Touch of Joy (A Yogi’s Guide to Lasting Happiness)

This powerful collection of spiritual writings will change your life by guiding you through inspiration and new perspectives for facing life's challenges and living a life in joy. Drawing from the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda (author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi), Touch of Joy shares practical tools, instructive stories, and right attitudes to help you tap the wellsprings of joy within you.

Joy is an aspect of God, and is at the heart of our own soul nature. It is not to be found in outer fulfilments or gratifications, but exists without any cause. Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda and spiritual teacher of the authors, once said, "Joy is the solution, not the reward." To learn to live with joy under all circumstances, and not to wait only until conditions are to our liking, is the secret of a happy life.

Jyotish and Devi Novak are spiritual teachers, writers, and counsellors. They travel and lecture extensively throughout the world on the topics of yoga, meditation, family, and living the spiritual life. They ate disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda, (author of Autobiography of a Yogi, and have served together as spiritual directors of Ananda Worldwide since 1984. They are also members of the Nayaswami Order founded by Swami Kriyananda, the founder also of Ananda Worldwide. They are co-authors of Touch of Light.

What a laugh you have!" Bhaduri Mahasaya, a revered VV Indian saint, spoke these words to a young Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Having an impish, utterly delightful sense of humor, Yogananda would sometimes laugh so hard at an amusing incident that tears would flow down his cheeks.

Swami Kriyananda, his direct disciple and our lifelong teacher, told us many stories, including amusing ones, from the years he spent with the Master. Often while Yogananda was telling a joke, he would be so overcome with mirth that those present couldn't entirely understand what he was saying. Nevertheless, his waves of joy were no powerful that everyone would soon get swept away by them and begin roaring with laughter themselves.

The great master's nature was not a frivolous one, however. Swami Kriyananda said that even in the midst of hearty amusement, when he looked into Yogananda's eyes they were "so deeply calm, it seemed to me that I was gazing into infinity."

"Ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new bliss," or Satchidananda: this is how the great sages of India have described God. (It was Yogananda who added "ever-new" to the translation.) Joy is an aspect of God, and is at the heart of our own soul nature. It is not to be found in outer fulfillments or gratifications, but exists without any cause.

Swami Kriyananda once said, "Joy is the solution, not the re-ward." To learn to live with joy under all circumstances, and not to wait only until conditions are to our liking, is the secret of a happy life.

This book, Touch of Joy, is a compilation of our weekly blogs, "A Touch of Light," covering the years 2015-2016. Drawing from the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, we share practical tools, instructive stories, and right attitudes to help you learn to tap into the wellsprings of joy within you. (If you aren't already subscribing to our blog and are interested, you can sign up on ananda.org.)

Here are some helpful hints on how to draw the most from each individual "touch of joy" selection:

Read each one thoughtfully and slowly. Think about the core concepts until you find one that speaks to you personally. Then meditate on that thought until it percolates deep into your consciousness. Decide how you can apply it practically in your daily life. Finally, live it and share it!

In one of Swami Kriyananda's delightful songs, we find this good advice: "The secret of laughter lies in the laughing." We hope that Touch of Joy will help you to find your center of joy within. Once you've learned to laugh from your heart, your joy will touch the heart of everyone you meet.

**Contents and Sample Pages**