An in-depth article about Paramahansa Yogananda’s pioneering spiritual work in the west – including an interview with SRF minister Brother Chidananda — was recently featured on the website of ReadtheSpirit.com, a prominent online portal focusing on religion and spirituality.
In the article, longtime religion writer/editor David Crumm (previously with the Detroit Free Press) discusses some of the historical and social context of Paramahansa Yogananda’s early years in America – and the ongoing appeal of his Autobiography of a Yogi and The Yoga of Jesus. He then interviews Self-Realization Fellowship minister Brother Chidananda, exploring Paramahansaji’s views on topics such as yoga and science and the harmony between the teachings of Jesus and those of ancient India.
Mr. Crumm wrote: “Yogananda found American arms wide open to his message that emphasized a convergence between traditions of Yoga and the teachings of Jesus. The Self-Realization Fellowship continues to publish his writings and the new edition of The Yoga of Jesus is a fascinating exploration of parallels Yogananda found between Jesus' teachings and his own religious tradition in India.”
Excerpts from Brother Chidananda’s remarks in the interview:
- “One way to think about what Yogananda taught is that religion in its essence, in its purest form, is a science. He said that with an open mind and a proper understanding, there is no conflict between science and religion, which is remarkable when you look at a lot of the dialogue that has gone on between science and religion over the past century.”
- “What Yogananda really wanted to do was to restore the original teachings of Jesus and to show that Jesus brought a beautiful and complete and powerful embodiment of the universal principles of religion that are at the heart of every great world religion.”
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