Autobiography of a Yogi: with bonus CD

Words truly do not do justice to this classic work by Paramahansa Yogananda who wrote one of the premiere books about the science of Yoga.

Yogananda not only helps to introduce Yoga science to the West, but also demonstrates that yoga (which means "union") is the unifying science that shows the underlying truth among ALL religions. Using many scriptural passages from both the Bible and the Hindu Bible (the Bhagavad Gita), he also demonstrates that they are saying, essentially, the same thing; the same TRUTH.

This book chronicles the life of Mukunda La Ghosh whose passion and yearning for God leads him to many saints and sages in India.

We find that it is the wish of Jesus Christ and Babaji (One of India's great masters who has been living for an untold number of centuries) that it be revealed to the world that TRUTH is universal and that it does not matter what path you've chosen (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc.)

Whether you are religious or not, you will find this masterfully well-written work touch you in ways that you've not dreamed of. Yogananda orchestrates chapters about the astral realms, great scientists, poets, saints (in India as well as in the West), masters, Gandhi, and others which are both moving and inspirational.

This book also reveals, for the first time to Westerners the lost science of Kriya Yoga (which means, "Divine Union"), which is a scientific technique to develop direct experience of God. Yogananda explains this technique, its history, and why it is so effective.

This is a book that can be read many times, and you will find that each time, it still has a "divine" effect. If nothing else, it will help you to ask yourself about your Self. This is one of the greatest books ever written, not only of modern times, but of ALL time.

While the author's voice is brought to life in the book, this audio book bring life to the text. This is a must have for any self realization seeker.

I have been looking for this book my entire life. It presents spirituality from a direction that we all know exists, but find very few people with the integrity to uphold it. Yogananda takes one over the indoctrinated hump of fear and into the blessings of divinity that is available for all.

What a great book. After years of reading Carlos Castaneda books--I've never read the Bible but plan to someday--I felt my mind open with Yogananda's autobiography.

This is because there is a one sidedness to Shamanism, which may stem from the fact that Native Americans never had a chance to reflect on their religion, and how it contrasts with Western Civilization. Yet Yogananda does just that . . .

In the context of his own life, he relays the stories, and myths, that shape his spiritual progression through life. There are some real mind blowing chapters in this book that force the reader to step back and think. However, it is cleverly interlaced with Western tradition so that any average American could read this book and not be offended.

That is the mission Yogananda's gurus sent him out to accomplish. This book is the product of that goal.

Still, my favorite part of this book is a passage about Alexander the Great. I've only heard the Western Civilization stories about his military conquests. But in this book Yogananda speaks of the one conquest Alexander could not complete, the conquest of India's spirit.

"Autobiography of a Yogi" is a must for anyone irrespective of religion or race who has the strong desire of understanding spiritualism and experiencing the divine spirit. The book is a true blessing for the modern world with perfect references from the Bhagwad Gita and the Bible. The book draws amazing and true parallels between Indian spirituality and teachings of Christ. It is an excellent text describing the scientific basis of the art of meditation practiced by the Indians for more than five thousand years. The disciples of the immortal sage "Babaji" described it in a way more practical for the modern world and called it Kriyayoga. The science of meditation is based on the ancient Indian text called "Patanjali Yogasutra". The book describes the experiences of Shree Paramahansa Yogananda and his quest for experiencing God. However, to gain a real experience from this book it is important read it with an unbiased mind and a true intellectual perspective. It is important to understand that although the science of mediatation was first described by ancient Indians it is the ultimate component of every religion that has been practiced in different ways.