Punya Srivastava meets Swami Smarananda Giri, the General Secretary of YSS of India, and an eminent scientist who threw it all up to pursue spirituality.
The book, Autobiography of a Yogi is probably one of the most popular books in the spiritual world, having introduced lakhs of readers to spirituality. The travels and travails of Paramahansa Yogananda have intrigued, astounded, charmed, and inspired many a man and woman, in many a land. Yogananda, who introduced Kriya Yoga to the West on behest of his parampara, headed by the eternal Yogi Mahavatar Babaji, has been one of the most powerful disseminators of Indian spirituality in the US. In his own land, Yogananda founded the Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) which, since its inception, has dedicated itself to the service of mankind through the teaching of Kriya Yoga.
The organisation recently premiered Awake: The Life of Yogananda – a documentary based on the Autobiography of a Yogi. Swami Smarananda Giri, the General Secretary of YSS of India, delivered a precise, clear and practical speech on the true purpose of religion at the event, which inspired me to seek an interview with him. Within a week, I sat waiting for an audience with him in the meeting room of the Yogoda Satsanga Society’s Noida Centre.
He entered the room clad in his usual ochre dhoti and kurta, and sporting his small, grey ponytail. His voice, as calm as a summer sea, revealed his tranquil depth – ubiquitous to men of elevated consciousness. His meticulous attention to detail was apparent in the way he settled down – sitting straight with his back erect, right leg crossed on his left as he delicately smoothened out the crease of the dhoti at the knee. Every gesture spoke of peaceful serenity; every thoughtful word resonated with graceful humility. The shining pools of his eyes softly held your attention as he listened to you keenly with a slight smile that never seemed to leave his face.
Denne historien er fra October 2016-utgaven av Life Positive.
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Denne historien er fra October 2016-utgaven av Life Positive.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Miracles of Mount Maunganui
A hike to Mount Maunganui in New Zealand filled Rashi Bunny with a sense of awe and wonder equivalent to witnessing the glory of the Divine Himself
Navigating Your 20s: A Simple Guide
By embracing the tumultuous journey through her 20s, Abhilasha Srivastava learnt to triumph over the challenges encountered and carve the path for her future
Inducing Sweet Slumber
As we are well aware, lack of sound sleep can give rise to physical and mental problems. To ensure a good night's rest, you could follow the suggestions given by Jamuna Rangachari in the next few pages
Days for the Divine
Guided by her mentor Megha Bajaj, Meghana Acharya sends positive vibes into the Universe to ensure the well-being and success of others
Voices from the beyond
Near-Death Experiences (NDES) have long fascinated humanity-a glimpse beyond the veil, a sneak peek into the unknown that pulsates with wonders, mysteries and intrigue. Jamuna Rangachari takes us through the narrations of a few who went to the other side and returned to share in great detail what they experienced and how it transformed them
All for the best
An academic disaster turned opportunity led Rajeev Hallur to understand the jigsaw puzzle of life, initially incomprehensible to most of us
Many Lives, One Master
Dr Bijal Maroo probes into the enigmatic charisma of Swami Omkaranandaji to discover the story behind his uncanny healing powers
Modern art with a tribal touch
Gautam Bharati and Avani Jain, based in Dungarpur, Rajasthan saw the incredible ability and passion of tribals for arts and decided to do something about it.
Laugh your way to health
Rupa Bannur, a former IT professional turned holistic health coach from Bangalore began turning to laughter yoga in 2001 after she faced profound loss of precious family members.
Healing Hands
When Rupesh Budh Ahmedabad from was 15 years of age, he learnt meditation from his martial arts (Karate) teacher. His teacher also introduced him to Reiki as a healing modality that can cure with just a touch. He told him that advanced Reiki practitioners can cure even from a distance without touching.