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Category: Paramhansa Yogananda

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Casey
England

Question

Which version of The Bible did Paramhansaji refer to in his writings?

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Casey,

He preferred the King James version of the Bible. He said that this version’s prose and poetry is more beautiful than any other translation, even though some of the language may seem archaic to us now.

No name
no country

Question

With all respect due, May I ask why the name Paramhansa Yogananda is also spelled Paramahansa? I find on your site and some others it is spelled the first way and then on the site which is dedicated to his foundation Self Realization Fellowship it is spelled the latter way.

Thank you for any explanation you might afford me.

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Friend,

When Swami Yogananda, as he was called when he first came to the United States in 1920, returned to India in 1935 – 36, his guru, Sri Yukteswar bestowed on him the spiritual title: Paramhansa.

Upon his return to the United States, he asked that everyone use that title before his monastic name, Yogananda. In all announcements to the public about this name change it was spelled without the middle "a." Indeed, his signature always appeared that way, right up until he left his body in 1952. In the original 1946 edition of Autobiography of a Yogi he spells it without the additional "a."

James
United States

Question

I read that Paramhansa Yogananda had said he was William the Conqueror in a previous incarnation. I also read, however, that William the Conqueror skinned people alive and hung them from their windows. I wonder if you could help me resolve this contradiction?

Catherine Van Houten

Ananda Village

Answer

This was a mind-boggling revelation for me, too! Over the years here at Ananda Village, I've heard Swami Kriyananda confirm the fact that Yogananda said he was William the Conqueror. Having been educated for some years in England’s schools, he had been trained to view the Conqueror as "nearly the devil himself," as Swamiji’s has expressed it.

July 21
2009

Jerry
America

Question

Is Yogananda understood to have been infallible?

Seva Wiberg

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Jerry,

Paramhansa Yogananda was an avatar - one who has realized his oneness with the Divine. In this respect he was definitely infallible. If it seems that he may have been wrong in some spiritual aspect, it could very well be our understanding is limited--that our mirror is clouded.

May 6
2009

øyvind
norway

Question

hi friends

How can it be that master never wanted to meet Padre Pio he did meet many other saints did he had anything ageinst him?He was in Italy so it must have been possible to meet-i ask about pater Pio bec i have an interest in him.it would have been so intersting to know what yogananda had to say about him .thank u -

Anandi Cornell

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear øyvind,

I have never heard anything that Yogananda said about Padre Pio, negative or positive. Yogananda said that everyone that he met during his life, even casually, was someone he was meant to meet. Nothing was accidental. So, apparently, Padre Pio was not someone he was meant to meet.

AWANISH THAKUR
INDIA

Question

I want to become a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda for that what I have to do?

Dave Warner

Ananda Village

Answer

Discipleship to a God-Realized Guru such as Paramhansa Yogananda is perhaps the most significant step one can take on the path to liberation.

If one reads Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi from the perspective of the Guru/Disciple relationship, then it takes on a completely different meaning. In fact, the first sentence of the book, and the last sentence of the book both address that relationship (look it up!).

tyler
usa

Question

In Paramhansa Yogananda’s poem, "Samadhi", there is a line that I've never really been able to grasp: "...glaciers of silent x-rays." The rest of the poem is such an increasingly amazing aid to my meditations but whenever I go through this particular line, I am like, "huh?" What do you think? Jai Guruji!

Savitri Simpson

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Tyler,

What an interesting question! Surely there is no deeper or more spiritually profound poem ever written than this one. Each line is filled with dazzling images of Self-realization and God-perception. (You can read the poem in its entirety in Autobiography of a Yogi)

March 4
2009

jon
norway

Question

Dear friends

Is there any good information about Yogananda in Thai language? I want my wife to know a little about him because she asks me, but I can not find anything on the internet.

Seva Wiberg

Ananda Village

Answer

Dear Jon,

I’m sorry to say that none of the books we print are translated in to Thai. I wish that we could help you further and do hope that you find something. You might try Self-Realization Fellowship to see if they have a translation.

Joy to you,

Seva

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