The life of Yogananda : the story of the yogi who became the first modern guru Philip Goldberg

Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-317) and index.

"He was called "the 20th century's first superstar guru" (Los Angeles Times), and today, nearly a century after he arrived in the United States, he's still the best known and most beloved of all the Indian spiritual teachers who have come to the West. Now, finally, Paramahansa Yogananda has the authoritative biography he deserves. Yogananda, considered by many to be the father of modern yoga, has had an unsurpassed global impact thanks to the durability of his teachings, the institutions he created or inspired, and especially his iconic memoir, Autobiography of a Yogi. Since its publication in 1946, that book has sold millions of copies and changed millions of lives. But it doesn't tell the whole story. Much of Yogananda's seminal text is devoted to tales about other people, and it largely overlooks the three vital decades he spent living, working, and teaching in America. Huge chunks of his life--challenges, controversies, and crises; triumphs, relationships, and formative experiences--remain unknown to even his most ardent devotees. In The Real Life of Yogananda, scholar and teacher Philip Goldberg fill the gaps, charting a journey that spanned two hemispheres, two world wars, and unprecedented social changes. The result is a complete and compelling account of Yogananda's remarkable life in all its detail, nuance, and complex humanity. "As a highly practical guru, Yogananda would, I believe, want any book about him to not only inform but transform," Goldberg writes. "It is my hope that readers will be enriched, expanded, and deepened by this humble account of his life." That is sure to be the case for both Yogananda enthusiasts and those who discover him for the first time in this captivating biography"--Provided by publisher.