Paramahansa Yogananda was chosen by a lineage of fully realised Masters from India and sent specifically by Mahavatar Babaji to spread the knowledge of the science of Kriya Yoga in the West and throughout the world, and to demonstrate the agreement between Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad Gita (the Bible of the East) and those of Jesus in the New Testament, which contain the same fundamental principles underlying all true religions.
“Many may doubt that finding God is the goal of existence, but everyone can accept the idea that the purpose of life is to find happiness. I maintain that God is Happiness, Bliss, Love, the Joy that will never leave your soul.” (...) “Remaining in harmony with the Divine Will is achieved through the correct practice of meditation.” Paramahansa Yogananda.
In Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda describes Kriya Yoga as “a yoga technique that quietens the tumult of sensory perceptions, enabling a person to identify ever more deeply with Cosmic Consciousness.”
«Kriya Yogais an instrument by which human evolution can be accelerated. The ancient yogis discovered that the secret of Cosmic Consciousness is intimately linked with mastery of the breath.”
“The Kriya yogi mentally directs life energy up and down around the six spinal centres.” Thus, Kriya Yoga is a highly effective technique for progressing towards supreme bliss, enlightenment and true liberation, also known as nirvana or samadhi.
His life
Paramahansa Yogananda was born in 1893 in Gorakhpur, northern India, and travelled to the United States in 1920. He was the first yoga Master to spend more than thirty years in the West, working tirelessly to establish the science of modern yoga.
In 1925 he founded Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), establishing its international headquarters in Los Angeles. SRF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to continuing his spiritual and humanitarian work and sharing his teachings, promoting harmony and understanding among people of all nations and faiths.
SRF sends the Lessons of SRF to anyone who requests them anywhere in the world. These lessons introduce the science of Kriya Yoga meditation and the art of living according to spiritual principles, emphasising the balanced development of body, mind and soul.
In 1946 Paramahansa Yogananda published Autobiography of a Yogi in which he recounts his childhood experiences, his encounters with sages and saints during his youthful search, and the most remarkable events of his life. Written in an engaging and accessible style, it is an excellent introduction to the message of Kriya Yoga. Translated into more than twenty languages and enthusiastically received worldwide, it is regarded as a landmark of modern spiritual literature.