Yogananda Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode covers the next part of chapter 13: 
“The saint’s censorious attitude vanished...” 
to 
“...I feel great love for you.” 

Summary: 

Young Mukunda (Paramahansa Yogananda) receives some gentle words of wisdom from Ram Gopal Mazumdar on following your guru, having a space to meditate and love. We dig a little deeper into the significance of these lessons in terms of the Guru-disciple relationship, the law of attraction and the the importance of taking the inner pilgrimage.  

0:00 Summary of prior episode; 

2:51 The windows to the soul; 
10:35 Devotion - to the ends of the earth; 
25:50 Inner vs. Outer Pilgrimage; 
41:55 Looking ahead to the next episode. 

 

Links discussed in this episode:  
https://yogananda.org/the-role-of-a-guru-in-ones-spiritual-search 
https://yogananda.com.au/pyr/pyr_devotion1.html 
https://yssofindia.org/product/mans-eternal-quest 
https://yogananda.com.au/sc/new_testament_kingdom_of_God_l17-20.html 
 
Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the next part of chapter 13: 
“Ram Gopal took my hand and led...” 
to 
“...burn as though every cell were on fire.” 

#autobiographyofayogi  
#autobiographylinebyline  
#paramahansayogananda 
Autobiography of a Yogi  
awake.minute 
Self-Realization Fellowship 
Yogoda Satsanga Society of India 
#SRF #YSS 

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: 
“My guru mixed freely with men and women...” 
to 
“...a love solitary because omnipresent.” 

Summary: 

The soul's is birthless, genderless and transcendent. Sri Yukteswar helps us to understand these high principles through some profound and inspirational philosophical dialogue. We reflect on how to live by these high thoughts, the benefits of Kriya in this endeavor and struggles of the aspiring Yogi. 

0:00 Summary of previous episode; 
1:45 Coming up; 
2:30 Gender-less approach; 
14:25 Women; 
34:48 Sri Yukteswar’s counsel; 
1:21:14 The freedom attained by the true devotee; 
1:25:00 Summary of next episode. 

Links discussed in this episode: 
https://yogananda.com.au/gurus/yoganandaquotes03b2.html 

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the next part of chapter 12: 
“Sri Yukteswar’s mother lived in the...” 
to 
“... finding God will mean the funeral of all sorrows.” 

#autobiographyofayogi  
#autobiographylinebyline  
#paramahansayogananda 
Autobiography of a Yogi  
awake.minute 
Self-Realization Fellowship 
Yogoda Satsanga Society of India 
#SRF #YSS 

Living in spiritual communities would certainly be supportive to our sadhana but do we really need to go down this extreme social lifestyle vs living the “householder Yogi” norm, does an adequate spiritual community even exist? The discovery of atomic bomb and the Atomic Age was predicted by Paramahansa Yogananda and the other great ones and we discuss how this is related to the human race’s own Yuga story (Chris again!). Oppenheimer's famous, moving speech about the Atom bomb heavily referenced (and made even more famous) the Bhagavad Gita, we discuss the ramifications of the use of that lethal weapon in Japan all those decades ago. We also discuss how Oppenheimer’s own translation of that verse (11-32) varies substantially to Guruji’s in God Talks with Arjuna.  0:00 Summary of minute; 7:39 Living in spiritual communities; 19:00 Atomic bomb; 35:09 I am become Death - The Gita's vision of visions; 49:42 'Fun with flags'. Other translations of that verse: “I am become death, the destroyer of Worlds”: www.waggish.org/2020/now-i-am-become-death-the-destroyer-of-worlds/  Paramahansa Yogananda’s Great Samadhi “Vision of Visions” of 1948: https:// yoganandasite.wordpress.com/2016/10/21/masters-great-samadhi-vision-of-visions-of-1948-mrinalini-mata/

The Autobiography of a Yogi was a phenomenally influential work which is still the most popular route to devotees taking refuge in Kriya Yoga as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda. Guruji also wrote many other books (God Talks with Arjuna, Second Coming of Christ and the lessons), numbering many thousands of pages, Tara Mata, Daya Mata and Mrinalini Mata have their seva stretched to the limit in typing the truth for us future devotees. We discuss how this process would have been transformative their own sadhana as well as professional skills!  0:00 Meet Michael; 6:00 Summary of minute; 7:40 Keeping a spiritual blog; 10:59 Autobiography of a Yogi; 20:11 Which Guru is most important? 31:40 Paramahansa Yogananda's vast bibliography; 45:00 Being a scribe for Guruji; 53:21 Images used in the minute. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda_bibliography

