Paramhansa Yogananda (1893-1952) was a pioneering Indian monk, yogi, and spiritual teacher who introduced millions of Westerners to the profound teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga. As the founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship and author of the beloved spiritual classic Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda masterfully bridged the gap between Eastern mysticism and Western religious thought. His teachings emphasized the direct, personal experience of the Divine through the ancient, scientific methods of yogic discipline and meditation.