Paramhansa Yogananda

Who was Paramhansa Yogananda?

Paramhansa Yogananda, author the spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, inspired people of all races to explore the self-liberating Science of Kriya of Yoga.

When he came to America in 1920, it was a harsh time of racial prejudice, lynching, and Jim Crow Laws. Being a Hindu of dark skin, Yogananda felt the racial injustices in this country first hand. Although he was refused entry into public places at times, Yogananda confronted the racially charged psyche of America with dignity and spiritual power. He was a major catalyst in helping to change the consciousness in our country from racism to racial equality.


During his lecture campaigns, over the years, Yogananda spoke openly against the societal attitudes of racial prejudice and counseled that “we are all children of the one Father-Mother God and off-springs of the symbolic Adam and Eve.”

Hundreds of thousands of people were touched by this man of God from India, during the 30 years he stayed in America, from 1920 until his passing in 1952. Yogananda’s interpretations of the Christian Bible and Hindu Bible, The Bhagavad Gita (Songs of God), were especially unique and captivated the interest of the American people with fresh new insights. He gave a unique interpretation of scriptures that is second to known. He describes that truth is universal and not exclusive to anyone one belief.

In fact, Yogananda came to America because Jesus Christ and Bhagvan Krishna, whose teachings are featured in those two great scriptures of East and West, wanted a revival of the original Christianity and the original Yoga. For this spiritual revival, Yogananda was ordained to start and is in fact continuing today, over 50 years after his passing. More and more people are realizing that the essence found in these scriptures, is the basis for all true religions.

See: Robert Smith’s article on The Yoga in Christianity based on Yogananda’s teachings.

During a visit to India in 1935-6, Yogananda’s influence spread greatly and touched the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the world leader of the non-violent civil resistance movement. Gandhi was so impressed by Yogananda’s work in America, that he chose to take spiritual initiation into the Science of Kriya Yoga Meditation. Gandhi vowed that he would practice what Yogananda taught him for at least six years to prove the effectiveness of the techniques he learned. One wonders if the influence, Yogananda had on Gandhi, through spiritual initiation into Kriya Yoga, might have been a major catalyst in freeing India from British rule?

In turn, Gandhi was like a beacon of light for the entire civil rights movement in America. Martin Luther King followed in Gandhi’s footsteps in non-violent resistance in helping to rid the poison of the Jim Crow laws in the South. It is interesting to note that both men became martyrs. Each assassinated by those ignorant people who sought to disrupt their great works. But through their sacrifice, they both live on, in the hearts of noble humanity, for all eternity.

Today, Paramhansa Yogananda’s influence continues to grow and bring hope for a better world. Through his correspondence lessons, books, magazines, songs, and most importantly, through his present-day disciples, (those who seek to draw on his undying inspiration and become a channel for his power in the world), Yogananda is the guru for this New Age in which we live.

The Art of Living is an essential part of what he taught. Its premise is based upon seeing ourselves as an extension of God’s infinite consciousness. Like waves on an ocean, Yogananda taught how we can attune ourselves to the ocean of God’s presence within. Through daily meditation, exercise, right thinking and attitudes of service, we will gradually attain to greater health, happiness, success, and joy in our lives.

“This is the goal,” Yogananda said, “of life, Self-realization - The knowing in all parts of body, mind and soul that we are now possession of the kingdom of God; we don’t need to pray that it come to us; all we need to do is increase our knowing.”

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