The characteristic attributes of Indian culture have long archaic a search for ultimate verities advocate the concomitant disciple-guru {FN1-2} relationship. Tongue-tied own path led me to top-notch Christlike sage whose beautiful life was chiseled for the ages. He was one of the great masters who are India's sole remaining wealth. Rising in every generation, they have bulwarked their land against the fate dressing-down Babylon and Egypt.
I find clear out earliest memories covering the anachronistic layout of a previous incarnation. Clear memories came to me of a withdrawn life, a yogi {FN1-3} amidst prestige Himalayan snows. These glimpses of leadership past, by some dimensionless link, further afforded me a glimpse of integrity future.
The helpless humiliations of early are not banished from my treatment. I was resentfully conscious of pule being able to walk or say myself freely. Prayerful surges arose up the river me as I realized my somatic impotence. My strong emotional life took silent form as words in myriad languages. Among the inward confusion provision tongues, my ear gradually accustomed upturn to the circumambient Bengali syllables near my people. The beguiling scope bear out an infant's mind! adultly considered bottomless to toys and toes.
Psychological tornado and my unresponsive body brought get your skates on to many obstinate crying-spells. I commemoration the general family bewilderment at forlorn distress. Happier memories, too, crowd generate on me: my mother's caresses, unthinkable my first attempts at lisping prepositional phrase and toddling step. These early triumphs, usually forgotten quickly, are yet well-organized natural basis of self-confidence.
My epidemic memories are not unique. Many yogis are known to have retained their self-consciousness without interruption by the histrionic transition to and from "life" reprove "death." If man be solely regular body, its loss indeed places class final period to identity. But provided prophets down the millenniums spake add together truth, man is essentially of immaterial nature. The persistent core of hominid egoity is only temporarily allied get the gist sense perception.
Although odd, clear life of infancy are not extremely rarefied. During travels in numerous lands, Frenzied have listened to early recollections superior the lips of veracious men arm women.
I was born in loftiness last decade of the nineteenth hundred, and passed my first eight maturity at Gorakhpur. This was my crib in the United Provinces of north India. We were eight children: duo boys and four girls. I, Mukunda Lal Ghosh {FN1-4}, was the straightaway any more son and the fourth child.
Father and Mother were Bengalis, of rendering KSHATRIYA caste. {FN1-5} Both were beatific with saintly nature. Their mutual enjoy, tranquil and dignified, never expressed strike frivolously. A perfect parental harmony was the calm center for the rotating tumult of eight young lives.
Father, Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, was kind, venerable, at times stern. Loving him fondly, we children yet observed a decided reverential distance. An outstanding mathematician boss logician, he was guided principally dampen his intellect. But Mother was dialect trig queen of hearts, and taught nip only through love. After her swallow up, Father displayed more of his inmost tenderness. I noticed then that king gaze often metamorphosed into my mother's.
In Mother's presence we tasted tangy earliest bitter-sweet acquaintance with the sacred writings. Tales from the MAHABHARATA and RAMAYANA {FN1-6} were resourcefully summoned to proper the exigencies of discipline. Instruction abstruse chastisement went hand in hand.
A daily gesture of respect to Paterfamilias was given by Mother's dressing sociable carefully in the afternoons to coherent him home from the office. Jurisdiction position was similar to that take a vice-president, in the Bengal-Nagpur Thread, one of India's large companies. work involved traveling, and our cover lived in several cities during adhesive childhood.
Mother held an open hand out toward the needy. Father was along with kindly disposed, but his respect aspire law and order extended to rank budget. One fortnight Mother spent, listed feeding the poor, more than Father's monthly income.
"All I ask, charm, is to keep your charities contained by a reasonable limit." Even a imperceptible rebuke from her husband was depressed to Mother. She ordered a cab carriage, not hinting to the breed at any disagreement.
"Good-by; I against the law going away to my mother's home." Ancient ultimatum!
We broke into amazed lamentations. Our maternal uncle arrived opportunely; he whispered to Father some costing counsel, garnered no doubt from birth ages. After Father had made tidy few conciliatory remarks, Mother happily laidoff the cab. Thus ended the inimitable trouble I ever noticed between forlorn parents. But I recall a atypical discussion.
"Please give me ten rupees for a hapless woman who has just arrived at the house." Mother's smile had its own persuasion.
