Editing Francis Younghusband (section)

== Spiritual life ==

Biographer [[Patrick French]] described Younghusband's religious belief as one who was
<blockquote>brought up an [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] Christian, read his way into [[Leo Tolstoy|Tolstoyan]] simplicity, experienced a revelatory vision in the mountains of Tibet, toyed with [[telepathy]] in [[Kashmir]], proposed a new faith based on virile [[racial theory]], then transformed it into what [[Bertrand Russell]] called 'a religion of atheism.'<ref>French, p.313.</ref></blockquote> Ultimately he became a spiritualist and "premature hippie" who "had great faith in the power of [[cosmic ray]]s, and claimed that there are extraterrestrials with translucent flesh on the planet [[Altair]]."<ref>French, p. xx</ref>

Younghusband described having a mystical experience during his retreat from Tibet, which he said instilled him with a profound sense of 'love for the whole world and convinced him that "men at heart are divine".<ref>quoted in French, p. 252.</ref> This conviction was tinged with regret for the invasion of Tibet, and eventually, in 1936, profound religious convictions invited a founder's address to the [[World Congress of Faiths]] (in imitation of the [[World Parliament of Religions]]). Younghusband published a number of books with titles including ''The Gleam: Being an account of the life of Nija Svabhava, pseud.'' (1923); ''Mother World (in Travail for the Christ that is to be)'' (1924); and ''Life in the Stars: An Exposition of the View that on some Planets of some Stars exist Beings higher than Ourselves, and on one a World-Leader, the Supreme Embodiment of the Eternal Spirit which animates the Whole'' (1927). The last drew the admiration of Lord [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Baden-Powell]], the Boy Scouts founder.<ref>French, p. 321</ref> Younghusband explored speculative concepts such as [[pantheism]], a Christlike 'world leader' residing on the planet 'Altair,' and ideas reminiscent of the [[Gaia hypothesis]], exploring the theology of spiritualism, and guidance by means of telepathy.

In his book ''Within: Thoughts During Convalescence'' (1912), Younghusband stated:

<blockquote>We are giving up the idea that the Kingdom of God is in Heaven, and we are finding that the Kingdom of God is within us. We are relinquishing the old idea of an external God, above, apart, and separate from ourselves; and we are taking on the new idea of an internal spirit working within us – a constraining, immanent influence, a vital, propelling impulse vibrating through us all, expressing itself and fulfilling its purpose through us, and uniting us together in one vast spiritual unity.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Drake, Durant|year=1919|title=Seekers After God|journal=[[The Harvard Theological Review]]|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/1507913.pdf|volume=12|issue=1|pages=67–83|doi=10.1017/S0017816000010294|jstor=1507913|s2cid=162397265 }}</ref></blockquote>

Younghusband explored [[Eastern philosophy]] and [[Theosophy]] advocating for a non-anthropomorphic understanding of divinity.<ref name="Bowler 2001">Bowler, Peter J. (2001). ''Reconciling Science and Religion: The Debate in Early-Twentieth-Century Britain''. University of Chicago Press. pp. 391–393. {{ISBN|0-226-06858-7}}</ref> Taking influence from [[Henri Bergson]]'s ''Creative Evolution'', he proposed purpose in the cosmos through a creative [[Vitalism|life force]]. Younghusband's philosophy of cosmic spiritual evolution was outlined in his books ''Life in the Stars'' (1927) and ''The Living Universe'' (1933).<ref name="Bowler 2001"/> In the latter book he proposed the idea that the universe is a living organism. Younghusband held the view that spiritual forces in the universe are directing evolution and producing life and intelligence on many different planets.<ref name="Bowler 2001"/> Younghusband's philosophical ideas, such as cosmic spiritual evolution, received limited acceptance within the scientific community. He founded the World Congress of Faiths to promote dialogue between different religions.<ref name="Bowler 2001"/>

Younghusband allegedly believed in [[free love]] ("freedom to unite when and how a man and a woman please"), marriage laws examined as a matter of "outdated custom".<ref>French, p. 283</ref>

Association with [[Paramahansa Yogananda]]:
In July 1935, Sir Francis Younghusband introduced the Indian yogi and spiritual teacher, Paramahansa Yogananda, during a lecture at Caxton Hall in London. This event is detailed in Yogananda’s “[[Autobiography of a Yogi]],” where he describes his interactions with Younghusband.  

=== Fictional portrayal ===
One of Younghusband's domestic servants, [[Gladys Aylward]], became a Christian missionary in China. The [[Ingrid Bergman]] film ''[[The Inn of the Sixth Happiness]]'' (1958) is based on Gladys Aylward's life, with [[Ronald Squire]] portraying Younghusband.<ref>French., p. 364</ref>