Autobiography of a Yogi was dedicated by Yogananda to Burbank, his close friend, whom he called an “American saint.” Once addressing Yogananda of his kriya yoga practice, Burbank said, “I practice the technique devoutly.”
Yogananda asked Henry Ford to be a sponsor of his first world brotherhood colony. Yogananda deeply respected and emphasized the spiritual business practice of Ford Motors’ innovative five-day work week.
When George went to India to study sitar with Ravi Shankar he was given Autobiography of a Yogi. He felt that Yogananda was one of the great spiritual teachers of his life. Yogananda and his line of gurus appear on the cover of The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album.
Read the Autobiography of a Yogi every year. 500 copies of Yogananda’s autobiography were given out at his memorial in honor of his respect for this spiritual gift to the world.
Yogananda visited Gandhi at Wardha. Gandhi received kriya yoga initiation from him and learned his yogic energization exercises.