Whispers from Eternity [Paperback]

Let us have a little exercise in guided imagery here. You are to become a great spiritual figure of our time and are told that it is your destiny to travel to a foreign land, establish a world-wide organization, write many books, and help countless people.

In time, you arrive in America, start your organization and spend many long hours authoring books - one which ultimately becomes a best seller and is used in hundreds of university comparative religion classes. This autobiography of yours is a jewel and eventually becomes a classic! In it, you write personal things about your family history, the long and extensive training you've had with your spiritual teacher, the great saints and historical figures you've met, and your experiences in America. You also spend countless hours creating, composing, and disseminating a very lengthy series of lessons to help others on their path, and you hand pick board members to carry on the work of your organization when you are gone. The road traveled has not always been easy, money has at times been lacking....but ultimately forthcoming. There have been a few betrayals. However, you are very determined and very devoted to God.

You accept a man into your organization from Romania, by the name of J. Donald Walters, and he spends only three years with you before you die.

After your death, Walters travels to India and does stuff that almost gets your whole organization expelled from the country. He also goes against rules (already established involving the proper conduct of your members) because.....well, he just can't keep his pants zipped and continually breaks his monastic vows. Your board is left with having to tell this guy to take a hike. However, he doesn't just leave, but has absconded your extensive writings, pictures, songs, etc., taking MUCH with him when he goes. He starts his own church and publishing company and begins to make money off of YOUR autobiography (calls it the `original') and continues to sell your works, and the LESSONS that you learned and formulated from your training and which your official organization still publishes to this day! Your singularly authored 'to be published' tomes? Yep, he has gotten a jump on `em! Although, they're never as good as the one's published by your organization. A tiny consolation, though.

You, Dear Reader: Meet Swami Kriyananda founder of Ananda, The Expanding Light, and Crystal Clarity Publishers. To make matters worse, he touts himself as your 'direct disciple' from the three years spent on and off with you in order to give some weight to YOUR writings that he is selling. He continues to live off of your good name and has members constantly trashing your organization all over the internet.

To conclude this little visual exercise, I don't know how you would feel if all this happened to you, but if it did.....personally speaking, I think the guy would have one hell of a nerve to use your good name, put your photo on any of his Crystal Clarity books, his website, or anywhere else for that matter!

J. Donald Walters, aka Swami Kriyananda's claim of being the "foremost disciple" would be hilarious, if not so ridiculous, delusional, and tragic all at the same time.

This is not published by the organization that Paramahansa Yogananda founded and worked tirelessly for! That would be Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society (India). They are the only true authentic publishers of his works.

Note that there are two editions of Yogananda's Whispers from Eternity in print from Self-Realization Fellowship. As of this writing, Amazon stocks only the red hardback (no dust jacket) "First Version" from 1929 ( ISBN 0876121024 ), but given a date of 1998 in the Amazon listing. Yogananda revised and enlarged his original 1929 volume in 1939, and this second version has been released in several editions (9th in 1986) by Self-Realization Fellowship (ISBN 0876121032), attractively illustrated with monochrome and color inspirational photographs. The second version (those words do not appear prominently in it or on it) is gorgeous, but you may have to acquire it directly from the publisher, and it does omit some remarkable, highly spontaneous works contained in the First Version.

The publisher explains that the reprinting of the First Version since 1981 (with the later date: 1998 in Amazon's listing: ISBN 0876121024 ), was released because sentiment for the earlier version persisted among some of his most devoted followers. "This volume is a photographic reproduction of the (1929) work with omission only of four readings used in Self-Realization Fellowship ceremonies..." Although the modernized later version makes a better gift to a newcomer to Yogananda, long-time students will really appreciate the intimate feel of many of the early wordings. In particular, the First Version includes his "Prayer at Dawn", "Prayer at Noon" ( in the wordings you can still hear in recordings of the yoga master's own voice), "Prayer-Demand Before Taking Food", etc.

The First Version's introduction also has an interesting explanation of why Yogananda's title (Paramahansa) sometimes appeared as Paramhansa in early work (a function of Bengali pronunciation's tendency to drop the middle 'a' sound) and why the full word param-ahansa (supreme swan) is the clearer communication of the Sanskrit title.

In either version, the prayers, loving demands, chants, and poems are touching reflections of the great master's intimate connection with the Divine -- his Mother-Father-Friend-Beloved, as he would humbly address Spirit. No cold, carefully reasoned theology here -- just pure and simple love.

WHISPERS FROM ETERNITY is a prayer guide and inspiration for the followers of all religions.

As the author invites us with his dedication: "Unto All the soul temples of Christians, Moslems, Buddhists, Hebrews, Hindus, and others. Wherein the Cosmic Heart is throbbing equally always............. And unto All the multi-colored lamps of various true teachings, In which shines the same one white flame of God...... And unto All churches, mosques, viharas, tabernacles, and temples of the world---Wherein our own One Father dwells impartially in the fullness of His glory"...

There are many excellent, deeply moving and awakening prayers for almost every need and occaision. A section of childrens prayers is very useful also. The author has spiritalized these prayers and one should concentrate upon each one until they become as personal as a spontaneous expression from the heart, and he encourages the use of ones own spontaneous prayer as well.

Also available from the same publisher is the original "First Version" of this book with a front section - instructions on how to pray.

"O Lord of Compassion teach me to shed tears of love for all beings, May I behold them as my very own--different expressions of my Self." --------Paramahansa Yogananda.......

The author's life was an outstanding demonstration of the power of prayer and meditation, and teaches us how, with the contact of the God within all, prayer becomes a most effective tool for the enhancement and fulfillment of our lives. And the channel of great blessings to those we love.

Also look for:.......Autobiography of a Yogi.............the Divine Romance.......Man's Eternal Quest.......In The Sanctuary of the Soul......Enter the Quiet Heart......How You Can Talk With God.......Journey to Self-Realization.......Finding the Joy Within You........