On Freedom

"Freedom means the power to act by soul guidance, not by the compulsions of desires and habits. Obeying the ego leads to bondage; obeying the soul brings liberation. --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Sayings of Paramahansa Yogananda"

"Before you act, you have freedom, but after you act, the effect of that action will follow you whether you want it to or not. That is the law of karma. You are a free agent, but when you perform a certain act, you will reap the results of that act".
--Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons

"The way to freedom is through service to others. The way to happiness is through meditation and being in tune with God. Break the barriers of your ego; shed selfishness; free yourself from the consciousness of the body; forget yourself; do away with this prison house of incarnations; melt your heart in All, be one with Creation". --Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons

"Man's Freedom is final and immediate, if he so wills; it depends not on outer, but inner victories". --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Autobiography of a Yogi"

"You don't know how fortunate you are to have been born as a human being. In that you are blessed more than any other creature. The animal is not able to meditate and have God-communion. You have your freedom to seek Him and you do not use it". --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Man's Eternal Quest"

"The soul is bound to the body by a chain of desires, temptations, troubles and worries, and it is trying to free itself. If you keep tugging at that chain which is holding you to mortal consciousness, some day an invisible Divine Hand will intervene and snap it apart, and you will be free". --Paramahansa Yogananda, "Man's Eternal Quest"

"To be able to do whatever one pleases is not the real meaning of freedom of action. You should understand to what degree you are free, and how much you are influenced by bad habits. To be good just because it has become a habit to be good is not freedom, either. To be tempted is not sinfulness, but to be able to resist and overcome temptation is greatness; this is freedom, for you are acting by free will and free choice only".
--Paramahansa Yogananda, SRF Lessons
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