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Babaji's Palace in the Himalayas

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Brief overview

Babaji initiates Lahiri Mahasaya into Kriya Yoga and sends him back to live it as a householder.

  1. Liberation depends on inner, not outer, renunciationBabaji told Lahiri his role must be played on an outward stage, as a householder whose balanced life shows that the highest yogic attainments are not barred to the family man.
  2. Matter is thought the will holds togetherThe whole cosmos is described as a materialised thought of the Creator; the palace, like the earth, stands only while a will keeps its atoms combined, and dissolves when that will is withdrawn.
  3. Kriya was opened to every humble seekerLahiri pleaded against the ancient rigid rules, and Babaji relented — give Kriya freely to all who humbly ask for it, repeating the Gita's promise that even a little of this practice saves from dire f
Executive Summary AI
  • Chapter thirty-four recounts Lahiri Mahasaya's own telling of his first meeting with Babaji, a story his disciples heard from his lips and which Sri Yukteswar later repeated in substantially the same words.
  • In his 33rd year, in the autumn of eighteen sixty one, Lahiri was posted to the Himalayan hills, and while climbing Drongiri Mountain one afternoon he heard a voice calling his name and found a smiling young man, copper-haired and resembling himself, waiting outside a cave.
  • Babaji explained that he had silently suggested the transfer to Ranniket through the mind of Lahiri's superior officer, then struck his forehead and released the memories of a previous life spent in that same cave.
  • Babaji materialized a golden palace studded with rubies, diamonds, pearls, sapphires and emeralds, and a disciple explained it was created by solidifying cosmic rays and is as real as the earth, which God likewise holds together by will and will one day withdraw.
  • After initiation into Kriya Yoga before a homa fire, seven days of nirvikalpa samadhi and a meal from an ever-filled bowl, Babaji refused Lahiri's plea to stay and sent him back to the crowded marts as an ideal yogi householder, later permitting Kriya to be given freely to all who humbly ask.
Key Quote
“the office was brought for you and not you for the office”
— Babaji
Key Quote
“For more than three decades I have waited for you here, waited for you to return to me.”
— Babaji
Key Quote
“Though you lost sight of me, never did I lose sight of you.”
— Babaji

Transcript

0:00 chapter thirty four of autobiography of a yogi a palace in the himalayas babaji's first meeting with lahiri mahasaya is an enthralling story and one of the, which was later told me in substantially the same words by Sri Yukteswar.
0:50 Both these Lahiri Mahasaya disciples had heard the awesome tale direct from the lips of their guru.
0:56 My first meeting with Babaji took place in my 33rd year, Lahiri Mahasaya had said in the autumn of eighteen sixty one i was stationedous i was able to spend many hours roaming in the magnificent hills saints blessed the region with their presence. I felt a strong desire to see them. During a ramble
1:46 one early afternoon, I was astounded to hear a distant voice calling my name. I continued my
1:52 vigorous upward climb on Drongiri Mountain. A slight uneasiness beset me at the thought that
1:58 I might not be able to retrace my steps before darkness had descended over the jungle. I finally
2:03 reached a small clearing whose sides were dotted with caves.
2:07 On one of the rocky ledges stood a smiling young man,
2:10 extending his hand in welcome.
2:12 I noticed with astonishment that, except for his copper-coloured hair,
2:16 he bore a remarkable resemblance to myself.
2:19 Lahiri, you have come.
2:21 The saint addressed me affectionately in Hindi.
2:24 Rest here in this cave. it was i who called you i entered a neat little grotto which contained several woollen blankets and a few kamandulus begging bowls one corner no sir somewhat dazed at the strangeness of my adventure i added i must leave now before nightfall i have business in the morning at my office the mysterious saint replied in english the office was brought for you and not you for the office speak English, but also paraphrase the words of Christ. I see my telegram took effect.
3:06 The Yogi's remark was incomprehensible to me.
3:09 I inquired his meaning.
3:11 I referred to the telegram that summoned you to these isolated parts.
3:16 It was I who silently suggested to the mind of your superior officer that you be transferred
3:21 to Ranniket.
3:22 When one feels his unity with mankind, all minds become transmitting
3:26 stations through which he can work at will, he added gently. Lahiri, surely this cave seems
3:32 familiar to you? As I maintained a bewildered silence, the saint approached and struck me
3:38 gently on the forehead. At his magnetic touch a wondrous current swept through my brain,
3:43 releasing the sweet seed memories of
3:45 my previous life.
3:47 I remember!
3:48 My voice was half choked with joyous sobs.
3:52 You are my guru, Babaji, who has belonged to me always.
3:57 Scenes of the past arise vividly in my mind.
4:00 Here in this cave I spent many years of my last incarnation.
4:04 As ineffable recollections overwhelmed me, I tearfully embraced my master's feet.
4:09 For more than three decades I have waited for you here, waited for you to return to
4:13 me.
4:14 Babaji's voice rang with celestial love.
4:16 You slipped away and vanished into the tumultuous waves of the life beyond death.
4:21 The magic wand of your karma touched you, and you were gone.
4:24 Though you lost sight of me,
4:30 never did I lose sight of you. I pursued you over the luminescent astral sea where the glorious angels sail. Through gloom, storm, upheaval, and light, I followed you like a mother bird
4:37 guiding her young. As you lived out your human term of womb-life and emerged a babe, my eye was
4:43 ever on you. When you covered your tiny form in the

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