Stories from India, Volume 1

This treasury of Indian tales, illustrating both spiritual and practical truths, will delight both the casual reader and students of eastern thought. The short stories feature a wide range of characters from saints such as Tulsidas and Padmapada, to realized masters such as Buddha, and Radha (Krishna’s female counterpart), to common people, to lions and frogs! These stories were told by Parmahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi, and following each is a very brief explanation of its meaning. A helpful aspect of this collection, thoughtfully compiled by Nayaswami Maria McSweeney, is that the stories are organized by the qualities they illustrate, such as Love, Faith, Will-Power, and Courage.

This collection will appeal to many:  lovers of a good story, philosophers interested in the eastern viewpoint, teachers and speakers seeking an anecdote to illustrate a topic, and followers of both yogic and Buddhist traditions. And some will appeal to children too. 
-Usha

“Except ye . . . become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”(Matt. 18:3).

Stories have a way of bringing out a childlike openness within us, regardless of our age. In that openness, our heart and mind make connections that the intellect alone may miss. Through empathy and compassion, we relate to the characters and can apply the teachings they contain more readily to our everyday life. 

This book contains sacred gems, covering spiritually vital topics such as right action, courage, unconditional love, faith, wisdom, and much more. Each story, though short and simple, has a profound message for the sincere seeker. It is not enough to be inspired by spiritual truths. We have to be able to apply those teachings to our daily life. The message contained in each of these stories will give you the tools to do that, through the simple and ancient art of storytelling!
-Devalila

Awaken your heart and deepen your understanding of universal truths through this beautifully organized collection of stories told by Paramhansa Yogananda. Each story is rich with insights, and inspiration for the spiritual aspirant, bringing to life the essential qualities needed on the spiritual path. 

With a mixture of humor and imagination, these clever, original stories will engage and delight readers of all ages. The accompanying “wisdom gems,” including original inspirational guidance from Yogananda, sparkle with clarity and insight, bringing to light the essential lessons within each story to help deepen one’s understanding. This book is an enjoyable way to explore and reflect on universal principles like courage, devotion and non-attachment. A wonderful resource to return to again and again for continued inspiration, sharing and personal study.
-Erin