this testimony to the high character and holiness of Sri Yukteswar.
Content to remain afar from the multitude, he gave himself unreservedly
and in tranquillity to that ideal life which Paramhansa Yogananda,
his disciple, has now described for the ages. W. Y. EVANS-WENTZ

{FN1-1} Oxford University Press, 1935.



AUTHOR'S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am deeply indebted to Miss L. V. Pratt for her long editorial
labors over the manuscript of this book. My thanks are due also
to Miss Ruth Zahn for preparation of the index, to Mr. C. Richard
Wright for permission to use extracts from his Indian travel diary,
and to Dr. W. Y. Evans-Wentz for suggestions and encouragement.

PARAMHANSA YOGANANDA
OCTOBER 28, 1945
ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA



CHAPTER: 1

MY PARENTS AND EARLY LIFE

The characteristic features of Indian culture have long been
a search for ultimate verities and the concomitant disciple-guru
{FN1-2} relationship. My own path led me to a Christlike sage whose