--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The soul's first adventure is the fight…" description: "\"The soul's first adventure is the fight between two ideas: the wish to return to earth in a human form, and the desire to feel the freedom of having no..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg" --- # The soul's first adventure is the fight between two ideas… ![“The soul's first adventure is the fight between two ideas: the wish to return to earth in a human form, and the desire to feel the freedom of having no form.” quote by Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg) > “The soul's first adventure is the fight between two ideas: the wish to return to earth in a human form, and the desire to feel the freedom of having no form.” [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. The inner conflict between longing for earthly life and yearning for boundless freedom defines our spiritual journey. **In simple terms:** Choosing between human attachment and limitless freedom. Key Takeaway Embrace both desire and detachment. Themes spirituality identity freedom duality Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal meditation - creative expression - life decisions - spiritual practice Key Concepts nondualism self‑realization existential tension Questions to Reflect On - What does “no form” mean to you? - How can you honor both desires? A Different Perspective Balancing material life with spiritual aspirations can be difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-feel-262945/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Feel Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-freedom-666364/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Human form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-form/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Soul Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-adventure-3722313/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Faith is the soul's adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bridges/faith-is-the-soul-s-adventure/) [William Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bridges/) > [In youth we are plagued by desire; in later years, by the desire to feel desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/in-youth-we-are-plagued-by-desire-in-later-years-by-the-desire-to/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“It only wakes up the burning desire I always feel whenever I'm close to this man and the shadows of my fears back away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-witter/it-only-wakes-up-the-burning-desire-i-always-feel-whenever-i-m-close/) [Stephanie Witter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-witter/) > [Desire is the intangible quality that has more impact on success than talent, education, or IQ. You can't see desire, but you can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/desire-is-the-intangible-quality-that-has-more-impact-on-success-than/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [There is no desire that anyone holds for any other reason than that they believe they will feel better in the achievement of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-is-no-desire-that-anyone-holds-for-any-other-reason-than-that/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“Within the nature of every person is a desire to feel appreciated, to feel needed, and to be loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/within-the-nature-of-every-person-is-a-desire-to-feel-appreciated-to/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [“When we create a life based on what we think we are supposed to do rather than from our own heart's desire, we always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heatherash-amara/when-we-create-a-life-based-on-what-we-think-we-are-supposed-to-do/) [HeatherAsh Amara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heatherash-amara/) > [“We all have an innate desire to feel important, be special, and feel appreciated. Considering the universal drive to have those needs met, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/we-all-have-an-innate-desire-to-feel-important-be-special-and-feel/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [The Lord filled me with desire, and made me feel that I must be as much with Him alone as with souls in public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bonar/the-lord-filled-me-with-desire-and-made-me-feel-that-i-must-be-as/) [Andrew Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bonar/) > [“Very few humans desire to feel their pain because it is painful!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-aon-prakasha/very-few-humans-desire-to-feel-their-pain-because-it-is-painful/) [Padma Aon Prakasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-aon-prakasha/) > [I care how I feel and it is my desire to feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/i-care-how-i-feel-and-it-is-my-desire-to-feel-good/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“I am the melted cheese of desire. Please, feel free to double dip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-the-melted-cheese-of-desire-please-feel-free-to-double-dip/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Having begun to feel, people’s desire to feel grew. They wanted to feel more, feel deeper, despite how it sometimes hurt. People became addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/having-begun-to-feel-people-s-desire-to-feel-grew-they-wanted-to-feel/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Your desire is your prayer. Picture the fulfillment of your desire now and feel its reality and you will experience the joy of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/your-desire-is-your-prayer-picture-the-fulfillment-of-your-desire-now/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [When you dance, do you feel desire? Do you feel as if you were summoning up a greater energy? When you dance, are there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-dance-do-you-feel-desire-do-you-feel-as-if-you-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Adventure quotes > [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/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) [Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) [Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/) > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The soul's first adventure is the fight between two ideas: the wish to return to earth in a human form, and the desire to feel the freedom of having no form.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paramahansa Yogananda" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight-between-two-ideas-the-wish-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adventure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight-between-two-ideas-the-wish-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/paramahansa-yogananda-556_adventure_the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight_672543.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The soul's first adventure is the fight between two ideas: the wish to return to earth in a human form, and…” — 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 soul's first adventure is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight-between-two-ideas-the-wish-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-soul-s-first-adventure-is-the-fight-between-two-ideas-the-wish-to/#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 } } ] } ```