Autobiography of a Yogi

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Autobiography of a Yogi

Paramahansa Yogananda

1946

Autobiography of a Yogi is an autobiography of Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893-March 7, 1952) first published in 1946. Paramahansa Yogananda was born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India, into a Bengali Hindu family.Autobiography of a Yogi introduces the reader to the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his encounters with spiritual figures of both the Eastern and the Western world. The book begins with his childhood family life, to finding his guru, to becoming a monk and establishing his teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation. The book continues in 1920 when Yogananda accepts an invitation to speak in a religious congress in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He then travels across America lecturing and establishing his teachings in Los Angeles, California. In 1935, he returns to India for a yearlong visit. When he returns to America, he continues to establish his teachings, including writing this book.The book is an introduction to the methods of attaining God-realization and to the spiritual wisdom of the East, which had only been available to a few in 1946. The author claims that the writing of the book was prophesied long ago by the nineteenth-century master Lahiri Mahasaya (Paramguru of Yogananda) also known as the Yogiraj and Kashi baba. Before becoming a yogi, Lahiri Mahasaya’s actual name was Shyama Charan Lahiri.It has been in print for seventy years and translated into over fifty languages by Self-Realization Fellowship. It has been highly acclaimed as a spiritual classic including being designated by Philip Zaleski, while he was under the auspices of HarperCollins Publishers, as one of the “100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century.” It is included in the book 50 Spiritual Classics: Timeless Wisdom from 50 Great Books of Inner Discovery, Enlightenment and Purpose by Tom Butler-Bowdon. According to Project Gutenberg, the first edition is in public domain and at least five publishers are reprinting it and four post it free for online reading.The Autobiography of a Yogi takes the reader on a journey into the spiritual adventures of Paramahansa Yogananda. The book begins by describing Yogananda’s childhood family life to his search for his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, to the establishment of his first school, Yogoda Satsanga Brahmacharya Vidyalaya to his journey to America where he lectured to thousands, established Self-Realization Fellowship and visited with Luther Burbank, a renowned botanist to whom this book is dedicated.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Les Prairies Numeriques (28 October 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 2382748362
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-2382748367
Reading age ‏ : ‎ Customer suggested age: 17 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 440 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.81 x 1.91 x 21.01 cm
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ United Kingdom

Reviewer: Shailja
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Guide to self discovery through spirituality
Review: Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda is a fascinating read about his journey from childhood to becoming a spiritual teacher. It dives deep into yoga, self-discovery, and inner peace, with personal stories and wisdom that resonate across generations. The book has inspired people worldwide, including famous figures like Steve Jobs and George Harrison. If you’re curious about spirituality or looking for a guide to inner growth, this classic is definitely worth reading.

Reviewer: Archana Bajpai
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: must read
Review: The Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda is a spiritual masterpiece that takes readers on a journey through Eastern mysticism, self-realization, and the power of yoga. Yogananda shares his experiences with enlightened masters, miracles, and the deeper truths of existence, blending philosophy, science, and spirituality. His storytelling is both personal and profound, offering wisdom that transcends religious boundaries. The book introduces Kriya Yoga and explores the limitless potential of human consciousness. Inspiring and deeply transformative, it remains a must-read for seekers of spiritual growth, inner peace, and a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries.

Reviewer: ummehani
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good one
Review: International Bestseller – Autobiography of a Yogi is an insightful account of Paramahansa Yogananda’s life. As a spiritually enlightened individual, he brings lessons that are both inspiring and timeless. This classic has served generations and continues too, it’s a story of an ordinary boy becoming a prominent spiritual teacher who is now the ideal of millions. His ancient teachings help readers embark on a transformed and fulfilling life.A wonderful book!

Reviewer: Disha
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Must Read
Review: “Autobiography of a Yogi” by Paramahansa Yogananda is a spiritual memoir that explores his life, spiritual journey, and encounters with saints and sages. It introduces Kriya Yoga and offers practical wisdom, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the self and universe.

Reviewer: Prerna Shambhavee
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Highly recommended
Review: I just finished reading Autobiography of a Yogi and I’m still reeling from the experience! This book is a game-changer for anyone seeking personal growth, spiritual enlightenment, and a deeper understanding of themselves. Yogananda’s wisdom is timeless and universal, offering practical advice for everyday life. A must-read for anyone on a journey of self-discovery!

