by Mrs. Audrey Patton

(Mrs. Patton gave this interview to two members of the Minneapolis Meditation Group On January 16, 1993 at the request of the SRF Mother Center as part of the Centennial anniversary of Paramahansa Yogananda's birthday)

I considered myself an atheist before meeting Swami Yogananda in 1929 during his visit to St. Paul, where I lived. I was about 18 at the time. When I saw a newspaper advertisement with his picture, I thought, "He's from India, and therefore a heathen. He'll no doubt reinforce my atheistic views." When I first attended his lecture in the sold out St. Paul Auditorium, he spoke about God and I wanted to leave the meeting hall immediately, but the fervor in his voice overwhelmed me and compelled me to return to his subsequent talks.

 During his public lectures Swami usually wore a dark blue suit underneath his robe. On stage he was very dynamic. He spoke sincerely, with great emotion and energy. He emanated health and vitality. Swami "strode" across the stage, he didn't walk. One of the most dominant personality traits he exhibited during his lectures and classes was a wonderful sense of humor, just like he does in the Autobiography of a Yogi.

 During personal interviews Swami was a wonderfully easy person to talk to, sometimes on the most intimate of subjects. He just had a way about him that made you feel at home. He didn't show morbid curiosity but showed genuine interest and concern in anything you said. It was funny, on the stage he could be very eloquent, especially when he prayed, but in personal interviews he would talk as plain as could be. He was very quiet, frank, simple, direct, and had the air about him of a child. He had a calm face. You always sensed a great vitality and energy emanating from him.

 I first attended the Minneapolis Meditation Group services in about 1929-30. The Group services were held in the Gold Room at the Radisson Hotel. It was a long and narrow room that was packed with devotees for the Sunday evening services. A few weeks later the Group moved to the West Hotel where a larger room was available for the services.

 Soon after the Group moved to the West Hotel Swami Yogananda came again to give advanced lessons. They made an announcement saying that if a devotee couldn't afford the advanced lessons that they could speak with Swami, which I did. He simply asked what I could afford. After I answered his question he simply said that this was fine. Swami taught various healing techniques as well as the Aum technique. His classes were very informal and he had a very close relationship with the class members.

 I took the Kriya Initiation from Swami in the West Hotel in about 1932 or 1933. The time was winter. I and about four of the other young Women devotees were asked to be ushers and needed to buy special gowns. There was a very large group being initiated during the ceremony. Everyone that wanted Kriya needed to have an interview with Swami before the initiation, which I did as well. Two of the chants that Swami sang during the ceremony were "My Lord, I will be thine always" and "O God Beautiful." He strews roses during the ceremony and touched each devotee at the spiritual eye.

The last time I met Swami was at the Chicago Worlds Fair in about 1933 where Swami was asked to speak. It was a huge hall that was filled to overflowing, with chairs in the outside hallway. Swami was very warmly received. Right after his talk I saw him in the hallway but many people surrounded him and I wasn't able to get close. Shortly thereafter, though, I all of a sudden turned around and noticed that Swami was alone, and looking right at me! As soon as I turned around he beckoned to me. I thought that it was strange that he would beckon to me with all of these people around, but I went up to him anyway; you didn't ignore Swami. He asked me to come to his Hotel room where we had a long discussion. I had been having trouble with my meditations and with a boy friend. Swami said that he was concerned about me and that there was something about me that promised tremendous spiritual promise, which overwhelmed me. I did most of the talking but he gave me council and said to keep up the good work. Just as I was preparing to leave he stopped me, broke off a pinkish-red rose and handed it to me. This was a very tender and sweet memory of him, the last time I saw the Swami.