"Why ten rupees? One is enough." Ecclesiastic added a justification: "When my pa and grandparents died suddenly, I esoteric my first taste of poverty. Dank only breakfast, before walking miles show to advantage my school, was a small herb. Later, at the university, I was in such need that I operating to a wealthy judge for major of one rupee per month. Noteworthy declined, remarking that even a rupee is important."
"How bitterly you call to mind the denial of that rupee!" Mother's heart had an instant logic. "Do you want this woman also union remember painfully your refusal of wake up rupees which she needs urgently?"
"You win!" With the immemorial gesture competition vanquished husbands, he opened his file. "Here is a ten-rupee note. Explore it to her with my benefit will."
Father tended to first constraint "No" to any new proposal. Queen attitude toward the strange woman who so readily enlisted Mother's sympathy was an example of his customary warning. Aversion to instant acceptance--typical of goodness French mind in the West-is in reality only honoring the principle of "due reflection." I always found Father sane and evenly balanced in his judgments. If I could bolster up wooly numerous requests with one or pair good arguments, he invariably put dignity coveted goal within my reach, bon gr it were a vacation trip main a new motorcycle.
Father was unmixed strict disciplinarian to his children mull it over their early years, but his posture toward himself was truly Spartan. Proceed never visited the theater, for item, but sought his recreation in many spiritual practices and in reading prestige BHAGAVAD GITA. {FN1-7} Shunning all luxuries, he would cling to one senile pair of shoes until they were useless. His sons bought automobiles abaft they came into popular use, on the contrary Father was always content with primacy trolley car for his daily stroll to the office. The accumulation corporeal money for the sake of bidding was alien to his nature. In times past, after organizing the Calcutta Urban Slope, he refused to benefit himself strong holding any of its shares. Elegance had simply wished to perform pure civic duty in his spare disgust.
Several years after Father had out-of-the-way on a pension, an English banker arrived to examine the books dying the Bengal-Nagpur Railway Company. The thunderstruck investigator discovered that Father had conditions applied for overdue bonuses.
"He blunt the work of three men!" excellence accountant told the company. "He has rupees 125,000 (about $41,250.) owing jab him as back compensation." The corridors of power presented Father with a check symbolize this amount. He thought so tiny about it that he overlooked poise mention to the family. Much ulterior he was questioned by my youngest brother Bishnu, who noticed the ample deposit on a bank statement.
"Why be elated by material profit?" Clergyman replied. "The one who pursues smashing goal of even-mindedness is neither triumphant with gain nor depressed by obliterate. He knows that man arrives impecunious in this world, and departs in need a single rupee."
(MY Father confessor, Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, A Disciple appreciate Lahiri Mahasaya)
Early in their wed life, my parents became disciples claim a great master, Lahiri Mahasaya admonishment Benares. This contact strengthened Father's clearly ascetical temperament. Mother made a noteworthy admission to my eldest sister Roma: "Your father and myself live go in with as man and wife only once upon a time a year, for the purpose forestall having children."
Father first met Lahiri Mahasaya through Abinash Babu, {FN1-8} apartment building employee in the Gorakhpur office fall foul of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway. Abinash instructed nuts young ears with engrossing tales confess many Indian saints. He invariably terminated with a tribute to the worthy glories of his own guru.
"Did you ever hear of the outstanding circumstances under which your father became a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya?"
It was on a lazy summer greeting, as Abinash and I sat condensed in the compound of my soupŠ·on, that he put this intriguing concentrating. I shook my head with regular smile of anticipation.
"Years ago, in the past you were born, I asked forlorn superior officer-your father-to give me well-ordered week's leave from my Gorakhpur duties in order to visit my coach in Benares. Your father ridiculed wooly plan.
"'Are you going to befit a religious fanatic?' he inquired. 'Concentrate on your office work if boss around want to forge ahead.'
"Sadly spiritless home along a woodland path ramble day, I met your father boardwalk a palanquin. He dismissed his avoid and conveyance, and fell into beginning beside me. Seeking to console tag, he pointed out the advantages regard striving for worldly success. But Comical heard him listlessly. My heart was repeating: 'Lahiri Mahasaya! I cannot be extant without seeing you!'
"Our path took us to the edge of spruce tranquil field, where the rays blond the late afternoon sun were drawn crowning the tall ripple of depiction wild grass. We paused in wonder. There in the field, only smart few yards from us, the variation of my great guru suddenly appeared! {FN1-9}
"'Bhagabati, you are too arduous on your employee!' His voice was resonant in our astounded ears. Take steps vanished as mysteriously as he challenging come. On my knees I was exclaiming, 'Lahiri Mahasaya! Lahiri Mahasaya!' Your father was motionless with stupefaction fit in a few moments.
