Talk:Paramahansa Yogananda bibliography

Donald Walters et al.
I don't see why Wikipedia would have a page devoted to P Yogananda bibliography without including at least some of the numerous works of Donald Walters. Walters was closely associated with Yogananda in the latter's last years and played a prominent role in the Self-Realization Fellowship for ten years after Yogananda died. He wrote a good deal about his guru. Specifically he wrote in 2012 what he claimed was a Biography of PY with reminiscences.

Other followers of Yogananda (Durga Mata among them, I believe) have also written about their experiences with the "Master" without publishing them under the imprimatur of SRF. Shouldn't such works also be here?

More, I think there is some question as to whether what is listed in the article is really a "bibliography" of P Yogananda, as it is titled. It's certainly not a bibliography of his own writings. It's a list of books about him and his teachings written by those who either knew him and/or are his disciples. I came to this page because I thought I was going to find a list of objective or historical or journalistic-level things written about Yogananda's life. Instead it's a list of publications by his organization, starting some decades after he died. They wrote a lot about him before that, too. Why not include earlier writings?

That would seem to give us three groups of writings that belong on this list as much as the one source now given.Moabalan (talk) 22:40, 2 January 2018 (UTC)


 * I don't think the page is necessary at all on Wikipedia. All one needs to do is go to his organizations website to find all these books. I purpose we delete this page. Red Rose 13 (talk) 18:16, 3 January 2018 (UTC)


 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_Swami_Vivekananda


 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_works_by_Rabindranath_Tagore


 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_Ramakrishna

--Richard Reinhardt (talk) 18:37, 3 January 2018 (UTC)


 * Thank you Moabalan for your contribution. When you list books from Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda) in own category i found it ok. When you have earlier writings i found it very intressting and good to insert it in the article. In germany is said "competition stimulate business". I recommend you do not put your energy in discussion rather in the article.--Richard Reinhardt (talk) 04:47, 4 January 2018 (UTC)


 * The problem is, is that Wikipedia was not set up to promote business nor to "stimulate business" so if that is your intention, we need to stop now. What is your intention Richard & Moabalan? Red Rose 13 (talk) 08:17, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Here are Wikipedia guidelines regarding Neutral Point of View editing - [] Red Rose 13 (talk) 08:24, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Also Moabalan I just reviewed all the books listed and I think you are mistaken. They are all books from Yogananda himself and are not books about Yogananda. From what I have studied, Yogananda was a prolific writer and left all of manuscripts to the direct disciples that he left in charge of his organization. He thoroughly trained three direct disciples (all nuns) to complete the editing necessary before publication. It took many years to complete them all. Red Rose 13 (talk) 08:36, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * This list is using only the current printing of each book rather than the first edition printing date.Red Rose 13 (talk) 08:43, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * I meant "business" in general Donald Walters or Swami Kriyananda. Its a german quote "Konkurrenz belebt das Geschäft" (eng. "Competition livens up the business") https://www.aphorismen.de/zitat/143720 In the separation from the Protestant church (Martin Luther), there were also useful reforms such as the sale of indulgences. And another bibliography listing on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_books_about_Jesus --Richard Reinhardt (talk) 10:29, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Thank you Richard for explaining your definition of your quote but the question still remains... is your intent to "stimulate business"? Red Rose 13 (talk) 18:02, 4 January 2018 (UTC)
 * Red Rose If you have the time and lust, can you take a look at this new section. I think there are mistakes in it. My English is not so good. Thank you. Paramahansa Yogananda / YSS India, Ranchi 2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda#YSS_India,_Ranchi_2017 --Richard Reinhardt (talk) 05:35, 5 January 2018 (UTC)

Yes I am working on itRed Rose 13 (talk) 18:16, 6 January 2018 (UTC)

Introduction and other structure of page

 * We need to discuss the introduction and structure of this page we have both reverted edits twice. Please come here to discuss this.Red Rose 13 (talk) 15:39, 25 January 2020 (UTC)
 * It is important to explain Yogananda's spiritual organization at the very beginning. It can be confusing since there are two names. In 1917 Yogananda began his spiritual organization in India and called it Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. In 1920 he traveled from India to the United States and ended up staying. In 1920 he continued his spiritual organization and translated Yogoda Satsanga to Self-Realization.  Both are under Self-Realization Fellowship.
 * Example Jon Lee Anderson bibliography and List of works by Jeppe Aakjær. I dont want to discuss more time that i need to write the article.--Riquix (talk) 15:52, 25 January 2020 (UTC)
 * I am not going to revert your 3 reverting because reverting more than 2 times is against Wikipedia policy. But I will invite other editors to join us.  I looked at your example of Jon Lee... and it is not at all like the situation here.  It is important to educate the reader about why there are two names that are Yogananda's spiritual organization.  I don't think you read what I wrote nor understand it. I ask you to read what I wrote and see it if helps you understand.  Your edit under YSS is incorrect!  Your words -  Additional List of Yogananda's books Published by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India. [4]

Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is also Yogananda's spiritual organization. Again read what I wrote. We are not finished here. Red Rose 13 (talk) 16:25, 25 January 2020 (UTC)
 * My mistake one can revert an edit up to 3 times in 24 hour period. So I am going to revert again because what I wrote full explains about Yogananda's spiritual organization.Red Rose 13 (talk) 16:38, 25 January 2020 (UTC)

Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society of India are not the same organization. That's why we have two separate Wikipedia articles on them, and that's why they are two separate publishers listed in two separate headings in this article. The Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is in India and was founded in 1917. The Self-Realization Fellowship is headquartered in Los Angeles and was founded in 1920. Yogananda headed both organizations, and after his death his successors also headed both organizations, but they are not the same organization. Self-Realization Fellowship is also not a "translation" of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.

