The Essence of Kriya Yoga

This collection evidently inspires some ire from reviewers because it is not clear simply from the cover that this is not a new work by Yogananda, but a collection of various texts that embody what the editor felt was "The Essence of Kriya Yoga." First, to clear up a few things: 1. Paramhansa Yogananda's name was spelled as it is in this volume during the life of the great yogi's life. I have a first edition of Autobiography of a Yogi with his signature, and I am sure other copies of that edition are available for verification. I was surprised that this volume had the name correct, given the widespread misspelling, and that was what interested me in it in the first place. 2. This collection contains Science of Religion and Songs of the Soul in their entirety, and not merely excerpts. Otherwise, the Autobiography, Healthy Diet, and Ladder of Evolution are excerpted as Steven indicated. 3. If the works included in this volume were redundant to the Autobiography, I would not have even considered purchasing it. I only write this review to correct some flagrant misinformation. Those corrections aside, I think this is a fair publication except from the formatting, which is lackluster. It would also have been wise for the publisher to indicate on the cover that this is, in fact, a collection, and not some newly discovered work. That said, if you lack any of Yogananda's writings included in it, then it is certainly worth the price. As far as I know, this is the only publisher that has brought multiple works by the master in a single volume.

This is a must own compilation from one of the greatest yogis of recent times. Instead of the recent editions of his work which have been edited and changed, this volume contains the original works published during Parmahansa Yogananda's life-time. The only wish I have is that this should have been a hardcover book! I'm a long-time Kriya practitioner and have read some of the works published here, but still enjoyed it -- having all this information focussed on Kriya Yoga is very useful.

This is a collection of the writings of a Kriya Master on the subject of Kriya Yoga. The author passed away over 50 years ago and can have no new writings. It seems there is a dispute on the spelling of his name -- the authentic way that he spelled it is the way it is given in this publication and not as subsequently revised by zealous administrators of his legacy. I found it very useful to have his first book on religion which sets the stage for his exposition of Kriya Yoga taken from the Autobiography of a Yogi, as well as his inspirational spiritual poetry all in one book. I recommend this highly.