Brother Chidananda

Last updated
Brother Chidananda
TitlePresident
Personal
Born
Christopher H. Bagley

(1953-05-16)May 16, 1953
Annapolis, Maryland, US
Religion Hinduism
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater University of California, San Diego, California
Order Self-Realization Fellowship Order
PhilosophyKriya Yoga
Religious career
GuruParamahansa Yogananda
Website yogananda.org

Brother Chidananda (born Christopher Hartwell Bagley, [1] 1953) is the fifth president of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (SRF/YSS). SRF/YSS is the only church founded by Chidananda's guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, to disseminate his teachings. [2] [3] Chidananda was born in Annapolis, Maryland, US. [4] [5] [3]

Contents

Early life

Chidananda is the son of Admiral David H. Bagley, former commander-in-chief of US naval forces in Europe, and Charlotte Lee Bagley, née Hartwell. [6] As a teenager, Chidananda began to take an interest in yoga and the meaning of life. [7]

In the early 1970s, Chidananda studied sociology and philosophy at the University of California in San Diego, [3] from which he graduated in 1975. [8] During this time, he came across a copy of Yogananda's book Autobiography of a Yogi and began visiting SRF's ashram center in Encinitas, California. [3] [7] He became acquainted with some of the monks and nuns living there, including Brother Anandamoy, one of Yogananda's direct disciples, and he was inspired to join SRF's monastic order. [4] [3]

Monastic life

In 1977, Chidananda entered SRF's postulant ashram in Encinitas for a period of initial training as a monk. He completed his training in 1979 and was transferred to SRF's headquarters at Mt. Washington, Los Angeles. There, he was assigned to work as an editor in the Publications Department, under the supervision of editor-in-chief Mrinalini Mata, who had been personally trained for the role by Yogananda. [3]

In 1997, Chidananda took sannyas vows (final vows of renunciation) [3] and received his monastic name and the title of Brother (or Swami , in India). [8] His monastic name, Chidananda, means "bliss (ananda) through the infinite Divine Consciousness (chit)". [3]

In 2009, Chidananda was appointed to the SRF and YSS Boards of Directors. [3] [9] On 30 August 2017, he was elected as the next president and spiritual leader of SRF/YSS in a unanimous vote by the SRF Board of Directors. He succeeded Sri Mrinalini Mata, who died in early August 2017. Chidananda oversees the fellowship's monastic order, its humanitarian activities, and its more than 800 temples, meditation centers, and retreats around the world. He also oversees the fellowship's publications department and is the editor-in-chief of SRF Publications. [4] [5] [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramahansa Yogananda</span> Indian yogi and guru (1893–1952)

Paramahansa Yogananda was an Indian-American Hindu monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization, Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) of India – the only one he created to disseminate his teachings. A chief disciple of the yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, he was sent by his lineage to spread the teachings of yoga to the West. He immigrated to the US at the age of 27 to prove the unity between Eastern and Western religions and to preach a balance between Western material growth and Indian spirituality. His long-standing influence in the American yoga movement, and especially the yoga culture of Los Angeles, led him to be considered by yoga experts as the "Father of Yoga in the West". He lived his last 32 years in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri</span> Indian yogi and guru

Sri Yukteswar Giri is the monastic name of Priya Nath Karar, an Indian monk and yogi, and the guru of Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Satyananda Giri. Born in Serampore, West Bengal, Sri Yukteswar was a Kriya yogi, a Jyotisha, a scholar of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, an educator, author, and astronomer. He was a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya of Varanasi and a member of the Giri branch of the Swami order. As a guru, he had two ashrams, one in Serampore and another in Puri, Odisha, between which he alternated his residence throughout the year as he trained disciples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-Realization Fellowship</span> American spiritual organization

Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) is a worldwide religious organization founded in 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda, the Indian guru who authored Autobiography of a Yogi. Before coming to the United States, Yogananda began his spiritual work in India in 1917 and named it Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). He came to the West in 1920 and in 1925 established SRF's headquarters at Mount Washington, Los Angeles, California. Before his return visit to India in 1935, he legally incorporated SRF in the United States, designating it as the only organization to carry on his work – to care for and disseminate his teachings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kriya Yoga school</span> Style of yoga

Kriya Yoga is a yoga system which consists of a number of levels of pranayama, mantra, and mudra, intended to rapidly accelerate spiritual development and engender a profound state of tranquility and God-communion. It is described by its practitioners as an ancient yoga system revived in modern times by Lahiri Mahasaya, who claimed to be initiated by a guru, Mahavatar Babaji, circa 1861 in the Himalayas. Kriya Yoga was brought to international awareness by Paramahansa Yogananda's book Autobiography of a Yogi and through Yogananda's introductions of the practice to the West from 1920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kriyananda</span> Disciple of the yogi Paramahansa Yogananda

Kriyananda was an American Hindu religious leader, yoga guru, meditation teacher, musician, and author. He was a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and founder of the spiritual movement named "Ananda". He wrote numerous songs and dozens of books. According to the LA Times, the main themes of his work were compassion and humility, but he was a controversial figure. Kriyananda and Ananda were sued for copyright issues, sexual-harassment, and later, for alleged fraud and labor-law violations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daya Mata</span> President of Self-Realization Fellowship from 1955 to 2010

Daya Mata, born Rachel Faye Wright, was the third president and religious leader of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (SRF/YSS). SRF/YSS is the only spiritual organization founded by her guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, to disseminate his teachings. She was president of SRF/YSS for over 55 years until her death in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yogoda Satsanga Society of India</span> Indian spiritual organization

Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) is a non-profit, nonsectarian spiritual organization founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1917 and is a part of the Self-Realization Fellowship which was founded in 1920 to care for and disseminate his teachings. The current president of the SRF/YSS is Brother Chidananda. Paramahansa Yogananda is most noted for his 1946 book Autobiography of a Yogi which became an international bestseller and featured in the 100 Most Important Spiritual Books of the 20th Century by HarperCollins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hariharananda Giri</span> Indian yogi and guru

Hariharananda Giri, was an Indian yogi and guru who taught in India as well as in western countries. He was born as Rabindranath Bhattacharya in Nadia district, West Bengal. He was the head of the Kriya Yoga Institute, United States, and founder worldwide Kriya Yoga Centers. According to some sources, Hariharananda was a direct disciple of Yukteswar Giri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mrinalini Mata</span> President of Self-Realization Fellowship from 2011 to 2017

Mrinalini Mata was the fourth president of Self-Realization Fellowship / Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (SRF/YSS), the only church founded by Paramahansa Yogananda to care for and disseminate his teachings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajarsi Janakananda</span> American Yogi (1892–1955)

Rajarsi Janakananda, born James Jesse Lynn was the leading disciple of the yogi Paramahansa Yogananda and a prominent businessman in the Kansas City, Missouri area. A self-made millionaire when he met Yogananda in 1932, he later left a total endowment of approximately six million dollars to Yogananda's organization, Self-Realization Fellowship(SRF)/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India(YSS), helping ensure its long-term success. Yogananda also chose Janakananda to succeed him as president of SRF/YSS. Janakananda was second president of SRF/YSS from 1952 until 1955.

Dihika is a neighbourhood in Asansol of Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is governed by Asansol Municipal Corporation

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Brotherhood Colonies</span> Communities envisioned by Paramahansa Yogananda

World Brotherhood Colonies are communities based on an idea envisioned by Paramahansa Yogananda, the Indian-American yogi who authored Autobiography of a Yogi and founded Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) / Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS). During the Great Depression in the United States, he encouraged readers of his East-West magazine to pool money to buy land where they could practice meditation and simple living in self-sufficient communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satyananda Giri</span> Indian monk

Satyananda Giri, is the monastic name of Manamohan Mazumder, an Indian monk and a monastic disciple of Kriya Yoga guru Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. He was a close childhood friend of, and brother-disciple to, Paramahansa Yogananda. In his later monastic life, he served as the leader of several yoga training institutions in east India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swami's</span>

Swami's is an area in San Diego County that contains Swami's Beach and other local attractions. The beach, also known as "Swami’s Reef'" and "Swamis", is an internationally known surfing spot, a point break located in Encinitas, San Diego County, California. Swami's was named after Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, because the grounds and hermitage of the Self-Realization Fellowship ashram, built in 1937, overlook this reef point. The name "Swami's" is also given to the sand beach that extends south from the point to the next beach access point, which is next to the San Elijo State Beach camping area; this more southerly surf spot often goes by the name "Pipes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ananda Yoga</span>

Ananda Yoga, or Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness is a system of Hatha Yoga established by Kriyananda, a Western disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, and is based on Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) teachings. Ananda Yoga emphasizes inner awareness; energy control; and the experience of each asana as a natural expression of a higher state of consciousness, which is enhanced by the use of affirmations.

This is a bibliography of the works of Paramahansa Yogananda, published by his worldwide spiritual organization Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. He began his spiritual work in India in 1917 and named it Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. When he came to the United States in 1920, he founded Self-Realization Fellowship. Today the international headquarters of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is in Los Angeles, California.

<i>The Second Coming of Christ</i> (book)

The Second Coming of Christ is a posthumously published non-fiction book by the Indian yogi and guru Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952), with commentary on passages from the four Gospels. The full title of the two-volume work is The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You—A revelatory commentary on the original teachings of Jesus.

<i>God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita</i>

God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita is a posthumously published non-fiction book by the Indian yogi and guru Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952). It is a two-volume work containing an English translation and commentary of the Bhagavad Gita. It explicates the Bhagavad Gita's psychological, spiritual, and metaphysical elements. It was originally published in 1995 in Los Angeles by the Self Realization Fellowship, and later published in other countries and languages. The book is significant in that unlike other explications of the Bhagavad Gita, which focused on karma yoga, jnana yoga, and bhakti yoga in relation to the Gita, Yogananda's work stresses the training of one's mind, or raja yoga. The full title of the two-volume work is God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita – Royal Science of God Realization – The Immortal Dialogue between Soul and Spirit – A New Translation and Commentary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Hermitage and Meditation Gardens</span> Botanical garden in California, U.S.

The Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) Encinitas Hermitage and Meditation Gardens is a religious center and tourist attraction in Encinitas, California, United States, created by Paramahansa Yogananda in the 1930s. Its Golden Lotus Tower rises above the white wall along Highway 101 near Swami's Seaside Park. The meditation gardens are open to the public, and the compound also contains a monastic ashram that is home to SRF monks, nuns, and male postulants.

References

  1. ↑ "CHRISTOPHER HARTWELL BAGLEY". opencorporates.com. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  2. ↑ Wikisource-logo.svg Works related to SRF Articles of Incorporation 1935 at Wikisource
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Swami Chidananda Succeeds Sri Mrinalini Mata As Spiritual Leader of Paramahansa Yogananda's Society". indiandownunder.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Brother Chidananda Elected President and Spiritual Head of SRF/YSS". yoganada.org. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Brother Chidananda is New Spiritual Leader Of SRF". India Journal. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "ADM. DAVID BAGLEY DIES". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Manifesting Divine Consciousness in Daily Life". Integral Yoga Magazine. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 Crumm, David (2 September 2008). "Conversation with an Eastern Voice, now part of America's spiritual culture". Read The Spirit.com. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Interviewees in Order of Appearance". awake.yogananda.org. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.