Paramhansa Yogananda is the author of “Autobiography of a Yogi,” one of the best-selling spiritual biographies of all time. In 1929, Paramhansa Yogananda came to Mexico. He met with then president Emilio Portes Gil and visited Lake Chapala. While in Chapala, Yogananda wrote a poem dedicated to the lake. During this time an iconic photo of him aboard a sailboat was taken. This photo has circulated across the world and is internationally known and loved.

Many expats here in Lake Chapala and local Mexican residents are aware of Yogananda’s visit to Lake Chapala and there is a natural curiosity as to why he came here. Yogananda’s time spent in Lake Chapala happened during a critical turning point in his life.

Nayaswami Premdas, our guest speaker from Ananda Village in Northern California, will share his insights and reflections as to who Yogananda was, and why his presence in the West is so important. This Open Circle presentation is the first in a series of events slated for “Yogananda Week in Ajijic,” March 5-10, 2023.

Nayaswami Premdas serves in various roles with Ananda Sangha Worldwide, a successful intentional community of 55 years founded by Swami Kriyananda and dedicated to sharing the teachings of the Indian Yogi, Paramhansa Yogananda.

Through Ananda’s Path of Kriya Yoga, he guides, counsels, teaches, assists and initiates seekers, devotees and disciples practicing Yogananda’s prescriptions of “Simple Living & High Thinking.” He has been a credentialed instructor of meditation and yoga for 30 years.