Review of Awake: The Life of Yogananda (2014) by Liv B — 12 Dec 2014

The special effects were really cool and I definitely didnt go into this film expecting that.

Some parts that focused on the internal aspects of the practice and teachings were also something I appreciated. however, I dont really see the value in such a focus on vertical spirituality, ie practicing so you can reach a supreme enlightened state and be 'the seer' of all movements instead of actively working towards stopping/challenging human society from rapidly exploiting the Earth and all of its beings.

while watching this movie what I took away was that Yoganada went to hollywood to teach wealthy people how to still their minds and tune into themselves... the whole movie was narrated by his followers idolizing him for teaching them how to integrate themselves more and get closer to reaching samadhi. there was also a noticeable lack of female presence, which was very disappointing. I expect any project following a practice that aims to be 'wholesome' and 'integrative' in its nature to take into account the realities of how patriarchy, capitalism and colonialism have shaped contemporary yoga in 'the west', and in my opinion this film failed at that and even (maybe unintentionally..?) celebrated these destructive systems.

The end focused more on the bigger picture and how yoga can be of service at a global scale by discussing Yogananda's practice during the time the first atomic bomb was dropped. I appreciated that the film addressed how yoga is strongly needed in such violent times, and I really wish more of the film was about this instead of how he taught oil tycoons in Hollywood how to tune into themselves.

Sorry not sorry for my critical analysis. I just really want to see more projects today that are about the yoga practice to not focus on yoga as an individual practice, but yoga as something that builds community. this movie kind of did that by following the community created by Yogananda's followers but still majorly focused on yoga at an individual scale. we cant practice yoga if we cant breathe the air and thats a reality that is going to continue and grow unless we radically rethink and change our intentions and actions. so I would love to see more of a dialogue around how we can use yoga as a tool to build community to stop corporations from eating the earth and sacrificing future and present generations.