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Hindu Saints and Philosophers Details

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Hagiography

Paramahansa Yogananda, born Mukunda Lal Ghosh on January 5, 1893, was an Indian Hindu monk, yogi, and guru who introduced millions of people to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga. He is known for founding the organization Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India. Yogananda was a chief disciple of the Bengali yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri and was sent by his lineage to spread the teachings of yoga to the West.

Yogananda&#39;s early acclaim in America led to him being considered the &quot;Father of Yoga in the West.&quot; He settled in America in 1920 and embarked on a successful speaking tour before establishing a center in Los Angeles in 1925. He created a monastic order, trained disciples, and initiated thousands into Kriya Yoga. Yogananda&#39;s teachings gained popularity, and by 1952, SRF had over 100 centers in India and the US.

One of Yogananda&#39;s most notable achievements is his book, &quot;Autobiography of a Yogi,&quot; published in 1946. It has sold millions of copies worldwide and is considered a spiritual classic. Yogananda&#39;s teachings and his book have had a profound impact on the lives of many people, including influential figures like Steve Jobs, who ordered 500 copies of the book for his memorial.

Yogananda&#39;s teachings emphasized the unity between Eastern and Western religions and the balance between material growth and spirituality. He sought to integrate the wisdom of Indian spirituality with the modern world. Yogananda&#39;s teachings continue to inspire and guide people around the world, and he is regarded as one of the best-known and most beloved Indian spiritual teachers in the West.

Yogananda passed away on March 7, 1952, but his teachings and legacy live on through his organization, Self-Realization Fellowship, and the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. His influence on the American yoga movement and the spiritual landscape of the West remains significant to this day.

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Yogananda, the founder of Self-Realization Fellowship, taught the unity of the original teachings of Jesus Christ and the original Yoga taught by Bhagavan Krishna. He aimed to disseminate scientific techniques for direct personal experience of God and to establish temples and encourage individual devotion to God. He emphasized the harmony and oneness of original Christianity and Yoga and the common scientific foundation of all true religions.

Yogananda&#39;s teachings focused on the evolution of human consciousness into God Consciousness through self-effort and daily, scientific, devotional meditation on God. He sought to liberate individuals from physical disease, mental inharmonies, and spiritual ignorance, advocating plain living and high thinking and promoting brotherhood among all peoples.

Yogananda taught Kriya Yoga and other meditation practices as a means to achieve self-realization, emphasizing the need for direct experience of truth. He viewed the universe as God&#39;s cosmic motion picture, with individuals as actors who change roles through reincarnation. He encouraged identification with the divine rather than attachment to temporary roles.

In his book &quot;How you can talk with God,&quot; Yogananda claimed that anyone can communicate with God through persevering devotion and removing doubt. He shared his own experiences of God speaking to him and performing miracles in his life. He emphasized the power of intuition and the knowing of God through personal experience.

Paramahansa Yogananda was a spiritual teacher who founded the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) in 1917. He is best known for his book &quot;Autobiography of a Yogi,&quot; which has been translated into 45 languages and has had a significant influence on many people, including George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, and Steve Jobs.

Yogananda&#39;s teachings revolve around Kriya Yoga, an ancient spiritual practice that aims to achieve union with the Infinite through specific actions or rites. Kriya Yoga involves directing life energy to revolve around the six spinal centers, corresponding to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac. Yogananda emphasized the effectiveness of Kriya Yoga in bringing God&#39;s love and spiritual unfoldment into the devotee&#39;s life.

Yogananda&#39;s body gained attention after his death due to claims of bodily incorruptibility. Mortuary Director Harry T. Rowe noted in a notarized letter that Yogananda&#39;s body showed no visible signs of decay even after twenty days, which was considered extraordinary.

The legacy of Yogananda is carried on through the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). SRF/YSS has hundreds of temples, centers, and ashrams worldwide, promoting Yogananda&#39;s teachings and providing spiritual guidance. The organization is led by spiritual leaders chosen and trained by Yogananda.

Yogananda has been honored with commemorative stamps in India in recognition of his contributions to spirituality and the upliftment of humanity.

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