March 24th, 2019 Sunday, 9:45 AM - 7 PM
Yogoda Satsanga Society of India released the first ever Indian language audiobook of Autobiography of a Yogi with the launch of the Kannada edition on March 24th, 2019.
Chief Guest of the special function, Swami Tattwarupanandaji, Head of Ramakrishna Math, Halasur, Bengaluru, released the audiobook. The function was presided by Swami Suddhananda Giri, Treasurer, YSS of India along with Brahmachari Shreyanandaji. Over 300 devotees attended the public function. This joyous event for all Kannada speaking people all over the world, received coverage in Kannada newspapers as well as in TV channels.
Morning meditation and Satsanga
Over 200 devotees utilised this opportunity to participate in group practice of Energization Exercises and group meditation. The session began with Shreyanandaji leading the Energization Exercise and Swami Suddhanandaji leading an hour-long meditation.. After which, Swamiji delivered a satsanga to the gathering about “Going from darkness to light”, based on Chapter 22 of Autobiography of a Yogi. His speech was woven with many insightful and personal anecdotes and devotees sat in rapt attention soaking in the wisdom and inspiration.
Launch of Autobiography of a Yogi, Kannada Audiobook
Mr Rajagopal, senior devotee from YSDK Bangalore, welcomed and introduced the guests on stage, post which, a short and poignant recording from the Kannada Audiobook of Autobiography of a Yogi was played for the audience. The audio clip covered Guruji’s second meeting with Sri Yukteswarji, which happened in Sri Yukteswarji’s Serampore ashram.
Swami Tattwarupanandaji addressed the audience and spoke about the importance and value of Sanatana Dharma, the four yoga paths to God and the significance of the Raja Yoga path. Swami Suddhananda ji honored the Chief Guest on behalf of YSS of India.
The voice artist, Sri Ravindra, spoke of his experience recording the Autobiography of a Yogi in Kannada and the highlighted the support he got from the kendra devotees in ensuring quality of pronunciation and reading, and how he was able to record energetically for many hours a day without fatigue. Describing it as the most blessed experience of his 40+ years of voice recording career, he shared that he had become a member of the YSS post the recording.
Swamiji handed out tokens of appreciations to the voice artist as well as core volunteers who helped with this project and shared a brief message of thanks to the Government of India for supporting this and other initiatives to honor Paramahansa Yoganandaji 125th birth anniversary.
The public function ended with prasad distribution and a distribution of the Audiobook website link for FREE download and streaming by devotees. The link for FREE download was also shared on Kendra whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter channels.
Technique Review & counseling in the afternoon
At 2 pm, members attended a technique review class by Br. Shreyanandaji. Brahmachariji reviewed Hong Sau, Energization Exercises and Aum techniques in that order in both English and Kannada. He highlighted changes to the preparatory exercises to the meditation techniques that have been published in the new edition of the YSS Lessons. Brahmachariji also answered technique and sadhana related questions that were asked by devotees until 3:45 pm.
Swami Suddhananandaji started counselling devotees regarding their sadhana from 2 pm and continued till 7 pm. Shreyanandaji also joined Swamiji and counselled devotees who needed counselling in Kannada and continued counseling till 7:30 pm.
The day ended with group meditation from 5 to 7pm attended by over 80 devotees. The blessed day ended with devotees taking prashaad and carrying home with them the memory and blessings of participating in a historic day for YSS and for the devotees of Bengaluru and Karnataka.
