Paramhansa
Yogananda
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 traveled throughout the
United States on what he called his "spiritual campaigns".
His enthusiastic audiences filled the largest halls in America.
Hundreds of thousands came to see the yogi from India. Yogananda
continued to lecture and write up to his passing in 1952.
Yogananda's initial impact was truly impressive. But his
lasting impact has been even greater. Yogananda's Autobiography
of a Yogi, first published in 1946, helped launch a
spiritual revolution throughout the world. His message was
nonsectarian and universal. Yogananda’s Guru, Swami
Sri Yukteswar, sent him to the West with the admonition,
“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
Yogananda taught that “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.”
The path of Kriya Yoga, which Yogananda called the ‘jet-airplane’
route to God, consists of ancient yoga techniques to hasten
the spiritual evolution of the student.
Ananda—Fulfilling Yogananda’s Vision
Swami Kriyananda and Paramhansa Yogananda
Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Yogananda, founded
Ananda Village outside Nevada City, California in 1968 to
fulfill Yogananda’s vision of "world brotherhood
colonies", or spiritual cooperative communities. Yogananda
envisioned a place where all people, not just monastics,
could devote themselves to living a divine life, dedicated
to practicing the teachings of yoga in every aspect of their
daily life.
Ananda Village has over 300 adult members and children.
Ananda Worldwide now includes world brotherhood colonies
in four American cities, and in Assisi, Italy. All residents
practice Yogananda’s teachings of meditation and apply
his principles to all facets of life in this world: business,
schools, relationships, healing, and much more. Ananda’s
Expanding Light retreat has been sharing these principles
for over 25 years.
Autobiography
of a Yogi (1946 edition) by Paramhansa
Yogananda, the complete online edition
We are pleased to offer the original Autobiography of
a Yogi, online. Every word of text, all the footnotes,
and all the original photos, just as Yogananda first presented
it. The print version of the Autobiography of a Yogi is
also available through Ananda's Online Store.
The
New Path by Swami Kriyananda, the complete
online edition
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.
Streaming
Video of Yoganandaji
This video features never-before-available film footage
of the great master, Paramhansa Yogananda. Filmed during
Yogananda's brief 1936 stopover in England, this is the
only video you can buy in which you can also him hear him
speak. Also, view rare footage of Yogananda performing a
wedding ceremony in 1932.
Paramhansa
Yogananda Photo Album
Enjoy this online photo album. Many unusual photos, mostly
from his trip to India in 1935-6.
Read
Articles by Yogananda
Regularly updated articles by Yogananda from his early talks
and magazines.
World Brotherhood
Colonies
The establishment of world brotherhood colonies was a long
time dream of Yogananda. He spoke enthusiastically up until
the very end of his life about this dream. In his Autobiography
of a Yogi he exclaimed, "An urgent need on this war-torn
earth is the founding, on a spiritual basis, of numerous
world brotherhood colonies."
Related
Autobiography
of a Yogi online edition
The New
Path online edition
Streaming Video
of Yogananda
Photo Album
of Yogananda
Articles by Yogananda
World Brotherhood
Colonies
