should Arouse Determination
* The Need for Self-Analysis
* The Creative Power of Initiative
* See the Image of God in All Men
* Habits of Thought Control One's Life
* Power of Divine Will
* From the Ocean of Abundance
* The Way of Meditation
* Success is Measured by Happiness
* Put God's Power Behind Your Efforts
* Affirmation

While all these statements are true, the treatment of them is superficial, more like a reminder than anything that will help you eliminate the false subconscious beliefs that order your individual universe. I'll take any New Thought book over this simplistic rendering.

I also take issue with the following statements in this book, said statements causing the greatest harm to the spiritual seeker:

* When God is working with you, you cannot fail

God is the Infinite Intelligence that is Love and Life. For God to work "with you," God would have to be separate from you. That means God is an individual and you are an individual. Therefore, this God could not be infinite but would be limited by its individuality. God does not work WITH us, but THROUGH us. ALL of us.

* When you convince God that you want Him above all else, you will be attuned to His will

God does not need convincing of anything. This sounds like it came straight from orthodox Christianity. Believing that God is a separate intelligence that must be convinced, cajoled, worshiped, catered to, sought for permission, etc., will rob us of the divine power at our disposal. Because we'll always have the doubt, "will he?" A greater man than this taught, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." All your spiritual work should be aimed at believing this statement.

God is Spirit and knows and is all things. WE need to be convinced that we are that Infinite Intelligence operating in our individual sphere. And when we realize that everything in this world is Infinite Intelligence expressing on the material plane, we will understand and be able to practice love toward all and align ourselves with the forward movement of Spirit. This is the greatest gift.

A succinct, crisp handbook for checking your own assumptions and thoughts about success. We commit ourselves to wrong outcomes through unclear thoughts, uncertain beliefs and weak intentions, Guruji has shown how to make it work.

This tiny, 34 page, booklet was certainly not worth the price. I wouldn't have bought it if the ad had made it clear it is not a book. Not saying the information in the booklet isn't good - but far better to get it and much more by reading Autobiography of a Yogi by the same author!

This tiny, 34 page, booklet was certainly not worth the price. I wouldn't have bought it if the ad had made it clear it is not a book. Not saying the information in the booklet isn't good - but far better to get it and much more by reading Autobiography of a Yogi by the same author!

This is a small book, not too many pages. Yogananda's advice is the same as given by many other authors, nothing terribly original.
If you buy it for your Kindle, there are other books for about $1.00 with more substance. Paramahansa Yogananda was one of the first in this country to teach Kriya Yoga. His advice is a positive mental attitude (PMA) and does not include mantras. If you need a mantra, look elsewhere.

Paramahansa Yogananda writes, "There are always two forces warring against each other within us.... You will sometime see clearly that bad habits nourish the tree of unending material desires, while good habits nourish the tree of spiritual aspirations..." Always, and on every continent, in the ancient, Animist world, this iconic "tree" punches through planes of human existence to rise as the Tree of Life.

I question whether Yogananda's tree of material desires can compare as an opposing force to the Tree of Life, which is so much more powerful, more potent, more desirable. And yet, perhaps no other short teaching as The Law of Success... captures so well the duality that drives our inner personal conflicts. Much that holds us back is bound up in this struggle, as Yogananda explains while offering strategies to rebut negative forces and rebuild.

It is interesting to compare Yogananda's views with the Sacred Tree in Black Elk's visions on Thunder Being Mountain in the Black Hills. His first vision took place in 1871, when he was nine; the second, 60 years later.

Taoism, even the Stoic precepts practised in classical Rome, borrow from the Hindu wisdom suggested in "The Law of Success: Using the Power of Spirit..." That's proof perhaps that many winding paths may lead each one of us towards our own desired positive end.

Robert Fripp,
Author of "Spirit in Health: Spiritual roots in modern healing"
(How the healing sciences are enlisting ancient body-mind healing techniques)

This is Yoganda's discourse on success. It is really quite simple. There are three areas that we have to deal with as Yogananda explains. First is the subconscious which has to be bombarded with "positive ions" and affirmations. As well as the right kind of positive thinking. See "Scientific Healing Affirmations" on this theory. If you are financially troubled, do the "prosperity affirmation" in that book. I haven't been homeless in 3 years! And while homeless, I chanted that 50-word affirmation about 500 times in all conditions and in all weather. It's hard to practice yoga when you are broke. And I am still living out my nightmares psychologically. But let's get back to the book. The second phase is dealing with the "concious mind". Here is where Yogananda stresses that YOU have to make somekind of concious effort. Finally, deep prayer to God in order to receive aid. I would like to add a couple points. It is very popular today to "Find Your True Vocation". Half-truth. Yogananda stresses in his lessons that you life's vocation really begins to develop between the ages of 3 and 12. He advises a two-pronged approach. Do some of which you really love, BUT KEEP WORKING AT THE JOB YOU HATE AND EVEN TRY TO DEVLOP SOME INTEREST IN IT. Do both! And one last point. If you love being a trash collector, then do it. Yogananda's view of success has been modified greatly in the last few decades. $$$ and ***. Do what you love but eventually try to love whatever you are doing! Good luck.

The Law of Success by Paramahansa Yogananda is positively a classic by one of the preeminent spiritual figures of our time. By changing our thinking we truly can change our lives! The new kindle edition published by Self-Realization Fellowship presents this amazing book so wonderfully. Definitely go for the SRF version if you are going to buy as this was the organization that Yogananda himself founded for the publication of his works. Thank you SRF for continuing to publish the life-changing teachings of Yogananda!The Law of Success: Using the Power of Spirit to Create Health, Prosperity, and Happiness

There is no doubt that Parmahansa Yogananda was an avatar of the ages. Each word is
blessed with the cosmic insight of a Master. This is a book every body should read.

Morris Walker
author of
The Lives of Carl Atman

This book and all others with Yogananda's first name, Paramahansa, spelled 'Paramhansa' (without the 'a' after the 'm') is not an official publication! One has to be diligent because Swami Kriyananda took, without permission, all of Yogananda's sacred writings (and other media items) and altered them. He has been making money off of Yogananda's name ever since he got kicked out of SRF! The Law of Success: Using the Power of Spirit to Create Health, Prosperity, and Happiness is the one actually published by the official organization that Yogananda, himself, founded: Self-Realization Fellowship.

To be sure you are reading an official book from SRF and its purity, look for the SRF/YSS emblem of a lotus flower with a star in a circle or contact the SRF headquarters in Los Angeles with any questions.

This book outlines how to meditate for the beginner and has beautiful soul, heart alivening affirmations. I've used several for weeks and find them joyful, true and calming. This book is so helpful in stressful times. A must have book

Paramhansa Yogananda shares the spiritual truth of success in the every day world.

The Laws of Success apply to whatever aspect of our lives we want to focus on,Wealth,Health,Happiness..the principles are the same.

A must read.

I choose this rating because Paramahansa Yogananda's advice for success is simple and it easily states that it begins with you and what is within you. You need to connect with God at your spiritual level and things will work out for the best.