'Autobiography Of A Yogi' Hits 75th Year Of Introducing Yoga And Eastern Religion
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) was an Indian Hindu monk considered the Father of Yoga in the West. Photo courtesy of Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles, California.
Few books achieve the impact of “Autobiography of a Yogi,” which — with the help of celebrity endorsers including Beatle George Harrison and Apple founder Steve Jobs — popularized Eastern religious concepts like “cosmic consciousness” and practices like yoga and meditation.
Harrison, who died 20 years ago, devoured the autobiography and regularly bought cases of the book to hand out to friends, fellow musicians and people he met. He gave one copy of the book to former President Gerald R. Ford at an Oval Office meeting arranged by Ford’s son — a big fan of Ravi Shankar, who introduced George Harrison to Eastern music and religion.
Paramahansa Yogananda — the name means bliss through yoga — came to Boston from India in the fall of 1920 to speak at a gathering of religious liberals.
He soon founded Self-Realization Fellowship, traveling tirelessly to spread his teaching before settling down in Encinitas, California, to write and oversee his movement. It now operates hundreds of temples and retreat centers in 175 countries around the world.
Since his 600-page “Autobiography of a Yogi” appeared in 1946, it has been translated into 50 languages, sold many millions of copies, appeared on many best-book lists and influenced untold numbers of men and women who abandoned their Western faith and values for ancient Eastern teachings.
Among them is Brother Jayananada, a former Roman Catholic who has been a Self-Realization Fellowship monk for 43 years and now leads its Bay Area Temple in Walnut Creek.
Jayananada, who spoke about the 75th anniversary of the autobiography at Self-Realization Fellowship’s summer convocation, discussed its lasting impact in an interview with ReligionUnplugged.com.
The book tells the story of a pilgrimage that begins with a child’s sensitivity to spiritual things, his quest to learn from dozens of sages and saints, his decade-long discipleship to his guru, his founding of a school based on his teachings and his mission to take yoga to the West. It also describes Yogananda’s return to India to meet esteemed teachers, including Gandhi, and his return to the U.S, where he died in 1952.
Woven into the narrative are descriptions of the miraculous deeds of he-man saints, discussions of concepts like “Christ consciousness,” how-to guides on various meditation and yoga techniques, repeated reminders that God is within — not somewhere out there — and exhortations to show compassion and love to everyone.
Jayananada praised the autobiography’s voice and use of language, calling some of it “Shakespearean,” and he said the book’s story of spiritual pilgrimage can connect with seekers at various stages in their journeys, as it did with him.
George Harrison was a cafeteria Hindu who embraced Krishna consciousness and transcendental meditation, along with the teachings of Yogananda. As Harrison told one writer:
“With some things you read you think, ‘Well, I’m not sure about that.’ But with Autobiography of a Yogi I was totally convinced about every word in the book; somehow his pureness and his heart just flowed out of it. I give it out constantly to people. When people need regrooving, I say read this, because it cuts to the heart of every religion.”
Harrison had Yogananda’s photo featured on the cover of The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club” album — in the upper right, under Bob Dylan’s chin — and the autobiography inspired Harrison’s song “Dear One.” Proceeds from a 2002 reissue of his 1970 hit, “My Sweet Lord,” support the SRF’s work.
Apple founder Steve Jobs praised the book, crediting it with guiding him to the self-realization he needed to innovate and succeed in tech. People attending Jobs’ funeral at Stanford University received a box containing the book.
Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Jack Canfield said the book has impacted him and many others. “You would be hard-pressed to find anyone on the spiritual path whose life has not been influenced by this profound work of literature,” he said.
Reader by reader, “Autobiography of a Yogi” helped nudge the West toward the East.
Steve Rabey is a veteran author and journalist who has published more than 50 books and 2,000 articles about religion, spirituality, and culture. He was an instructor at Fuller and Denver seminaries and the U.S. Air Force Academy. He and his wife Lois live in Colorado.