The Science of Religion by Swami Yogananda, 2nd edition

The Science of Religion, Swami Yogananda. Sat-Sanga, Boston. Second edition, 1924. The first edition was published in India. No dustjacket. The cloth cover is in good condition, with bright gilt lettering of the title and author’s name, and the name of his associate, Swami Dhirananda, below. Minor wear to the top and bottom of the spine, a small worn and frayed spot on the top edge of the front board, a ding on the bottom edge of the back board, lightly dinged corners with slight wear, and some discoloration to all sides of the cover. Stains on the back of the frontispiece and opposite free end paper, also on the margins of the frontispiece and tissue covering the frontispiece. The back free end paper is tanned. The page edges are tanned with some discoloration. The interior pages are in very good condition, clean with no ink or pencil markings. Musty smell if you get close to the open book.

When Paramahansa Yogananda was still in India, he was invited to speak at an international congress of religious liberals in October 1920. He chose the topic “The Science of Religion,” which was the basis for his book of the same title. This edition was published in Boston when Paramahansa Yogananda was living and lecturing on the East Coast during his first few years in America.His associate, Dhirananda, claimed that he had ghostwritten the book, while Yogananda disputed that, saying he only edited it. When Dhirananda decided to break off his association with Yogananda, he demanded recompense from Yogananda for services rendered–a hefty sum of $10,000. He later left the swami order.