Sri Sailendra Bejoy Dasgupta

This book (also available in the Yoga Niketan online library) is an important biography of Swami Yogananda, who brought yogic Hinduism to the United States in the 1920s, and is known widely as the author of Autobiography of a Yogi. Dasgputa was uniquely qualified to write it, since he served as Yogananda's secretary during his return to India in 1935, and was initiated by Yogananda's own guru, Sri Yukteswar Giri. It is required reading for anyone interested from in the spread of Hinduism (and the New Age) in the United States or in the Self-Realization Fellowship which Yogananda founded. Those who are interested in how religions develop should read Autobiography of a Yogi and Paramhansa Swami Yogananda: Life-portrait and Reminiscence side-by-side for the perspective these books each have on the personality of this religious leader/miracle worker. There may be other books just as good or better for this -- I have not read the biography written by Swami Satyananda, who knew Yogananda even more intimately, for example -- but Dasgupta's book is succinct and includes details of events for which he was present and in which he took part.

Dasgupta tells the story of how Yogananda began his search for spiritual truth, seeking for a guru in India. He was initiated by Sri Yukteswar into Kriya Yoga and taught secret meditative techniques. Sri Yukteswar claimed to have learned the system from Lahiri Mahasaya, who in turn learned it from the immortal Himalayan sage Babaji. Much of this part of the book comes straight from the Autobiography.

But Dasgupta gives us details about how Yogananda modified Kriya Yoga for Americans. Deciding that ascetics are not respected in America, Yogananda decided to make himself wealthy by charging large sums for his lectures. He also distilled his lessons into a mail-order course, giving Kriya initiations en masse rather than individually. Students who were not prepared through early steps of the practice were nevertheless given higher spiritual practices to follow. The system, Dasgupta tells us, is not the original Kriya Yoga, though it may still be noble.

Dasgupta also tells us of falling-outs Yogananda had with important individuals during his career. Most importantly, his relationship with Sri Yukteswar, we learn, was not as smooth as one might assume from the Autobiography. Even the title Paramhansa, usually a title of honor, was apparently bestowed on Yogananda as a joke at his expense.

One interesting part of the book was a description of one of Yogananda's demonstrations of psychic power. During a speech in a packed auditorium in India, Yogananda caused the audience members' hands to stick together, only to be separated at his command. What is most interesting is Yogananda's failures. Dasgupta was one whose hands did not stick together -- Yogananda told him this was because he was a "critic." But others' hands not only stuck together, but could not be separated even at Yogananda's command. One individual panicked, and could only part his hands after his own guru took him outside and calmed him.

Nevertheless, on the whole Dasgupta revered Yogananda. His attitude is probably very like that of the first generation of followers of any religious leader. He recognized what he saw as problems in Yogananada's work, but nevertheless considered him the tool of an unseen hand. The Autobiography is really an autohagiography, and the second generation of Yogananda followers would be forgiven to believe Yogananda was an etheric being. Dasgupta's humanizes Yogananda. His book is fascinating in its contrast with the Autobiography, and the two together are an interesting study in the development of an American religion.… (lisätietoja)