from Security in a World of Change (copyright Self-Realization Fellowship):
In the ultimate sense, you and I are neither man or woman, masculine or feminine. We are the transcendent soul, which knows no gender identification and only temporarily resides in a male or female form. Each of us is a part of God, endowed with all the qualities that flow from the Divine Being. So let us not be too much concerned as to whether we call God "Him," or "Her"; let us be more concerned with striving to exemplify godly ideals - eternal and universal love, compassion, kindness, wisdom - all of those qualities
that ideal in the feminine and those that are ideal in the masculine.
I was born in a female body, but I find it very difficult to think either as man or woman, because I know I am the soul, and so are all of you. Genuine equality springs from the soul; that is what we should focus on. In the sight of God, the two sexes are equal: Both are needed for life to go on; both possess attributes that are absolutely necessary for us to become balanced human beings. We should cultivate in ourselves a combination of masculine and feminine qualities. We need the tenderness and compassion that tend to be predominant in a woman, as well as the reason and "go get 'em" spirit usually more evident in man.
Many years ago Leopold Stokowski, famous symphony conductor and musician who was a devout follower of Paramahansaji, spoke to me while Guruji was in India. "There is something in Paramahansa Yogananda that I have admired ever since I first met him," he said, "and I would like so much to strive for that in myself."
"What is it?" I asked.
He replied, "He has the perfect balance between the qualities of male and female. You cannot think of him as man; you cannot think of him as woman. There is such a marvelous blend of compassion and love with wisdom and strength-those qualities that all of us should express."
If you study any great spiritual figure, certainly the Lord Jesus Christ, do you not see in their lives this perfect blend of masculine and feminine? God has given each one of us those qualities, and it is for us to bring them to the fore in our own personality.
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