the life of yogananda

The Life of Yogananda (Interview with Philip Goldberg)

Paramahansa Yogananda: A Spiritual Teacher for the Ages

Yogacharya O'Brian talks with Phil Goldberg about his new book, The Life of Yogananda: The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru.

Paramahansa Yogananda’s contribution to the transmission of yogic wisdom to the West has been monumental, and his ongoing presence is palpable. A comprehensive, in-depth account of Yogananda’s unique and fascinating life by Phil Goldberg, author of American Veda—this new book is exhaustively researched and contains information not found in any other source.

From The Life of Yogananda Jacket Copy

The life of Philip Goldberg

The Story of the Yogi Who Became the First Modern Guru

Yogananda, considered by many to be the father of modern yoga, has had an unsurpassed global impact thanks to the durability of his teachings, the institutions he created or inspired, and especially his iconic memoir, Autobiography of a Yogi.

Since its publication in 1946, that book has sold millions of copies and changed millions of lives. But it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Much of Yogananda’s seminal text is devoted to tales about other people, and it largely overlooks the three vital decades he spent living, working, and teaching in America. Huge chunks of his life—challenges, controversies, and crises; triumphs, relationships, and formative experiences—remain unknown to even his mostardent devotees. In this captivating biography, scholar and teacher Philip Goldberg fills the gaps, charting a journey that spanned six decades, two hemispheres, two world wars, and unprecedented social changes. The result is an objective, thoroughly researched account of Yogananda’s remarkable life in all its detail, nuance, and complex humanity.

In the book, Philip reports on the surprises he encountered, and the discoveries he made, on the road from inception to publication of this new book. He will explain the impact of Yogananda’s mission in a historical context and highlight the valuable lessons we can all derive from the narrative of Yogananda’s journey through life.

Tune in as Philip Goldberg and Yogacharya O'Brian discuss the fascinating life of this extraordinary leader.

Philip Goldberg has been studying India’s spiritual traditions for more than 45 years, as a practitioner, teacher, and writer. He is the author of numerous books, most recognized for the acclaimed American Veda: From Emerson and the Beatles to Yoga and Meditation, How Indian Spirituality Changed the West. The co-host of the podcast Spirit Matters, he blogs regularly on the Huffington Post and Spirituality and Health online.

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