1946 Original Edition
Named one of the best and most influential books of the 20th century.
In 1946 Paramhansa Yogananda published what has become one of the best-loved books of the 20th century, Autobiography of a Yogi, which many have come to know as the must-read spiritual book for any seeker.
Yogananda’s Autobiography has been translated into 19 languages, inspiring the spiritual awakening of millions. This book helped start and continues to the spiritual revolution of the West, bringing timeless ancient yoga teachings into the daily life of modern yogis.
We offer a verbatim reprinting of the original edition by Paramhansa Yogananda. This is the only available edition that contains:
The final chapter, written five years after this edition was first published, free from changes made after Yogananda’s death.
An all-new foreword and afterword, written by Swami Kriyananda, one of Yogananda’s best-known direct disciples.
Go deeper with others studying the path of Kriya Yoga shared by Yogananda.
This short video has nearly 50,000 views to date.
The book that sparked a spiritual revolution.
Paramhansa Yogananda was the first yoga master of India whose mission was to live and teach in the West. In the 1920s, enthusiastic audiences filled the largest halls in America to hear him speak. His initial impact was truly impressive. But his lasting influence is greater still. By sharing with countless individuals the life-transforming techniques of yoga and meditation, he opened the door to their own direct experience of spiritual realities.
As a bright light shining in the midst of darkness, so was Yogananda’s presence in this world. Such a great soul comes on earth only rarely, when there is a real need among men.
—The Shankaracharya of Kanchipuram
In addition, Yogananda established headquarters for a worldwide work, wrote a number of books and study courses, gave lectures to thousands in most major cities across the United States, wrote music and poetry, and trained disciples, including Swami Kriyananda, founder of Ananda Sangha Worldwide.
Yogananda wrote of his time with great saints of India, including the well-known Anandamayi Ma, and Mahatma Gandhi, whom he initiated into Kriya Yoga, his most advanced technique of meditation. This scientific yoga technique is known to many as the key to true and lasting happiness, and the upliftment of our planet.
Yogananda's Autobiography is dedicated to scientist Luther Burbank, whom he considered an American saint. He corresponded with other high-minded thinkers of his time, including Henry Ford, with whom he shared an enthusiasm for inventions that would improve daily life for millions of Americans (including the motor home, vegetarian burgers, and meat substitutes).
Only rarely does a sage of Paramhansa Yogananda's stature write a first-hand account of his life experiences, including childhood revelations, stories of his visits to saints and masters in India, and long-secret teachings of Self-realization that he made available to the Western reader.
Followers of many religious traditions have come to recognize Autobiography of a Yogi as a masterpiece of spiritual literature. Yet, for all its depth, it is full of gentle humour, lively stories, and makes the spiritual path come alive.
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