Babaji's Interest in the West

Paramahansa Yogananda. Babaji's Interest in the West Master, did you ever meet Babaji? It was a calm summer night in Serampore. The large stars of the tropics gleamed over our heads as I sat by Sri Yukteswar's side on the second-story balcony of the hermitage. Yes, Master smiled at my direct question. His eyes lit with reverence. Three times I have been blessed by the sight of the deathless guru our first meeting was in allahabad at kumb thousands of sadhus yogis swamis and ascetics of all kinds many hermits who never leave their secluded haunts except to attend the melas I was not a swami at the time I met Babaji, Sri Yukteswar went on, but I had already received Kriya initiation from Lahiri Mahasaya.

He encouraged me to attend the Mela, which was convening in January 1894 in Allahabad. It was my first experience of a Kumbha. I felt slightly dazed by the clamour and surge of the crowd. In my searching gazes around I saw no illumined face of a master passing a bridge on the bank of the ganges i noticed an acquaintance standing near by his begging bowl these idlers who profess religion but concentrate on alms my smouldering reflections on social reform were interrupted by the voice of a tall sanyasi who halted before me sir he said who is he come and see for yourself hesitantly following this laconic advice i soon found myself near a tree whose branches were sheltering a guru with an attractive group of disciples the master a bright unusual figure with sparkling dark eyes Sir, I replied emphatically, I am not a Swami.

Those on whom I am divinely directed to bestow the title of Swami never cast it off. The saint addressed me simply, but deep conviction of truth rang in his words. I was engulfed in an instant wave of spiritual blessing. Smiling at my sudden elevation into the ancient monastic order, I bowed at the feet of the obviously great and angelic being in human form who had thus honoured me. Babaji, for it was indeed he, motioned me to a seat near him under the tree. He was strong and young, and looked like Lahiri Mahasaya, yet the resemblance did not strike me, even though I had often heard of the extraordinary similarities in the appearances of the two masters babaji possesses a power by which he can prevent any specific thought from arising in a person's mind evidently the great guru wished me to be perfectly natural in his presence greatly disappointed sir i added hastily up until the time i met you somehow saints and this commotion don't seem to belong together child the master said though apparently i was nearly twice his own age for the faults of which seizes only the sugar and leaves the sand untouched though many sadhus here still wander in delusion yet the mela is blessed by a few men of god realization in view of my own intelligence than most people congregated here, living in distant Europe and America, professing different creeds, and ignorant of the real values of such millers as the present one.

They are the men who could benefit greatly by meeting with India's masters. But, although high in intellectual attainments, many Westerners are wedded to rank materialism. Others, science and philosophy do not recognize the essential unity in religion their creeds serve as insurmountable middle path of activity and spirituality combined he continued india has much to learn from the west in material development by which the West will be able to base its religious beliefs on the unshakable foundations of yogic science. You, Swamiji, have a part to play in this harmonious exchange between Orient and Occident.

Some years hence I shall send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West. The vibrations thereof many spiritual-seeking souls come flood-like to me. I perceive potential saints in America and Europe waiting to to be awakened at this point in his story sri yuktaswar turned his gaze fully on mine my son to visualize myself in the remote west, away from my beloved guru and the simple hermitage peace. Babaji then spoke of the Bhagavad Gita. Sri Yukteswar went on. To my astonishment, he indicated, by a few words of praise, that he was aware of the fact that I had written interpretations on various Gita chapters.

At my request, Swamiji, please undertake another task, the great master said. Will you not write a short book on the underlying basic unity between Christian and Hindu scriptures? Show by parallel references that the inspired sons of God have spoken the same truths, now obscured by men's sectarian differences. Maharaja, I answered diffidently, what what a command shall i be able to fulfil it babaji laughed softly my son why do you doubt he said reassuringly indeed whose work is all this and who is the doer of all actions whatever the lord has made me say is bound to materialise as truth i deemed myself empowered by the blessings of the saint, and agreed to write the book.

Feeling reluctantly that the parting hour had arrived, I rose from my leafy seat. Do you know Lahiri? The master inquired. He is a great soul, isn't he? Tell him of our meeting. He then gave me a message for Lahiri Mahasaya. After I had bowed humbly in farewell, the saint smiled benignly. When your is finished i shall pay you a visit he promised good-bye for the present i left allahabad the following day and entrained for benares reaching my guru's home i poured out the story of the wonderful saint at the kumbha recognize him.

Lahiri Mahasaya's eyes were dancing with laughter. I see you couldn't, for he prevented you. He is my incomparable guru, the celestial Babaji. Babaji, I repeated or struck, the yogi Christ Babaji, the invisible visible saviour Babaji. Oh, if I could just recall the past and be once more in his presence, to show my devotion at his lotus feet. Never mind, Lahiri Mahasaya said consolingly. He has promised to see you again. Guru Deva, the divine master, asked me to give you a message. To Lahiri, he said, that the stored-up power for this life now runs low.

