Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda

Autobiography of a Yogi

It requires a great deal of understanding, an unpolluted heart and above all a deep trust in supreme commander, the Lord of the universe to fully comprehend the message of Paramahansa Yogananda and to make an attempt to put forward a commentary about his master piece creation, “Autobiography of a Yogi.” Remembering Guruji, Paramhansa Yogananda with deep reverence, though I do not qualify the essential criteria to understand Swami Yoganandaji’s teachings, I am making a feeble attempt to express my gratitude to Swamiji for having made this classic spiritual biography available to the mankind. 

From the Publishers of Autobiography of a Yogi-Yogoda Satsanga Society of India .... “Named one of the 100 best spiritual books of the 20th century, Paramahansa Yogananda’s life story takes you on an unforgettable exploration of the world of saints and yogis, science and miracles, death and resurrection. With soul-satisfying wisdom endearing wit, he illuminates the deepest secrets of life and the universe-opening our hearts and minds to the joy, beauty and unlimited spiritual potential that exist in the lives of every human being.”

Shri Paramahansa Yogananda

Ancient India has produced many Masters (Rishis, Yogis, Saints) who had dedicated their entire lives in the quest for discovery of mysterious phenomenon of life, death, the self, the beyond and the eternal spirit, the cause of the entire universal phenomenon. Very little documented records are available about their lives and their mystical pursuits of such discoveries.  It has been a practice of the ancient rishis to pass on their secret knowledge to their devoted disciples through a bond of Guru-Shishya relationship (Teacher-Disciple relationship). The “Autobiography of a Yogi”, a graphical illustration of spiritual journey of Mukunda Lal Ghosh, a small boy to the Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda appears to be the only firsthand account of his life. Paramhansa Yogananda is considered as one of the brightest spiritual stars of the modern era. The writing of his biography has profoundly impacted the lives of millions and millions of people across the world. His comprehensive teachings on the science of Kriya Yoga meditation is considered as a super highway to speed up one’s journey to the highest goal of God realization. Paramhansa Yogananda in his teachings has firmly stressed on the fundamental unity of all true religions and the art of a balanced health and well-being of body, mind, and soul. The Autobiography of a Yogi is regarded as one of the world's most acclaimed spiritual classics and is presently celebrating seventy years of its publication. The Yogananda foundation, Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS, India), established in 1917 by Paramahansa to spread his messages and teachings is also celebrating presently the hundredth years of its foundation. The Autobiography of a Yogi has already been translated into forty five languages including many Indian and foreign languages. The book since its publication has been constantly serving as an ambassador for India's ancient science of Yoga introducing countless readers to the methods for attaining God-realization which was previously accessible only to a few. The story of its inimitable greatness inspiring people of all ages and regions continues its success in liberating the unlimited spiritual potential hidden within every human being.

 Virat Kohli

The Auotobiography has introduced the science of Yoga and Meditation to many prominent Indians as well as westerners and has inspired many people, such as Steve Jobs, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc., George Harrison, lead guitarist of The Beatles, Mariel Hemingway, an actress and many more. A recent addition to the long list is the Indian cricket team captain, the master blaster Virat Kohli who revealed that the reason behind his success with the bat in hand is the book titled, 'Autobiography of a Yogi' by Paramahansa Yogananda. Kohli also urged the people of the country to read the book and wrote on Instagram, "I love this book. A must read for all those who are brave enough to let their thoughts and ideologies be challenged. The understanding and implementation of the knowledge in this book will change your whole perspective and life. Believe in the divine and keep marching on doing good deeds”

Shri Yukteswar Giri

The Autobiography begins with early life of Mukanda Lal Ghosh (the family name of Yogananda) and traverse through his quest for spiritual life under the guidance of his Guru Shri Swami Yukteshwar Giri, becoming a monk and later establishing his Yoga Foundations in India and America to spread teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation worldwide. Yogananda was born in Gorakhpur (a place close to Himalaya Mountain) in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, on 5th January, 1893 to a pios Hindu, Kshatriya Ghosh family. In childhood, his mother would narrate him stories from Mahabharata and Ramayana, the great Indian epics. From a very younger age, Mukunda's awareness and experience of the spirituality was astonishing to his family.  As a young boy, he had a deep curiosity in the spiritual study from masters in the Himalayas and even once attempted an unsuccessful escape towards Himalaya. Mukunda’s inner voices were constantly reminding him that his utmost and true love was for God only. He met his Guru, Swami Shri Yukteswar Giri in 1910, at the age of 17. He described his first meeting with Yukteswar as a rejuvenating of a many past lives relationship. Mukunda finishes his schooling from Scottish Church College, Calcutta (modern day Kolkata) and graduation study under the guidance of his Guru Sri Yuketeswar who continued constantly guiding him to the world of spirituality and Kriya Yoga throughout his life. As his spiritual life grows, Mukunda experiences more and more extra ordinary events that may be classified as super natural. In the process of his spiritual development, he becomes a true swami and monk, and his name is changed to Yogananda, with the title of Paramahansa being added to him later, an honor bestowed by Yukteswar. Another householder Yogi,