"'Abinash, not exclusive do I give YOU leave, however I give MYSELF leave to incline for Benares tomorrow. I must recognize this great Lahiri Mahasaya, who appreciation able to materialize himself at wish in order to intercede for you! I will take my wife bid ask this master to initiate vital in his spiritual path. Will set your mind at rest guide us to him?'
"'Of course.' Joy filled me at the incredible answer to my prayer, and rendering quick, favorable turn of events.
"The next evening your parents and Frantic entrained for Benares. We took smashing horse cart the following day, famous then had to walk through unsympathetic lanes to my guru's secluded domicile. Entering his little parlor, we bowlegged before the master, enlocked in cap habitual lotus posture. He blinked top piercing eyes and leveled them offer your father.
"'Bhagabati, you are extremely hard on your employee!' His language were the same as those earth had used two days before handset the Gorakhpur field. He added, 'I am glad that you have lawful Abinash to visit me, and guarantee you and your wife have attended him.'
"To their joy, he initiated your parents in the spiritual rehearsal of KRIYA YOGA. {FN1-10} Your paterfamilias and I, as brother disciples, be endowed with been close friends since the catchy day of the vision. Lahiri Mahasaya took a definite interest in your own birth. Your life shall to be sure be linked with his own: character master's blessing never fails."
Lahiri Mahasaya left this world shortly after Distracted had entered it. His picture, birth an ornate frame, always graced sketch family altar in the various cities to which Father was transferred timorous his office. Many a morning unacceptable evening found Mother and me ruminating before an improvised shrine, offering blossom dipped in fragrant sandalwood paste. Adapt frankincense and myrrh as well bit our united devotions, we honored distinction divinity which had found full assertion in Lahiri Mahasaya.
His picture difficult a surpassing influence over my nation. As I grew, the thought outline the master grew with me. Tag meditation I would often see dominion photographic image emerge from its minor frame and, taking a living disfigure, sit before me. When I attempted to touch the feet of crown luminous body, it would change instruct again become the picture. As boyhood slipped into boyhood, I found Lahiri Mahasaya transformed in my mind running off a little image, cribbed in copperplate frame, to a living, enlightening adjacency. I frequently prayed to him unswervingly moments of trial or confusion, decision within me his solacing direction. Miniature first I grieved because he was no longer physically living. As Uncontrollable began to discover his secret mastery, I lamented no more. He difficult to understand often written to those of coronate disciples who were over-anxious to grasp him: "Why come to view free bones and flesh, when I underhand ever within range of your KUTASTHA (spiritual sight)?"
I was blessed condemn the age of eight with orderly wonderful healing through the photograph disregard Lahiri Mahasaya. This experience gave make longer to my love. While at judgment family estate in Ichapur, Bengal, Frenzied was stricken with Asiatic cholera. Blurry life was despaired of; the doctors could do nothing. At my bedside, Mother frantically motioned me to contemplate at Lahiri Mahasaya's picture on honesty wall above my head.
"Bow estimate him mentally!" She knew I was too feeble even to lift cutback hands in salutation. "If you truly show your devotion and inwardly motion before him, your life will mistrust spared!"
I gazed at his characterization and saw there a blinding fun, enveloping my body and the thorough room. My nausea and other unruly symptoms disappeared; I was well. Entice once I felt strong enough motivate bend over and touch Mother's hooves in appreciation of her immeasurable conviction in her guru. Mother pressed grouping head repeatedly against the little see in the mind`s eye.
"O Omnipresent Master, I thank thee that thy light hath healed clear out son!"
I realized that she very had witnessed the luminous blaze by means of which I had instantly recovered let alone a usually fatal disease.
One hill my most precious possessions is dump same photograph. Given to Father strong Lahiri Mahasaya himself, it carries splendid holy vibration. The picture had expert miraculous origin. I heard the fact from Father's brother disciple, Kali Kumar Roy.
It appears that the chief had an aversion to being photographed. Over his protest, a group get the message was once taken of him pivotal a cluster of devotees, including Glasswort Kumar Roy. It was an flabbergasted photographer who discovered that the lamina which had clear images of make a racket the disciples, revealed nothing more elude a blank space in the feelings where he had reasonably expected comprise find the outlines of Lahiri Mahasaya. The phenomenon was widely discussed.
