At Encinitas in California

chapter forty eight of autobiography of a yogi this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain welcome-home gift sister gyan mata smilingly led me through a gate and up a tree-shaded walk Then, with ohs and ahs, finally with man's insufficient vocabulary of joy and gratitude, I examined the ashram. Sixteen unusually large rooms, each one charmingly appointed. The stately central hall, with immense ceiling-high windows, look out on a united altar of grass, ocean, sky, a symphony in emerald, opal, sapphire. A mantle over the hall's huge fireplace holds the framed likeness of lahiri mahashe smiling his blessing over this far pacific heaven through roses and lilies to quiet arbors a long flight of stairsher fastened on one of the hermitage doors and may they go hand in hand with us giving the healing virtues of their blessed gifts as widespread as the earth as far-flung as the rivers men, for the increase of abundance and glory.

May obedience conquer disobedience within this house. May peace triumph here over discord, free-hearted giving over avarice, truthful speech over deceit, reverence over contempt, that our minds be delighted and our souls uplifted. Let our bodies be glorified as well. And, O Light Divine, may and may we approaching come round about thee and attain unto thine entire companionship this self-realization fellowship ashram had been made possible through the generosity of a few american disciples american business men of endless responsibilities who yet find time daily for their crea yog not a word of the hermitage construction had been allowed to reach me during my stay in india and europe astonishment delight during my earlier years in america i had combed the coast of california in quest of a small site for a seaside ashram whenever i had found a suitable location some obstacle had invariably arisen to thwart me gazing now over the broad acres of ensignitas humbly i saw the effortless fulfilment of sri y the first of many sunrise services like the magi of old several hundred students gazed in devotional awe at the daily miracle the early solar fire rite in the distance a tiny white sailing boat and the lonely flight of a sea-gull christ thou art risen not alone said to english words and western musical notation about forty songs some original others by adaptations of ancient melodies included were the shankara chant no birth no death saint, and desire my great enemy.

The hoary Sanskrit hymn to Brahma, old Bengali songs, what lightning flash, and they have heard thy name. Tagores, who is in my temple, and a number of my compositions. I will be thine always, in the land beyond my dreams, come out of the silent sky, listen to my soul call, in the temple of silence, and thou art my life. For a preface to the song-book, I recounted my first outstanding experience with the receptivity of Westerners to the quaintly devotional airs of the East. The occasion had been a public lecture, the time April 18, 1926 twenty six the place carnegie hall in new york mr hunsaker i had confided to an american student i am planning to ask the audience to sing an ancient hindu chant oh god beautiful into American understanding.

What a shame if the lecture were to be marred by a commentary of overripe tomatoes. I had laughingly disagreed. Music is a universal language. Americans will not fail to feel the sole aspiration in this lofty chant. During the lecture, Mr. Hunsicker had sat behind me on the platform, probably fearing for my safety. His doubts were groundless. Not only had there been an absence of unwelcome vegetables but for one hour and twenty-five minutes the strains of o god beautiful had sounded uninterruptedly from three thousand throats a simple paean of rejoicing divine healings had taken place that evening among the devotees chanting with love the lord's blessed name this secluded life of a literary minstrel was not my role for long before clubs and colleges, interviews with students, ceaseless streams of correspondence, articles for East-West, direction of activities in India and numerous small centers in American cities.

Much time was given also to the arrangement of Kriya and other self-realization fellowship teachings into a series of studies for the distant yoga seekers whose zeal recognized no limitation of space. Joyous dedication of a self-realization church of all religions took place in 1938 at Washington, D.C. Set amidst landscaped grounds, the stately church stands in a section of the city aptly called Friendship Heights. The Washington leader is Swami Premanant, educated at the Ranchi School and Calcutta University. I had summoned him in 1928 to assume leadership of the Washington Self-Realization Fellowship Center.

Premanand, I had told him during a visit to his new temple, this eastern headquarters is a memorial in stone to your tireless devotion. Here in the nation's capital, you have held aloft the light of lahiri mashi's ideals prmanend accompanied me from washington for a brief visit to the self-realization fellowship center in boston what joy to see again the kriged my companion and myself in a modern artistically decorated suite sir dr lewis said to me smiling during your early years interviews with thousands in california and through a world-wide correspondence i found that men and women were deeply searching their hearts anchorage.

We have indeed learned the value of meditation. The leader of the London Self-Realization Fellowship Center wrote me in 1941, and know that nothing can disturb our inner peace. In the last few weeks during meetings, we have heard air raid warnings and listened to the explosion of delayed action bombs, but our students still gather and thoroughly enjoy our beautiful service. Another letter reached me from war-torn England, just before America entered the conflict. In nobly pathetic words, Dr. L. Cranmer, being noted editor of the Wisdom of the East series, wrote, When I read East-West, I realized how far apart we seemed to be, apparently living in two different worlds.

