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Some moments in life seem ordinary at first glance, but if we’re attentive, they can reveal God’s hidden presence. We’re in India now, and a friend here shared a story that describes just such a moment.

Devi and I recently gave a talk to a standing-room-only audience of nearly seven hundred people in Delhi. It was called “How to Achieve Your Highest Potential,” a vital subject for all seekers, whether new or experienced. I thought you might enjoy exploring some of the themes we discussed.

But for me, the most inspiring transformation of all was watching the journey of Swamiji’s life. These are some of the aspects that I witnessed.

There is no release except by going within and finding spiritual freedom. Yogananda incarnated to show us how to escape our cells, and gave us meditation, service to others, and right attitude—the tools we can use to open our prison’s doors. If we employ them well, we will come to realize that we were confined by nothing but the fears and limits of our own minds.

Recently I had two experiences that helped me understand the hidden truths in his words. The first occurred one night after a disturbing dream in which people were treating me cruelly and abusively. At first I felt agitated and upset, but then the verse came into my mind, and I thought, “These are just past memories that you’re weaving into a dream.

What is the purpose of life and, specifically, of my present incarnation? What is the essence of the techniques of our path?

How can we draw answers to our problems and find solutions to every challenge before us? The more we practice faith, the more we can experience God’s hand in every aspect of our life.

Here is the method Paramhansa Yogananda recommends for developing wisdom-guided intuition: When you have the urge to do something that might be unwise, stop for a moment and mentally list the reasons you shouldn’t do it. If you do this, he says, you will gradually develop your intuition, and then you will be guided by your inborn wisdom.

How do we rise above egoic self-identity? Swami Kriyananda said that the secret to dissolving the ego is longer, deeper meditations, and seeing God as the Doer in everything

To the extent we realize that God is the doer, we are given the capacity to be channels of His power.

Miracles are happening around us all the time; we simply need to open our eyes to see God’s constant presence in our lives. In the past week alone, two friends shared with me extraordinary experiences of their own.

Can’t many of us relate to his yearning, where a life without God no longer holds our interest, where unfulfilled desires no longer motivate us? If we haven’t yet reached the state where we are ready to take the final leap of faith, we can at least see that high state shining on the horizon. We feel intuitively that, if we keep trying, we can reach it in this incarnation, or before many more have passed. After all, Swami Kriyananda told us that we should all try to be jivan muktas in this life.

As we sat by the river each day to meditate in the early dawn hours, we began to feel that the Mississippi is a conscious being with much to teach us.

How do we hold on to the inspiration we experienced during those precious days? This question implies broader vistas—how do we hold on to the inspiration of a particularly deep meditation, an uplifting sensation, or a peak experience?

By the time you read this, dear friend, we will already be well into the Centennial Celebration week at Ananda Village. The week preceding the event has been its own inspiration, with volunteers coming from all over the world to help prepare for the arrival of the guests. I’ve been mentally sharing with Swamiji all the remarkable things we’ve been witnessing, and I thought I’d write him a letter with these reflections...