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Paramhansa Yogananda
(1893-1952, often misspelled "Paramahansa" Yogananda)
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 (right),
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.
 The
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."
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