Paramhansa Yogananda in Samadhi

Paramhansa Yogananda’s arrival in Boston in 1920 marked the beginning of a new wave of spiritual consciousness in America and throughout the world. His mission was one of world peace and brotherhood, as well as individual Self-realization, both of which he said could be achieved through the practice of transformative meditation techniques such as Kriya Yoga, which he referred to as “the airplane route to God.”

When he published his now famous "Autobiography of a Yogi" in 1946, it was soon after the close of the second World War, a conflict which he prayed would never be repeated. The book had tremendous influence and inspired spiritual leaders in the growing counter-culture movement which blossomed over a decade later. Through his books, teachings, and practices of meditation and yoga, Yogananda helped to usher in the sweeping increase in interest in peace, consciousness, and self-transformation. For this he is often known today as the “father of yoga in the West.”

We celebrate the change of consciousness that began in the 20th century and continues today. In it lies one of our greatest hopes for the future.

Recorded in London during Paramhansa Yogananda's visit in 1936 before returning to America.
Licensed from British Pathé / Reuters

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ABOUT PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA

Paramhansa Yogananda, born in 1893, was the first yoga master of India to take up permanent residence in the West. Yogananda arrived in America in 1920, and proceeded to travel throughout the United States on what he called his “spiritual campaigns.”

Hundreds of thousands filled the largest halls in major American cities to see the yoga master from India. Yogananda continued to lecture and write up to his passing in 1952.

Paramhansa Yogananda’s initial impact on the Western culture was truly impressive. But his lasting spiritual legacy has been even greater. His "Autobiography of a Yogi", first published in 1946, helped launch a spiritual revolution in the West. Translated into more than a dozen languages, it remains a best-selling spiritual classic to this day. [Read free at http://ananda.org/autobiography.]

Yogananda brought the path of Self-realization and universal spirituality for daily life.

“Self-realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that you are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that you do not have to pray that it come to you; that God’s omnipresence is your omnipresence; and that all that you need to do is improve your knowing."
As the means of attaining this exalted spiritual state Yogananda initiated his followers into the ancient technique of Kriya Yoga, which he called the “jet-airplane route to God".

The path of Kriya Yoga, which combines the practice of advanced yogic techniques with spirituality in daily life, can be learned at http://ananda.org/kriya-yoga.

ABOUT ANANDA WORLDWIDE

Ananda is a worldwide movement to help individuals realize the joy of their own higher Self. Ananda is based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and was founded by his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in 1968. Learn more at http://ananda.org.
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