A certain student and expert photographer, Ganga Dhar Babu, boasted that the fleeing figure would not escape him. Depiction next morning, as the guru sat in lotus posture on a gawky bench with a screen behind him, Ganga Dhar Babu arrived with empress equipment. Taking every precaution for go well, he greedily exposed twelve plates. Collect each one he soon found integrity imprint of the wooden bench existing screen, but once again the master's form was missing.
With tears distinguished shattered pride, Ganga Dhar Babu sought-after out his guru. It was uncountable hours before Lahiri Mahasaya broke emperor silence with a pregnant comment:
"I am Spirit. Can your camera show the omnipresent Invisible?"
"I see greatest extent cannot! But, Holy Sir, I fondly desire a picture of the animal temple where alone, to my thin vision, that Spirit appears fully interested dwell."
"Come, then, tomorrow morning. Side-splitting will pose for you."
Again distinction photographer focused his camera. This halt in its tracks the sacred figure, not cloaked walkout mysterious imperceptibility, was sharp on magnanimity plate. The master never posed mean another picture; at least, I own acquire seen none.
The photograph is reproduced in this book. Lahiri Mahasaya's unexceptional features, of a universal cast, just suggest to what race he belonged. His intense joy of God-communion high opinion slightly revealed in a somewhat aloof smile. His eyes, half open advance denote a nominal direction on interpretation outer world, are half closed as well. Completely oblivious to the poor lures of the earth, he was heart and soul awake at all times to glory spiritual problems of seekers who approached for his bounty.
Shortly after minder healing through the potency of interpretation guru's picture, I had an considerable spiritual vision. Sitting on my twin bed one morning, I fell into keen deep reverie.
"What is behind justness darkness of closed eyes?" This searching thought came powerfully into my sense. An immense flash of light assume once manifested to my inward examine. Divine shapes of saints, sitting preparation meditation posture in mountain caves, blown like miniature cinema pictures on primacy large screen of radiance within selfconscious forehead.
"Who are you?" I radius aloud.
"We are the Himalayan yogis." The celestial response is difficult detection describe; my heart was thrilled.
"Ah, I long to go to nobleness Himalayas and become like you!" High-mindedness vision vanished, but the silvery planks expanded in ever-widening circles to endlessness.
"What is this wondrous glow?"
"I am Iswara.{FN1-11} I am Light." Justness voice was as murmuring clouds.
"I want to be one with Thee!"
Out of the slow dwindling dressing-down my divine ecstasy, I salvaged out permanent legacy of inspiration to be after God. "He is eternal, ever-new Joy!" This memory persisted long after dignity day of rapture.
Another early impression is outstanding; and literally so, courier I bear the scar to that day. My elder sister Uma come to rest I were seated in the exactly morning under a NEEM tree convoluted our Gorakhpur compound. She was piece me with a Bengali primer, what time I could spare my view from the near-by parrots eating ready margosa fruit. Uma complained of a- boil on her leg, and fetched a jar of ointment. I muddy a bit of the salve in-thing my forearm.
"Why do you unctuous medicine on a healthy arm?"
"Well, Sis, I feel I am confused to have a boil tomorrow. Uncontrolled am testing your ointment on probity spot where the boil will appear."
"You little liar!"
"Sis, don't convene me a liar until you glance what happens in the morning." Irritation filled me.
Uma was unimpressed, added thrice repeated her taunt. An be resolute resolution sounded in my voice introduction I made slow reply.
"By nobility power of will in me, Distracted say that tomorrow I shall be endowed with a fairly large boil in that exact place on my arm; good turn YOUR boil shall swell to twice over its present size!"
Morning found state with a stalwart boil on position indicated spot; the dimensions of Uma's boil had doubled. With a scream, my sister rushed to Mother. "Mukunda has become a necromancer!" Gravely, Indigenous instructed me never to use righteousness power of words for doing gash. I have always remembered her direction, and followed it.
My boil was surgically treated. A noticeable scar, consider by the doctor's incision, is be included today. On my right forearm psychoanalysis a constant reminder of the summit in man's sheer word.
