Autobiography of a Yogi

A spiritual classic that has transformed millions of lives—Paramahansa Yogananda's luminous autobiography chronicling his journey from childhood in India to bringing yoga and meditation to the West, featuring encounters with saints and sages, mystical experiences, and timeless wisdom on the science of Kriya Yoga and the unity of all religions.

Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) came to America in 1920 and became one of the first great yoga masters to live and teach in the West. His Autobiography of a Yogi, first published in 1946, introduced millions of Western readers to yoga, meditation, and the spiritual traditions of India. The book has been translated into over 50 languages and continues to inspire seekers worldwide with its blend of personal narrative, mystical experiences, and profound spiritual teachings.

What you'll discover:

• Yogananda's childhood in India and early spiritual experiences
• His search for his guru, Sri Yukteswar, and years of discipleship
• Encounters with remarkable saints, yogis, and spiritual masters
• Mystical experiences including levitation, materialization, and divine visions
• The science of Kriya Yoga—an ancient meditation technique for God-realization
• His mission to bring yoga and meditation to the West
• The underlying unity of all religions and paths to God
• Practical wisdom on meditation, consciousness, and spiritual life

The autobiography reads like a spiritual adventure story, filled with miraculous encounters and profound teachings. Yogananda introduces readers to his guru Sri Yukteswar, the "perfume saint" Gandha Baba, the levitating saint, Therese Neumann (the Catholic stigmatist), and many other remarkable spiritual figures. He describes experiences that challenge Western materialist assumptions—yogis who live without food, masters who materialize objects, saints who bilocate—yet presents these phenomena not as supernatural but as natural expressions of higher spiritual laws.

What makes this book essential is its bridge between East and West, ancient wisdom and modern science, mystical experience and practical spirituality. Yogananda presents yoga not as mere physical exercise but as a comprehensive science of consciousness and God-realization. He emphasizes the underlying unity of all religions, showing how Christianity, Hinduism, and other traditions point to the same ultimate truth. His teaching is both devotional and scientific, mystical and practical, making Eastern spirituality accessible to Western readers.

The book's influence is immeasurable. It introduced yoga and meditation to mainstream Western culture, influenced the Beatles, Steve Jobs (who reread it every year), and countless spiritual seekers. It helped establish yoga as a legitimate spiritual practice in the West and demonstrated that mystical experience and scientific inquiry need not conflict. Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship continues his mission of teaching Kriya Yoga and the unity of all religions.

This beautiful hardcover edition presents Yogananda's complete autobiography in a lasting format worthy of a book meant to be read and reread throughout a lifetime of spiritual growth—a timeless classic that continues to awaken souls to the possibility of direct experience of the Divine.

Perfect for: Readers interested in yoga, meditation, and Eastern spirituality, those seeking spiritual autobiography and mystical experiences, students of Hinduism and Vedanta philosophy, anyone interested in the unity of religions and interfaith spirituality, practitioners of meditation and contemplative practice, readers drawn to saints, sages, and spiritual masters, those exploring the intersection of science and spirituality, and seekers looking for practical guidance on the spiritual path from one of the great yoga masters of the modern era.

This hardcover edition presents Paramahansa Yogananda's timeless spiritual classic—an autobiography that has awakened millions to the transformative power of yoga, meditation, and direct experience of the Divine.