The Autobiography of a Yogi was written by Paramahansa Yogananda to spread the awareness of spiritual wisdom to attain God, especially in the West. Paramahansa Yogananda was born in a Bengali family, in Gorakhpur, India. By his masters, he was given the responsibility of spreading the Vedic wisdom of attaining God-realization around the globe.

Autobiography of a Yogi (Book Summary)

Paramahansa Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in the last decade of the 19th century in Gorakhpur, India.His parents were disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya, who was also the Guru of Yogananda's Guru, Sri Yukteshwar. Lahiri Mahasaya was the one who prophesied that Yogananda would write a book highlighting the knowledge of the East. Before Mukunda reached his own Guru, he met many other significant men and yogis, like Swami Pranabananda (The saint with two bodies), Perfume Saint, the Tiger Swami, Nagendra Nath Bhaduri, Master Mahasaya, and the famous Bengali scientist, Jagdish Chandra Bose.

Early life

Paramahansa Yogananda's Guru was Swami Sri Yukteshwar Giri, who in the book is considered as Jyanavtar (incarnation of wisdom). The three lessons that Mukunda first received from his Guru were as follows: <ol><li>"Look fear in the face and it will cease to trouble you." </li><li>"Attachment is blinding; it lends an imaginary halo of attractiveness to the object of desire." </li><li>"Good and positive suggestions should instruct the sensitive ears of children. Their early ideas long remain sharply etched."</li></ol>

When the disciple met his Guru

"When a saint is clear to you, you will be one."

On a sunny Thursday, in July of 1914, Mukunda was initiated to be a monk of the Swami order (renunciant) by his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar, in Serampore, India.At that time, Mukunda chose his new name, Yogananda for himself. The name literally means "Bliss (ananda) through divine union (yoga).

Becoming A Monk of the Swami order

<ol><li>Yama requires observance of five negative moralities - avoidance of injury to others, of untruthfulness, of stealing, of incontinence, of gift-receiving (which brings obligations). </li><li>Niyama requires observance of five positive moralities - purity of body and mind, contentment, self-discipline, study, and devotion to God.</li><li>Asana means right posture.</li><li>Pranayama means control of prana, subtle life currents. </li><li>Pratyahara means withdrawal of the senses from external objects. </li><li>Dharana means concentration. </li><li>Dhyana means meditation. </li><li>Samadhi means superconscious perception.  </li></ol>

The Eightfold Path of Patanjali's Yoga system

The Sanskrit root of Kriya is kri, to do, to act, and react. Kriya Yoga is thus a "union (yoga) with the Infinite through a certain action or rite."

The Science Of Kriya Yoga

Paramahansa Yogananda, in 1917, founded a school in Dihika for young boys, where the children were taught yoga along with their curriculum. In 1918, this school was transferred to Ranchi, which, to date, holds the headquarters of the Yogoda Satsang Society (YSS) of India.

Foundation Of YSS of India

"He who knows himself as the omnipresent Spirit is subject no longer to the rigidities of a body in time and space"

In 1920, Paramahansa Yogananda was invited to an International Congress of Religious Liberals in America, which was to be convened in Boston, under the auspices of the American Unitarian Association. By the end of 1925, he established an American headquarters on the Mount Washington Estates in Los Angeles. While Paramahansa Yogananda was on his trip to India, his disciples made him another hermitage in Encinitas, California as a gift.

Establishment of Self-Realization Fellowship

In America, Paramahansa Yogananda became best friends with Luther Burbank, whom he calls in the book A saint amidst roses.In 1935,  Paramahansa Yogananda sailed for India from New York. On the trip, his crew made a special pilgrimage to Bavaria to meet the Catholic mystic, Therese Neumann. In India, Paramahansa Yogananda made acquaintance with other like-minded personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Ananda Moyi Ma, and Giri Bala (the woman Yogi who never eats).Later, he returned to the west where he was surprised with a new hermitage in Encinitas, California, and that's where the book ends.

Paramahansa Yogananda returns to India

In this world, Mother, none can love me; In this world they do not love divine. Where is there pure loving love? Where is there truly loving Thee? There my heart longs to be.

This book highlights the miracles of Kriya Yoga. 

Throughout the decades, one title that continues to appear on best-seller lists is Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. This timeless book remains a seminal work in the field of Eastern religion -- the definitive introduction to the science and philosophy of yoga meditation that draws more readers with each passing year. All our editions of the Autobiography include extensive material added by the author after the first edition was published, including a final chapter on the closing years of his life. Also included are numerous high-quality photographs and a complete subject index.

books

Books

Autobiography of a Yogi

The Meditations is a personal journal of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 161 to 180). He never meant to publish these writings. Yet, one cannot agree more on how the ideas written at that time by an Emperor are relevant even today, by people of all professions.   This book has been a guiding force to many including Bill Clinton and Theodore Roosevelt, who repeatedly turned to this book for guidance.  Now, we will take a look at the teachings from this book.

The Meditations Of Marcus Aurelius (Book Summary)

When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly.

By the way, we treat our mind, it can either act as our best friend or our worst enemy. The choice is entirely in our hands. The mind is usually controlled by our sense organs.  It responds to everything in the way our sense organs feel. That is why we always crave passion and comfort. Marcus Aurelius, in the above quote, fights with his mind.  He shows that whenever our mind disobeys us, it is our responsibility to drag it back on the right track.

You Are The Controller Of Your Mind

You can get away from it anytime you want. By going within.

We always want to get away from everything. We want to go on vacations to exotic places or peaceful places to find that peace of mind. Marcus Aurelius was an Emperor, which means that he could never get a vacation.  He had realized something that most of us never realize. We can get away from everything anytime we want by going within. That peace of mind and happiness that we chase in the outside world, is something that can only be found within.  Next time when you feel like getting away from everything in the middle of the chaos, look within.

Look Within

If anyone can refute me - show me I'm making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective - I'll gladly change.

There is no shame in accepting our mistakes. Even after that, we keep on making the mistake of not accepting our mistakes. Being an Emperor, Marcus Aurelius is humble enough to accept his mistakes and change himself.  If an Emperor can be so humble, then I think everyone can be like him.

Accept Your Mistakes

Don't be overheard complaining about life. Not even to yourself.

An Emperor, surely, has a lot to complain about when he is responsible for dealing with all kinds of people in court. Yet, Marcus Aurelius decides to refrain from complaining, even to himself. Whereas, people like us, always want to complain about something or else our entire lives.  We are never content with what we get. We're always complaining about people and the discomforts in our lives. It's high time we stopped doing that.

Stop Complaining!

These ideas teach us how to live a fulfilling life. 

Autobiography of a Yogi

The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Juhi Ghanshani