Paramahansa Yogananda - Indian yogi and guru - Kriya Yoga - Hinduism

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Paramahansa Yogananda
Indian yogi and guru

1893-1952

IParamahansa Yogananda
Indian yogi and guru

1893-1952

Indian yogi and guru who introduced
millions of Indians and westerners to
the teachings of meditation and Kriya
Yoga through his organization: Yogoda
Satsanga Society of India and
Self-Realization Fellowship.

Guru: Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, a
disciple of Mahavatar Babaji
Name: Mukunda Lal Ghosh

According to his younger brother,
Sananda, from his earliest years
young Mukunda's awareness and
experience of the spiritual was far
beyond the ordinary.

In 1910 Yogananda's seeking after
various saints mostly ended when,
at the age of 17, he met his guru,
Swami Yukteswar Giri.
He describes his first meeting with
Yukteswar as a rekindling of a relationship
that had lasted for many lifetimes:

"We entered a oneness of silence;
words seemed the rankest
superfluities. Eloquence flowed in
soundless chant from heart of
master to disciple ..."

Yukteswar saw that Yogananda was
destined to bring their teachings
(Kriya yoga etc) into the west -
specifically USA. So he prepared
him for that.

In 1920, Yogananda went to the
United States as India's delegate
to an International Congress of
Religious Liberals convening in
Boston. That same year he founded
the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF)
to disseminate worldwide his teachings
on India's ancient practices and
philosophy of Yoga and its
tradition of meditation.

He is well known for his book:
Autobiography of a Yogi.

In 1946, Yogananda published his
life story, Autobiography of a Yogi.
It has since been translated into
45 languages. In 1999, it was
designated one of the "100 Most
Important Spiritual Books of the
20th Century" by a panel of
spiritual authors.

Autobiography of a Yogi:
It can be found on Amazon from $2 (Kindle), $4 used, $15 (new paperback print) at:
https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Reprint-Philosophical-library-First/dp/1565892127/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=yogananda&qid=1558280655&s=gateway&sr=8-6

He took up residence at the SRF
hermitage in Encinitas (close to
La Jolla and San Diego), California
which was a surprise gift from
his disciple Rajarsi Janakananda.
It was while at this hermitage that
Yogananda wrote his famous
'Autobiography of a Yogi'.

Yogananda found some resistance in
the east coast, and then he discovered
California, that was his place! Very many
were influenced by him. The author
found still many traces from his teachings
and disciples in the 80's. But in general,
Yogananda was way ahead of his
times - in my humble opinion - and the
materialistic nature of the American culture
did not make it easy for him. Too often
people turn to spirituality or religion
just because of aging and the fear of
death, not because of the love for life.

Spirituality is easier when one starts
early on this path, a young person will
find it easy, and it will lay a foundation
for when his body ages, he will then
become more mature easily. But when
older, the habits are formed and its much
harder to get established in a new vision
of life.

Steve Jobs and Yogananda:
It is well known that Jobs had early spiritual
inclinations, he even travelled to India in
about 1974. One of Steve Jobs' last gifts
was left in a brown box and handed out
at his memorial service. Inside the brown
box was a copy of "Autobiography of a
Yogi" by Hindu guru Paramahansa Yogananda.

India both traumatized Steve Jobs
and changed his life. He returned to
Atari a Buddhist, and a more focused
and hardened individual.

Ref:
https://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/news/what-steve-jobs-did-in-india-35-years-ago-225246

We can say had jobs had some true
spiritual qualities - determination,
vision, focus and a revolutionary attitude.
In all his ventures he did something
new and extraordinary.

Yoganandas influence was immense
- and it keeps growing since his
books are readable and popular.
We will not try here to cover all his
achievements, there are too many.

A video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxVVYCEvOB8

Connections:
Yogananda met with Ghandi, Sri Ananda Mayi Ma, and Sri Ramana Maharishi in India.
His Guru: Swami Sri Yukteswar Gir was a disciple of Mahavatar Babaji (Name: Nagarajan, born about 1850?).
Yogananda gave a first-hand report of Yogananda's own meeting with the yogi in his
'Autobiography of a Yogi'. Babaji in turn was a disciple of Siddha Bhogarnathar in
Sri Lanka. Bhogarnathar inspired Nagaraj to seek his initiation into Kriya Kundalini Pranayam from Siddha Maharshi Agastya.
The aim of Kriya Yoga is the control of the life force and direct one’s energies towards God or Self-Realization.

About Kriya Yoga:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriya_Yoga
According to Yogananda the ancient Yogic text the 'Yoga Sutras of Patanjali', contains a description of Kriya Yoga in the second chapter:

"Liberation can be attained by that
pranayama which is accomplished by disjoining the course of inspiration and expiration."

The Kriya yoga system consists of a
number of levels of pranayama, mantra,
and mudra based on techniques
intended to rapidly accelerate spiritual
development and engender a profound
state of tranquility and God-communion.
Yogananda attributes his description of
Kriya Yoga to his lineage of gurus, Sri
Yukteswar Giri, Lahiri Mahasaya, and
Mahavatar Babaji. The latter is reported
to have introduced the concept as
essentially identical to the Raja Yoga of
Patanjali and the concept of Yoga as
described in the Bhagavad Gita.

Ref:
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - a truly awesome book with an almost scientific approach to spiritual development.
It is the basis of many later developments in India, as it is encyclopedic and in the form of terse aphorisms.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: A Study Guide for Book III Vibhuti Pada - by Baba Hari Dass
https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Study-Vibhuti/dp/0918100240/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=Yoga+Sutras+of+Patanjali&qid=1558283109&s=gateway&sr=8-14

Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Iyengar
https://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Iyengar/dp/0007145160/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=Yoga+Sutras+of+Patanjali&qid=1558283213&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Authors Note:
There is a clear parallel between Buddhism central practice of 'Anapana' and Kriya here.
Basically in Buddhism we use awareness of the breathing sensation in the nostrils to
develop concentration, leading to insight of annica - or impermanence ...

Ref:
The Way to Ultimate Calm - Selected Discourses of Webu Sayadaw Kindle Edition
https://www.amazon.com/Way-Ultimate-Calm-Selected-Discourses-ebook/dp/B00BOELL72/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=anapana&qid=1558283447&s=gateway&sr=8-4