 |
 |
 |
|||||||
 |
|
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
|||||||
|
|
A Self-Realized Master from India
In 1923, he began a series of
lectures in major American cities. His success everywhere was extraordinary.
Crowds flocked
to him in unprecedented
numbers, sometimes queuing up for blocks to get in. "He never
tried to impose his own country's cultural modes on Americans, but sought
rather to show Americans how to spiritualize their own culture. Dynamically,
and with contagious joy, he set out to persuade minds steeped in the
virtues of 'down-to-earth practicality' that the most practical course
of all is to seek God.” Yogananda
brought the ancient teachings of Yoga to the West, and published one
of the spiritual classics of the 20th Century, Autobiography
of a Yogi.
Millions of copies have been read world-wide, and provide an extraordinary
glimpse into the lives and teachings of
India's great saints. Yogananda stressed the unity of all religions,
with a special emphasis on the teachings of India and what he called
the “original teachings” of Christ. To help people commune
directly with God, he re-introduced the ancient meditation technique
of Kriya Yoga. In addition to meditation, Yogananda wrote and taught extensively on the whole spectrum of human life: health, diet, exercise, human relationships, psychological well-being. His aim was to help his students spiritualize every aspect of their lives, and to achieve an ever-deepening realization of God. Yogananda's teachings and continuing spiritual presence are the foundation of Ananda. Swami Kriyananda, the founder of Ananda, has been a direct disciple of Yogananda since 1948. Paramhansa Yogananda Photo Album Visit the following link to see photos of Yogananda with brief descriptions.
Most of these are courtesy of Hare Krishna Ghosh (Yogananda's nephew),
who lived at Yogananda's boyhood home.
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
Ananda Center of Sacramento Webmaster: for problems with the web site Home | Top
of Page | Contact
Us
© 2006 Ananda |
|||||||||||
India
has always recognized that a country is measured more by the greatness
of its people than by its outward accomplishments.
In 1920, achievement-
oriented Americans met an Indian who was to change the lives of
millions. Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952) was sent to this country
by his teacher
with the admonition, “The West is high in material attainments,
but lacking in spiritual understanding. It is God's will that you
play a role in teaching mankind the value of balancing the material
with
an inner, spiritual life.” 
