Yogananda Podcast

This episode the next 8 paragraphs of the chapter 2 from:  
“Fourteen months after Mother’s passing...”  
to...  
"...impels my deathbed message.” 

Perhaps the most intriguing section of the whole book is covered in this episode, Paramanansa Yogananda receives blessings (in his infancy) from his param guru Lahiri Mahasaya, who also provides a moving prophesy that proved to be true for all of us.  

0:00 Preamble;

1:36 Summary;

2:53 Worldly ambitions;

7:31 Priyank's absence and Vlogs;

8:14 Why did Yogananda's mum wait?;

22:40 Why did she pick Ananta?;

27:12 Spiritual Baptism;

1:08:07 Ishwara and the Light, a shared vision;

1:25:00 Karmic debt and relief;

1:35:06 Ask us anything.

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the 9 paragraphs of the chapter 2 from:  
“It was an interview with a sage...”  
to...  
"... far on the wings of his amulet.” 

#autobiographyofayogi

This episode the next 8 paragraphs of Chapter 2 from:

The previous line encapsulates the timeless cosmic romance that is hallmark Paramahansa Yogananda, particularly pertaining to Guruji’s father lived his life as a widower. In this section Mukunda has his maiden attempt on running away to the Himalayas and Ananta catches him easily.

0:00 Being a Yogi;  
9:27 What is a Swami;  
18:40 A glimpse of the renunciant future;  
37:10 Fleeing to the divinely consecrated Himalayas;  
46:44 Impact of Mother's departure;  
1:14:04 Pictures.

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the next 8 paragraphs of the chapter 2 from:  

This episode covers the first 16 paragraphs of the chapter 2 from:

In this episode we cover our expectations for Chapter 2 of the podcast series. In this (part 1) we cover the emotional passing of Paramahansa Yogananda’s mother, reflecting on powerful passages from Mejda, God Talks with Arjuna and Man’s Eternal Quest.

0:00 Summary of episode;  
1:11 Expectations from chapter;  
8:44 Indian culture;  
15:08 Ananta's wedding extravagances;  
22:08 The haunted 50 Amherst Street home;  
29:56 Signs and Mukunda's visions vs. Yogananda’s visions;  
55:37 Mother's death (and resurrection?);  
1:25:20 Sheoli tree (parijat) mythology:  
1:28:51 Summary reflection, reading and a look forward.

Links references from this episode:

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the first 16 paragraphs of the chapter 2 from:
“One of my cousins, fresh from a period of travel in the holy hills...”  
to...
"...I will not accept ministrations from any other woman.”

This episode covers the last section of the chapter 1 from:

2:30 Uma’s boil story and the art of necromancy;

35:12 Prayers to Goddess Kali and meditating with snakes;

57:42 Coué and Paramahansa Yogananda’s word bombs;

1:11:57 Two kites story and its meaning for us;

1:32:50 Summary of chapter 1 and the deepest questions for ourselves.

Links references from this episode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Cou%C3%A9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarayana
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makar_Sankranti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pongal_(festival)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohri

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the first 16 paragraphs of the chapter 2 from:

Thumbnail image:
Uma and Mukunda Lal Ghosh

#autobiographyofayogi

Last Month Priyank was invited to the Omni Mindfulness podcast, see the full episode here:

https://youtu.be/crbLq_R7b2k

This episode covers the following section of 12 paragraphs—
“One of my most precious possessions is that same photograph.”
to...
“This memory persisted long after the day of rapture.”

0:00 Preamble and reflections;  
2:14 Summary of this episode;  
4:55 The significance of Holy Vibrations;  
27:27 The first attempted picture of Lahiri Mahasaya;  
34:15 How Ganga Dhar Babu first approached the Master;  
48:45 Why did Lahiri Mahasaya not appear on the photo?;  
1:02:05 The photo vs. the painting of Lahiri Mahasaya;  
1:17:17 Lahiri Mahasaya’s appearance and half-closed eyes;  
1:39:30 Mukunda’s letter to God;  
1:47:57 Paramahansa Yogananda’s visions;
2:13:26 Looking forward to in the next episode.

Links references from this episode:
yogananda.com.au/upa/Mundaka_Upanishad.html

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the last section of the chapter 1 from:

Thumbnail image: Picture and Painting Lahiri Mahasaya

This episode covers the following section of 7 paragraphs—  
“Lahiri Mahasaya left this world shortly after...”  
to...  
“...instantly recovered from a usually fatal disease.”   

A very intimate section of this first chapter, where Paramahansa Yogananda describes beautifully how Lahiri Mahasaya subtly, silently and secretly influenced his adolescence. From inspiring him to stay on the path of truth to miraculous healings, this episode features some inspiring content that can never grow old. We draw on stories from Monks and Mejda to bolster the content.     

