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Saint with Two Bodies

11:58 recording · EN · 3 speakers

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Brief overview

A Benares saint who materialises a second body shows the young seeker what a guru's grace makes possible.

  1. Pranabananda drew two pensions, earthly and spiritualOne came by the father's recommendation from the railroad office, the other from years of deep meditation — fathomless peace instead of money.
  2. The saint's second body fetched Kedarnath BabuHe met Kedarnath Babu at the Ganges bathing ghat while never leaving the room where the boy sat waiting, then predicted his arrival within half an hour.
  3. A guru's intercession finished eight years of effortAfter eight years of meditating half the night left a veil intact, one night of Lahiri Mahasaya's pleading with Brahma achieved the goal.
Executive Summary AI
  • Chapter three of Autobiography of a Yogi opens with the boy asking his father for a sightseeing trip to Benares, and receiving a round-trip pass from Bareilly to Benares, rupee notes and two letters — one a business proposal for Kedarnath Babu, the other an introduction to his father's brother disciple, Swami Pranabananda.
  • Pranabananda greets him as an old friend, names him as Bhagavati's son before the letter of introduction leaves his pocket, and explains that he enjoys two pensions: one recommended by the boy's father, for whom he once worked in the railroad office, the other a pension of fathomless peace from his heavenly father.
  • Told to wait half an hour, the boy watches Kedarnath Babu arrive exactly on time and learns that the swami had approached him at the bathing ghat on the Ganges, then outpaced him in wooden sandals and vanished into the crowd — the saint had materialised an extra body.
  • Pranabananda recounts eight years of meditating half the night while clerking at the railroad office, the veil that still remained, and the night Lahiri Mahasaya interceded with Brahma for him, after which the burning goal of his life was achieved and he was released on a medical pension.
  • Walking home in the darkness, Kedarnath Babu reads the father's offer of a position in the Calcutta office and declines it, saying he cannot leave Benares because two bodies are not yet for him.
Key Quote
“Of course I will locate Kedarnath Babu for you.”
— Swami Pranabananda
Key Quote
“One is by the recommendation of your father, for whom I once worked in the railroad office.”
— Swami Pranabananda
Key Quote
“little sir don't get worried the man you wish to see will be with you in half an hour”
— Swami Pranabananda

Transcript

0:00 chapter three of autobiography of a yogi the saint with two bodies father if i promise to return home without coercion may i take a sightseeing trip to benares my keen love of travel was seldom hindered by my father he permitted his position as a railroad official was fully satisfactory to the nomads in the family father promised to give my request due consideration the next day he summoned me and held out a round-trip pass from bareilly to benares of rupee notes and two letters i have a business matter to propose to banari's friend kiddarnath
1:07 babu unfortunately i've lost his address but i believe you will be able to get this letter to
1:13 him through our common friend swami pranabunanda the swami my brother disciple has attained an
1:19 exalted spiritual stature you will benefit by his company this second note will serve as your introduction father's unwrinkled face were clean-shaven A beatific smile played about his lips. To dispel my thought that I had intruded,
2:05 he greeted me as an old friend.
2:08 Baba Anand!
2:09 Bliss to my dear one!
2:11 His welcome was given heartily in a childlike voice.
2:15 I knelt and touched his feet.
2:17 Are you Swami Pranabananda?
2:20 He nodded.
2:21 Are you Bhagavati's son?
2:22 His words were out before I had had time to get father's letter from my pocket.
2:28 In astonishment I handed him the note of introduction, which now seemed superfluous.
2:33 Of course I will locate Kedarnath Babu for you.
2:36 The saint again surprised me by his clairvoyance.
2:39 He glanced at the letter and made a few affectionate references to my parent.
2:43 You know I am enjoying two pensions.
2:46 One is by the recommendation of your father, for whom I once worked in the railroad office.
2:51 The other is by the recommendation of my heavenly father, for whom I have conscientiously finished
2:57 my earthly duties in life.
2:59 I found this remark very obscure.
3:01 What kind of pension, sir, do you receive from the heavenly father?
3:11 Does he drop money in your lap he laughed i mean a pension of fathomless peace a reward for many years of deep meditation i never crave money now my few material needs are amply provided for later you will understand the significance of a second pension. Abruptly terminating our conversation, the saint became gravely motionless.
3:29 A sphinx-like air enveloped him.
3:32 At first his eyes sparkled, as if observing something of interest, then grew dull.
3:38 I felt abashed at his porcelain.
3:40 He had not yet told me how I could meet father's friend.
3:44 A trifle restlessly I looked about me in the bare room empty except for us two my idle gaze took in his wooden sandals lying under the platform seat
3:55 little sir don't get worried the man you wish to see will be with you in half an hour the yogi was reading my mind a feat not too difficult at the moment. Again he fell into inscrutable silence.
4:07 My watch informed me that thirty minutes had elapsed. The swami aroused himself.
4:13 I think Keranath Babu is nearing the door. I heard somebody coming up the stairs.
4:18 An amazed incomprehension arose suddenly. My thoughts raced in confusion. How is it possible
4:25 that father's friend has been summoned to this place without the help of a messenger the swami spoke to no one but myself since my arrival
4:33 abruptly i quitted the room and descended the steps half-way down i met a thin fair-skinned man of medium height he appeared to be in a hurry. Are you Kedarnath Babu? Excitement coloured my voice.
4:47 Yes, are you not Bhagavati's son who has been waiting here to meet me?
4:51 He smiled in a friendly fashion.
4:53 Sir, how do you happen to come here?
4:55 I felt baffled resentment over his inexplicable presence.
4:59 Everything is mysterious today.

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