Yogananda Podcast

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 from: “We had had to travel for our meeting to...” to “...“swoop” perilously close to Calcutta!”  Summary:  This beautiful encounter between Sri Yukteswar and Mukunda ends with a hint of bitter-sweet. Is it possible that 12 hours had passed during their meeting that is covered in two pages? Mukunda suffers some heart-ache from his ashram housemates t...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 from: “ As we made our way to the stone balcony...” to “...had never caught a glimpse of my guru.”  Summary:  So few words are exchanged between Mukunda and Sri Yukteswar in their six hour re-union (of this lifetime), but so much depth exists in between the lines. We try to break it down and fill in then blanks using readings from God Talks with Arju...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 to:  “”Gurudeva!” The divine face was the one...”  to  “...Strength mingled subtly with gentleness.”  Summary:  Finally! Mukunda finds his Guru Swami Sri Yukteswar – we consider this to the the most important part of the book yet, but why? What is it about this relationship that gets our spiritual juices racing? We try to answer this question amongst...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 to: “The sole treasure which had accompanied me...” to “...A few eager steps and I was at his feet.”  Sumamary:  Mukunda continues struggle with Dayananda’s followers, leading him to the special moment when he is finally reunited with the great Swami Sri Yukteswar, his guru, of whom he has waited a lifetime for! During this prelude our guru is blesse...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 to:  “With doubled zest I awaited...”  to  “...this lesson in a Banaras hermitage!”  Mukunda is shaken up by the austerity of Swami Dayananda attitude toward food, life and God. Fasting must be an important part of spirituality for Paramahansa Yogananda to use his own example and expound the timeless eastern philosophy by covering so many pages on th...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 to:  “I was pleased that my new home...”  to  “... I completed a twenty-four-hour fast.”  This short part of the autobiography that covers life in Bharat Dharma Mahamandal ashram holds many lessons for young Mukunda. He has good reason to request clarifications from the ashram’s head Dayananda, who takes the opportunity to iron out a few wrinkles to...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 10 to:  “In my new dignity, I was now openly planning...”  to  “...His fair face had a Buddhalike composure.”  Mukunda is finally free to renounce his family home for a life in a Banaras hermitage, Sri Bharat Dharma Mahamandal, in pursuit of his life goal. Before he does that, he shows us the way to detach ourselves from familial attachments and respons...

This episode covers the first part of chapter 10 to:  “...cadavers is a shortcut to a high school diploma!”  Chapter 10 may rightly be considered the best chapter in the book, principally because of the first meeting (in this lifetime) between disciple and Guru. We discuss what this chapter and title means for us. This episode then focuses on the start of the chapter – the best attitude toward fai...

This episode covers the last section of chapter 9 from:  “Trying with poor words to do justice...”  to the end of the chapter.  A wonderful chapter is concluded with Mukunda paying more homage to the great Master Mahasaya. Paramahansa Yogananda is in a reflective mood as he writes lovingly about all those saints that crossed his path and we delve into what that means to us. We also discuss the abs...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 9 from:  “Little sir, you were disappointed in that...”  to  “...were sympathetically drunk with God.”  A spiritual alcoholic is born! Mukunda continues his journey with the great Master Mahasaya, who generously rewards him with an experience of the great motion picture of life, which leaves both he and the Master in an intoxicated state of joy. It t...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 9 from:  “Hand in hand, the saint and I walked...”  to  “...that the hall was again illuminated.”  The divine romance between Master Mahasaya, Mukunda and Merciful Mother is the main content for this episode. Important themes of the impartiality of the Guru, benefits of being non-critical and group meditation are also discussed. The first bioscope pr...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 9 from:  “Let us go tomorrow to Dakshineswar...”  to  “...that the hall was again illuminated.”  Ramakrishna Paramahansa was influential not only in India and Hinduism in general, but to our guru Paramahansa Yogananda and paramguru Sri Yukteswar in quite nuanced ways. We share some highlights from the Gospel of Ramakrishna Paramahansa as they are rel...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 9 from:  “His role in the world was humble...”  to  “...egotistical consideration could gain foothold.”  Master Mahasaya did not become world famous as did his brother disciple Swami Vivekananda but his subtle influence and dedicated service allowed many near-by souls to flower. His humility is experienced in beautiful terms both through his actions...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 9 from:  “My steps were eager as I returned...”  to  “...met with sweet acquiescence?”  The divine to-and-fro between Master and disciple is both spiritually motive and comical. We uncover many subtle lessons in this section such as introspecting on how eager we are to meditate, the personal preference of each devotee’s conception of the divine and t...

