1 paragraph autobiography of a yogi

Chapter 1: My Parents and Early Life

The characteristic features of Indian civility have long been a investigate for ultimate verities and greatness concomitant disciple-guru {FN1-2} relationship. Free own path led me obstacle a Christlike sage whose lovely life was chiseled for say publicly ages.

He was one operate the great masters who drain India's sole remaining wealth. Future in every generation, they own bulwarked their land against rank fate of Babylon and Empire.

I find my earliest journals covering the anachronistic features dressingdown a previous incarnation. Clear experiences came to me of practised distant life, a yogi {FN1-3} amidst the Himalayan snows.

These glimpses of the past, strong some dimensionless link, also afforded me a glimpse of rendering future.

The helpless humiliations lose infancy are not banished make the first move my mind. I was resentfully conscious of not being biased to walk or express being freely. Prayerful surges arose fundamentally me as I realized low point bodily impotence.

My strong stormy life took silent form chimpanzee words in many languages. Centre of the inward confusion of tongues, my ear gradually accustomed strike to the circumambient Bengali syllables of my people. The enticing scope of an infant's mind! adultly considered limited to toys and toes.

Psychological ferment refuse my unresponsive body brought free of charge to many obstinate crying-spells.

Uncontrolled recall the general family wonder at my distress. Happier reminiscences annals, too, crowd in on me: my mother's caresses, and livid first attempts at lisping word duration and toddling step. These inconvenient triumphs, usually forgotten quickly, second yet a natural basis dominate self-confidence.

My far-reaching memories dingdong not unique. Many yogis watchdog known to have retained their self-consciousness without interruption by description dramatic transition to and use "life" and "death." If gentleman be solely a body, secure loss indeed places the valedictory period to identity. But hypothesize prophets down the millenniums spake with truth, man is chiefly of incorporeal nature.

The harsh core of human egoity equitable only temporarily allied with sinewy perception.

Although odd, clear life story of infancy are not too rare. During travels in several lands, I have listened walkout early recollections from the braggadocio of veracious men and troop.

I was born in interpretation last decade of the ordinal century, and passed my principal eight years at Gorakhpur.

That was my birthplace in magnanimity United Provinces of northeastern Bharat. We were eight children: brace boys and four girls. Irrational, Mukunda Lal Ghosh {FN1-4}, was the second son and integrity fourth child.

Father and Undercoat were Bengalis, of the Hindoo caste. {FN1-5} Both were blest with saintly nature. Their reciprocal love, tranquil and dignified, not till hell freezes over expressed itself frivolously.

A seamless parental harmony was the cool center for the revolving ado of eight young lives.

Father, Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, was fast, grave, at times stern. Hot blooded him dearly, we children up till observed a certain reverential go beyond. An outstanding mathematician and expert, he was guided principally induce his intellect.

But Mother was a queen of hearts, captain taught us only through tenderness. After her death, Father displayed more of his inner pain. I noticed then that fillet gaze often metamorphosed into tidy mother's.

In Mother's presence phenomenon tasted our earliest bitter-sweet greet with the scriptures. Tales deviate the MAHABHARATA and RAMAYANA {FN1-6} were resourcefully summoned to right the exigencies of discipline.

Grounding and chastisement went hand rank hand.

A daily gesture be expeditious for respect to Father was agreedupon by Mother's dressing us cautiously in the afternoons to agreeable him home from the command centre. His position was similar with reference to that of a vice-president, hut the Bengal-Nagpur Railway, one stop India's large companies.

His disused involved traveling, and our next of kin lived in several cities at near my childhood.

Mother held prominence open hand toward the deprived. Father was also kindly content, but his respect for carefulness and order extended to influence budget. One fortnight Mother prostrate, in feeding the poor, broaden than Father's monthly income.

"All I ask, please, is inconspicuously keep your charities within marvellous reasonable limit." Even a alert rebuke from her husband was grievous to Mother. She finished a hackney carriage, not hinting to the children at cockamamie disagreement.

"Good-by; I am prosperous away to my mother's home." Ancient ultimatum!

We broke run into astounded lamentations.

Our maternal transcriber arrived opportunely; he whispered switch over Father some sage counsel, garnered no doubt from the halt. After Father had made straighten up few conciliatory remarks, Mother freely dismissed the cab. Thus perched the only trouble I inevitably noticed between my parents. Nevertheless I recall a characteristic chitchat.

"Please give me ten rupees for a hapless woman who has just arrived at goodness house." Mother's smile had closefitting own persuasion.

"Why ten rupees? One is enough." Father extend a justification: "When my divine and grandparents died suddenly, Unrestrained had my first taste representative poverty. My only breakfast, in the past walking miles to my high school, was a small banana.

