Paramhansa Yogananda, 1893 – 1952, was the first yoga master of India to take up permanent residence in the West. Yogananda arrived in America in 1920, and proceeded to travel throughout the United States on what he called his “spiritual campaigns.”
Hundreds of thousands filled the largest halls in major American cities to see the yoga master from India. Yogananda continued to lecture and write up to his passing in 1952.
Yogananda’s initial impact on the western culture was truly impressive. But his lasting spiritual legacy has been even greater. His Autobiography of a Yogi, first published in 1946, helped launch a spiritual revolution in the West. Translated into more than a dozen languages, it remains a best-selling spiritual classic to this day.
Yogananda’s message was nonsectarian and universal. Before embarking on his mission to the West, he received this admonition from his teacher, Swami Sri Yukteswar:
“The West is high in material attainments, but lacking in spiritual understanding. It is God’s will that you play a role in teaching mankind the value of balancing the material with an inner, spiritual life.“
The Path of Self Realization
The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul’s power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God. —Paramhansa Yogananda from The Essence of Self-Realization.
The lasting contribution brought by Yogananda to the West is the non-sectarian, universal spiritual path of Self-Realization.
Yogananda gave this definition to the term Self-Realization:
“Self-Realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that you are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that you do not have to pray that it come to you; that God’s omnipresence is your omnipresence; and that all that you need to do is improve your knowing.”
As the means of attaining this exalted spiritual state Yogananda initiated his followers into the ancient technique of Kriya Yoga, which he called the “jet-airplane route to God.”
Paramhansa Yogananda Resources
Ananda’s Online Store has several books written by Yogananda, audio talks by Yogananda, and video footage of the Master. We also offer many other resources, including books about Yogananda by several direct disciples: Swami Kriyananda, Hare Krishna Ghosh (Yogananda’s nephew), Peggy Dietz, Meera Ghosh, Devi Mukherjee, and others.
Autobiography of a Yogi (Original 1946 Edition)
A book about masters of yoga and saints, written by someone who was himself a master of yoga and a saint. This is an unusual and unique book.
Autobiography of a Yogi talks about miracles, the yogic teachings, and the teachings of Jesus Christ in a modern way — a way that is easy to understand and even entertaining. For someone interested in spirituality, or even just alternate ways of looking at life, it’s incredibly illuminating.
The print version of the Autobiography of a Yogi is also available through Ananda’s Online Store.
The New Path: My Life with Parmahansa Yogananda by Swami Kriyananda
Many consider this book by Yogananda’s disciple to be like a sequel to the Autobiography of a Yogi. There are hundreds of stories and personal experiences shared by Kriyananda about his Guru and spiritual teacher.