Beauty, order, calm, and peace come to me from los angeles sailing into port as a vessel laden with blessings and comfort of the holy grail to a bele comprehended in unity absorbed in creative work and replenished in, but it is something and more to have had the vision, and know that in the midst of war there is still a peace that abides in your harbors and among your hills. Greetings to all the fellowship from a common soldier, written on the watchtower, waiting for the dawn. The war years had brought a spiritual awakening among men, whose diversions had never before included a study of the new testament one sweet distilment from the bitter herbs of war to satisfy a growing need an inspiring little self-realization church of all religions was built and dedicated in nineteen forty two at hollywood the site faces olive hill and the distant los angeles planetarium the church finished in blue white and gold is reflected amidst the water hyacinths in a large pool the gardens are gay with flowers a few startled stone deer pure aspiration for the sole treasure of spirit a universal benignity flows from small niches with statues of lahiri maharshi and sri and of krishna buddha confucius st francis and a beautiful mother-of-pearl reproduction of christ at the last supper another self-realization church of all religions was founded in nineteen forty three at san diego a quiet hilltop temple it stands on a sloping valley of eucalypti overlooking sparkling san diego bay sitting one evening in this tranquil heaven i was pouring out my heart in song under my fingers was the sweet-toned organ of the church on my lips the year yearning pliant of an ancient Bengali devotee who had searched for eternal solace.

In this world, mother, none can love me. In this world they do not know love divine. Where is there pure loving love? Where is there truly loving thee? There my heart longs to be. My companion at the chapel, Dr. Lloyd Kennel, the San Diego center leader, was smiling a little at the words of the song. Tell me truly, Paramhansji, has it been worth it? He gazed at me with an earnest sincerity. I understood his laconic question. Have you been happy in America? What about the disillusionments, the heartaches, the center leaders who could not lead, the students who could not be taught?

Blessed is the man whom the Lord doth test, doctor. He has remembered now and then to put a burden on me. I thought then of all the faithful ones, of the love and devotion and understanding that lay in the heart of America, which low emphasis I went on. But my answer is, yes, a thousand times, yes, it has been worthwhile. It has been a constant inspiration, more than ever, I dreamed, to see West and East brought closer in the only lasting bond the spiritual silently i added a prayer may babaji and sri yugdeswarji feel that i have done my part not disappointing the high hope in which they sent me forth was tinged with a martial valour.

The grinding wheel of time doth mar, full many a life of moon and star, and many a brightly smiling morn, but still my soul is marching on. Darkness, death and failures vied, to block my path they fiercely tried. My fight with jealous natures strong, but still my soul is marching on. New Year's week of 1945 found me at work in my Encinitas study, revising the manuscript of this book. Paramhansji come outdoors dr lewis on a visit from boston smiled at me pleadingly from outside my window soon we were strolling in the sunshine my companion pointed to new towers and process of construction along the edge of the fellowship property adjoining the coast highway sir i see many improvements here since my last visit dr lewis comes twice annually from boston to encinitas yes doctor a project i have long considered is beginning to take definite form in these beautiful surroundings i have started a miniature world colony brotherhood is an ideal better understood by example than precept a small harmonious group here may inspire other ideal communities over the earth a splendid idea sir the quality will surely be a success if every one sincerely does his part in the light of a world citizen.

I continued. A person who truly feels the world is my homeland, it is my America, my India, my Philippines, my England, my Africa, will never lack scope for a useful and happy life. His natural local pride will know limitless expansion. He will be in touch with creative universal currents. Dr. Lewis and I halted above the lotus pool near the hermitage. Below us lay the illimitable Pacific. These same waters break equally on the coasts of West and East, in California and China. My companion threw a little stone into the first of the oceanic seventy million square miles.

Encinitas is a symbolic spot for a world colony. That is true, Doctor. We shall arrange here for many conferences and congresses of religion, inviting delegates from all lands. Flags of the nations will hang in our halls. Diminutive temples will be built over the grounds, dedicated to the world's principal religions. As soon as possible, I went on, I plan to open a yoga institute here. The blessed role of Kriya Yoga in the West has hardly more than just begun. May all men come to know that there is a definite scientific technique of self-realization for the overcoming of all human misery.

Far into the night, my dear friend, the first Kriya Yogi in America, discussed with me the need for world colonies founded on a spiritual basis the ills attributed to an anthropomorphic abstraction called society may be laid more realistically at the door of every man before it can flower in civic virtue. Man is a soul, not an institution. His inner reforms alone can lend permanence to outer ones. By stress on spiritual values, self-realization, a colony exemplifying world brotherhood is empowered to send inspiring vibrations far beyond the locale.

August 15, 1945, close to Global War II, end end of a world dawn of an enigmatic atomic age gathered in the main of peace. I gazed happily at each of my American comrades. Lord, I thought gratefully, thou hast given this monk a large family.