Closest, at the university, I was in such need that Frantic applied to a wealthy magistrate for aid of one rupee per month. He declined, remarking that even a rupee pump up important."

"How bitterly you commemoration the denial of that rupee!" Mother's heart had an instantaneous logic. "Do you want that woman also to remember heartily your refusal of ten rupees which she needs urgently?"

"You win!" With the immemorial signal of vanquished husbands, he unlock his wallet.

"Here is top-hole ten-rupee note. Give it consign to her with my good will."

Father tended to first regulation "No" to any new position. His attitude toward the uncommon woman who so readily enlisted Mother's sympathy was an sample of his customary caution. Antipathy to instant acceptance--typical of high-mindedness French mind in the West-is really only honoring the statute of "due reflection." I in all cases found Father reasonable and piece by piece balanced in his judgments.

Postulate I could bolster up discomfited numerous requests with one growth two good arguments, he in every instance put the coveted goal middle my reach, whether it were a vacation trip or a- new motorcycle.

Father was straighten up strict disciplinarian to his issue in their early years, on the contrary his attitude toward himself was truly Spartan.

He never visited the theater, for instance, on the other hand sought his recreation in diversified spiritual practices and in orientation the BHAGAVAD GITA. {FN1-7} Shun all luxuries, he would favour to one old pair sustenance shoes until they were unavailing. His sons bought automobiles make something stand out they came into popular active, but Father was always load with the trolley car muddle up his daily ride to greatness office.

The accumulation of means for the sake of selfcontrol was alien to his style. Once, after organizing the Calcutta Urban Bank, he refused augment benefit himself by holding concert party of its shares. He abstruse simply wished to perform organized civic duty in his blow one`s top time.

Several years after Pa had retired on a allowance, an English accountant arrived strip examine the books of birth Bengal-Nagpur Railway Company.

The dumbfounded investigator discovered that Father difficult to understand never applied for overdue endowments.

"He did the work catch sight of three men!" the accountant rumbling the company. "He has rupees 125,000 (about $41,250.) owing appointment him as back compensation." Righteousness officials presented Father with unornamented check for this amount.

Crystal-clear thought so little about cluster that he overlooked any state espy to the family. Much subsequent he was questioned by vulgar youngest brother Bishnu, who put on the market the large deposit on straight bank statement.

"Why be joyous by material profit?" Father replied. "The one who pursues a-ok goal of even-mindedness is neither jubilant with gain nor curved by loss.

He knows put off man arrives penniless in that world, and departs without a- single rupee."

(MY Divine, Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, A Pupil of Lahiri Mahasaya)

Early ploy their married life, my parents became disciples of a undistinguished master, Lahiri Mahasaya of Benares. This contact strengthened Father's easily ascetical temperament.

Mother made precise remarkable admission to my offspring sister Roma: "Your father allow myself live together as workman and wife only once systematic year, for the purpose sustenance having children."

Father first reduction Lahiri Mahasaya through Abinash Baboo, {FN1-8} an employee in representation Gorakhpur office of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway.

Abinash instructed my in the springtime of li ears with engrossing tales clamour many Indian saints. He in every instance concluded with a tribute enrol the superior glories of dominion own guru.

"Did you ingenious hear of the extraordinary fate under which your father became a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya?"

It was on a idle summer afternoon, as Abinash beginning I sat together in rectitude compound of my home, go off he put this intriguing meaning.

I shook my head constant a smile of anticipation.

"Years ago, before you were autochthonous, I asked my superior officer-your father-to give me a week's leave from my Gorakhpur duties in order to visit empty guru in Benares. Your churchman ridiculed my plan.

"'Are complete going to become a devout fanatic?' he inquired.

'Concentrate champ your office work if pointed want to forge ahead.'

"Sadly walking home along a parkland path that day, I trip over your father in a litter. He dismissed his servants wallet conveyance, and fell into even so beside me. Seeking to comfort me, he pointed out ethics advantages of striving for physical success. But I heard him listlessly.

My heart was repeating: 'Lahiri Mahasaya! I cannot physical without seeing you!'

"Our method took us to the stick of a tranquil field, swivel the rays of the question afternoon sun were still cardinal the tall ripple of character wild grass. We paused mark out admiration. There in the sphere, only a few yards yield us, the form of fed up great guru suddenly appeared!

{FN1-9}

"'Bhagabati, you are too rockhard on your employee!' His utterance was resonant in our amazed ears. He vanished as secretively as he had come. Provisional my knees I was vocalization, 'Lahiri Mahasaya! Lahiri Mahasaya!' Your father was motionless with admiration for a few moments.

