Paramhansa Yogananda
The Great Master of Kriya Yoga
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Self-realized masters have a unique capacity to help those who are seeking inner peace and higher awareness. Yogananda was so helped by his spiritual predecessors, a story which he enchantingly tells in his Autobiography of a Yogi. Upon their request, he came to the Western world to help hundreds of thousands of people in their spiritual search. He gave these teachings impartially to people of all religions and philosophical persuasions, including atheists.
What Yogananda taught in the West was not religion, but practical spirituality. The techniques he taught are useful in all fields of human activity. They are based on methods of Self-awareness and Self-discovery which have been used by spiritual seekers for millennia. These practices include techniques for increasing the flow of vital energy into the body, for harmonizing body and mind with soul and spirit, and for entering higher states of spiritual awareness, which he called “superconsciousness.”
Yogananda came to Boston in 1920 as India’s representative to the Congress of Religious Liberals, where he presented a talk entitled, “The Science of Religion.” He established his first center in Boston, and began to give conferences and classes in Self-realization throughout the United States. His lectures were very well received, often attended by thousands of people in some of the largest halls in America.
In 1925 he established his headquarters in Los Angeles and continued to lecture in many other cities. He wrote many books, most notably his autobiography and his commentaries on the original teachings of Jesus Christ (The Second Coming of Christ) and of Lord Krishna (The Bhagavad Gita).
By the time of his passing in 1952, he had hundreds of thousands of students and had established temples, centers, and meditation groups throughout the country. His the most famous book is:
Autobiography of a Yogi
Original First Edition, Copyright 1946, by Paramhansa Yogananda
We are pleased to announce the online publication of the complete first edition of the Autobiography of a Yogi, with all its inherent power, just as the great Master of yoga first presented it. Written in 1946, it has been translated into nineteen languages and has touched the lives of millions. Yogananda’s extraordinary stories of saints and miracles are startling proof that we can personally and directly commune with God. Through this online version, we hope to make Yogananda’s spiritual treasure freely available to seekers throughout the world. To read its message of hope to all truthseekers is to begin a great adventure.
Yogananda’s Journey to Europe and India
Yogananda had thought many times about returning to India but the rapidly developing work kept his attention and his energies in America. He was traveling widely throughout the United States, giving lectures and seminars in many major cities. In 1925 he acquired Mount Washington and transferred the center of his operations from Boston. He wrote his early Yogoda Lessons from 1925 until 1934 and continued his lecture tours.
In 1934, he received the inner call from his Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar, to come soon to India to see him once again before his earthly departure. Leaving Mount Washington in the care of sisters Seva Devi, Gyanamata and Durga Mata, Yogananda left for Europe accompanied by his secretaries, Richard Wright and Ettie Bletsch, and by a Ford automobile.
Their journeys took them to these places: England (where Yogananda promised to return to speak in London), Scotland, France, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland. In Italy they visited Venice, Assisi, and Rome and embarked from Brindisi for Athens. From Greece they visited the Holy Land and Egypt where they embarked for Bombay.
After arriving in Bombay, they stopped to see Mahatma Gandhi on their way to Calcutta where they were greeted by a large crowd. They visited Sri Yukteswar in Serampore and later went to southern India where they visited Bangalore (where Yogananda spoke to thousands of people), Mysore and Madras. They stopped to see Ramana Maharsi and also met Dr. Evans-Wentz and Paul Brunton.
Throughout this trip Yogananda gathered information and photographs for the autobiography which he would write in part to fulfill his promise to Sri Yukteswar to write about the life of Lahiri Mahasaya.
Yogananda paid much attention during this trip to organizing his work in India. With the help of his American students, he was able to purchase and secure the property at Ranchi where he established the Eastern Headquarters of his work. In Calcutta he established a lodging house for the Ranchi graduates who were attending university in Calcutta. He also made plans with his brother Sananda for the design and construction of Sri Yukteswar’s samadhi mandir at the Puri ashram.
