Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) was an Indian yogi, spiritual teacher, and pioneer in bringing Kriya Yoga and Eastern philosophy to the West. He is best known for his classic work, Autobiography of a Yogi, which combines personal memoir with deep spiritual insight, presenting a lifetime dedicated to meditation, self-realization, and the study of consciousness.
Autobiography of a Yogi chronicles Yogananda’s early life in India, his training under his guru, experiences with saints and sages, and his eventual journey to the United States to teach the principles of yoga and meditation. The book serves as a bridge between East and West, illustrating the universality of spiritual truth across cultures and traditions.
The text emphasizes self-realization, guiding readers to understand their true nature as divine consciousness. It introduces Kriya Yoga, a systematic meditation technique for accelerating spiritual growth, and shares accounts of miraculous experiences and synchronicities that demonstrate the tangible effects of living in alignment with higher principles. Yogananda also explores the interconnectedness of all beings, showing how unity, service, and love are essential components of spiritual awakening.
Through Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda highlights that spiritual practice is not separate from daily life. Meditation, ethical living, and devotion can be integrated into everyday responsibilities, allowing one to experience higher states of consciousness while remaining engaged with the world. His teachings continue to inspire seekers worldwide, bridging practical spiritual methods with deep mystical insight.
Yogananda founded the Self-Realization Fellowship, an organization dedicated to disseminating his teachings. Autobiography of a Yogi remains widely read, translated into numerous languages, and recognized as one of the seminal texts introducing Eastern spirituality to a global audience.
Reference Links:
https://www.yogananda-srf.org
https://www.autobiographyofyogi.org
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Paramahansa_Yogananda
https://archive.org/details/AutobiographyOfAYogi
https://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/ay/index.htm
