This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “The silence habitual to Sri Yukteswar was caused by...” to “... improve if you are making a spiritual effort now.”  Summary:  Paramahansa Yogananda uses every opportunity to focus on the key themes of silence and stillness, we explore their spiritual significance and draw on personal experiences using noise in the workplace and environment. Sri Yukteswar teaches us some cultural differences in communication styles, the importance of concise...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “My guru was a peerless interpreter of the scriptures...” to “... A saint will not encroach on that independence.”  Summary:  This part deals with the challenges and benefits of spiritual practices, with a focus on the importance of concentration and self-awareness as taught by Sri Yukteswar and Paramahansa Yogananda. We delve into the future architectural visions of Mukunda and share our experiences with the Mother Center and Encinitas. We...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “One afternoon during my early months...” to “... severed by one of the disciples.”  Summary:  Masters like Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar employ intriguing techniques to impart wisdom, in this episode we focus on the impact of alternative healing methods on medical diagnosis, the importance of personal responsibility in health, and the potential benefits of a combination of scientific and spiritual healing techniques. We also explore our...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “My early months with Sri Yukteswar culminated in...” to “...guru is beyond fear of hurt from any creature.”  Summary:  We reflect on personal experiences with mosquito control methods, associated spiritual practices on self-control, and the philosophy of Ahimsa non-violence. We also review how this relates to a similar passage in Chapter 44 with Mahatma Gandhi, as well as Sri Yukteswar and Paramahansa Yogananda’s yogic powers that prevent...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “Daily life at the ashram flowed smoothly...” to “... ended many of my periods of nocturnal edification.”  Summary:  In this section the emphasis Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Sri Yukteswar placed on the importance of routine and meditation, and the challenges of maintaining them. Mukunda notices the minute mannerisms and qualities of Swami Sri Yukteswar just four our careful analysis. The significance of meditation was likened to life being...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “Sri Yukteswar chose the following morning...”  to  “...minimum passing grades from time to time.”    Summary:  Mukunda received a transforming Kriya Yoga initiation, which is different this time because of the authority of the initiator: Swami Sri Yukteswar. We talk about how this applies to modern Kriya initiates and importance of the role of SRF/YSS to sincere devotees around the world. When he returns home, he is warmly welcomes by his...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 12: “Led by my guru, I strolled about the house...” to “...sweet the first night under my guru’s roof.”  Summary:  As Mukunda takes his first steps inside Swami Sri Yukteswar’s ashram in Serempore he takes the opportunity to get to know him better. He got lessons that would stay with till he became Paramahansa Yogananda. We delight in bolstering the intricacies of the narrative be taking excerpts from Swami Satyananda’s biography of Swami Sri...

This episode covers the start of chapter 12 to: “...blessing my infancy, had guided my steps to this hour.”  Summary:  A profound start to one of the longest chapters of the book, ranking amongst the most influential and memorable written. We discuss our expectations as well as the detailed breakdown of Mukunda’s pleas and Sri Yukteswar’s eventual acquiescence. There are many hypotheticals discussed here, listeners are encouraged to comment to add some richness to our discussion.   0:00...

This episode covers the last part of chapter 11 from: “Joy was within me as I boarded...” to the end of the chapter.  Summary:  A beautiful end to a lively chapter – and yet so much to unpack! The variegated ways in which three devotees look to Mukunda – Paramahansa Yogananda is very revealing: Jitendra’s changeable spiritual enthusiasm contrasted well with Pratap’s strong convictions and Ananta’s willingness to change the course of his life in an instant.   2:00 To Err is Human; 23:30 A...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 11 from: “The heat outdoors was merciless...” to  “...then walked slowly to the station.”  Summary:  Jitendra resumes his yo-yo traits of tentative faith – with moments of extreme elation followed by extreme doubt, perhaps representing qualities of many devotees. Mukunda meanwhile becomes a Guru for the first time in this life, with an eager new devotee comparatively far advanced in years, but as we know it is a relationship that transcends...

This episode covers the next part of chapter 11 from:: “A half hour later Jitendra and I were...” to “...an attractive invitation to revisit the hermitage.”  Summary:  Mukunda and Jitendra embark on their journey with an unlikely promise from Ananta regarding becoming a disciple! Jitendra starts his doubting straight away (a theme for this chapter) and quickly regrets it when the divine hand caters for the pair “in a hurry”. Is Indian cuisine unmatched? Gauri Ma gives Paramahansa Yogananda...

This episode covers the start of chapter 11 from: “It would serve you right if Father disinherited you...” to “...and, very likely, a fellow victim!”  Summary:  Ananta attempts to use all the tools at his disposal to bring Mukunda back to the conventional family ways and challenges him to an epic dare. Paramahansa Yogananda agrees without a second thought and remembers the rewards of faith from previous trials – what lessons can we learn from this to apply to our own lives?    1.30 Title and...

This episode covers the long footnote at the end of chapter 10.  Summary:  The footnote has so much depth that it is easy to gloss over in our eagerness to start the fun next chapter. However, hidden in-between the lines of this page Paramahansa Yogananda has planted some ancient truths that have shaped our path, cosmic chants and overall lineage over millennia. Although on first reading it is seems quite heavy, we do our best to make it digestible enough for our study.   0:00 Guru...

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 that pushed him over the brink.   0:00 Holy Places; 9:10 Tense talk; 34:00 Hostility in the...

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 Arjuna and Man’s Eternal Quest.  0:00 Preamble;  1:15 I give you all I possess;  16.10 Precious...

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 the backdrop of this awesome episode, where Paramahansa Yogananda’s elation is matched by Sri...

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 blessed with two special spiritual moments which we discuss the significance and lessons contained...

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 the topic. Swami Dayananda uses a small flaw in young Mukunda’s temperament to churn out more...

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 ensure Mukunda is ready for his long sought after meeting with Sri Yukteswar.   0:00 Lauren’s...

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 responsibilities while keeping the Highest goal of our minds. We enhance the narative with additions from...

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 faith and gratitude when concerned with education.   0:00 Title and expectations; 8:25 Exam stress...

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 absolute vs. the personal aspect of God, and the benefits of worshiping the latter form. We end with...

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 takes a Paramahansa Yogananda to describe this ‘inexpressible ecstacy’ as succinctly and perfectly...

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 proves to be somewhat dull, but perhaps this was prelude for magic to come?   0:00 Divine Mother’s...