Autobiography of a Yogi
by Paramahansa Yogananda
Autobiography of a Yogi, written by Paramahansa Yogananda, is a spiritual autobiography that chronicles the life of a renowned yogi and spiritual teacher. The book narrates the journey of Yogananda from childhood to his rise as a leading guru of the modern era.
Born in Gorakhpur, India in 1893, Yogananda was introduced to spirituality from a young age. He was deeply influenced by his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar, who became his spiritual mentor. Yukteswar taught Yogananda the art of Kriya Yoga, a spiritual path that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to achieve self-realization.
Yogananda's spiritual journey began when he was 17 years old. He had a profound experience of divine love and oneness with the universe during a meditation session with Yukteswar. This experience marked a turning point in his life, and he devoted himself fully to spiritual practices. As he writes, "The hours of meditation had brought an influx of divine love and light into my heart, and I felt the tremendous bliss of oneness with Sri Yukteswar".
During his journey, Yogananda also meets other spiritual masters, including Lahiri Mahasaya, a yogi who had mastered the art of Kriya Yoga and was living in a state of perfect union with the divine. Lahiri Mahasaya teaches Yogananda the principles of Kriya Yoga and the importance of living a simple, selfless life.
Yogananda's travels take him to the United States, where he becomes a leading figure in the international yoga movement. He establishes the Self-Realization Fellowship, a spiritual organization dedicated to spreading the teachings of Kriya Yoga and promoting world unity. Throughout the book, Yogananda shares numerous anecdotes and stories of his encounters with spiritual masters and ordinary people who have achieved great spiritual heights. He writes, "The devotee, in his initial stages, must learn to sacrifice his ego and his selfish desires, and to dedicate himself to the service of others".
The Autobiography of a Yogi has had a profound impact on many influential figures, including Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, who credited Yogananda's book with helping him find his spiritual path. Jobs was known to have carried a copy of the book with him at all times. Other notable figures, such as Aldous Huxley, J. D. Salinger, and George Harrison, have also been inspired by the book's teachings.
The Autobiography of a Yogi is a profound and inspiring spiritual text that offers insights into the nature of the self and the universe. Through his stories and teachings, Yogananda inspires readers to embark on their own spiritual journey and to seek the ultimate truth of the universe. As he writes, "The eternal Self, the divine spark within the human heart, is the ultimate goal of the yogic path".
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This has been on my reading list for a while. I started reading and felt the initial parts were extremely hard to believe and dropped it. Should give it another shot!