Eastern seeds, western soil : three gurus in America /

Preface p. vii
Introduction p. 1
The History of America's Fascination with Hinduism p. 4
The Rise of American Hinduism p. 6
Paramananda, Yogananda, and Krishnamurti p. 8
The Effect of Modernization on Religion p. 12
The Changing Relationship between the Individual and Society p. 16
Expanding Religious Options p. 19
Notes p. 21
Indian Roots p. 23
The Diversity of Hinduism p. 24
Hinduism in the Nineteenth Century p. 26
Modern Hindu Movements p. 30
Modern Hindu Reform p. 32
Swami Vivekananda and the Vedanta Society p. 38
Notes p. 43
American Soil p. 45
The Unitarian Movement p. 47
Alternatives to Christianity p. 48
The Rise of the New Thought Movement p. 50
The Freemasonry Movement p. 53
The Theosophical Society p. 55
The Development of Hinduism in the United States p. 58
Hindu Groups in the United States p. 61
American-Born Gurus p. 64
Notes p. 68
Swami Paramananda p. 71
Paramananda in India p. 73
Paramananda's Early Years in the United States p. 75
A Scandal in Boston p. 78
The Boston Vedanta Centre p. 81
Paramananda's Disciples p. 85
Sister Devamata p. 85
Sister Daya p. 88
Srimata Gayatri Devi p. 90
Paramananda's Spiritual Message p. 94
Paramananda's Legacy p. 104
Notes p. 106
Paramahansa Yogananda p. 109
Yogananda's Early Life p. 112
The Self-Realization Fellowship in the United States p. 116
Yogananda's Disciples p. 122
Rajarsi Janakananda p. 122
Sri Gyanamata p. 124
Daya Mata and Swami Kriyananda p. 127
Yogananda's Later Years p. 132
Reasons for Yogananda's Success in the United States p. 134
Yogananda's Modification of Traditional Hinduism p. 139
Yogananda's Interpersonal Relationships p. 140
Notes p. 144
Jiddu Krishnamurti p. 147
Besant, Leadbeater, and the Theosophical Society p. 149
Krishnamurti and Theosophy p. 154
Krishnamurti and the "Process" p. 157
Krishnamurti's Break with Organized Religion p. 160
Krishnamurti and Rosalind Rajagopal p. 165
The Teaching of Mindless Awareness p. 169
Krishnamurti: Master or Mortal? p. 173
Notes p. 175
Authority and Freedom p. 177
The Guru-Disciple Relationship in India p. 178
The Guru-Disciple Relationship in the West p. 181
Charisma and Religious Leadership p. 182
Limits to the Guru's Authority and Behavior p. 184
Paramananda's Interpersonal Relationships p. 191
Notes p. 193
Science and Art p. 195
Shared and Conflicting Religious Beliefs p. 196
Science and Religion p. 198
The Needs of the Disciples p. 201
Yogananda's Use of Hypnosis p. 203
Postmodern Skepticism p. 211
Universal Religion versus Personal Religion p. 212
Notes p. 215
Conclusion p. 217
Hindu Legacies in the American Religious Counterculture p. 218
Thinking of the Body as a Gateway to the Spirit p. 218
The Primacy of Experience over Text-Based Dogma p. 219
Divinity as Higher Power p. 220
The Divine as Feminine p. 221
Tolerant Acceptance of Religious Pluralism p. 222
Notes p. 224
Glossary p. 225
Bibliography p. 231
Credits p. 243
Index p. 245