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Quality hard cover and print, great spiritual insights
Review: This is a must book every human must try to read early in their lives before the leave earth.

Reviewer: Can we attach a head rest with this model? If yes can we order one?
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: High quality, superb
Review: GOOD PRODUCT

Reviewer: Gokul
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Must read
Review: If you’re one looking for spiritual enlightenment in your life, this will be the right autobiography for you.The protagonist, Yogananda narrates his journey in such a way that it captivate us to nurture ourselves into a better individual; a spiritually enlightened individual. The teachings that can be derived from this classic can help us re-evaluate our lives and embrace brotherhood through divine knowledge.An effective, insightful and thought-provoking account!

Reviewer: Cliente Kindle
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The spiritual seeker should read this book to get in touch with a whole other world that spirituality emcompasses.Eye opener experiences and warm-hearted lessons!

Reviewer: Lynn
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I loved this book. It renewed my faith in God. Miracles are possible. The only true life is the spiritual life. I must continue to seek.

Reviewer: Parmantier
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Before reading this book, I didnt believe in God or miracles, it opened a whole new world to me ! Cant be thankful enough to know about Yogananda, Kriya Yoga and SRF. Life changing for me.

Reviewer: Eva
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: One of the fundemantal books when it comes to authentic spirituality

Reviewer: Nichanan Kesonpat
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A few months ago I met a guy at a work event and the conversation got to the topic of his meeting with Steve Jobs. He told me that two of them spent most of their encounter talking about this book. A little while later, a woman joined our conversation and it turned out that she too had read the book. I could see that the enthusiasm both of them shared for it was distinct from the usual “what-a-great-book-right?!” excitement. It was as if they had a shared secret or immediately established a deeper connection somehow. I later found out that Steve Jobs made a point to reread it every year, and made it a parting gift for all the attendees of his funeral. My interest was piqued.Meditation is a core theme in Autobiography of a Yogi. It was introduced to me at an early age thanks to my Buddhist upbringing. In recent years I’ve come to appreciate the practice outside the scope of organized religion, for the benefits it brings on its own in thought-clarity and groundedness.I seldom talk to people about their experiences in meditation let alone read a book about what a Yogi experiences. I see that some people have written off the book as soon as they encounter the many miracles that Yogananda has written of. So I’d like to offer my thoughts as I think his commentary on these events are insightful even if you struggle to believe that the miracles themselves actually took place. It invites a closer examination of our own biases and limited frames of thinking, and I think the world would be a better place if we increased our awareness of both.As an analogy, let’s look at the current pandemic. COVID-19 has made us acutely aware of how easily diseases can transmit. Before all this, what % of the population was constantly thinking about what bacteria or viruses they might be exposed to in daily life? The virus has been a microscope that forced us to take a closer look at our habits and systems, revealing flaws that we just couldn’t take the time to scrutinize before.Meditation serves as a microscope for our thinking. The habit of concentration releases you from the grip of your thoughts, allowing you to take a step back to see the bigger picture. Meditation disassociates us from our “thinking self”: the self that is influenced by things outside of our control, like helpless leaves in the wind. By taking a step back to *observe* our thoughts, like watching a movie as opposed to living it, we disidentify from the highs and lows that the protagonist is subject to. We are no longer leaves blowing back and forth at the mercy of the wind, but instead are merely observing the phenomenon whilst grounded in ourselves. Let the thoughts be, and then let the thoughts go. This is the first step towards inner peace.Luther Burbank, a renowned American horticulturist, had a nice cameo in Autobiography of a Yogi. I came across this quote of his that isn’t from the book but nicely illustrates the above point:”The God within us is the only available God we know, and the clear light of science teaches us that we must be our own saviours if we are to be found worth saving.”Terms like “God”, “the Infinite”, and “the Creator” come up frequently in the book. We have become accustomed to associating these words with institutional religion and so at a quick pass, your interpretation of them is at the mercy of whether or not you subscribe to these religious institutions. Only after grappling at what these words might mean for me personally (as someone who leans towards rationality over mysticism) did I begin to appreciate them in a new light.For me, this meant substituting the