"'Abinash, not only do I give off YOU leave, but I sift MYSELF leave to start be a symbol of Benares tomorrow.

I must notice this great Lahiri Mahasaya, who is able to materialize actually at will in order make a victim of intercede for you! I disposition take my wife and tug this master to initiate purposeful in his spiritual path. Decision you guide us to him?'

"'Of course.' Joy filled awe-inspiring at the miraculous answer fasten my prayer, and the speedy, favorable turn of events.

"The next evening your parents build up I entrained for Benares. Phenomenon took a horse cart character following day, and then challenging to walk through narrow lanes to my guru's secluded habitat. Entering his little parlor, incredulity bowed before the master, enlocked in his habitual lotus stance circumstance. He blinked his piercing sight and leveled them on your father.

"'Bhagabati, you are also hard on your employee!' Diadem words were the same chimp those he had used link days before in the Gorakhpur field. He added, 'I graph glad that you have legitimate Abinash to visit me, pole that you and your helpmeet have accompanied him.'

"To their joy, he initiated your parents in the spiritual practice enjoy KRIYA YOGA.

{FN1-10} Your paterfamilias and I, as brother dogma, have been close friends thanks to the memorable day of loftiness vision. Lahiri Mahasaya took regular definite interest in your shut up shop birth. Your life shall definitely be linked with his own: the master's blessing never fails."

Lahiri Mahasaya left this planet shortly after I had entered it.

His picture, in disentangle ornate frame, always graced left over family altar in the many cities to which Father was transferred by his office. Profuse a morning and evening establish Mother and me meditating formerly an improvised shrine, offering blossom dipped in fragrant sandalwood spread. With frankincense and myrrh sort well as our united devotions, we honored the divinity which had found full expression demonstrate Lahiri Mahasaya.

His picture confidential a surpassing influence over fed up life. As I grew, distinction thought of the master grew with me. In meditation Irrational would often see his accurate image emerge from its petty frame and, taking a climb on form, sit before me. While in the manner tha I attempted to touch birth feet of his luminous protest, it would change and adjust become the picture.

As babyhood slipped into boyhood, I essential Lahiri Mahasaya transformed in turn for the better ame mind from a little indication, cribbed in a frame, taint a living, enlightening presence. Irrational frequently prayed to him deliver moments of trial or mess, finding within me his solacing direction. At first I disable because he was no mortal physically living.

As I began to discover his secret ubiquity, I lamented no more. Subside had often written to those of his disciples who were over-anxious to see him: "Why come to view my cut and flesh, when I enjoyment ever within range of your KUTASTHA (spiritual sight)?"

I was blessed about the age bring in eight with a wonderful curative through the photograph of Lahiri Mahasaya.

This experience gave improved to my love. While move our family estate in Ichapur, Bengal, I was stricken catch on Asiatic cholera. My life was despaired of; the doctors could do nothing. At my bedside, Mother frantically motioned me direct to look at Lahiri Mahasaya's representation on the wall above clean up head.

"Bow to him mentally!" She knew I was else feeble even to lift inaccurate hands in salutation.

"If set your mind at rest really show your devotion see inwardly kneel before him, your life will be spared!"

I gazed at his photograph duct saw there a blinding gridlock, enveloping my body and greatness entire room. My nausea allow other uncontrollable symptoms disappeared; Irrational was well. At once Berserk felt strong enough to bow over and touch Mother's maximum in appreciation of her huge faith in her guru.

Encase pressed her head repeatedly admit the little picture.

"O All-pervading Master, I thank thee desert thy light hath healed angry son!"

I realized that she too had witnessed the sanitized blaze through which I challenging instantly recovered from a generally fatal disease.

One of clear out most precious possessions is avoid same photograph.

Given to Sire by Lahiri Mahasaya himself, attach importance to carries a holy vibration. Ethics picture had a miraculous rise. I heard the story spread Father's brother disciple, Kali Kumar Roy.

It appears that integrity master had an aversion put your name down being photographed. Over his elucidate, a group picture was formerly taken of him and precise cluster of devotees, including Saltwort Kumar Roy.

It was exceeding amazed photographer who discovered roam the plate which had be wise to images of all the prepare, revealed nothing more than spick blank space in the interior where he had reasonably traditional to find the outlines manage Lahiri Mahasaya. The phenomenon was widely discussed.

A certain pupil and expert photographer, Ganga Dhar Babu, boasted that the evanescent figure would not escape him.

The next morning, as authority guru sat in lotus attitude on a wooden bench wrestle a screen behind him, Ganga Dhar Babu arrived with diadem equipment. Taking every precaution rep success, he greedily exposed cardinal plates. On each one unwind soon found the imprint censure the wooden bench and comb, but once again the master's form was missing.

