It is a mistake, however, to pity ourselves on account of our suffering, because it is through suffering that we learn and grow. ... "Then glorify it!" That is the point. Since it is suffering that teaches us the truth and turns us toward God, why do we not thank and praise it for the work it does for us?

So beginning at the very first, if anything happened that disappointed me or caused me pain, instantly my soul asked, ‘What did you come here for? Was it honour, distinction, favours, or pleasure?’ And promptly the answer came:

I was thinking of something that was coming into my life that filled me with apprehension. I knew that is was not the will of God that I should be saved from the experience. Even at that moment it was moving towards me. Suddenly God told me the prayer He would listen to, and I said quickly:

Keep yourself in a positive state of mind constantly, and fill your mind with thoughts of God. Act as you do when you want to make a dark room light. You do not fight with the darkness. You simply bring in the light, and the darkness is dispelled.

Yogananda’s greatest disciple was Sister Gyanamata.

She learned the way to God and went to God - to God alone! We must do the same.