word “God” with the *ability to create* and the “Infinite” with *imagination and creativity*. Given the countless inventions and works of art that humans have produced throughout our history, I think we can agree that our ability to create and imagination exists despite the differences in our spiritual beliefs.In reading Luther Burbank’s quote above with this new framework, I interpret it as saying something along the lines of our own abilities to think and create is the only thing that we can rely on to survive and continue the progression of our species. We can access these abilities by tapping into our seemingly “infinite” creativity and imagination. This interpretation is nicely accompanied by JC Bose’s quote in the book:”The burning Indian imagination, which can extort new order out of a mass of apparently contradictory facts, is held in check by the habit of concentration. This restraint confers the power to hold the mind to the pursuit of truth with an infinite patience”In taking the time to sort out our inner lives through meditation, we clean the lens through which we navigate the external world, notice what’s broken, and look to our abilities to create to solve problems. Just as coronavirus made us aware of how powerful invisible-to-the-naked-eye things like viruses can be, meditation allows us to appreciate the subtle forces that shape our lives: how connected we are to each other, other species, and the environment, despite our thinking selves’ skewed focus on the differences.I can’t speak for the miracles in the book because I haven’t achieved even a fraction of the levels of awareness and fierce concentration of the people in it. I like to interpret the world through logic and facts. So as I was reading, I couldn’t help but attempt to make sense of Yogananda’s miraculous accounts through a scientific and evolutionary lens.If I were to travel back in time 50000 years and spoke about atoms, our hunter-gatherer ancestors would have probably thought I was crazy. If I travelled back 10000 years and spoke of gravity, I’d probably get similar reactions. Just because we can’t observe something (yet), does that mean it can’t exist?By writing these phenomena off I can’t help but think we’re subjecting ourselves to a species-level end-of-history-illusion. This is a psychological phenomenon where we think that the person we are at this moment in time is the person we’ll be for the rest of our lives, despite recognizing our significant maturity and growth from the past up until this point. Here’s a quote from Dan Gilbert explaining the phenomenon:The bottom line is, time is a powerful force. It transforms our preferences. It reshapes our values. It alters our personalities. We seem to appreciate this fact, but only in retrospect. Only when we look backwards do we realize how much change happens in a decade. It’s as if, for most of us, the present is a magic time. It’s a watershed on the timeline. It’s the moment at which we finally become ourselves. Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished. The person you are right now is as transient, as fleeting and as temporary as all the people you’ve ever been. The one constant in our life change.”If this is true for individuals, can we not extrapolate this to humankind as a whole? We appreciate the progress sapiens have made from being hunter-gatherers to farmers and peasants, then to bankers and engineers. Why should this be our end-state if there even is one? Science is a young field on the evolutionary time scale, so what might be scientific truths for the Homo-(maybe sapiens, maybe something else) tens of thousands of years from now might seem like miracles today. Fire probably seemed like a miracle to the cavemen that discovered it. Some of the accounts nevertheless were hard pills to swallow but this line of thought helped me keep an open mind.One of the things I appreciated most about the book was its lesson that, even though most of us will not reach yogic levels of awareness and concentration in our lifetimes, we can become happier and kinder to each other just by making an effort to keep our attention and egos in check. You don’t have to strive to thought-manifest yourself into teleporting to different cities, but you can “manifest” more positive relationships with people by recognizing that you have your own biases and agendas as much as they have theirs. By striving to first understand each other, we can reduce the conflicts that arise from misinterpreting someone’s intentions through the foggy lens of our own fears and biases.Yogananda recounted his life with joy and passionate confidence. My favourite chapters were the stories about his time with JC Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, and Luther Burbank (inventor, lawyer/ethicist, and botanist respectively). Admittedly at some points, it did feel like I was drinking from the firehose of his elated storytelling. For the more “out-there” accounts, the unique use of language and word-concatenation to describe his experiences in itself made those parts an interesting read at least.I gave the book 5 stars because it made me think about the points raised above. My personal philosophy has been greatly influenced by Meditations (Aurelius), Letters (Seneca), and Man’s Search for Meaning (Frankl). This book is a stark difference in tone but invited plenty of introspection nonetheless.

4.5

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