--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is spiritual poverty, not material…" description: "\"It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.\" — Paramahansa Yogananda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg" --- # It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at… ![“It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.” quote by Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg) > “It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.” [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual emptiness, not material shortage, is the root of suffering. **In simple terms:** Spiritual lack causes suffering. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner richness. Themes spirituality poverty suffering Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - financial hardship - mental health Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What spiritual practices nourish you? - Can wealth ever replace purpose? A Different Perspective Material wealth cannot fill spiritual void. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Core](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core/) [Human suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-suffering/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Material](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-material-894978/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-poverty/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Possession of material riches, without inner peace, is like dying of thirst while bathing in a lake. If material poverty is to be avoided,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/possession-of-material-riches-without-inner-peace-is-like-dying-of/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“We are asked to orient our “strategies” and “tactics” around poverty and material immiseration at a time when revolutionary sentiment is being generated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/we-are-asked-to-orient-our-strategies-and-tactics-around-poverty-and/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [“Real poverty is when hunger pangs force from my mind all thoughts but those of food. Real poverty is when the children are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-hancock/real-poverty-is-when-hunger-pangs-force-from-my-mind-all-thoughts-but/) [Maxine Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-hancock/) > [Materialism blinds us to our spiritual poverty. Jesus rebuked the Laodicean Christians because although they were materially wealthy, they were desperately poor in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/materialism-blinds-us-to-our-spiritual-poverty-jesus-rebuked-the/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [“Even if materialism brought happiness in this life (which it certainly does not), it would leave us woefully unprepared for the next.   Materialism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/even-if-materialism-brought-happiness-in-this-life-which-it-certainly/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) > [The more opulent a temple, the more miserable is the spirit that lives in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/the-more-opulent-a-temple-the-more-miserable-is-the-spirit-that-lives/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [I do not believe that we should create an atheist culture - I think it leads to debauchery, and I think it leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-cawthorn/i-do-not-believe-that-we-should-create-an-atheist-culture-i-think-it/) [Madison Cawthorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-cawthorn/) > [Ours is not a problem of the intellect but of spiritual poverty. That is why we need a Savior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/ours-is-not-a-problem-of-the-intellect-but-of-spiritual-poverty-that/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“REVIEW: Like a master artisan, Weisberger weaves together threads of anthropology, botany, ecology and psychology in an inspiring tapestry of ideas sure to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathon-miller-weisberger/review-like-a-master-artisan-weisberger-weaves-together-threads-of/) [Jonathon Miller Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathon-miller-weisberger/) > [When a society lacks God, even prosperity is joined by a terrible spiritual poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-a-society-lacks-god-even-prosperity-is-joined-by-a-terrible/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The tyranny of relativism is the spiritual poverty of our time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-tyranny-of-relativism-is-the-spiritual-poverty-of-our-time/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The blind faith turns the spirit dumb and deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/the-blind-faith-turns-the-spirit-dumb-and-deaf/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [We may excuse the spiritual poverty of our preaching in many ways, but the true secret will be found in the lack of urgent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/we-may-excuse-the-spiritual-poverty-of-our-preaching-in-many-ways-but/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [It takes intelligence and training, self-discipline and fine-sensibility, to gain renewed life through leisure occupation. America now suffers spiritual poverty, and art must become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/it-takes-intelligence-and-training-self-discipline-and-fine/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [“An essential clue to the understanding of poverty in liberation theology is the distinction, made in the Medellín document "Poverty of the Church," between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-gutierrez/an-essential-clue-to-the-understanding-of-poverty-in-liberation/) [Gustavo Gutiérrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustavo-gutierrez/) ## More by Paramahansa Yogananda > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [He who is persistent will realize God. So try your best to make meditation a regular experience in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/he-who-is-persistent-will-realize-god-so-try-your-best-to-make/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Truth is exact correspondence with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/truth-is-exact-correspondence-with-reality/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [We should bathe our spirits in the deep, pure feeling that stirs within us when we gaze on the glories of His creation. