Autobiography of a Yogi
A world spiritual classic, in which Paramahansa Yogananda speaks openly and with humor about his life, his encounters with saints, and the path that led him to Kriya Yoga.
About the Book and Its Author
Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) was an Indian master who was among the first to bring the teaching of meditation and Kriya Yoga to the West. As a young man he sought a true spiritual teacher and found one in Swami Shriyukteshwar, with whom he studied for a number of years. He later went to the United States, where his clear and open manner brought the Indian spiritual tradition to millions of Western readers.
Autobiography of a Yogi was first published in 1946 and has since become one of the most influential spiritual books of the twentieth century. For many people it is the first gateway to understanding that yoga is not merely exercise but a path of knowledge — and a natural first step for anyone who wishes to get to know Kriya Yoga more deeply.
A Point of Interest
According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Autobiography of a Yogi was the only book Steve Jobs kept on his iPad. At his memorial gathering after his death, guests were given a copy of the book as they left — according to Marc Benioff, many saw this as Jobs’s parting message.
Source: Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs (2011); recollections of Marc Benioff.