The Life Changing Inspiration of Autobiography of a Yogi
Why has reading Paramahansa Yogananda’s book Autobiography of a Yogi changed so many lives? Join author Philip Goldberg as he discusses this important book, which he calls “An iconic memoir of an authentic yogi.”
Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 50 years. He is an illuminating and entertaining public speaker and workshop leader, a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher, and an ordained Interfaith Minister. Phil is the author or co-author of numerous books, including America Veda, Roadsigns on the Spiritual Path, The Life of Yogananda, and Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times. He contributes regularly to Spirituality & Health magazine online. Phil is the host of the popular Spirit Matters podcast
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: What a delightful conversation with Phil Goldberg on the Yoga Hour. I could have listened for hours. Philip Goldberg so easily and richly shares his knowledge of Paramahansa Yogananda, the book 'The Autobiography of a Yogi' and Yoga philosophy in general. I found his explanation especially enlightening of why The Autobiography of a Yogi is such a classic book and so influential in America. Phil talked about how few Yogi's write about their own life and that it is a compelling story about Yogananda's life. He went on to state that Yogananda also includes stories of other people, yogis and mystics from India and America as well as a discourse on Yoga that is good, concise and informative. Phil shared that the majority of people that he has talked with over the decades that have chosen to explore or teach Eastern spirituality and Yoga state that 'The Autobiography of a Yogi' was the most influential book in getting them started. He encourages people "...to read the book if they haven't read it and to re-read it if they have because there is always something new to learn".
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: It is always such a pleasure to have Phil as a guest on The Yoga Hour, and to discuss Paramahansa Yogananda with him in this program. He is so knowledgeable about the spread of yoga philosophy in America as well as the life of Yogananda, and he makes these topics so accessible. I really enjoyed how our conversation wove back and forth between Yogananda’s book Autobiography of a Yogi, and Phil’s book The Life of Yogananda, as the two books are so complementary. I appreciated our focus on the experiential nature of the philosophy of yoga practice and meditation, how the yoga approach doesn’t rely on blind faith, but is rather an encouragement to try these techniques out for oneself and to see the results in our own life. I agree with Phil’s encouragement to listeners to read the Autobiography if they haven’t yet done so, or to re-read it if they have read it in the past. There is always something new and inspiring to find there.