| Paramahansa Yogananda was of tremendous | | | | convey an inkling of his spiritual realisations. Like a |
| inspiration in my early spiritual seeking. It was my | | | | finger pointing to the moon he gives us entrancing |
| good fortune that one of my first spiritual books was | | | | insight into a realm of bliss. These passages are |
| "Autobiography of a Yogi". This book is rightly | | | | unique in literature and will always remain treasured |
| regarded as a spiritual classic and has inspired many | | | | by aspiring seekers. |
| across the world to pursue a spiritual life based on | | | | Yogananda travelled to America in the early 1920s |
| the ancient lofty Vedic ideals. The book is a treasure | | | | and became a real pioneer for spreading the |
| trove of illumined saints and sages, it manages to | | | | teachings of yoga and meditation in the West. His |
| convey profound spiritual truths whilst also being | | | | impeccable character and spiritual realisation gave an |
| most enjoyable to read. More than anything the most | | | | added force to the regeneration of spiritual values in |
| powerful effect the book had was to impart a real | | | | the West. Through his foundation the Self Realisation |
| spiritual vibration from each page. Intuitively I felt | | | | Fellowship and others, many have come to practise |
| that the writing embodied a genuine spiritual | | | | meditation and yoga. |
| consciousness. It was quite different to the dry | | | | Yogananda was also a gifted poet. It is often |
| intellectual texts I was used to reading (I think at the | | | | through poetry that a Spiritual Master can most |
| time I was reading Descartes, which is a big contrast) | | | | effectively share their experience of the higher |
| Yogananda never sought to convert or argue he | | | | worlds. Each poem is not just excellent poetry it is an |
| merely wrote with great humility about the most | | | | embodiment of a spiritual consciousness. |
| illumining spiritual experiences. It was this vibration, | | | | Vanished are the veils of light and shade, |
| this consciousness which gave me a faith in the | | | | Lifted the vapors of sorrow, |
| spiritual life I had never had before. | | | | Sailed away the dawn of fleeting joy, |
| Many Christians had tried to persuade me of the | | | | Gone the mirage of the senses." |
| divinity of Jesus Christ, I remember being nonplussed | | | | From: Samadhi |
| by their arguments and perhaps I used to waste | | | | In particular I feel in the poetry of Yogananda his |
| many hours disputing their assertions with my proud | | | | pure devotion. Yogananda was not a yogi of dry |
| arguments. It was perhaps ironic then that it was a | | | | asceticism he was primarily a God lover. His approach |
| Hindu Guru who was able to convey the true spiritual | | | | was the embodiment of love, devotion and |
| realisation of Jesus Christ. It was quite an eye opener | | | | surrender. He made yoga seem easy, aspire |
| that a Hindu had such love and devotion for a Master | | | | sleeplessly for God and everything else is not |
| of another religion. His love and devotion to Christ | | | | important. |
| was symbolic of his universal appreciation and respect | | | | From the depth of slumber, |
| for other religions. In the west religion has often been | | | | As I ascend the spiral stairway of wakefulness, |
| the cause of separation, with each religion claiming to | | | | I whisper |
| be right. The message of the universality of religions | | | | God, God, God!" |
| strikes a deep chord. Yogananda has ably reinforced | | | | From: God God God |
| the immortal message of that Vivekananda brought | | | | Yogananda gives a fascinating portrayal of many |
| to the World Parliament of Religions in 1893. I feel | | | | great Saints and Sages such as his strict but loving |
| the world is much more receptive to the ideal of | | | | master Sri Yukteswar, Lahiri Mahasaya, the immortal |
| religious tolerance and mutual appreciation of religion. | | | | Babaji and many others. However, although |
| It was of the significant achievement of the 20th | | | | Yogananada was groomed in the traditions of Hindu |
| Century. | | | | yoga he was also adaptable to the sensibilities of the |
| It is no easy task to write about spiritual experiences. | | | | Western. He said in the West, seekers preferred a |
| By nature spiritual experience goes far beyond the | | | | loving and forgiving master, rather than the strictest |
| domain of mind and form, such a sublime | | | | standard of his own Guru. Yogananda also suggested |
| consciousness is impossible to translate into words. | | | | a path of moderation and balance. He had a good |
| To describe the ecstasy of meditation is like trying to | | | | sense of humor and would often make innocent |
| describe music to someone who is deaf. Yet despite | | | | jokes with his disciples. |
| this obvious difficulty, Yogananda still manages to | | | | |