Stories of Yogananda's Youth

True Episodes from the Boyhood of the Author of Autobiography of a Yogi

Swami Kriyananda

• Publisher: Crystal Clarity Publishers
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781565893177
• eBook ISBN: 9781565895737
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religious Biographies

Stories from the youth of Mukunda Lal Ghosh, later known to the world under his monastic name of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the bestselling spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi. Even in his youth the greatness of this master of yoga was revealed. Complements beautifully Yogananda's own autobiography.

The author, Swami Kriyananda, a direct and close disciple of Yogananda, writes: "In this book I have tried to depict Yogananda's spirit; a spirit ardent with love for God, tender with sympathy for all men, forgiving, kindly, humorous, yet resolute and forceful when strength was needed."

From the preface: "Paramhansa Yogananda was born in India in the last decade of the nineteenth century. His father, a high official in the Bengal-Nagpur railway, was in a position to offer his children worldly security and success. Mukunda's heart, however, was set on another kind of security and another, higher, kind of success: final victory over ignorance through loving union with God. Spurning earthly comforts, he sought rigorous training under one of India's greatest living gurus, Swami Sri Yukteswar, of Serampore, Bengal.

"People often make the mistake of equating the spiritual life with dullness and prudery. These stories should help to dispel that illusion. Mukunda's keen sense of humor and love of pranks often startled his more sedate neighbors out of their mental ruts. The personality that emerges from these episodes is joyous, compassionate, childlike yet fiercely determined, loyal, deeply in love with God, and capable of standing alone in his convictions against the very world.

"These stories have been written from true episodes in the master's life from approximately the ages of six to seventeen. Some of the accounts were related to me by his relatives; others, by childhood friends. But the greater number were told me by the master himself. I have taken no liberties with those accounts beyond adding superficial details for poetic emphasis, an occasionally combining separate episodes (too brief to stand alone) into a single story."

About the Author

“Swami Kriyananda is a man of wisdom and compassion in action, truly one of the leading lights in the spiritual world today.”

—Lama Surya Das, Dzogchen Center, author of
Awakening the Buddha Within

SWAMI KRIYANANDA (1926–2013) WAS a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda (author of the classic, Autobiography of a Yogi). Kriyananda was trained by the great Indian yoga master to spread the life-transforming teachings of Kriya Yoga around the globe. He is widely considered one of the foremost experts on meditation, yoga, and spiritual practice, having authored more than 140 books on these subjects.

Kriyananda was the founder of Ananda, an international organization committed to the dissemination of Yogananda’s teachings. In 1968 he founded Ananda Cooperative Village in Nevada City, California, the first spiritual community based on Yogananda’s vision of “world brotherhood colonies.” Today Ananda includes eight communities in the U.S., Europe, and India, and more than 140 meditation centers and groups worldwide.

Dear Reader,

Ananda is a worldwide work based on the same teachings expressed in this book—those of the great spiritual teacher, Paramhansa Yogananda. If you enjoyed this title, Crystal Clarity Publishers invites you to continue to deepen your spiritual life through the many avenues of Ananda Worldwide—including meditation communities, centers, and groups; online virtual community and webinars; retreat centers offering classes and teacher training in yoga and meditation; and more.

For special offers and discounts for first-time visitors to Ananda, visit:

http://www.crystalclarity.com/welcome

Feel free to contact us. We are here to serve you.

Joy to you,

Crystal Clarity Publishers

ANANDA WORLDWIDE

Ananda, a worldwide organization founded by Swami Kriyananda, offers spiritual support and resources based on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. There are Ananda spiritual communities in Nevada City, Sacramento, and Palo Alto, California; Seattle, Washington; Portland and Laurelwood, Oregon; as well as a retreat center and European community in Assisi, Italy, and a community near New Delhi, India. Ananda supports more than 140 meditation groups worldwide.

For more information about Ananda’s work, our communities, or meditation groups near you, please call 530.478.7560 or visit www.ananda.org.

THE EXPANDING LIGHT RETREAT

The Expanding Light is the largest retreat center in the world to share exclusively the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. Situated in the Ananda Village community, it offers the opportunity to experience spiritual life in a contemporary ashram setting. The varied, year-round schedule of classes and programs on yoga, meditation, and spiritual practice includes Karma Yoga, Personal Retreat, Spiritual Travel, and online learning. The Ananda School of Yoga & Meditation offers certified yoga, yoga therapist, spiritual counselor, and meditation teacher trainings. Large groups are welcome.

The teaching staff are experts in Kriya Yoga meditation and all aspects of Yogananda’s teachings. All staff members live at Ananda Village and bring an uplifting approach to their areas of service. The serene natural setting and delicious vegetarian meals help provide an ideal environment for a truly meaningful visit.

For more information, please call 800.346.5350 or visit www.expandinglight.org.

CRYSTAL CLARITY PUBLISHERS

Crystal Clarity Publishers offers many additional resources to assist you in your spiritual journey, including many other books (see the following pages for some of them), a wide variety of inspirational and relaxation music composed by Swami Kriyananda, and yoga and meditation videos. To request a catalog, place an order for the above products, or to find out more information, please contact us at:

Crystal Clarity Publishers
www.crystalclarity.com

14618 Tyler Foote Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959

TOLL FREE: 800.424.1055 or 530.478.7600 /
FAX: [phone]

EMAIL: [email protected]

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Table of contents

• Author’s Preface
• A Letter to God
• The Goldfish Tragedy
• A Double Victory
• The Living Kali
• A True Devotee’s Zeal
• God Is in Everything
• “Ghosts” to the Rescue
• The Warrior
• The Youthful Guru
• Krishna Comes!
• The Wave and The Ocean
• Forty-Eight Hours in Eternity
• Divine Mother’s Motorcycle
• “This Body Belongs to God”
• About the Author