“In the Bhagavad Gita our attention is focused on the role of Sri Krishna as the guru and counselor of Arjuna,
and on the sublime yoga message he preached as preceptor to the world — the way of righteous activity
and meditation for divine communion and salvation — the wisdom of which has enthroned him
in the hearts and mnds of devotees throughout the ages.”

                   —Paramahansa Yogananda

26 Soul Qualitites That Make Man God-like

Summarized by Paramahansa Yogananda’s Gita Commentary

FEARLESSNESS
The foundation for the spiritual life, having faith in God’s protection, justice, wisdom, mercy, love, and omnipresence

PURITY OF HEART
Transparency to truth. Freedom from attachment and repulsion to sense objects.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

STEADFASTNESS
…in seeking wisdom and practicing raga yoga. Applying scriptural wisdom and immersing oneself in the
growing peace born of regular meditation.

ALMSGIVING
Unselfishness and generosity to those in need and worthy.

SELF-RESTRAINT
Repetition of unwise sense experiences creates strong and destructive bad habits.

SACRED RITES
One’s whole life should be a sacred rite, with every thought and act purified by a reverent heart and
offered to the divine.

RIGHT STUDY OF SCRIPTURES
Redemption comes not from intellectual knowledge but from what one becomes by integrating that knowledge.

SELF DISCIPLINE
Restraint of appetite, including celibacy: training the body to withstand bodily discomfort. Transmuting material desires into spiritual aspirations.

STRAIGHT-FORWARDNESS
A quality of honorable men. Striving to be sincere. Free from deceit and guile, and open and candid.

NON-INJURY
“The avoidance of harm to any living creature in thought or deed,” except when obstructing evil or upholding righteousness.

TRUTHFULNESS
Honesty. Honoring truth in thought, speech and action. Words should always be sweet, healing, and beneficial to others.

ABSENCE OF WRATH
The quickest way to peace of mind. Being free from rage, animosity, and resentment.

RENUNCIATION
Willingly giving up passing sense pleasures for the sake of eternal joys. Living for truth without being emotionally involved in the drama of creation.

PEACEFULNESS
Tranquility is the nature of God and of each soul.

NON-CONDEMNATION
Not concentrating on the weakness of others and focusing on bettering oneself.

COMPASSION TOWARD ALL BEINGS
The Divine Mother aspect of God is overflowing with this quality. Feeling the suffering of others and trying
to alleviate it.

ABSENCE OF GREED AND ENVY
Mastery of one’s senses, without desires for gross pleasures. Tuning the mind to inner joys.

GENTLENESS
Kind, forbearing, patient. Without ill will toward anyone. The Universal Spirit is ever gentle with Her erring children.

MODESTY
Feeling shame at wrong doing and correcting oneself. The purity of modesty attracts its own virtuous kind.

ABSENCE OF RESTLESSNESS
Avoiding useless activities and nervousness. Keeping the mind busy with spiritual activities.

RADIANCE OF CHARACTER
Confidence, boldness, unassuming vibratory aura of goodness and a quiet outer expression of deep inner joy.

FORGIVENESS
Not inflicting or wishing to inflict punishment of those who harm or wrong you.

PATIENCE, OR FORTITUDE
Bearing misfortunes and insults with equilibrium. Being unshaken by events. Clinging to soul bliss.

CLEANNESS OF BODY AND PURITY OF MIND
Cleansing the body before meditation and being rid of mental taints of uncontrollable desires and restless thoughts prepares the mind for God.

NONHATRED
No thoughts of dislike or treachery even against enemies. Seeing God in all.

LACK OF CONCEIT
Absence of excessive pride. In humility, one is free from a sense of self-importance.