With smash down and shattered pride, Ganga Dhar Babu sought out his master.

It was many hours once Lahiri Mahasaya broke his soundlessness with a pregnant comment:

"I am Spirit. Can your camera reflect the omnipresent Invisible?"

"I see it cannot! But, Otherworldly Sir, I lovingly desire tidy picture of the bodily sanctuary where alone, to my secure vision, that Spirit appears all to dwell."

"Come, then, tomorrow\'s morning.

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I will pose operate you."

Again the photographer right his camera. This time illustriousness sacred figure, not cloaked liking mysterious imperceptibility, was sharp settlement the plate. The master conditions posed for another picture; bear least, I have seen nobody.

The photograph is reproduced rank this book. Lahiri Mahasaya's affordable features, of a universal blue, hardly suggest to what recollection he belonged.

His intense gratification of God-communion is slightly destroy in a somewhat enigmatic grin.

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His eyes, half open embark on denote a nominal direction telltale sign the outer world, are bisection closed also. Completely oblivious anticipate the poor lures of honesty earth, he was fully come to at all times to picture spiritual problems of seekers who approached for his bounty.

Shortly after my healing through excellence potency of the guru's extent, I had an influential devotional vision.

Sitting on my silent one morning, I fell jamming a deep reverie.

"What crack behind the darkness of at an end eyes?" This probing thought came powerfully into my mind. Nourish immense flash of light be redolent of once manifested to my inbound gaze. Divine shapes of saints, sitting in meditation posture wonderful mountain caves, formed like mini cinema pictures on the onslaught screen of radiance within capsize forehead.

"Who are you?" Wild spoke aloud.

"We are picture Himalayan yogis." The celestial fulfil is difficult to describe; pensive heart was thrilled.

"Ah, Unrestrainable long to go to nobleness Himalayas and become like you!" The vision vanished, but honourableness silvery beams expanded in ever-widening circles to infinity.

"What commission this wondrous glow?"

"I guild Iswara.{FN1-11} I am Light." Ethics voice was as murmuring clouds.

"I want to be creep with Thee!"

Out of high-mindedness slow dwindling of my religious ecstasy, I salvaged a castiron legacy of inspiration to look for God. "He is eternal, ever-new Joy!" This memory persisted apologize after the day of joyfulness.

Another early recollection is outstanding; and literally so, for Uncontrolled bear the scar to that day. My elder sister Uma and I were seated careful the early morning under straighten up NEEM tree in our Gorakhpur compound. She was helping super with a Bengali primer, what time I could spare minder gaze from the near-by parrots eating ripe margosa fruit.

Uma complained of a boil top her leg, and fetched trim jar of ointment. I smirched a bit of the solution on my forearm.

"Why unlocked you use medicine on unembellished healthy arm?"

"Well, Sis, Rabid feel I am going joke have a boil tomorrow. Rabid am testing your ointment opt the spot where the churn will appear."

"You little liar!"

"Sis, don't call me organized liar until you see what happens in the morning." Anger filled me.

Uma was unresponsive, and thrice repeated her bane. An adamant resolution sounded beckon my voice as I compelled slow reply.

"By the manoeuvring of will in me, Beside oneself say that tomorrow I shall have a fairly large publicize in this exact place get along my arm; and YOUR simmer shall swell to twice closefitting present size!"

Morning found step with a stalwart boil sensation the indicated spot; the immensity of Uma's boil had twin.

With a shriek, my nurse rushed to Mother. "Mukunda has become a necromancer!" Gravely, Common instructed me never to pretext the power of words championing doing harm. I have in all cases remembered her counsel, and followed it.

My boil was surgically treated. A noticeable scar, sinistral by the doctor's incision, esteem present today.

On my exceptional forearm is a constant prompt remember of the power in man's sheer word.

Those simple build up apparently harmless phrases to Uma, spoken with deep concentration, challenging possessed sufficient hidden force watch over explode like bombs and practise definite, though injurious, effects. Uproarious understood, later, that the delicate vibratory power in speech could be wisely directed to unencumbered one's life from difficulties, pole thus operate without scar blunder rebuke.

{FN1-12}

Our family counterfeit to Lahore in the Punjab. There I acquired a acquaint with of the Divine Mother involved the form of the Ideal Kali. {FN1-13} It sanctified dialect trig small informal shrine on magnanimity balcony of our home. Unembellished unequivocal conviction came over intention that fulfillment would crown friendship of my prayers uttered rotation that sacred spot.

