OSWALD PEREIRA takes you on a journey of discovery of the real Christ, as he explains Paramahansa Yogananda’s understanding of the real Christ and true Christianity
Jesus Through an Eastern Lens
Paramahansa Yogananda, the Indian yogi who introduced Kriya Yoga to the West, reinterpreted Jesus Christ not as a Western icon, but as a universal spiritual master deeply rooted in Eastern tradition. In contrast to popular Western portrayals of a blue-eyed Jesus, Yogananda emphasised Christ’s Oriental origin—his olive skin, long black hair, dark brown eyes, and profound connection to the mystical traditions of the East.
Visions of Christ and the Role of Inner Communion
Yogananda claimed to have had multiple visions of Jesus, one of the most significant occurring at his Encinitas ashram in California, where Christ appeared in his youth and affirmed Yogananda’s spiritual direction. Drawing on both personal revelations and scriptural study, Yogananda approached the Bible with reverence, comparing its teachings to those of Indian scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita.
True Christianity, he argued, is not confined to Western institutions or beliefs but is a universal path open to all “truth-seeking souls.” As he wrote in East-West Magazine, Jesus was “one of the greatest channels through which Cosmic Wisdom flowed.” The challenge was to rediscover that essence buried beneath centuries of theological dogma and ecclesiastical formality.
The Lost Essence of Christ’s Teachings
Yogananda lamented the decline of meditative and mystical traditions in modern Christianity. He felt churches had become centres for ritual and sermons, rather than places of deep spiritual communion. Western Christians, he observed, were rarely taught how to still the mind and meditate on God. Thus, while physically present in churches, many worshippers were mentally preoccupied with worldly matters.
He pointed out that Jesus’ original message, suited to simple Eastern lives, had been altered in the West to reflect a materialistic ethos. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God,” became in practice, “Seek ye bread first,” he quipped. His critique was not scornful, but corrective—his aim was to restore the inner dimension of Christ’s message.
East and West: Two Halves of One Spiritual Whole
Yogananda emphasised that both East and West had strengths and weaknesses. The West had developed material efficiency and social organisation, while the East had cultivated inner spiritual practices and meditation. But each was incomplete.
“Let us combine forces and conquer together,” he said, envisioning a synthesis where practicality met spirituality. He believed this union was part of a divine plan: the West had invaded the East materially, and now the East was silently invading the West with love and wisdom.
Meditation: The Missing Key to Christianity
For Yogananda, the missing element in Western Christianity was direct experience of God. He taught meditation not as a Hindu practice, but as a universal method to commune with the divine. Through techniques like Kriya Yoga, he encouraged seekers to go beyond intellectual sermons and find the Christ consciousness within.
He remarked that God could not be found through ornate buildings, choirs, or wealth—but rather in silence, under the open sky, or within the stillness of the soul. True contact with Christ required “earnest, scientific meditation” and unceasing devotion.
The Oriental Christ and Universal Religion
In his lecture “Oriental Christ,” Yogananda affirmed that Jesus’ teachings were deeply shaped by the Oriental world. He cited evidence, including from The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ by Russian author Nicholas Notovitch, that Jesus had studied with Indian sages during his so-called “lost years.”
Yogananda was clear: he was not attempting to Hinduise Jesus. Rather, he sought to show that Christ’s universal message transcended religious boundaries. “What I received from the Great Oriental Masters, that same have I received from the teachings of Jesus,” he said. His goal was to rescue Christ’s essence from misunderstanding and narrow sectarianism.
The Second Coming of Christ: Inner Realisation
The “Second Coming of Christ,” according to Yogananda, would not be a physical return but an inward awakening in each heart. When churches move beyond intellectual preaching to become places of real divine communion, this second coming will be realised.
He called upon Christians to awaken their divine potential, proclaiming, “Come out openly as Sons of God!” True discipleship involved personal effort—meditation, service, love, and self-realisation.
A Shared Spiritual Destiny
Yogananda saw the convergence of East and West as not only desirable but inevitable. While the West refined outer life and the East cultivated inner life, their union could restore balance to humanity. Christ was the ideal synthesis—both divine and human, Eastern and universal.
His final exhortation to all seekers was clear: let go of dogma and superficial ritual. Serve all beings with universal love, seek God within through meditation, and awaken to your identity as a child of the Divine. In doing so, you will not only rediscover the real Jesus Christ, but realise that we are all one—Sons of the One God.
References
1. Pereira, Oswald: Beyond Autobiography of a Yogi, Vitasta Publishing, 2024
2. Yogananda, Paramahansa. East-West Magazine, various issues (1926–1945). Self-Realization Fellowship.
3. Yogananda, Paramahansa. The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You. Self-Realization Fellowship, 2004.
4. Sri Yukteswar. The Holy Science. Self-Realization Fellowship, 1894.
5. Notovitch, Nicholas. The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ. Translated by J.H. Connelly and L. Landsberg, 1894.
6. Nayaswami Devi. Talks and writings from Ananda Sangha on Yogananda’s spiritual legacy.
Note: This article has been adapted from my book, Beyond Autobiography of a Yogi, published by Vitasta Publishing.
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Featured Image: Jesus Christ and Paramahansa Yogananda (AI generated)
Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has written ten books, including Beyond Autobiography of a Yogi, The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.
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