Paramahansa Yogananda was an Indian yogi, guru, and spiritual leader who helped introduce yoga and meditation to the West. He came to the United States in 1920 to share his teachings on meditation, self-realization, and spiritual living. Yogananda taught that all sincere spiritual paths lead to the same Divine Reality and emphasized meditation as a way to experience inner peace and direct communion with God. His teachings center on Kriya Yoga, self-discipline, devotion, and the harmony of religions. He is best known for authoring the spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, which includes references to several influential figures in Indian spirituality, such as Sri Yukteswar, Lahiri Mahasaya, Mahavatar Babaji, and Anandamayi Ma. Through his nonsectarian approach, Yogananda bridged Eastern and Western thought, emphasizing that the essence of religion is direct, intuitive experience of the Divine.

The Autobiography of a Yogi

by Paramahansa Yogananda