Selected Stories, Writings, and Talks on Yogananda’s Teachings

The Karmic Boomerang of Racism

(From the book: Essence of Self-Realization: Wisdom of the Great Master Paramhansa Yogananda - chapter 9; Crystal Clarity Publishers.)

A disciple: "Sir, if a white person is prejudiced against blacks, won't it follow that in his next life he himself will be born black?"

Paramhansa Yogananda laughed. "That's perfectly true! Aversion is just as strong a magnetic force as attraction.

"God is not impressed by human prejudices.
"Sometimes," he continued, "you see whole families who do nothing but fight amongst themselves. They were enemies before–attracted together into the same home, where now they must work out their hatred at close quarters!

"There is the story of a church in one of the southern states of America. It was a place where only white people were allowed to attend the services.

"Jim, the Negro janitor, wanted more than anything else to be permitted to worship with the congregation on Sunday mornings. 'Jim,' the minister explained to him, 'I'd love to have you join us. But if you did so, you know I'd lose my job.'

"One night Jim prayed broken-heartedly to Jesus, 'Lord, why can't I worship in there with the white folk?' After some time he fell asleep, and a vision was granted him: Jesus Christ appeared in a great light, smiling compassionately.

"'My son,' Jesus said, 'don't feel too badly. For twenty years I've been trying to enter that very church myself, and I haven't yet succeeded!'"

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