0:00 Why did Lahiri Mahasaya pass on so soon after the birth of Mukunda?;  
9:06 Creating a shrine at home and while travelling;  
20:58 The full expression of divinity in Param Param Guru;  
27:53 Graven images and idol worship;  
33:36 Lahiri Mahasaya’s image taking a living form;  
41:15 The secret omnipotence;  
1:05:15 The wonderful healing;  
1:20:12 The Resurrection of Lahiri Mahasaya.   

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the following 12 paragraphs from:  

Links referenced in this minute:  
yogananda.com.au/g/g_spiritual_eye.html  
https://yogananda.org/sananda-lal-gho... 

This episode covers the following section of 11 paragraphs—

We discuss the first mention of Lahiri Mahasaya and what he means to us devotees of Paramahansa Yogananda. Guruji very subtly inserts a sentence on the importance of moderation and we explore his deeper teachings on the subject from God Talks with Arjuna. The beautiful story of Yogananda’s father meeting Lahiri Mahasaya through Abinash Babu is delightfully explored in minute detail.

0:00 Summary of topics;  
3:15 Strengthening your bond;  
6:05 What does Lahiri Mahasaya mean to you?;  
25:12 Celibacy and moderation of sexual energy;  
51:19 Bhagabati meets Lahiri Mahasaya;  
2:00:28 Teaser for next episode.

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the following 7 paragraphs from:
“Lahiri Mahasaya left this world shortly after...”
to...
“...instantly recovered from a usually fatal disease.”

Image used in thumbnail: right hand side is Bhagabati Charan Ghosh (Guruji’s father)

This episode covers the following section of 19 paragraphs—
“I was born on January 5, 1893, in Gorakhpur...”
to...
“...man arrives penniless in this world, and departs without a single rupee.”

We talk about Paramahansa Yogananda’s family background, Indian culture, horoscopes, Mahabharata and Ramayana among many other tangential but pertinent threads from this fascinating section of our book.

0:00 Scope;  
1:37 Mukunda Lal Ghosh’s birth;  
19:34 Guruji’s Antecedence;   
27:47 Father Bhagabati Charan Ghosh;  
46:10 Mother Gurru Gyana Prabha Ghosh;   
59:03 Dressing the children for Father – controversial?;  
1:05:50 The only argument they had and the ancient ultimatum;  
1:18:02 Charity;  
1:31:25 How to influence a stern father to buy you a motorcycle;  
1:40:05 Father using the Bhagavad Gita to inspire spiritual entrepreneurialism.

Our first episode to cover the chapters themselves for the following section of 7 paragraphs—  
“The characteristic features of Indian culture...”
to...
“I have heard very early recollections from the lips of veracious men and women.”

Topics of podcast include the guru-disciple relationship, Indian spiritual heritage, yogis, ancient civilization, past lives and adolescent memories. Paramahansa Yogananda brings in very weighty words about his own Christlike guru as well as being able to remember his past, discern his present and glimpse the future. Literary gold-dust! We apologise for the extra-long episode but the profound content needed that much attention.

0:00 Homework recap;
3:10 Chapter expectations and title;
9:23 Guru-disciple relationship;
49:36 Ancient civilizations;
58:26 Christlike Sri Yukteswar;
1:12:30 Guruji’s previous incarnation rumours;
1:21:54 Past lives and baby Yogananda.

Material referenced in this podcast:  

Homework for next episode— Read, absorb and make notes on the following 19 paragraphs from:  
“I was born on January 5, 1893, in Gorakhpur...”
to...
“...man arrives penniless in this world, and departs without a single rupee.”

#autobiographyofayogi

We found that the “Introduction” written by SRF in 2007 is important to absorb, as it provides background information and general gold-dust pertinent for readers of this century. We start the episode by reflecting on the first biblical quote referenced in the book and further information provided for the same verse in Discourse 20 of Paramahansa Yogananda’s ground breaking work “Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You”. The Eternal Law of Righteousness is often skipped by the eager reader, but it provides an Indian context that is essential if the reader is going to really make the teachings a part of their lives. Next episode we will start the AoY proper, Jai Guru!

0:00 “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.”;
7:32 Introduction;
1:01:11 Eternal Law of Righteousness and King Asoka;
1:19:08 Homework, Ben Kingsley narration and closing prayer.
Other links referenced in the episode:
Sri Daya Mata: https://youtu.be/JypSOERppCw
Ananda Mata, Sri Gyanamata and Durga Mata: https://youtu.be/2ncTrmcjCbQ
Sri Mrinalini Mata: https://youtu.be/vLhylKXAqXE

Thumbnail image: 2019 - Paramahansa Yogananda Commemorative Coin – with the State Emblem (Lion Capital of Asoka as Sarnath with the motto Satyameva Jayate, which means ‘Truth Alone Triumphs’).

Homework— Read, absorb and make notes on the first seven paragraphs from:  
“The characteristic features of Indian culture...”
to...
“I have heard very early recollections from the lips of veracious men and women.”

Bonus homework— Watch the following talk “Living the Vision of Autobiography of a Yogi” given by Brother Jayananda):
https://youtu.be/U0-C7CQcHyU