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/we-should-bathe-our-spirits-in-the-deep-pure-feeling-that-stirs/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts, only you can change them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/since-you-alone-are-responsible-for-your-thoughts-only-you-can-change/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that ‘something else' he hopes will bring him happiness, complete and unending.For those individual souls who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/mankind-is-engaged-in-an-eternal-quest-for-that-something-else-he/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Just as oil is present in every part of the olive, so love permeates every part of creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/just-as-oil-is-present-in-every-part-of-the-olive-so-love-permeates/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The mother's love is not given to us to spoil us with indulgence, but to soften our hearts, that we may in turn soften…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-mother-s-love-is-not-given-to-us-to-spoil-us-with-indulgence-but/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“If one busies himself with an outer display of scriptural wealth, what time is left for silent inward diving after the priceless pearls?” Sri”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-one-busies-himself-with-an-outer-display-of-scriptural-wealth-what/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [When you meditate the glory of the Divine shines forth. You realize then that all along there was something tremendous within you and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/when-you-meditate-the-glory-of-the-divine-shines-forth-you-realize/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [He who knows his soul knows this truth: " I am beyond everything finite; I I now see that the Spirit, alone in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/he-who-knows-his-soul-knows-this-truth-i-am-beyond-everything-finite/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Possession of material riches, without inner peace, is like dying of thirst while bathing in a lake. If material poverty is to be avoided,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/possession-of-material-riches-without-inner-peace-is-like-dying-of/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“Physicians must carry on their work of healing through God’s laws as applied to matter.” But he extolled the superiority of mental therapy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/physicians-must-carry-on-their-work-of-healing-through-god-s-laws-as/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [If you have a strong mind and plant in it a firm resolve, you can change your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-you-have-a-strong-mind-and-plant-in-it-a-firm-resolve-you-can/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) [Explore all 466 Paramahansa Yogananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) ## More Core quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Mass adulation from the multitudes does not penetrate your soul or your core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-o-donnell/mass-adulation-from-the-multitudes-does-not-penetrate-your-soul-or/) [Rosie O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-o-donnell/) > [I think we all have a core that's ecstatic, that knows and that looks up in wonder. We all know that there are marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-barks/i-think-we-all-have-a-core-that-s-ecstatic-that-knows-and-that-looks/) [Coleman Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-barks/) > [A classic is like a hidden treasure. Its core is buried under so many layers of varnish that it can be reached only by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-louis-barrault/a-classic-is-like-a-hidden-treasure-its-core-is-buried-under-so-many/) [Jean-Louis Barrault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-louis-barrault/) > [I was taking all prints and I brought them to the Magnum meetings, trying the old Josef Koudelka trick: Give them to photographers, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-van-agtmael/i-was-taking-all-prints-and-i-brought-them-to-the-magnum-meetings/) [Peter van Agtmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-van-agtmael/) > [Love is the supreme form of communication. In the hierarchy of needs, love stands as the supreme developing agent of the humanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/love-is-the-supreme-form-of-communication-in-the-hierarchy-of-needs/) [Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/) > [I think if something resonates, even if it's surreal, it's because it is relatable and I think that that's a core issue for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-think-if-something-resonates-even-if-it-s-surreal-it-s-because-it/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [Consider the core of the mind to be a wagon, with will-power to be carried about in it. Push it to a place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takuan-soho/consider-the-core-of-the-mind-to-be-a-wagon-with-will-power-to-be/) [Takuan Soho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takuan-soho/) > [Sports have always been a huge part of my life and my conversations. It is a thrill and an honor to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/sports-have-always-been-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-my-conversations/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/most-of-us-think-of-pride-as-self-centeredness-conceit-boastfulness/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) [Browse all 1,833 Core quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paramahansa Yogananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lack-that-lies-at-the-core-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Core" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lack-that-lies-at-the-core-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/142/paramahansa-yogananda-556_core_it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lac_565505.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is spiritual poverty, not material lack, that lies at the core of all human suffering.” — Paramahansa Yogananda", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paramahansa Yogananda", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is spiritual poverty, not material...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lack-that-lies-at-the-core-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/it-is-spiritual-poverty-not-material-lack-that-lies-at-the-core-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```