Wednesday, January 12, 2022

BookMarks #91: Autobiography of a Yogi

Title: Autobiography of a Yogi 
Author: Paramhansa Yogananda 
Genre: Autobiography 
Published: 1946 

BookMarks 
Autobiography of a Yogi is the autobiography of Mukunda Lal Ghosh and how he became Paramhansa Yogananda. It describes his various spiritual encounters and experiences in various places in both India and abroad. And its not just his story, it is also the story of his influences, Lahiri Mahasya, Sri Yukteswar and Babaji. 

What I liked most about the book is that it is not preaching but just narrating experiences of the spiritual nature which the Yogi had in his lifetime. And yet there were times in the narration which also rose the sceptic in me to question the events if they had happened at all. Which I guess is the most important objective of the book. To introduce Kriya Yoga to the reader and make them understand on their own! 

“God is simple. Everything else is complex” – what a simple and powerful line. I guess this line sums up the book. 

In the book, we also encounter famous historical figures of the times – Gandhiji, CV Raman, Tagore. Even Sherlock Holmes makes an appearance! We also read a lot of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and how Science proves God. Scientists do a better job at proving God’s existence than most godmen! 

No wonder this has been one of the most influential books of India abroad. 

Previously on BookMarks: Bhagat Singh Jail Diary 

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