• The Essence of Self-Realization

  • The Wisdom of Paramhansa Yogananda
  • By: Swami Kriyananda
  • Narrated by: Swami Kriyananda
  • Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (278 ratings)

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The Essence of Self-Realization  By  cover art

The Essence of Self-Realization

By: Swami Kriyananda
Narrated by: Swami Kriyananda
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Publisher's summary

Yogananda was one of the most significant spiritual teachers of the 20th century. Since his classic Autobiography of a Yogi was first published in 1946, its popularity has increased steadily throughout the world. Great teachers work through their students, and Yogananda was no exception. As Swami Kriyananda wrote for in the introduction to this audiobook, "After I'd been with him a year and a half, he began urging me to write down the things he was saying during informal conversations."

The Essence of Self-Realization, nearly 300 sayings rich with spiritual wisdom, is the fruit of that labor of love. The scope of this book is vast - it offers as complete an explanation of life's true purpose, and the way to achieve that purpose, as may be found anywhere. A few of the chapters include "The True Purpose of Life"; "On Meditation"; "How to Pray Effectively"; "The Law of Karma"; "The Lesson of Reincarnation"; and "Ways in Which God Can Be Worshiped". Filled with lessons and stories that Yogananda shared only with his closest disciples, this volume offers one of the most insightful and engaging glimpses into the life and lessons of a great sage. Much of the material presented here is not available anywhere else.

©1990 Crystal Clarity Publishers. All rights reserved. (P)1990 Crystal Clarity Publishers. All rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Essence of Self-Realization

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

A worthy effort

A lot of interesting material. I did find the narrator's heavy breathing distracting for a while, but perhaps that was mainly because I was listening to it on a bedside boombox a foot from my ear. Since this is second-hand information based on recollections and notes, it made me want to read more from the hand of Yogananda himself for comparison...

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good contents. bad narration

What did you love best about The Essence of Self-Realization?

awesome contents. Great message for the soul.

What did you like best about this story?

okawesome contents. Great message for the soul.

How could the performance have been better?

awesome contents. Great message for the soul.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

narrator was breathing all the time during narration

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightened words from an Enlightened Being!

Yogananda inspires again - like a distilled and condensed version of his teachings from his classic

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a blessing!...

...to have come across this book and listen to the timeless knowledge. Highly recommend it to anyone on a self realization journey. May we all recognize our true selves and find peace within and without.|| Aum Tat Sat ||

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Tears of joy

The book made me cry, and then gave me peace afterwards. I am calm now

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Bad all around

What would have made The Essence of Self-Realization better?

This is a man reading from a piece of paper - it is kind of in list form. Not inspiring

Has The Essence of Self-Realization turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

How could the performance have been better?

YES!

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Essence of Self-Realization?

All

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

this is a great addition to his autobiography which was wonderful to listen to

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

Worth the listen if you’re deep in your journey to finding self. Get past some of the comments on the delivery and fall into the words and story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent.. where has it been all my life

You have to get used to his voice and singing but the wisdom is so clear. I am so grateful to find a teacher so straight and practical. I have leaned soooo much

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great sharings from a devotee..

...of the Path revealed by Paramahansaji...
A great addition to your upward inward studies!

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