Home
Buy Spiritual Books, Tapes, CDs & Sacred Art
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Paramahansa
Yogananda
(1893-1952, India)
Biography Excerpt:
Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the 1946 classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, was born in India, trained in yoga, and sent to the West by his gurus. Babaji, the youthful and immortal guru of his lineage, instructed Yogananda “You are the one I have chosen to spread the message of Kriya Yoga in the West.” Yogananda’s gentle, sweet, and beautiful face led audiences to be quite surprised to hear his bellowing voice, as deep as the ocean of consciousness in which he was so immersed. Yogananda charmed those in the west, most of whom were new to the teachings of India, in hundreds of venues across the country. It was in Los Angeles, in 1925, that he established Self-Realization Fellowship to facilitate the dissemination of his teachings. Before his death in 1952, Yogananda had initiated one hundred thousand people into the path of Kriya Yoga, during his more than thirty years in the United States.
Enlightenment Story Excerpt:
...A few mornings later I made my way to
Master's empty sitting room. I planned to meditate, but my laudable purpose
was unshared by disobedient thoughts. They scattered like birds before
the hunter.
"Mukunda!" Sri Yukteswar's voice sounded from a distant balcony.
I felt as rebellious as my thoughts.
"Master always urges me to meditate," I muttered to myself.
"He should not disturb me when he knows why I came to his room."
The third time his tone held rebuke.
"Sir, I am meditating," I shouted protestingly.
"I know how you are meditating," my guru called out, "with your mind distributed
like leaves in a storm! Come here to me." Thwarted and exposed, I made
my way sadly to his side.
"Poor boy, mountains cannot give you what you want."
Master spoke caressingly, comfortingly.
His calm gaze was unfathomable. "Your heart's desire shall be fulfilled."
Sri Yukteswar seldom indulged in riddles; I was bewildered. He struck gently
on my chest above the heart.