Autobiography of a Yogi is one of the most renowned spiritual books ever written. Being the intensely famous Yogi as Paramhansa Yogananda was in the West, he sowed spiritualism seeds for generations with his book.
The book solidifies the years of hard work and determination that Yogananda put in enlightening the west population about the treasure of Yoga and made people curious about India and its riches.
The long pervading culture of Yoga in India is undoubtedly one of our many gems. It offers a wide scope for people to learn about the nature of the human mind and body. Still, it also has innumerable benefits for mankind.
However, colonialism in India made it difficult for all the good things to penetrate through the clutches and let the world see the good part. Unfortunately, the glory of India remained hidden as it became a country trying hard to survive.
But, through the works of Paramhansa Yogananda, the West finally realized how strong and rich the culture of India is. Yoga and Ayurveda were then started to be seen as the master sciences. With their authenticity, people began understanding how effective these ancient sciences are, all coming from India.
And Paramhansa Yogananda has a huge part to play in spreading the goodness of Yoga to the West. So let’s learn more about the incredible Yogi.
Table of Contents
Who was Paramhansa Yogananda?
Paramhansa Yogananda, known initially as Mukunda Lal Ghosh, was a pioneer in spreading the art of Yoga and Meditation to the West. He was a famous Yogi, monk, and guru in India who opened spiritual organizations such as the Self Realization Fellowship (SRF) and the Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS).
Both of these organizations are non-profit religious organizations catering the national and international audiences and preaching the learnings of mediation and Kriya Yoga.
Paramhansa Yogananda moved to the West to spread his knowledge about Yoga and Meditation and make the people aware of the rich sciences.
The prominent American Yoga Movement, in fact, got accelerated by the long-term influence of Paramhansa Yogananda in the West. He spent the last 32 years of his life preaching to the Western population about Yoga. And thus, it set a wave of newfound admiration for Indians and their rich culture.
His pioneering efforts in the West gave him the name “Father of Yoga in the West.” Moreover, he was the first prominent Indian that was hosted in the White House in 1927 by President Calvin Coolidge.
In America, he maintained a proper Yogi-like decorum. He went on teaching tours around America to preach the Yoga principles. He trained many disciples over the years and on these tours.
He set religious camps in various locations for people to come and learn about whatever he had to offer. His teachings gained great momentum in no time and made him earn a following base.
By 1952, SRF made a long-lasting impact on the West by establishing more than 100 centers in the West as well as in India. The impact was such that the people who were curious to learn more about Yoga flew to India to explore the ancient science more deeply.
About the Book: Autobiography of a Yogi
Paramhansa Yogananda went to seal fame and glory with the release of his book; Autobiography of a Yogi in 1946. The book not only earned him critical acclaim but also commercial.
The book enlisted and elaborated the teachings of Meditation and Yoga in depth. Moreover, he described many inspiring events from his life. The stories in the book made people understand the depth of spirituality and Yoga.
About 4 million copies of the book have been sold since its publication. It was also listed in the HarperCollins list of “100 best spiritual books of the 20th century”.
The book became renowned in the West and led people to self-awareness and on the path of spirituality. Even the former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, was a huge follower of Paramhansa Yogananda and a fan of the book. The book has become a spiritual classic and has won many accolades and awards.
The book Autobiography of a Yogi has been translated into over 50 languages. Because of all the goodness that it offers and its critical acclaim, people from around the world felt inspired to read this book.
No matter the religious or cultural background, people fell in love with the teachings and spiritual guidance that Paramhansa Yogananda offers throughout the book.
As the book is about the life of Paramhansa Yogananda, it substantially is a compilation of all the major life events of the Yogi. But actually, it is a whole journey for the reader from ignorance to self-awakening. As you read the book and delve into its best, you realize that each and every lesson is meant to drive you closer to your inner self.
Paramhansa Yogananda’s motto was; “Plain living, high thinking.” Getting inspired by this teaching, millions of people found light and inspiration.
The autobiography of a Yogi, thus, is one of the most inspiring spiritual classics written by the famous Yogi Paramhansa Yogananda. By doing this, he made sure that his lessons were immortalized and people for the generations to come could feel the essence of his greatness and the Yoga itself.
In Conclusion,
Paramhansa Yogananda was a leading spiritual figure who made the world aware of the sciences of Yoga and Meditation. His works brought about a huge impact on the Western population, and more and more people became intrigued by the Indian culture.
Through his famous book, Autobiography of a Yogi, he provided the people of the whole world with the essence of spirituality, Yoga, and mediation. His efforts made a long-lasting impact around the world and inspired many people to explore Yoga and Meditation. His teachings and lessons are still taught in his organizations and continue to make people follow the path of spiritualism to seek divine bliss.
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