I am therefore going to cleanup these errors again in the lead. Any reversal of this cleanup will need to have confirming citations. Pinging and. -- Softlavender (talk) 05:29, 26 January 2020 (UTC)


 * OK thank you.--Riquix (talk) 07:36, 26 January 2020 (UTC)


 * I am doing research and will get back you. Red Rose 13 (talk) 07:56, 26 January 2020 (UTC)


 * Ok I was able to do extensive research including calling the public relations department of Self-Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles, CA. I was told that the Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is indeed a part of Self-Realization Fellowship, not a separate organization. Although Yogananda established YSS first, in 1917, he greatly expanded his work when he moved to America in 1920 with the founded Self-Realization Fellowship, within which YSS exists and is governed. Therefore the Wikipedia description is quite erroneous.
 * Also for the West, Yogananda translated the Indian name of Yogoda Satsanga Society as "Self-Realization Fellowship."
 * In order to correctly state this I will adding this: 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. Red Rose 13 (talk) 15:51, 17 February 2020 (UTC)


 * On the website from Yogananda stand : The headquarters of YSS, Yogoda Satsanga Math, is situated on the banks of the Ganges at Dakshineswar, near Kolkata, (...) If you live in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, or the Maldive Islands, please contact YSS to enroll for Lessons, purchase books and recordings, or to learn more about programs on Paramahansa Yogananda's Kriya Yoga teachings. (All other countries are served by Self-Realization Fellowship from its international headquarters in Los Angeles.) https://yogananda.org/yogoda-satsanga-society-of-india
 * Have phoned SRF, Nurenberg in germany and they say that : In US is the headquarter but the YSS can have partly independence. But Yogananda is the finally Boss.
 * Now it is in the correct format description of articles in contrast to previous. If YSS are or not headquarter not so relevant for this article. Therefore I would like to thank Softlavender again and also for the way of dealing. --Riquix (talk) 15:34, 18 February 2020 (UTC)


 * Citation does not confirm. There is no citation that states or verifies that "Today the international headquarters of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India is in Los Angeles, California." The link on the citation provided states that "The headquarters of YSS, Yogoda Satsanga Math, is situated on the banks of the Ganges at Dakshineswar, near Kolkata". If YSS wants its "international headquarters" to be listed as "Los Angeles, California", then one of the official websites needs to state that, or some official online source needs to state that. Since no confirming citation has been provided, I am reverting the change, as noted in the OP of this thread. Softlavender (talk) 01:30, 19 February 2020 (UTC)


 * I have contacted organization on this matter may take a few months. Thank you --Riquix (talk) 07:20, 21 February 2020 (UTC)


 * Did you read above that I already contacted the proper officials that deals with these things. And I posted the answer here on this talk page.  See above.  Feel free to again talk to someone in this dept if you want. I have requested further information and waiting to hear back. Red Rose 13 (talk) 21:28, 21 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Ok I have proof but I don't know how to upload the scan of the back pages of the SRF Magazine that is repeated in every magazine. Any suggestions? Otherwise I can rewrite what it says.Red Rose 13 (talk) 02:34, 23 February 2020 (UTC)
 * Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
 * Founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in India in 1917 and in America in 1920 for Worldwide dissemination etc...
 * I would be happy to provide a scan of this, I just don't know how to upload it hereRed Rose 13 (talk) 02:38, 23 February 2020 (UTC)


 * OK I have found a citation at yogananda-srf.org: . It says "... at the international headquarters of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, Los Angeles." Softlavender (talk) 06:44, 23 February 2020 (UTC)
 * prweb.com : "SRF has more than 600 temples, retreats and meditation centers around the world. Its sister organization, YSS, has 23 YSS schools throughout India; more than 200 YSS ashrams, retreats, and centers (offering weekly services, group meditations, and other inspirational programs); and a number of YSS charitable medical dispensaries. The headquarters of YSS, Yogoda Satsanga Math, is in Dakshineswar, near Kolkata, with a branch headquarters at Ranchi."https://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/02/prweb14099179.htm
 * Wikipedia "Sister organization" :"A sister organization is an agency or body which is nearly or completely dependent upon another organization to exist." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sister_organization --Riquix (talk) 09:52, 23 February 2020 (UTC)
 * I just updated the lead sentence.Red Rose 13 (talk) 12:11, 23 February 2020 (UTC)