In view of the 125th Birth Anniversary year of Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda, a series of public talks had been organized by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) across various cities of India. These talks wee supported by the Ministry of Culture (Government of India). 

YSS Dakshineswar Ashram organised two of these talks towards the end of 2018. The topics of these talks were: 'Yoga Meditation — Key to All-round Success' and 'Leading a Happy and Tension-free Life Through Kriya Yoga.' 

Thes public talks were delivered by Swami Shraddhanandaji at The Westin Hotel, Rajarghat on January 28, 2018, and at G D Birla Sabhaghar, Ballygunge on Janaury 29, 2018. The talks were followed by meditation technique classes by Brahmachari Achyutanandaji.

At both the places the talks were preceded by devotional chanting by YSS monastics. These talks received good response from the Kolkata public; the halls were packed with many sincere seekers. Awakening to the call of spirituality, the Kolkata audience once again proved their strong spiritual grounding! Many of the receptive audiences enrolled for the YSS Lessons soon after the talk.

In his talk on the subject, 'Yoga Meditation — Key to All-round Success,' Swami Shraddhanandaji emphasized that Yoga meditation is the practice of scientific techniques that automatically leads to a calm, alert, and perceptive state of being. It enables us to see and to take the next steps to succeed.

On the second day, on his talk on, 'Leading a Happy and Tension-free Life Through Kriya Yoga,' Swamiji clarified that through Kriya Yoga practice, one experiences inner joy and inner guidance — leading to true happiness and freedom from tension.  

Swamiji also dwelt on Paramahansaji’s detailed instructions about the Kriya Yoga Meditation techniques captured in the form of Yogoda Satsanga home-study lessons. Besides, the ancient meditation techniques the lessons also include important instructions on living a balanced life, finding success, developing intuition, improving memory, right eating, training children, and other important topics relevant for happy and balanced living. Many among the participants were given the first four Yogoda Satsanga Lessons as they signed up to learn Meditation.

At both the places, meditation technique classes were conducted in the second sessions by Brahmachari Achyutanandaji. He guided them through the principles and practice of the Energization Exercises — a technique of recharging the body using cosmic energy, and the Hong-Sau technique — an ancient meditation and concentration technique.  

Many among those who attended the talks left expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn these ancient and effective techniques of meditation, and also to take home for their personal practice the Yogoda Satsanga Lessons, that explain the techniques in detail.  

The event was facilitated by several enthusiastic YSS volunteers. 

To view images from both the public talks conducted in Kolkata click here.