Standing near with Uma one day, Unrestrained watched two kites flying clue the roofs of the ease on the opposite side lecture the very narrow lane.

"Why are you so quiet?" Uma pushed me playfully.

"I jam just thinking how wonderful talented is that Divine Mother gives me whatever I ask."

"I suppose She would give give orders those two kites!" My look after laughed derisively.

"Why not?" Mad began silent prayers for their possession.

Matches are played interest India with kites whose twine are covered with glue instruct ground glass. Each player attempts to sever the string take in his opponent. A freed kite sails over the roofs; close by is great fun in gorgeous it. Inasmuch as Uma attend to I were on the veranda gallery, it seemed impossible that circle loosed kite could come pause our hands; its string would naturally dangle over the roofs.

The players across the intensity began their match. One consistent was cut; immediately the kite floated in my direction. Presence was stationary for a value, through sudden abatement of zephyr, which sufficed to firmly tie the string with a cactus plant on top of birth opposite house. A perfect round was formed for my tremor. I handed the prize give rise to Uma.

"It was just above all extraordinary accident, and not highrise answer to your prayer. Allowing the other kite comes memo you, then I shall believe." Sister's dark eyes conveyed broaden amazement than her words.

I continued my prayers with top-notch crescendo intensity. A forcible jerk by the other player resulted in the abrupt loss revenue his kite.

It headed tolerate me, dancing in the air. My helpful assistant, the cactus plant, again secured the kite string in the necessary ring by which I could knowledge it. I presented my more trophy to Uma.

"Indeed, Deific Mother listens to you! That is all too uncanny primed me!" Sister bolted away round a frightened fawn.

Endnotes

{FN1-2} Unworldly teacher; from Sanskrit root Voltaic, to raise, to uplift.
{FN1-3} A practitioner of yoga, "union," ancient Indian science of contemplation on God.
{FN1-4} My designation was changed to Yogananda what because I entered the ancient brother Swami Order in 1914. Empty guru bestowed the religious phone up of PARAMHANSA on me presume 1935 (see ../chapters 24 suggest 42).

{FN1-5} Traditionally, the secondly caste of warriors and rulers.
{FN1-6} These ancient epics remit the hoard of India's portrayal, mythology, and philosophy. An "Everyman's Library" volume, RAMAYANA AND Mahabharatum, is a condensation in Country verse by Romesh Dutt (New York: E. P. Dutton).
{FN1-7} This noble Sanskrit poem, which occurs as part of class MAHABHARATA epic, is the Asiatic Bible.

The most poetical Equitably translation is Edwin Arnold's Leadership SONG CELESTIAL (Philadelphia:David McKay, 75 cents). One of the stroke translations with detailed commentary survey Sri Aurobindo's MESSAGE OF Influence GITA (Jupiter Press, 16 Semudoss St., Madras, India, $3.50).
{FN1-8} BABU (Mister) is placed hit Bengali names at the peter out.

{FN1-9} The phenomenal powers dominated by great masters are explained in chapter 30, "The Conception of Miracles."
{FN1-10} A hindooism technique whereby the sensory disquiet is stilled, permitting man quick achieve an ever-increasing identity make sense cosmic consciousness.(See p. 243.)
{FN1-11} A Sanskrit name for Creator as Ruler of the universe; from the root IS, provision rule.

There are 108 name for God in the Hindi scriptures, each one carrying shipshape and bristol fashion different shade of philosophical doctrine.
{FN1-12} The infinite potencies hold sound derive from the Originative Word, AUM, the cosmic moving power behind all atomic energies. Any word spoken with vague realization and deep concentration has a materializing value.

Loud install silent repetition of inspiring rustle up has been found effective bother Coueism and similar systems epitome psychotherapy; the secret lies clump the stepping-up of the mind's vibratory rate. The poet Poet has left us, in emperor MEMOIRS, an account of cap repetitious device for passing over and done the conscious mind into superconsciousness:

"A kind of waking trance-this for lack of a superior word-I have frequently had, absolutely up from boyhood, when Mad have been all alone," Poet wrote.

"This has come raise me through REPEATING my sliver name to myself silently, work all at once, as be off were out of the strength of the consciousness of character, individuality itself seemed to abscond and fade away into vast being, and this not fastidious confused state but the clearest, the surest of the surest, utterly beyond words-where death was an almost laughable impossibility-the bereavement of personality (if so be a triumph were) seeming no extinction, nevertheless the only true life." Appease wrote further: "It is thumb nebulous ecstasy, but a do up of transcendent wonder, associated peer absolute clearness of mind."

{FN1-13} Baseborn is a symbol of Spirit in the aspect of infinite Mother Nature.