Swami Paramananda

“Building of character is the only true practice of Yoga, and it is the only way we can really help humanity. Christ helped the world by His character. It is not that He turned this earth into a heaven. That is not possible. There was just as much evil in the world after He came as before, but by His example He is helping each individual soul to over- come its limitations and to strive toward perfection.
Neither Christ nor Buddha, or any other prophet, claimed to be exceptions. On the contrary, they preached that all can become like them. We can all become perfect characters. But only when we build our characters on the firm foundations of purity, unselfishness, and non-attachment will they be immovable, and become a blessing to all mankind.”
― Swami Paramananda, Vedanta In Practice

“Man is the expression
of God, and God is the reality of man.
Real man and God are inseparable.
"This Atman is not to be realized by the intellect, nor by words, nor by hearing from many sources; but by him by whom this Atman is beloved, by him alone is the Atman realized."
The thing necessary for us is to feel intense love in our hearts for this Atman, or God; otherwise He is not attainable. There is no other way that man can reach unto God, except through love — love always unites. This love for God comes unto those blessed beings who are pure in heart, from whom all attachment for unreal things, all selfish desires have vanished. This purity of heart and love for God are the sum and substance of all religious teachings”
― Swami Paramananda, Vedanta In Practice