Awake: The Life of Yogananda

PG

Released Oct 10, 2014

1 hr. 27 min.

Documentary

List

64%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

With his quest for enlightenment and sharing his struggles along the path, Hindu mystic Paramahansa Yogananda made ancient teachings accessible to a modern audience.

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Audience Member

I had often seen the book cover and still hadn't read the book. Now, I think it's time to read. The documentary covered in broad brushstrokes the almost mythic life of Yogananda. So many stories about mystics and aesthetes abound, partly couched in ignorance and maybe racism. This is the genuine guruji whose message of classical yoga started an awakening in the west. It's a message that still needs to be carried. So much of yoga-as-the-workout as it's taught in the west, is only a superficial understanding of the original purpose and intent of yoga, which is mankind's oldest, continuous study of the human mind. As a classical yoga teacher, Yogananda's story is one I'd recommend to students. The film was produced before one of the interviewees, Bikram Choudhury, hot yoga's founder, got into "hot water" over sexual misconduct and evading a multimillion dollar lawsuit surfaced. It was that segment that I'd feel should be edited out. He has lost credibility or at least integrity, as I see it. The practice of yoga was developed to remove suffering. In view of the existential crisis of climate that's affecting the globe's populations and nature, there's more need than ever for Yogananda's message. I wonder what he would say about it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

Inspiring storyline speaking about the life of an inspiring remarkable indiviadual. If you've ever wondered about the purpose of life, this is a must see documentary.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Audience Member

This was an ok movie, pretty much now I'm wondering what's in his book that inspired so many. Names like George Harrison of The Beatles, Steve Jobs of Apple, and even Ghandi were moved by Yogananda teachings.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

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Audience Member

not often real stuff like this comes along....a must see

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

Between the time of his arrival in Boston in 1920, and his death in Los Angeles in 1952, Paramahansa Yogananda became the most influential proponent of yoga, meditation and spirituality in the Western hemisphere, introducing millions to previously unfamiliar schools of philosophy and metaphysics.This documentary is a great effort at capturing Yogananda's life story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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kanta m

I have seen this film FOUR times and honestly, it just gets better and better. The first view I was somewhat disappointed as I felt it did not capture the deeper elements of this great soul's nature, purpose, or destiny. I think it may have received some editing as when I again viewed it 3 months later it seemed MUCH BETTER in all respects. I note that the film seems to have a subtle power to transfix, uplift and encourage one's deeper propensities. Glancing at my fellow audience members at film end, I saw radiant smiles and all 'round good cheer. If you feel it's time to get a glimpse of the deeper aspects of life, or that you just require a happier heart/mind in the moment, or ongoing, I suggest you view this film. It works for me every time, ;-).

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Paola di Florio

Director

Lisa Leeman

Director

Anupam Kher

Narrator

Peter Rader

Producer

Paola di Florio

Producer

Lisa Leeman

Producer

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

After a while, all this serenity becomes soporific. It's one for the already enlightened.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 1, 2015

Full Review

Drew Hunt

Chicago Reader

A voice-over narrator supplies some of Yogananda's more inspired passages, but the affected tone makes it all sound rather silly.

Dec 19, 2014

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Peter Keough

Boston Globe

Those looking for further enlightenment might want to pass on the feel-good cinematic hagiography known as "Awake: The Life of Yogananda."

Rated: 2/4

Nov 7, 2014

Full Review

Eric Monder

Film Journal International

Co-directors Paola di Florio and Lisa Leeman honor the man with a reverential though rarely stuffy portrait.

Oct 9, 2014

Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

A rounded portrait of the Father of Yoga in the West that celebrates his practical and uplifting art of spiritual living.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 7, 2014

Full Review

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Synopsis

With his quest for enlightenment and sharing his struggles along the path, Hindu mystic Paramahansa Yogananda made ancient teachings accessible to a modern audience.

Director: Paola di Florio, Lisa Leeman
Distributor: Counterpoint Films
Production Co: CounterPoint Films
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Some Violent Images|Brief Smoking)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 10, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.0M

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