We discuss the benefits of experiencing your body as stone, consciousness and light, as expounded by Paramahansa Yogananda in this minute. We also reflect on what Asana/posture would be most conducive for this experience. Brother Chidananda talks about the importance of Yogananda’s writings during this time (after returning from India in 1936) and how Sri Mrinalini Mata was crucial in this respect, we recollect some the most moving moments from her memorial service. Guruji’s writings in English are just as powerful as ancient Sanskrit mantras to devotees around the world, encapsulating the famous quote: “When I am gone, the teachings will be the Guru”. 0:00 Hopes and dreams; 3:31 Summary of Minute; 5:06 The "New" Lessons; 9:54 Guruji and meditating with body "as if like stone"; 22:42 Master's Great Samadhi; 28:18 Mrinalini Mata. NB: the recording at the end of this episode is not by Daya Mata, but Mrinalini Mata.  Mrinalini Mata - In His Presence: https://yssofindia.org/about/mrinalini-mata-in-his-presence  Sri Mrinalini Mata Memorial Service: https://youtu.be/A-Ut2SB-dU8

Paramahansa Yogananda is surprised by his devotees with a hermitage in Encinitas, and Brother Chidananda, Leo Cocks, Sri Daya Mata and Sri Mrinalini Mata provide their insight how it was different being with Guruji after he returned from India, after Sri Yukteswar had mahasamadhi. Nita joins us to share her reflections of this minute. 0:00 Meet Nita; 8:51 Summary of minute; 10:30 Encinitas "surprise"; 19:23 Guruji entering different states of consciousness; 24:33 Glassy eyes; 40:03 Mrinalini Mata; 43:57 Why did guruji enter this state? Video on Mrinalini Mata discussed in the video:   https://yssofindia.org/about/mrinalini-mata-in-his-presence

Paramahansa Yogananda spoke often about the ramifications of war and the way of peace. We dig a little deeper and explore the wealth of Guruji’s writings to find relevant material to discuss, relevant for both this minute and the current, troubling, state of affairs around the world. A sombre episode, but with reason for hope. 0:00 Preamble; 1:10 Summary of Minute; 2:03 World War 1 and the Cosmic Dream; 21:31 The End of the World; 50:13 Hitler; 53:36 The need for the teachings. Articles discussed in minute from East West Magazine July – August, 1927 Vol 2-5: www.mysticalportal.net/2-5.html

Paramahansa Yogananda shares some optimistic reflections on how to consider home as anywhere and everywhere. Our guest Lauren joins us to discuss what this means for us, using the apt example of the lovely Cosmic Chant “Divine Gypsy”. We recite and reflect on Guruji’s related poem “God’s Boatman”, inciting both indebtedness and gratitude by devotees. We also explore a comment put forward by a follower on the subject of whether following the “News” should be a mandatory part of our lives.  0:00 Mike sings a song that none have sung; 2:12 Meet Lauren; 3:33 Summary of Minute; 6:16 Divine Gypsy and the beauty of Cosmic Chants; 27:00 God's Boatman; 31:07 Images and music used in minute; 38:45 Q&A Should we follow the "news"?. Music from the minute – Krishnadas's “Sita's Prayer / Hey Mata Durga": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABBl1a6kxKU

The Mahasamadhi of Sri Yukteswar has an intriguing background, we share the stories and sequence of events as covered by Paramahansa Yogananda in the Autobiography of a Yogi, as well as the last moments they shared together. Was it right for the producers to include the scenes of Sri Yukteswar’s soul-free frame? The documentary only hints at Yogananda's experience of Sri Yukteswar’s resurrection, we fill in the gaps and also reflect on our experiences of death within our own families. A minute to stop, think deeply and savour our journey of life.  0:00 Preamble; 1:37 Summary of minute; 3:54 Sri Yukteswar gives Yogananda signs; 10:20 God's to help us to deal with death; 23:50 Scenes from the minute and handing of Sri Yukteswar's body; 32:03 Guruji's vision and images of him conducting the ancient Hindu rites; 41:20 The resurrection as depicted in the film; 45:05 The priceless pearls from resurrection chapter in the Autobiography of a Yogi.

Paramahansa Yogananda dedicates a whole chapter of his Autobiography to Anandamayi Ma. In this minute we only have a small glimpse of their divine tryst, but as a picture tells a thousand words, so we thought it only right to elucidate our experience of this beautiful moment in our Guru’s history. The narrator reflects that Paramahansa Yogananda had no ‘attraction’ to return to America, but if he had actually followed through, how would the world have been different for us devotees? The narrator also speaks of Krishna and the Jamuna river, reminding us of Master’s cosmic chant: My Krishna is Blue. Will Mike or Chris take the hint and finally don their chanting voices? 0:00 Meet Padmini; 11:09 Anandamayi Ma; 23:55 Being near her in Samadhi; 47:59 What if Guruji did not go back to America in 1936?; 58:56 Krishna's India and that famous Tamal Tree;   1:07:07 Pictures used in the minute.