Biography of Paramanhansa Yogananda

Paramahansa Yogananda was born in Gorakphur India January 5th 1893. Gorakphur is in the north of India and is associated with the great saint Gorakshanath who lived in the 10th - 12th Century. Yogananda was brought up in a devout loving Hindu family. At an early age Yoganandas mother passed away and this pushed the young Mukunda (as he then was) into a deep grief. However this experience encouraged Yogananda to seek beyond the world and practise spiritual discipline.

In his famous autobiography of a Yogi he explains how his early life was filled with visiting various the various saints of Bengal and seeking to learn from their spiritual wisdom. One of these early teachers was Master Mahasaya who was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and wrote the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Yoganandas interest in spiritual studies did not however extend to academic studies and his book explains how he sought to do as little academic work as possible. In fact at one point he left home to go on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas. His family however disapproved of his tendency to renounce the world and he was found by his brother and bought back. At the age of 17 years Yoganada met his Spiritual Master Sri Yukteswar. Sri Yukteswar was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya who in turn had received initiation from the immortal Babaji in the Himalayas. On becoming a disciple of Sri Yukteswar Yogananda spent most of his time in the ashram of his Master where he practised meditation for many hours eventually attaining a glimpse of the cosmic consciousness.

In 1917 Yogananda started work as a teacher in a school in Ranchi. The school was a special combination of modern educational methods and the ancient Indian Yoga systems to promote spiritual and physical well being. Mahatma Gandhi visited the school and was moved to say: This institution has deeply impressed my mind.

Increasingly Paramahansa Yogananda felt a call to travel to America and with his Gurus blessings Yogananda left India for America in 1920 as a delegate to an international congress of religious leaders in Boston. In 1924 he returned to America to begin a lecture tour in which he offered the highest spiritual ideals of Vedanta in a format appropiate for modern American audiences. It was also in 1924 that Yogananda founded the Self Realisation Fellowship an organisation dedicated to promoting the ideals of Yogananda and providing an opportunity for seekers to practise his teachings.

Over the next 20 years the teachings of Yogananda prospered and many sincere seekers were attracted to the yoga system and teachings he offered. Therefore Yogananda sought to establish a spiritual community or ashram in Los Angeles. This has now become the headquarters of the Self Realisation Fellowship.

In 1935 Yogananda returned to India for 18 months. Here he embarked on another tour meeting many of Indias great saints of the days. These included Mahatma Gandhi, Ramana Maharshi and Sri Anandamayi Ma. And are recounted in his bestselling book Autobiography of a Yogi.

After returning to America Yoganada retreated somewhat from public life seeking to spend more time in meditation and writing spiritual guidance for the future when he was no longer living. On March 7th 1952 Yogananda entered mahasamadhi (which is a Yogis conscious decision to leave the body).

R. Pettinger enjoys writings biographies of people. He mainly writes biographies of spiritual or religious figures. He edits a site Biography Online which is a growing collection of biographies about a range of people including Sri Chinmoy, Paramahansa Yogananda and Sri Aurobindo Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Pettinger

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What is Yoga?

Yoga comes from a Hindu philosophy used to attain spiritual insight and harmony, but generally refers in common use to a system of exercises that is practiced as part of this discipline. The word itself is derived from the Sanskrit "yeung", meaning to join. A yoke as used on oxen is closely related, but also the same root gives us "join", "junction", "junta", "adjust", "joust", and "juxapose" to name a few. The Mueller Center offers classes for both beginners and those more advanced. ...
Meaning union with the divine, yoga is a philosophy and discipline applied to the development of mind, body, and spirit. There are many disciplines of yoga emphasizing different aspects or combination of mind body spirit. Through practices of holding a variety of body positions or asanas, and the centering of the mind and breath in a meditative way, the practitioner increases body awareness, posture, flexibility of body and mind and calmness of spirit.
An ancient system of practices originating in India. It is aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit to enhance health and well-being. There are many different forms of yoga. Hatha yoga — the most widely practised form of yoga in the Western world — uses specific postures and breathing exercises.