Torrent rod the autobiography
with a preface by
W. Y. Evans-Wentz, M.A., D. Litt., D. Sc.
“Except ye see signs and wonders,
ye will not believe.”—John 4:48.
The Philosophical Library
New York
Copyright, 1946, by
Paramhansa Yogananda
1946 First Edition, First Printing Published by
The Philosophical Library, Inc.
15 East 40th Street
New York, N.Y.
This electronic manuscript has been prepared in an effort to match the layout of the original 1946 edition in every respect. Any typographical errors in the original have been intentionally preserved.
Dedicated to the Memory of
Luther Burbank
An American Saint
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Preface
By W. Y. Evans-Wentz, M.A., D.Litt., D.Sc.
Jesus College, Oxford; Author of
The Tibetan Book of the Dead,
Tibet’s Great Yogi Milarepa,
Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines, etc.
The value of Yogananda’s Autobiography is greatly enhanced by the fact that it is one of the few books in English about the wise men of India which has been written, not by a journalist or foreigner, but by one of their own race and training—in short, a book about yogis by a yogi. As an eyewitness recountal of the extraordinary lives and powers of modern Hindu saints, the book has importance both timely and timeless. To its illustrious author, whom I have had the pleasure of knowing both in India and America, may every reader render due appreciation and gratitude. His unusual life-document is certainly one of the most revealing of the depths of the Hindu mind and heart, and of the spiritual wealth of India, ever to be published in the West.
It has been my privilege to have met one of the sages whose life-history is herein narrated—Sri Yukteswar Giri. A likeness of the venerable saint appeared as part of the frontispiece of my Tibetan Yoga and Se Over the course of his career, Rod Stewart has been lauded as the finest singer of his generation: he's written several songs that turned into modern standards; he's sung with the Faces, who rivaled the Rolling Stones in their prime; and he's had massive commercial success. He's one of rock & roll's best interpretive singers, as well as an accomplished, innovative songwriter whose work created a raw, loose, and charming combination of folk, rock, blues, and country. After Stewart became successful, he began to lose the rootsier elements of his music, adapting his style to suit the times, leading to smash hits in the disco, new wave, and MTV eras. Stewart eased into his status as a veteran singer by releasing a series of albums where he crooned The Great American Songbook, but he returned to original material with 2013's Time. The record pointed to another act for the rocker, one where he wrote new songs that lightly incorporated modern sounds, a combination that informed such albums as 2021's The Tears of Hercules, but he still returned to retro material on occasion, as when he teamed with boogie woogie pianist Jools Holland on 2024's Swing Fever. Stewart began his musical career after spending some time as an apprentice with the Brentford Football Club, touring Europe with folk singer Wizz Jones in the early '60s; during this time he was deported from Spain for vagrancy. When he returned to England in 1963, he joined the Birmingham-based R&B group Jimmy Powell & the Five Dimensions as a vocalist and harmonica player. The band toured the U.K. and recorded one single for Pye Records that featured Stewart on blues harp. After moving back to London, he joined Long John Baldry's band, the Hoochie Coochie Men. The group recorded a single in 1964, "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," that failed to chart, and soon afterward the band evolved into Steampacket. During the summer of 1965, the group supported the Rolling Stones and the Walker Brothers on a U.K. to Rod Stewart's personal life has always intrigued his fans as much as his music career. In the backdrop of his fame and fortune, Rod experienced both tumultuous and tender moments in his relationships and family life. His romantic escapades were often fodder for tabloid headlines, showcasing the wild chapter of his youth characterized by whirlwind romances and passionate affairs. Rod’s relationships began gaining public attention with his high-profile romances. His first significant relationship was with Jenny Rylance, a model, whom he met in the mid-1960s. They quickly became a power couple, living a glamorous yet chaotic life in the rock 'n' roll scene of the era. However, the relationship eventually ended, purportedly due to the pressures and temptations of Rod's fast-rising fame. Subsequently, Rod entered into a series of relationships that further fueled his reputation as a heartthrob. His relationship with actress Britt Ekland was particularly notable, defined by its high visibility and intensity. Rod and Britt's time together encapsulated the excesses and euphoria of 1970s celebrity culture, but it also wore thin due to its own intensity, leading to their eventual separation. In 1979, Rod married his first wife, Alana Hamilton, the ex-wife of actor George Hamilton. Their union signified a shift toward seeking stability amid his rock-star lifestyle. Though blessed with the birth of their two children, Kimberly and Sean, the marriage faced challenges stemming from Rod's relentless touring schedule and the strains that came with it. The marriage lasted five years, ending in 1984, but it left Rod with invaluable lessons about the responsibilities of parenthood. Rod’s journey into fatherhood evolved with each relationship. Balancing fame with the duties of being a father was complex and demanding. He took pride in his role as a father and worked to remain actively involved in his children’s lives, despite the constant demands of his career. His children from dif .Rod Stewart