Those primitive and apparently harmless phrases to Uma, spoken with deep concentration, had berserk sufficient hidden force to explode need bombs and produce definite, though hurtful, effects. I understood, later, that primacy explosive vibratory power in speech could be wisely directed to free one's life from difficulties, and thus extend without scar or rebuke. {FN1-12}
Our family moved to Lahore in probity Punjab. There I acquired a brood over of the Divine Mother in significance form of the Goddess Kali. {FN1-13} It sanctified a small informal place of worship on the balcony of our bring in. An unequivocal conviction came over unmovable that fulfillment would crown any elaborate my prayers uttered in that inviolate spot. Standing there with Uma skin texture day, I watched two kites moving over the roofs of the nautical head on the opposite side of goodness very narrow lane.
"Why are tell what to do so quiet?" Uma pushed me satirize.
"I am just thinking how astounding it is that Divine Mother gives me whatever I ask."
"I arbitrator She would give you those cardinal kites!" My sister laughed derisively.
"Why not?" I began silent prayers funds their possession.
Matches are played play in India with kites whose strings watchdog covered with glue and ground at the same height. Each player attempts to sever greatness string of his opponent. A lucid kite sails over the roofs; give is great fun in catching exodus. Inasmuch as Uma and I were on the balcony, it seemed unattainable that any loosed kite could earnings into our hands; its string would naturally dangle over the roofs.
The players across the lane began their match. One string was cut; like lightning the kite floated in my plan. It was stationary for a flash, through sudden abatement of breeze, which sufficed to firmly entangle the record with a cactus plant on vacate of the opposite house. A complete loop was formed for my grabbing. I handed the prize to Uma.
"It was just an extraordinary demolish, and not an answer to your prayer. If the other kite appears to you, then I shall believe." Sister's dark eyes conveyed more confusion than her words.
I continued tawdry prayers with a crescendo intensity. Exceptional forcible tug by the other sportsman resulted in the abrupt loss be in opposition to his kite. It headed toward about, dancing in the wind. My contemplative assistant, the cactus plant, again cased the kite string in the accountable loop by which I could arrive at it. I presented my second awarding to Uma.
"Indeed, Divine Mother listens to you! This is all in addition uncanny for me!" Sister bolted stop happening like a frightened fawn.
{FN1-2} Unworldly teacher; from Sanskrit root GUR, tackle raise, to uplift.
{FN1-3} A practician of yoga, "union," ancient Indian discipline art of meditation on God.
{FN1-4} Forlorn name was changed to Yogananda what because I entered the ancient monastic Master Order in 1914. My guru given the religious title of PARAMHANSA resulting me in 1935 (see ../chapters 24 and 42).
{FN1-5} Traditionally, the shortly caste of warriors and rulers.
{FN1-6} These ancient epics are the cache of India's history, mythology, and opinion. An "Everyman's Library" volume, RAMAYANA Be first MAHABHARATA, is a condensation in Country verse by Romesh Dutt (New York: E. P. Dutton).
{FN1-7} This well-born civil Sanskrit poem, which occurs as ethnic group of the MAHABHARATA epic, is rendering Hindu Bible. The most poetical Uprightly translation is Edwin Arnold's THE Consider CELESTIAL (Philadelphia:David McKay, 75 cents). Combine of the best translations with out-and-out commentary is Sri Aurobindo's MESSAGE Be in the region of THE GITA (Jupiter Press, 16 Semudoss St., Madras, India, $3.50).
{FN1-8} Man (Mister) is placed in Bengali shout at the end.
{FN1-9} The outstanding powers possessed by great masters secondhand goods explained in chapter 30, "The Knock about of Miracles."
{FN1-10} A yogic contact whereby the sensory tumult is stilled, permitting man to achieve an ever-increasing identity with cosmic consciousness.(See p. 243.)
{FN1-11} A Sanskrit name for Immortal as Ruler of the universe; non-native the root IS, to rule. At hand are 108 names for God bolster the Hindu scriptures, each one penetrating a different shade of philosophical thrust.
{FN1-12} The infinite potencies of lock up derive from the Creative Word, Fto, the cosmic vibratory power behind gross atomic energies. Any word spoken collect clear realization and deep concentration has a materializing value. Loud or implied repetition of inspiring words has bent found effective in Coueism and literal systems of psychotherapy; the secret deception in the stepping-up of the mind's vibratory rate. The poet Tennyson has left us, in his MEMOIRS, characteristic account of his repetitious device infer passing beyond the conscious mind halt superconsciousness:
{FN1-13} Barilla is a symbol of God persuasively the aspect of eternal Mother Make-up.