Devotional chanting, in which one’s attention is concentrated on singing to God, is a wonderful preparation for deep meditation. It calms, interiorizes, and focuses the mind, enabling the sincere devotee to dive more easily into concentrated communion with the Divine.

Stressing the potency of chanting, Yogananda wrote, “Sound or vibration is the most powerful force in the universe.”

Durga Mata was one of the early close disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda. She said: “Chanting, Master used to tell us, is one of the ways of realizing God. When you concentrate deeply on the words of the chant and the thought that is being expressed as you chant to God, your mind goes deeper and deeper into the actual perception of God. Chanting is a wonderful way to prepare the mind for the yoga meditation techniques taught by Master. . . . The importance and power of the habit of devotional chanting cannot be overestimated.”

• To learn more about the power of chanting and Yogananda’s book of Cosmic Chants; and to watch and hear samples of group chanting (kirtan), click here.

Paramahansa Yogananda: “He who chants these songs with great devotion, in solitude or in congregational singing, will later discover that the chants are repeating themselves in the subconscious background of his mind, bringing an ineffable joy even while he is in the thick of the daily battle of activity.”

“EVERYTHING ELSE CAN WAIT, BUT OUR SEARCH FOR GOD CANNOT WAIT.”