A Quote by Paramahansa Yogananda on meditation, service, karma, self realization, bhagavad gita, yogananda, and nirvikalpa

The inactive man does not do his duty to his Creator or to the society that maintains him.  The recluse who devotes his entire life to sincere effort in meditation fulfills part of his duty by trying to find and love God, and thus,spiritualize his own life.  To improve oneself is to help society by the example of virtue and by making at least one of its members good!  

But the yogi (monastic or householder) who does his duty to God, and also to the world through some form of uplifting service, is the most highly evolved type of being.  He becomes a master (asiddha) when by such dutiful action he attains the supreme inactive state (nirvikalpa God-union), which is free from karmic effects of actions and is filled with the bliss of Spirit.