It is nearly finished. At my utterance of these enigmatic words, Lahiri Mahasaya's figure trembled as though touched by a lightning current. In an instant, everything about him fell silent. His smiling countenance turned incredibly stern. Like a wooden statue, sombre and immovable in its seat, his body became colourless. I was alarmed and bewildered. Never in my life had I seen this joyous soul manifest such awful gravity. The other disciples present stared apprehensively. Three hours passed in utter silence. Then Lahiri Mahasaya resumed his natural cheerful demeanour and spoke affectionately to each of the chelas.

Everyone sighed in relief. I realised by my master's reaction that babaji's remark had been his way of saying, I shall be ever with you. Though Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya were omniscient and had no need of communicating with each other through me or any other intermediary, the Great Ones often condescend to play a part in the human drama. Occasionally they transmit their prophecies through messengers in an ordinary way, that the final fulfillment of their words may infuse greater divine faith in a wide circle of men who later learn the story.

I soon left Benares and set to work in Serampore on the scriptural writings requested by Babaji, Sri Yukteswar continued. No sooner had I begun my task than I was able to compose a poem dedicated to the Deathless Guru. The melodious lines flowed effortlessly from my pen, though never before had I attempted Sanskrit poetry. In the quiet of night I busied myself over a comparison of the Bible and the scriptures of Sanatana Dharma. Quoting the words of the blessed Lord Jesus, I showed that his teachings were in essence one with the revelations of the vedas to my relief my book was finished in a short time i realized that this speedy blessing was a book by one of my Kidapur disciples.

The morning after I had concluded my literary efforts, Master continued. I went to the Rai Gut here to bathe in the Ganges. The Gut was deserted. I stood still for a while enjoying the sunny peace. After a dip in the sparkling waters I started for home. The only sound in the silence was that of my ganji's drenched cloth, swish-washing with every step. As I passed beyond the sight of the large banyan train at the riverbank, a strong impulse urged me to look back. There, under the shade of the banyan, and surrounded by a few disciples, sat the great Babaji.

Greetings, Swamiji. The beautiful voice of the master rang out to assure me i was not dreaming i see you have successfully completed your book as i promised i am here to thank you with a fast-beating heart i prostrated myself fully at his feet param guruji i said imploringly home with your presence the supreme guru smilingly declined no charlie he said we're people who like the shelter of but in my heart i knew the little band had already fled on etheric wings i was deeply hurt even if we meet again i would not care to talk to him i assured myself love, of course, and nothing more.

A few months later I visited Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares. As I entered his little parlour, my guru smiled in greeting. Welcome, Yukteswar, he said. Did you just meet Babaji at the threshold of my room? Why no, I answered in surprise. Come here, Lahiri Mahasaya touched me gently on the forehead. At once I beheld near the door the form of Babaji, blooming like a perfect lotus. I remembered my old hurt and did not bow. Lahiri Mahasaya looked at me in astonishment. The Divine Guru gazed at me with fathomless eyes.

You are annoyed with me. Sir, why shouldn't I be? I answered. Out of the air you came with your magic group, and into the thin air you vanished. I told you I would see you, but I didn't say how long I would remain. Babaji laughed softly. You were full of excitement. I assure you that I was fairly extinguished in the ether by the gust of your restlessness. I was instantly satisfied by this unflattering explanation. I knelt at his feet. The Supreme Guru patted me kindly on the shoulder.

Child, you must meditate more, he said. Your gaze is not yet faultless. You could not see me hiding behind the sunlight. With these words in the voice of a celestial flute, Babaji disappeared into the hidden radiance. That was one of my last visits to Benares to see my Guru, Sri Yukteswar concluded. Even as Babaji had foretold at the Kumbha Mela, the householder incarnation of Lahiri Mahasaya was drawing to a close. During the summer of 1895 his stalwart body developed a small boil on the back. He protested against lancing.

He was working out in his own flesh the evil karma of some of his disciples finally a few chillas became very insistent the master replied cryptically the body has to find a cause to go the incomparable guru gave up his body in benares no longer need i seek him out in his little parlour i find every day of my life blessed by his omnipresent guidance years later from the lips of swami keshabananda an advanced disciple i heard many wonderful details about the passing of lahiri mahasaya a few days before my guru relinquished his body, Keshav Bananda told me, he materialized himself before me as I sat in my hermitage at Hardwar.

Come at once to Banaras. With these words, the Hari Mahasaya vanished. I entrained immediately for Banaras. At my guru's home, I found many disciples assembled. For hours that day the master expounded the gita then he addressed us simply i am going home sob's vanquish broke out like an irresistible torrent be comforted i shall rise again after this utterance the hemi mahasaya thrice turned his body around in a circle, faced the north in his lotus posture, and gloriously entered the final Mahasamadhi.