In The Beginning
Gorakhpur, India January 5, 1893. Dr. Minnot White Lewis, Yogananda's first American Kriyaban, was born March 26, 1893, and finally
John Oliver Black, Yogacharya J.Oliver Black, was born in Grover Hill, Ohio September 1, 1893. Swami Vivekananda also came to
this country and spoke to the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893. Vivekananda and
Paramahansaji, obviously called this band of disciples together to bring the science of Yoga to North America. Yogananda's work on
the physical plane this incarnation ended with his Mahasamadhi March 7, 1952. Rajasi became the President of Self Realization Fellowship
on Paramahansaji's passing and his work in this incarnation ended with his Mahasamadhi February 20, 1955. The Mahasamadhi of
Dr. Lewis was
April 30, 1960. Yogacharya Oliver however continued his tremendous work until his Mahasamadhi September 16, 1989 at the ripe age of
96. Yogacharya Oliver although often overlooked by Self Realization Fellowship may have been Paramahansaji's foremost disciple.
I was present when he told a group of us the Paramahansaji asked him to be President of SRF
before his Mahasamadhi, but Yogacharya declined knowing his destiny was his work in Michigan. Of course, being Yogacharya's disciple,
I am prejudice when it comes to Yogacharya Oliver and such a debate serves no useful purpose. However, it is widely accepted
that Yogacharya was Yogananda's second most developed disciple after Rajarsi. My intent with this website is two fold.
To give information about Yogacharya, his life, his work, and his wisdom and
to make available hundreds of hours of recorded meditations, lectures, and Satsangas in Yogacharya's own voice. I have preserved
these recordings for over thirty years primarily for my own use. But now with advances in technology and the internet I feel
guided to make this wisdom from Yogacharya available to all those truth thirsty souls and weary, weak and heavy
laden ones that were so often drawn to Yogacharya for help. Yogacharya's wisdom, joy and teaching will be slowly made available
on audio CD's. Some are available now and more will be made available over time. Thank you for your patience and please
come back to the site regularly to see the changes to the website and CDs that are available.
