Celebrating 75 years of Autobiography of a Yogi

Dear Divine Atman,

In this month's newsletter, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, the book that has inspired generations of seekers to investigate the ancient spiritual knowledge of India and undertake a personal quest to realize divine truth. Below we share some of the most memorable and uplifting quotes from this beloved spiritual classic.

Words of Paramahansa Yogananda from Autobiography of a Yogi:

The divine purpose of creation, so far as man’s reason can grasp it, is expounded in the Vedas. The rishis taught that each human being has been created by God as a soul that will uniquely manifest some special attribute of the Infinite before resuming its Absolute Identity. All men, endowed thus with a facet of Divine Individuality, are equally dear to God.

Saints of all religions have attained God-realization through the simple concept of the Cosmic Beloved. Because the Absolute is nirguna, ‘without qualities,’ and acintya, ‘inconceivable,’ human thought and yearning have ever personalized It as the Universal Mother. A combination of personal theism and the philosophy of the Absolute is an ancient achievement of Hindu thought, expounded in the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita. This “reconciliation of opposites” satisfies heart and head; bhakti (devotion) and jnana (wisdom) are essentially one. Prapatti, “taking refuge” in God, and sharanagati, “flinging oneself on the Divine Compassion,” are really paths of the highest knowledge.

God is Love; His plan for creation can be rooted only in love. Does not that simple thought, rather than erudite reasonings, offer solace to the human heart? Every saint who has penetrated to the core of Reality has testified that a divine universal plan exists and that it is beautiful and full of joy.

The blessed role of Kriya Yoga in East and West has hardly more than just begun. May all men come to know that there exists a definite, scientific technique of Self-realization for the overcoming of all human misery!

We invite you to read more, including fascinating accounts of the making and debut of Autobiography of a Yogi told by Sri Daya Mata and other close disciples of Paramahansa Yogananda.

A Message From Sri Sri Swami Chidananda Giri

“During this 75th anniversary year of our Guru’s Autobiography of a Yogi, my heart fills with thanksgiving for the lifelong blessings that this amazing book has brought into my life and the lives of countless others all over the world.

“As with many of you, it was the Autobiography that first introduced me to the Kriya Yoga teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. Looking back after all these years, I recall the thrill of my soul’s awakening to the ‘undreamed-of possibilities’ that seemed to stream off the pages directly into my heart and brain from the God-saturated consciousness of the author and his lineage of gurus.”

To mark the 75th anniversary of Autobiography of a Yogi, YSS is gifting free eBook and also offering a 25% discount on all other formats of this spiritual classic.

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