--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The entire universe is God's cosmic…" description: "\"The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are merely actors in the divine play who change roles through reincarnation; m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg" --- # The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and… ![“The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are merely actors in the divine play who change roles through reincarnation; mankind's deep suffering is rooted in identifying too closely with one's current role, rather than with the movie's director, or God.” quote by Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg) > “The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are merely actors in the divine play who change roles through reincarnation; mankind's deep suffering is rooted in identifying too closely with one's current role, rather than with the movie's director, or God.” [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. Life is a divine film; we play roles, but true identity is the director, not the character. **In simple terms:** We are actors, not the story itself. Key Takeaway Remember your deeper self beyond roles. Themes spirituality identity reincarnation Mood reflective serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - meditation - life purpose - role transitions Key Concepts philosophy metaphysics ego divine play Questions to Reflect On - What role are you clinging to? - How can you connect with the director within? A Different Perspective Focusing on roles can cause attachment and suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) [Cosmic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cosmic/) [Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [God Cosmic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-cosmic-3641367/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Motion picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-picture/) [Motion pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motion-pictures/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Reincarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reincarnation/) [Reincarnation Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reincarnation-mankind-6012234/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Reincarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-reincarnation-6012233/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Universe God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe-god/) ## Related quotes > [I think I'm innocently representing a certain belief in motion pictures, and, well OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-luc-godard/i-think-i-m-innocently-representing-a-certain-belief-in-motion/) [Jean-Luc Godard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-luc-godard/) > [In the depths of the mirror the evening landscape moved by, the mirror and the reflected figures like motion pictures superimposed one on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasunari-kawabata/in-the-depths-of-the-mirror-the-evening-landscape-moved-by-the-mirror/) [Yasunari Kawabata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasunari-kawabata/) > [It's very difficult to break into motion pictures, but it's oddly easier for directors today because of independent films and cable, who have inherited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rydell/it-s-very-difficult-to-break-into-motion-pictures-but-it-s-oddly/) [Mark Rydell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rydell/) > [The conscience of America seems to be paralyzed... We seem to be insensible to the things that are now taking place on motion picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-conscience-of-america-seems-to-be-paralyzed-we-seem-to-be/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I've been blessed. I have no complaints. I've been surrounded by people in radio, on stage and in motion pictures and television who love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-york/i-ve-been-blessed-i-have-no-complaints-i-ve-been-surrounded-by-people/) [Dick York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-york/) > [The motion picture made in Hollywood, if it is to create art at all, must do so within such strangling limitations of subject and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-motion-picture-made-in-hollywood-if-it-is-to-create-art-at-all/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [The Jews are one of the principle forces attempting to lead the U.S. into the war. The Jews greatest danger to this country lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/the-jews-are-one-of-the-principle-forces-attempting-to-lead-the-u-s/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The thing about a motion picture is that look of film on a big screen takes you into a magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/the-thing-about-a-motion-picture-is-that-look-of-film-on-a-big-screen/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [The art of motion pictures is pictorial and language comes a distant second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-annaud/the-art-of-motion-pictures-is-pictorial-and-language-comes-a-distant/) [Jean-Jacques Annaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-annaud/) > [Life is like a motion picture, everything is like a movie. In one of my rhymes I say, "My life is like a movie/Directed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-louie/life-is-like-a-motion-picture-everything-is-like-a-movie-in-one-of-my/) [King Louie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-louie/) > [If you ever go to a music session, you'll notice that the musicians can sit down and start playing right away, and everyone knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-you-ever-go-to-a-music-session-you-ll-notice-that-the-musicians/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I began my career creating art for an animated feature film, and it has been a life-long dream to tell some of the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/i-began-my-career-creating-art-for-an-animated-feature-film-and-it/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [Things danced on the screen do not look the way they do on the stage. On the stage, dancing is three-dimensional, but a motion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/things-danced-on-the-screen-do-not-look-the-way-they-do-on-the-stage/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [Instead of agitating for war, the Jewish groups in this country should be opposing it in every possible way, for they will be among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/instead-of-agitating-for-war-the-jewish-groups-in-this-country-should/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Lenin in 1921 observed very presciently that motion pictures were the most powerful tool ever invented to shape the way we thought. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/lenin-in-1921-observed-very-presciently-that-motion-pictures-were-the/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) ## 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 Actors quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [When we watch a film as actors, you have to understand that we always see much more than what's on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/when-we-watch-a-film-as-actors-you-have-to-understand-that-we-always/) [Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/) > [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [American actors are coy. We all have pricks and cunts, or are you different from the rest of us?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/american-actors-are-coy-we-all-have-pricks-and-cunts-or-are-you/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) [Browse all 11,394 Actors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actors/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are merely actors in the divine play who change roles through reincarnation; mankind's deep suffering is rooted in identifying too closely with one's current role, rather than with the movie's director, or God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paramahansa Yogananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-motion-picture-and-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Actors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-motion-picture-and-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/paramahansa-yogananda-556_actors_the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-moti_2400893.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The entire universe is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are merely actors in the divine…” — 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": "The entire universe is God's cosmic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-motion-picture-and-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-entire-universe-is-god-s-cosmic-motion-picture-and-that/#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 } } ] } ```