Autobiography of a Yogi
I remember where I was when I first read Autobiography of a Yogi. I was in a café in Calangute, Goa (India).
Drinking a mango lassi I wandered over to a bookshelf where you could exchange one of your books for another. I passed on Crime and Punishment [by Fyodor Dostoevsky] for Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda. I went down to the beach and read about the early life of Yogananda, amazed by his exotic life. I read this book as a cow wandered by and I realized that there was so much India could teach me.
Wikipedia offers this description of Yogananda: “In 1920, he went to the United States aboard the ship City of Sparta, as India’s delegate to an International Congress of Religious Liberals convening in Boston. That same year he founded the Self-Realization Fellowship to disseminate, worldwide, his teachings on India’s ancient practices and philosophy of Yoga and its tradition of meditation. For the next several years, he lectured and taught on the East Coast and in 1924 embarked on a cross-continental speaking tour. Thousands came to his lectures. The following year, he established, in Los Angeles, California, an international headquarters for Self-Realization Fellowship, which became the spiritual and administrative heart of his growing work. Yogananda was the first Hindu teacher of yoga to make his permanent home in America, living there from 1920-1952, with the exception of his trip abroad in 1935-1936.”
At that time in Goa I had only vaguely heard of Yogananda. I am now completely in awe of what this man has achieved. His life is a testament to the greatness one can bestow upon oneself and others through the power of love.
With the release of the anniversary edition of Autobiography of a Yogi (now in paperback) there is the added bonus of a CD called Voice which features eight excerpts from his popular lecture series.
Yogananda’s words were a balm upon my heart and mind this morning as I listened to the CD. They reminded me once again that happiness is a choice and a state of mind which can be achieved when one has harmonized the body, mind, and spirit.
Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda’s bestselling autobiography was first published in 1946 to widespread acclaim. It continues to be a staple for those seeking an introduction to the mind of India and a modern day saint.
When I walk through the SRF grounds in Encinitas, I am reminded about the power of the mind and the soul to achieve true peace and joy on earth.
In this book Yogananda describes his youthful search for an enlightened teacher in turn-of-the-century India and then his 10 years in training at the hermitage of the revered spiritual master Sri Yukteswar Giri, as well as the 30 years he lived and taught in America.
Yogananda was devoted to his search for spiritual truth and the teachings of Kriya Yoga. He writes candidly about all aspects of his life, including the highlights, such as meeting Mahatma Gandhi and the Nobel Laureate Rabindranth Tagore.
Yogananda’s words are truly a gift to the world.Visit www.srfbooks.org for more information.—SLM