On his return trip to London, Yogananda gave a lecture to an overflow crowd in Caxton Hall.
Richard Wright kept a diary of the journey and often wrote letters to Mt. Washington which were published in the magazines. Occasionally Yogananda also wrote letters. The ones we have been able to find are reprinted here along with a few other enjoyable items.
A PRAYER FOR PEACE ON EARTH by Paramahansa Yogananda
"Heavenly Father, Mother, Friend, Beloved God! May Thy love shine forever on the sanctuary of my devotion, and may I be able to awaken Thy love in all hearts.”
Close your eyes and concentrate deeply at the center of divine consciousness between the eyebrows. Feel the infinite love of God within your heart. Let your heart emanate that love for all the world. Pray deeply that the clouds of war fade away. Let us with all our hearts pray to God that His heavenly forces of goodness and love, ever subtly vibrating in the ether, be not overpowered in the hearts and minds of men by Satan’s suggestions of discord and enmity. For the forces of evil are aggressive, while the forces of good are humble and unassuming.
“Heavenly Father, bless our brothers and sisters living under the dark clouds of war, that they may be relieved from the obsession of Satan’s ignorance and hatred; and may Thine unassuming power of unifying love and peace conquer the aggressive forces of evil. We send out our deepest love for all, that they may receive Thy light of brotherhood and understanding, and be thereby guided to stop destroying each other and creating vibrations of evil that bring the mass karma of depression, catastrophe, and destruction all over the world.”
Feel that your love is going forth like an invisible X-ray, coursing through space into the hearts of the dictators and prime ministers and heads of all nations, that they may bring peace and international prosperity on earth instead of destruction. Include in the powerful radiation of your love all peoples of the world. May our united healing rays of love be surcharged by the infinite love of our Father and bathe the entire earth, permeating the hearts of all leaders and citizens of the world, that they may be filled with the universal amity and harmony of Spirit—bringing peace on earth, goodwill toward all, under the Fatherhood of God.
“Heavenly Father, bless the nations of the earth, our own large family, that all may realize their eternal kinship as Thy children. Thou art our one spiritual Father, the Beloved of the Universe and the Beloved of our hearts. May the strong thoughts of love we broadcast today possess the brains of the dictators and generals, that they may be filled with Thy wisdom, and so desist from working toward the common ruin of humanity. Bless them all. Bless all citizens of the earth, that they may establish a cooperative unity among all souls, and live in a united world with Thy power and light of love guiding us to Thy kingdom.”
Aum. Peace. Amen.
Paramhansa Yogananda
“The yogi who brought yoga to the West”
Born in India, Yogananda was the first yoga master to spend the majority of his life in America, revealing the truths and unity of all religions. His teachings were fresh, entertaining, and filled with deep insight. This combination made him extremely popular in a land ready for a new perspective of its ancient spiritual heritage, and for a practical approach to knowing God.
The Los Angeles Times wrote of him during one of his early lecture tours:
“The Philharmonic Auditorium presents the extraordinary spectacle of thousands being turned away an hour before the advertised opening of a lecture, with the 3000-seat hall filled to its utmost capacity. Swami Yogananda is the attraction. A Hindu invading the United States to bring God in the midst of a Christian community, preaching the essence of Christian doctrine.”
Yogananda for the World
Yogananda came to the West to bring the science of Kriya Yoga and a new interpretation of the great scriptures of East and West. However, his mission was not only for those disciples who were fortunate enough to be with him, but for the world, to uplift humanity as a whole.
Today, Yogananda’s teachings, with their non-sectarian approach, have inspired seekers throughout the world and brought many forward on the path to God-realization. His Autobiography of a Yogi has sold millions of copies and is published in many languages worldwide, making it the best-selling autobiography ever.
Paramhansa Yogananda:
“No one escapes persecution, for God wants to be sure of His devotee. One has to be willing to suffer opposition for choosing the spiritual path over the ways of the world."