This episode covers the the start section of chapter 9 from:  “Little sir, please be seated...”  to  “...my grievous hurts and final healing.”  Master Mahasaya and Mukunda kick off the chapter with some beautiful fellowship, you would be forgiven if you thought it was between Guru and disciple! Paramahansa Yogananda gets into the mood of the devotional sentiment expressed in Ramakrishna Paramahans...

This episode covers the last section of chapter 8 from:  “Years later Bose’s pioneer plant findings...”  ...to the end of the chapter.  Bose’s findings are further substantiated by the progress of time and research. His (and Paramahansa Yogananda’s) revolutionary thought no doubt influenced the eminent personalities in science of today, whether they know or acknowledge it formally. Tagore’s tribut...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 8 from:  “I visited the research centre again...”  To  “...fertility of his genius ever be exhausted?”.  Mukunda gets to visit Bose’s research centre and is given a personal tour of the state-of-the-art instrumentation with practical demonstrations. We discuss what each of the discoveries mean for us in our day-to-day lives and for humanity. Reva joi...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 8 from:  “In time the leading scientific societies of the world...”  To   “...synonym of India, confounding Time and the historians alike?”  We explore the lasting legacy of Indian scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, a passionate advocate for India's scientific heritage. Bose envisioned global scientific collaboration, opening his institute and...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 8 from:  “The telltale charts of my crescograph...”  To   “...regarding gain and loss, success and failure, as one.”    Bose tells Mukunda of the crescograph’s discoveries on the emotional nature of plants and matter and the unity among them. The Bose institute opens and we begin to delve into Bose’s speech which “ might have issued from the lips of...

This episode covers the start of chapter 8:  To   “...natural realms long uncommunicative.”  We welcome back Reva as we reflect on the start of chapter 8, which introduces India’s great scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose. Mukunda (Paramahansa Yogananda) exemplifies the benefits of an active curiosity and a thirst for knowledge, going far beyond the narrow limits of the school corridors. The scientifi...

This episode covers the last section of chapter 7 from:  “Several students put rupees in Bhaduri’s slippers...“  To end of the chapter.  We welcome back Padmini as we reflect on the end of chapter 7, important topics such as charity, devotion and the subtle, silent blessings of a Master. Paramahansa Yogananda includes some beautiful footnotes on St Therese of Avila and St Joseph of Cupertino, whic...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 7 from:  “Those letters come from far-off America...“  To  “...The only indispensable is Love.”  Join us for this week’s episode where Nagendra Nath Bhaduri expounds great truths, speaks a veiled prophecy, and tells a short tale of Mirabai. Paramahansa Yogananda translates one of her “ecstatic songs”.  0:00 The "Veiled Prophetic Guidance" 2...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 7 from:  “On my way home from school...“  To  “... eyes held a hidden divine laughter”  Nike rejoins us we reflect on the beautiful 2023 Convocation. In this episode Yogananda visits the great yogi, Bhaduri Mahasaya, who explains why he confines himself within the walls of his own home, away from the public. We discuss an example of power of delusion...

This episode covers the start of chapter 7 from:  “I saw a yogi remain in the air...“  To  “...to all the attributes of God.”  Some guests rejoin us for the Levitating Saint, another of the list of spectacular titles in the book. We talk about the great saint Bhaduri Mahasaya, his preference of seclusion and superconsciousness. Mukunda’s inquisitive nature and love for pilgrimages is discussed and...

This episode covers the next section of chapter 6 from:  “Amidst piercing sound-explosions...“  To  The end of the Chapter.    The life-changing event prompted Soham Swami to redirect his focus from the dangerous realm of tiger taming to a more introspective and profound path – the taming of his inner beasts. The intense confrontation with Raja Begum led him to realize the significance of a true G...