The Impact of Yogananda Indian Guru

Paramahansa Yogananda was an Indian Yogi and Guru who lived from 1893 to 1952. Yogananda is best known for introducing millions of people from India and the west to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga. Yogananda was influential on the transformation of Hinduism and its spread throughout the west mainly in the United States. Yogananda’s life was that of peace and connection, throughout his life his teachings were both different and similar, in some aspects, comparatively to traditional Hindu doctrines and conventions. His teachings were both successful throughout the world and enlightening to many in the western world. Yogananda used Kriya Yoga and his Self-Realization Fellowship as vehicles to help spread Hinduism and his teachings throughout the western world.

Yogananda’s legacy is that of his main mission which was to build a lasting connection of world brotherhood through raising the spiritual awareness between the societies of East and West. He began the process of building this brotherhood by sharing the balanced, liberating teachings of the Sanatana Dharma, Kriya Yoga, and other meditation techniques that create greater harmony in all humanities relationships, spiritually, personally and globally. The teachings he shared were a synthesis of Original Yoga from the Bhagavad Gita and Original Christianity from the New Testament. The outstanding success of Yogananda’s world mission were mainly the result of various factors. These factors included his God-centered life and service to humanity and society as well as the divine love and power many persons say they felt in his presence and writings. Yogananda’s divine influence and presence changed millions of lives for the better, and inspired a more harmonious way of living spiritually centered lives. Echoing traditional Hindu teachings, Yogananda taught that the universe as a whole is God's cosmic motion picture, and that individuals are simply his actors in the play who change roles through various reincarnations. He [Yogananda] taught that mankind's deep suffering is rooted in identifying too closely with one's current role, rather than with the movie's director, or God. He taught Kriya Yoga and multiple other meditation practices to help guide people in achieving that understanding, which he called Self-realization. In his book, The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You, Yogananda writes about Self-Realization as, “Self-realization is the knowing – in body, mind, and soul – that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; and that we are just as much a part of Him now as we ever will be. All we have to do is improve our knowing.”

Another large vehicle for the spread of Yogananda’s teachings and a major vehicle for his legacy throughout the west was the establishment of his Self-Realization Fellowship, or for short the SRF. The Self-Realization Fellowship was founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920 as the instrument for the worldwide spreading of Yogananda’s teachings. He clearly stated, that after his departure the Teachings of the SRF would be the next Guru, and through the teachings of this Guru others would be in tune with Him [Yogananda] and the great Gurus before him. Yogananda also stated that the SRF would always be run by a leader of similar deep spiritual realization as himself. The SRF’s lessons are sent to interested seekers at a cost that barely covers printing and mailing, and are accompanied by excellent ongoing personal guidance and counseling. Personal instruction of the Kriya Yoga, which Yogananda was known for teaching, and other meditation techniques are given by monks or nuns who make frequent visits to major hubs around the world. The sending or lessons and guidance is a vital feature keeping the legacy of Yogananda alive and strong today.

Yogananda was a man of great knowledge and enlightenment. He is one of the main contributors to the evolution of religion in the west and the development of Traditional Hindu teachings. His legacy is one of brotherhood and connection. His [Yogananda] Self-Revelation Fellowship keeps his legacy and transformation in religious teaching alive today.