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Autobiography of a Yogi is an autobiography written by Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893–March 7, 1952) in 1946, in which he discusses his life story, and which introduced many Westerners to meditation and yoga.

The book describes Yogananda's search for a guru, and his encounters with leading spiritual figures such as Therese Neumann, the Hindu saint Sri Anandamoyi Ma, Mohandas Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Sir C. V. Raman, and noted American plant scientist Luther Burbank, to whom it is dedicated.

The preface was written by Walter Evans-Wentz, the author of The Tibetan Books of the Dead, Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa and others.

Overview

Autobiography of a Yogi is the most popular of Yogananda’s books. According to Philip Goldberg, who wrote American Veda, "...the Self-Realization Fellowship which represents Yogananda's Legacy, is justified in using the slogan, "The Book that Changed the Lives of Millions." It has sold more than four million copies and counting..." and it has been published into 27 languages. In 1999, it was designated as one of the "100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century" by a panel of theologians and luminaries convened by HarperCollins publishers.

"The work is enduringly popular because it introduces millions of readers to Eastern spiritual thought. Yogananda's masterly storytelling epitomizes the Indian oral tradition with its wit, charm, and compassionate wisdom. The yogi begins by showing how his childhood experiences in turn-of-the-century India produced a spiritual youth in search of an enlightened teacher, continues with an account of his years of training in the hermitage of a revered master, and concludes with the highlights of a period, beginning in 1920, during which he lived and taught in America."

Editions currently available

As of May 2012, there are currently two revisions of the book available:

• The version published by Self-Realization Fellowship ISBN 978-0-87612-083-5
• Unabridged audio book (15 CDs) - a version published by Self-Realization Fellowship narrated by Ben Kingsley (2004) Available in English and German ISBN 0-87612-095-8.

Self-Realization Fellowship has translated the book into 27 languages .

In addition, there are numerous free online editions of the 1946 first edition:

• Google Free online - Sterling Publishers, India - 1946 1st edition of Autobiography of a Yogi (scroll down to see it) ISBN 81-207-2524-7
• Gutenberg Free online - 1946 1st edition of Autobiography of a Yogi
• Wikisource Free online - 1946 1st edition of Autobiography of a Yogi

There are also reprints of the 1946 first edition:

• Reprint of 1946 1st edition by the publisher: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Dec 1, 2003, India ISBN 81-207-2524-7.
• Reprint of 1946 1st edition & a second version of the 1st edition (added Chapter 49 from Yogananda's 1951 book) published by Crystal Clarity (2005) ISBN 1-56589-212-7: .

See also

• Daya Mata
• Kriya Yoga
• Lahiri Mahasaya
• Luther Burbank
• Mahavatar Babaji
• Rajarsi Janakananda
• Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
• Sri Panchanon Bhattacharya
• Sri Yukteswar
• Hinduism Invades America

References

1. Yogananda, Paramahansa (1997). Autobiography of a Yogi, 1997 Anniversary Edition. Self-Realization Fellowship (Founded by Yogananda) http://www.yogananda-srf.org/. ISBN 0-87612-086-9.
2. Bowden, Henry Warner (1993). Dictionary of American Religious Biography. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-27825-3. p. 629.
3. Goldberg, Philip (2012). The Autobiography of a Yogi: A Tribute to Yogananda. Huff Post Religion.
4. Goldberg, Philip (2012). American Veda. Harmony; 1 edition (November 2, 2010): 109. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
5. /HarperCollins+100+Best+Spiritual+Books+of+the+Century "HarperCollins 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Century". {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
6. Dudley, James (1997). Library Journal: Autobiography of a Yogi. Cahners Magazine Division of Reed Publishing. {{cite book}}: Text "Library Journal122. 1 (Jan 1997): 170" ignored (help)
7. "Translations Around the World".

• 1946 books
• Religious autobiographies
• Books about spirituality
• Indian books