'The happiness of one's own heart alone
cannot satisfy the soul;
one must try to include, as necessary to one's own happiness,
the happiness of others.'
The Life & Influence of Paramahansa Yogananda
Yogananda was a great thinker and influential spiritual leader. From his early life until the present day, his beliefs about religion, life, self-realization, and the science and philosophy of yoga have changed the way millions of people think and approach their lives.
The Beginning
Early on in his life, Paramahansa Yogananda was recognized as a uniquely spiritual soul. After seeking for a few years for a divine teacher, he encountered yoga master Swani Sri Yukteswar Giri. Under Sri Yukteswar's guide, Yogananda embarked on a ten-year spiritual journey, which set him on his life's path.
Between the ages of 17 and 27, Yogananda learned spiritual disciplines while he studied at Calcutta University, which is graduated from in 1915. Following this training, he consecrated his life to God by taking vows as a monk of Swami Order, a monastery located in India.
It was there that he became "Yogananda," which is a name that combines the physical and spiritual discipline of "yoga" with "ananda," a Sanskrit word meaning "supreme bliss."
Reaching out
In 1917, Yogananda founded a school for boys. This institution focused on living using instruction in both yoga and spiritual ideology.
Three years later, Yogananda was appointed as a representative of India on an international panel of religious leaders in Boston. He addressed congress with his well-received work, "The Science of Religion."
His Teachings
Yogananda taught that it is important for everyone to experience the truth. He believed that "intuitive experience" was what the essence of true religion was all about. To him, it was intuition and not belief that would lead people to knowing God. Rather than blindly believe the ideology behind religion, one should just experience and get to know themselves and God. His metaphor for life was a movie. Similar to tradition Hindu beliefs, God is the director of the universe and people play a role in this cosmic movie. People change role through reincarnation.
He attributed the suffering of mankind as being to focused and closely involved with each one's current role. Yogananda believed that the focus should be concentrated on the director, God.
Through Kriya yoga, he taught self-realization, which can help individuals learn how to accept their role and focus on God.
Self-realization
Yogananda founded Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920. To date, the temples and 500 meditation centers are meeting places for students to pray, meditate and have spiritual fellowship. These locations span over 54 countries, and they all honor his teachings on yoga and meditation.
His beliefs about self-realization were unique. Yogananda taught that through getting to know your body, mind and soul, one can possess the kingdom of God. Through Kriya yoga, which blends daily spirituality with yoga techniques, he taught his students that to know themselves fully is to know God. By practicing Kriya yoga, students brought themselves into a deeper spiritual state that would allow self-realization and a personal encounter with God.
Continued influence
He went on to tour the United States, Europe and India teaching Kriya yoga and techniques that helped people of various religions have personal encounters with God. Thousands came to hear his teachings, as many of the facilities he visited were filled. He also met with greats such as Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Ramana Maharshi of India.
His book Autobiography of a Yogi, a modern spiritual classic published in 1946 and later translated into 18 languages, was a catalyst for a western spiritual revolution. The book not only describes Yogananda's life, but introduces the ancient science of yoga and meditation. He explains the laws behind the events of life, both mundane and exceptional. Also in this book, he discusses the great religions of both the east and the west with regards to the scientific foundations of each. The book explores the mysteries of human life, and it is still regarded as a classic and is widely read today.
Leaving the body
The death of Yogananda was no ordinary departure. Yogananda had once said at a lecture that he wanted his method of death to be a heart attack because it would be "the easiest way to die." Two of his disciples testified that he collapsed immediately after reading the poem "My India." He died of a heart attack on March 7, 1952.
His mahasamadhi, or the soul's conscious exit from the body, had a lingering inspiration as well. It was testified that after twenty days his body was without any physical disintegration. This statement was given by the Director of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where he is buried, on a notarized document. His body was perfectly preserved over an unmatched period of time.
Paramahansa Yogananda was an exceptionally influential thinker and spiritual leader. He guided others throughout their lives with his contributions of wisdom, knowledge, and the institutions he founded. He affected not only the world around in India during his life, but he continues to affect the world in the present day. He truly left a legacy that will always be remembered.
