Yogananda Podcast

We welcome Durga, from India, who is responsible for the instagram account mahavatarbabajii, one of the largest social media channels ever created, dedicated to Paramhansa Yogananda’s lineage (36k followers at time of recording).  This minute discusses Paramahansa Yogananda’s “radical” and scientific explanation for the technique of meditation and charging the body with cosmic energy. We also expl...

Hitendra Wadhwa’s appearances in Awake: The Life of Yogananda were simultaneously inspirational and graceful, no mean feat. With the much deliberated “How to Live” themes discussed in this podcast, Hitendra offers a unique (and it must be noted, world renowned) perspective on harmonising the inner spiritual striving with the outer material quest for success. We are delighted to offer you this insi...

Paramahansa Yogananda arrives for the Congress of Religious Liberals and delivers his landmark talk entitled “The Science of Religion”. He naturally attracted devotees (perhaps from previous lives) such as Dr and Mrs Lewis (pictured). We review other scenes and discussion topics including Sigmund Freud, the re-conceptualisation of divinity and the book of Revelations. A mixed bag, if ever there wa...

Nik and Niva join us for the lively Minute which discusses the world that Paramahansa Yogananda was stepping into when he first landed on the shores of Boston, America. We break our usual protocol of having a maximum of four people on the podcast, the guests shared a pod from conception to birth, and we did not feel it right to separate them now. They are our first Indian guests on the podcast, an...

In the Autobiography of a Yogi guruji mentions the many “Red-tape difficulties” miraculously removed concerning his passport, visa, passage and reasons for going to the West. As this was all that was only briefly mentioned in the book, we took the opportunity in this episode to discuss these in some detail. This episode also discusses Paramahansa Yogananda’s first meeting with Mahavatar Babaji and...

Professor Francis Clooney had few lines in the film, but in our opinion, delivered them so powerfully that they rank amongst the most moving dialogue in the entire script. We are exceptionally pleased to offer this interview, which allowed Professor Clooney an extended forum to speak about the influence of Paramahansa Yogananda’s commentary on the gospels: ‘The Second Coming of Christ’ in today’s...

This episode focuses on happy years spent by Paramahansa Yogananda in his Ranchi school and the sudden, shocking inner vision of going to America.  We discuss more on the intricacies of school life, the academics, students and style of teaching. Daya Mata makes her first appearance in the film too, which may have been one of the reasons that we ended this episode in a prayer.  0:00 Divine Gypsy; 1...

Varun Soni had many significant messages to offer in the film and provided them so effortlessly and concisely that they were easy to gloss over. We discuss them in detail and he reciprocates by providing his superb all-inclusive, healing, energy to our podcast in this very special interview. Two of the many different themes discussed how his family have been influenced by Paramahansa Yogananda and...

We are joined by Natalia from Colombia, we talk about young Paramahansa Yogananda founding a school in Ranchi, we see glimpses of Bro. Vishwananda and we discuss about the right education system for the Dvapura yuga.  0:00 Meet Natalia; 10:47 Minute Summary; 11:58 Was Guruji scared of his vision?; 18:05 Establishing Ranchi School; 21:32 Brother Vishwananda; 26:18 Smriti Mandir; 29:12 What is the b...

Philip Goldberg’s contribution the film was both unique and insightful, we hope you will enjoy this intriguing interview as much as we did. As a scholar and biographer of the great spiritual personalities in the West, Phil has produced beautiful chronicles that highlight the route-map taken by the unlikely but inevitable eastern spiritual renaissance in the Americas.   00:00 Phil Goldberg Bio, don...

Some classic footage of Ranchi school is part of this minute and discussed scene by scene. Mas Vidal's dialogue explains what Paramahansa Yogananda's state of mind would have been like at the time of his visions of America.  0:00 Streaming Live; 2:05 Summary of minute; 4:13 Our lineage and the #padmasana movement; 18:43 Playing football in a dhoti; 20:03 Chronology of the minute and Ranchi history...

We are delighted to present this very special episode which interviews Mas Vidal, who played a prominent part in the film through interviews, narrations and influence. Mas Vidal speaks from the heart about how Paramahansa Yogananda has influenced his life and how he came to appear in the landmark documentary film. 01:00 Meet Mas Vidal; 20:55 Build up or a shunt?; 33:05 Brother Bhaktananda stories;...

Hemond from Germany joins us for this minute that has some serious depth, including science, philosophy and mysticism. The link is for us all to see in the minute from the film.  01:48 Meet Hemond; 06:17 Astral Bangals; 12:35 True Spirit; 38:50 Past lives; 44:40 Sister Premamayee; 52:40 Product placement; 57:40 Brother Vishwananda and the Atomic Age.

We hear more deep dialogue from Bro. Vishwananda whilst he is travelling by train. Some lovely footage is taken by the directors for this minute and it is discussed in depth. We also hear Deepak Chopra for the first time in the film, who does a lovely job of describing the genius of Paramahansa Yogananda.  02:13 Minute summary and the life train; 11:31 Bro. Vishwananda and the monastic life;...

This episode rightly honours the Christlike life of Yogavatar Lahiri Mahasaya: the fragrance of flowers cannot be suppressed. We discuss his impact on the film and the world in some depth. Bro. Vishwananda also graces the film with his first appearance along with Br. Shekhar embarking on a pilgrimage journey of their own.  01:21 Holy water; 16:38 The significance of Kashi; 22:35 Indian Tea; 2...

Mahavatar Babaji has captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of millions of people around the world. This minute has the first mention of the great incarnation that is the param param param Guru of Paramahansa Yogananda devotees around the world. This episode features our first of many guests to the show. Anna Devi joins us from Switzerland and lights the podcast with her experiences. Varun So...

Steve Jobs has a certain air of technology messiah about him, and his relationship with Paramahansa Yogananda discussed in detail. Mas Vidal* tells us about the correct use of Hatha Yoga, further emphasised by Bikram. Dr Clooney* from Harvard brings in his own flavour of profound prose.   01:55 - Summary of minute; 02:29 - Hitendra Wadhwa*; 06:45 - Steve Jobs (SJ); 16:25 - SJ F...

Ravi Shankar and Krishna Das grace the film with their first of many appearances in the film. They discuss their first meeting with Swami Yogananda and hearing his voice for the first time. Mind. Blowing.  02:22 - Summary of minute; 04:45 - Why is Guruji sitting on an alligator; 15:20 - What was your first impression of seeing Paramahansa Yogananda;   23:30 - Bhagavad Gita 02.12 on Reinc...

A young Mukunda Lal Gosh describes his experience in infancy and even before that in the womb. Profound, the analysis and discussion is very much needed for this gem of a minute.   00:00 - Introductions; 06:01 - Expressing yourself as Spirit; 08:03 - Scene-by-scene analysis; 11:48 - Temple bells; 14:18 - Why try meditation; 17:16 - The cosmic motion picture dream mechanism of creation; 2...

Introduction to the minute by minute podcast about the movie Awake: The Life of Yogananda. Welcome to our podcast. Before diving in to the minutes you may wish to watch this short episode first to provide you some basic information on our podcast and to meet the hosts! Jai Guru! 00:00 - Who are we?; 03:36 - Why are we doing this?; 07:55 - Format of each episode; 09:27 - Our guest speakers; 10:00 -...

The hosts welcome you to the podcast, introduce themselves and their journey into watching this film, coming together while in London, Northern Ireland and Austria (at the time of recording) to bring you this production!  The start of the film is analysed in detail, including the narration, actors and opening scenes. Paramahansa Yogananda reflects on his prenatal and early postnatal memories....