GREAT SAGES: Paramahansa Yogananda – The Ambassador of the Soul

GREAT SAGES: Paramahansa Yogananda – The Ambassador of the Soul

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), Yogi and Guru from India with signature.

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(Reusing this file) PD as per http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7452

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Via WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

​In 1920, a young monk from India boarded a ship to America with a mission that seemed impossible: to teach the West the science of the soul. That man was Paramahansa Yogananda, a sage whose teachings would eventually ignite a global yoga revolution and whose life remains a testament to the power of "Kriya Yoga."

​The Search for the Divine

​Born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in 1893 in Gorakhpur, India, his spiritual hunger was evident from childhood. While other children played, Mukunda sought out saints and sages, looking for a direct experience of the Divine. His search ended when he met his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, a strict disciplinarian who spent ten years refining the young monk’s character and intellect.

​Bridging East and West

​In 1920, Yogananda traveled to Boston to attend the International Congress of Religious Liberals. He was a sensation. Unlike the mystical stereotypes of the era, Yogananda spoke with logic, humor, and a deep respect for modern science. He founded the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) to spread his teachings on Kriya Yoga—a technique of meditation that directs energy along the spine to achieve higher states of consciousness.

​He didn't ask his students to follow a religion; he asked them to perform an experiment on their own consciousness. He often said, "The science of yoga is the science of right living."

​The Autobiography of a Yogi

​In 1946, he published his life story, Autobiography of a Yogi. This book became a spiritual "earthquake." It introduced millions to the concepts of karma, reincarnation, and the lives of Himalayan masters. Decades later, it famously became the only book Steve Jobs had on his iPad, which he reportedly read once a year.

​A Legacy of "Self-Realization"

​Yogananda’s genius lay in his ability to show that spiritual life and worldly success are not mutually exclusive. He taught that by calming the "storm" of the mind through meditation, anyone—regardless of their faith—could tap into an inner reservoir of peace and intuition.

​He entered mahasamadhi (a yogi's conscious exit from the body) in 1952 in Los Angeles. To this day, his remains are famously noted by the Forest Lawn Memorial-Park for showing no physical signs of decay for weeks after his passing—a final, silent testimony to the power of the life energy he spent his life studying.

​The Sage’s Message for Today

​In a world of constant noise and digital distraction, Yogananda’s message is more relevant than ever. He taught us that the "kingdom of God" is not a place in the clouds, but a state of consciousness reachable through daily practice and a quiet heart.

​"Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. The future will take care of itself." — Paramahansa Yogananda

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http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7452

and WIKIMEDIA COMMONS for the imaage of PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA