"Autobiography of a Yogi"--How high was his Avastha ?

At my work place, I have been told by couple of friends to read the book "Autobiography of a Yogi". Autobiography of a Yogi is an autobiography of Paramahansa Yogananda (January 5, 1893–March 7, 1952) first published in 1946. Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in Gorakhpur, India, into a Bengali family.

[en.wikipedia.org]

They told me that this yogi reached Sachkhand and his experiences and teachings are very similar to Sikhism.
On this website, I have read that no one can reach Sachkhand without Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
So, did this yogi reach Sachkhand ? or how high was his avastha ?

This book - Autobiography of a Yogi - is an excellent book on Hindu mysticism and remains a bestseller on this subject after so many years. Some of the incidents in this book are breathtaking e.g. his travel to Brindaban without any money, his first meeting with Sri Yukteshwar jee (his spiritual master) and his meetings with the mystical sages including "Babaji". The impression one gets after reading this book is that Yogananda was a genuine seeker but as per Gurmat, the seeker's dedication alone cannot enable him to attain the supreme spiritual destination. One must also follow Gurmat by meeting the True Guru.

Yogananda made a strong impression in the spiritual world of his time by introducing concepts like Kriya Yoga, an immortal sage - Babaji, reconciliation with the Christian faith etc. In the West he is one of foremost peoples from India to introduce the Vedic spirituality, along with Swami Vivekananda and Prabhupad (of Hare Krishna movement).

According to Gurmat, Parmahansa Yogananda must have attained some realm in Gyaan Khand. Rest, Guru Sahib knows the ultimate truth. He was a respectable person as compared to countless imposters from India who came to the USA and exploited the innocent and gullible US residents. Yogananda's personal character was stainless and for this reason alone he is very honourable.

Kulbir Singh

The narration on "Alp-Aahaar" is very outstanding in the book. It describes that through Kriya Yoga certain sections of brains can unlock the potential to pull cosmic energy to feed one's body. Hence, a person reach a state where No food or water is needed to keep body alive/healthy/non-decay etc...

Now, that sounds like a very astonishing fact !

But, there is nothing new in the book. All such Hindu mysticism, mentioned in the book, are already revealed in Vedas, Shastras, Purans, Upnishads etc... That book has been written in a Lucid manner with nice narration for people living in scientific age. That book is a happiness shared by one seeker with other seekers. It provides inspiration for true seekers. It provides a hope that if one seeker can achieve then other seeker too can achieve the same.

Which "Khand" is achieved is a different story !

Bottom-line is Gursikhs should not get engrossed in such text too much. It should be just used for comparitive study. Other’s may use technique of Yoga, Kriya etc... Gursikhs just use NAAM.


ਨਾਮ ਤੁਲਿ ਕਛੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਜਨੁ ਕੋਇ ॥੮॥੨॥


Bhul Chuk Maaf.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.