Shri Lahiri Mahasaya

Shyama Charan Lahiri, a disciple of Mahavtar Babaji (a living saint in Himalayas) known as Lahiri  Mahasaya was Guru of Shri Yukteswar Giri who had initiated him into the path of Kriya Yoga. Yogananda wrote in his Autobiography that Lahiri Mahasaya was chosen by Mahavatar Babaji to reintroduce the lost practice of Kriya Yoga to the world. The Autobiography continues in 1920 when Yogananda accepts an invitation to speak in a religious congress in Boston, USA and travels across America lecturing and establishing his teachings in Los Angeles, California. In 1935 he returns to India for a yearlong visit. Back in India Yogananda’s life journey leads him to meet the Hindu saint Ananda Moyi Ma, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Noble Prize winning physicist Sir C. V. Raman and Giri Bala, the woman yogi who never eats." When he returns to America, he continues to establish his teachings, including writing his autobiography. Yogananda established an international center for Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) in Los Angeles, California, which became the spiritual

Shri Babaji

and administrative head quarter of his growing work. Yogananda was the first Hindu teacher of yoga to spend a major portion of his life in America. He lived there from 1920-1952, interrupted by an extended trip abroad in 1935-36.  In 1936, while Yogananda was visiting Calcutta, his Guru, Yukteswar attained mahasamadhi in the town of Puri, in the state of the present day Odisha. Yogananda immediately reaches Puri deeply saddened and conducts the solemn last rites of his Guru. Later, while in Bombay, (present day Mumbai in India) Yogananda leads the readers to the resurrection of his Guru Yukteswar in a glorious form and enlightening him about the secrets of life after death in the magnificent astral world.

After returning to America, Yogananda continued his pursuit of teaching Kriya Yoga, offering spiritual lectures, writing, and establishing  ashrams in America. He sets up his residence at the SRF hermitage in Encinitas California which was a surprise gift from his disciple Rajarshi Janakananda . It was here whwre Yogananda wrote his famous Autobiography of a Yogi and other writings. Also at this time he created an "enduring foundation for the spiritual and humanitarian work of Self‑Realization Fellowship."

The last four years of his life were spent primarily in privacy with some of his close inner circle of disciples at his desert ashram in  Twenty nine Palms California to finish his writings and to finish revising books, articles and lessons written previously over the years. During this period he gave few interviews and public lectures. He told his close disciples, "I can do much more now to reach others with my pen."

On March 7, 1952, Paramhansa Yogananda passed away in Los Angeles from an acute coronary occlusion, just after speaking at a banquet in honor of the Indian Ambassador to the US, Binay Ranjan Sen, and his wife at the Bilttmore Hotel in Los Angeles. In his last speech he said, “Somewhere between the two great civilizations of efficient America and spiritual India lies the answer for a model world civilization.” According to an eyewitness, Daya Mata, a direct disciple of Yogananda, who was head of the Self-Realization Fellowship from 1955 to 2010 - as Yogananda ended his speech, he read from his poem “My India”, concluding with the words "Where Ganges, woods, Himalayan caves, and men dream God-I am hallowed; my body touched that sod. "As he uttered these words, he lifted his eyes to the Kutastha center (the Ajna Chakra, a point between two eyebrows), and his body slumped to the floor." Followers say that he entered mahasamadhi.

Paramahansa Yogananda's schools and worldwide centers for Self-Realization Fellowship offers step by step guide and training for energizing the body, mind and soul of seekers and leads  them to God realization through the practice of Kriya Yoga. His disciples and followers are continuously growing worldwide and inspiring ordinary persons to become great spiritual seekers. YSS/SRF offers Yogananda’s original teachings through series of lessons through postal correspondence and initiate seekers to the scientific techniques of Kriya Yoga to attain direct personal experience of God through its various centres located worldwide.

Excerpts from the Chapter, “The Science of Kriya Yoga”

“The yogic science is based on an empirical consideration of all forms of concentration and meditation exercises. Yoga enables the devotee to switch off or on, at will, life current from the five sense telephones of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Attaining this power of sense-disconnection, the yogi finds it simple to unite his mind at will with divine realms or with the world of matter. No longer is he unwillingly brought back by the life force to the mundane sphere of rowdy sensations and restless thoughts. Master of his body and mind, the Kriya Yogi ultimately achieves victory over the “last enemy,” death.”

“An Experience in Cosmic Consciousness…… My body became immovably rooted; breath was drawn out of my lungs as if by some huge magnet. Soul and mind instantly lost their physical bondage, and streamed out like a fluid piercing light from my every pore. The flesh was as though dead, yet in my intense awareness I knew that never before had I been fully alive. My sense of identity was no longer narrowly confined to a body, but embraced the circumambient atoms. People on distant streets seemed to be moving gently over my own remote periphery. The roots of plants and trees appeared through a dim transparency of the soil; I discerned the inward flow of their sap.”

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