Autobiography of a Yogi
{FN33-5}
“‘Be it so,’ Babaji said solemnly. ‘I will never leave my physical
body. It will always remain visible to at least a small number of
people on this earth. The Lord has spoken His own wish through your
lips.’
“As I listened in awe to the conversation between these exalted
beings, the great guru turned to me with a benign gesture.
“‘Fear not, Ram Gopal,’ he said, ‘you are blessed to be a witness
at the scene of this immortal promise.’
“As the sweet melody of Babaji’s voice faded away, his form and
that of Lahiri Mahasaya slowly levitated and moved backward over
the Ganges. An aureole of dazzling light templed their bodies as
they vanished into the night sky. Mataji’s form floated to the cave
and descended; the stone slab closed of itself, as if working on
an invisible leverage.
“Infinitely inspired, I wended my way back to Lahiri Mahasaya’s
place. As I bowed before him in the early dawn, my guru smiled at
me understandingly.
“‘I am happy for you, Ram Gopal,’ he said. ‘The desire of meeting
Babaji and Mataji, which you have often expressed to me, has found
at last a sacred fulfillment.’
“My fellow disciples informed me that Lahiri Mahasaya had not moved
from his dais since early the preceding evening.
“‘He gave a wonderful discourse on immortality after you had left
for the Dasasamedh GHAT,’ one of the chelas told me. For the first
time I fully realized the truth in the scriptural verses which state
that a man of self-realization can appear at different places in
two or more bodies at the same time.
“Lahiri Mahasaya later explained to me many metaphysical points
concerning the hidden divine plan for this earth,” Ram Gopal
concluded. “Babaji has been chosen by God to remain in his body
for the duration of this particular world cycle. Ages shall come
and go—still the deathless master, {FN33-6} beholding the drama
of the centuries, shall be present on this stage terrestrial.”
{FN33-1} MATTHEW 8:19-20.
{FN33-2} JOHN 11:41-42.
{FN33-3} The omnipresent yogi who observed that I failed to bow
before the Tarakeswar shrine (../chapter 13).
{FN33-4} “Holy Mother.” Mataji also has lived through the centuries;
she is almost as far advanced spiritually as her brother. She remains
in ecstasy in a hidden underground cave near the Dasasamedh GHAT.
{FN33-5} This incident reminds one of Thales. The great Greek
philosopher taught that there was no difference between life and
death. “Why, then,” inquired a critic, “do you not die?” “Because,”
answered Thales, “it makes no difference.”
{FN33-6} “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying
(remain unbrokenly in the Christ Consciousness), he shall never
see death.”-JOHN 8:51.
CHAPTER: 34
MATERIALIZING A PALACE IN THE HIMALAYAS
“Babaji’s first meeting with Lahiri Mahasaya is an enthralling
story, and one of the few which gives us a detailed glimpse of the
deathless guru.”
These words were Swami Kebalananda’s preamble to a wondrous tale.
The first time he recounted it I was literally spellbound. On many
other occasions I coaxed my gentle Sanskrit tutor to repeat the
story, which was later told me in substantially the same words by
Sri Yukteswar. Both these Lahiri Mahasaya disciples had heard the
awesome tale direct from the lips of their guru.
“My first meeting with Babaji took place in my thirty-third year,”
Lahiri Mahasaya had said. “In the autumn of 1861 I was stationed
in Danapur as a government accountant in the Military Engineering
Department. One morning the office manager summoned me.
“‘Lahiri,’ he said, ‘a telegram has just come from our main office.
You are to be transferred to Ranikhet, where an army post {FN34-1}
is now being established.’
“With one servant, I set out on the 500-mile trip. Traveling by
horse and buggy, we arrived in thirty days at the Himalayan site
of Ranikhet. {FN34-2}
“My office duties were not onerous; I was able to spend many hours
roaming in the magnificent hills. A rumor reached me that great saints
blessed the region with their presence; I felt a strong desire to
see them. During a ramble one early afternoon, I was astounded to
hear a distant voice calling my name. I continued my vigorous upward
climb on Drongiri Mountain. A slight uneasiness beset me at the
thought that I might not be able to retrace my steps before darkness
had descended over the jungle.
“I finally reached a small clearing whose sides were dotted
with caves. On one of the rocky ledges stood a smiling young man,
extending his hand in welcome. I noticed with astonishment that,
except for his copper-colored hair, he bore a remarkable resemblance
to myself.
“‘Lahiri, you have come!’ The saint addressed me affectionately in
Hindi. ‘Rest here in this cave. It was I who called you.’
“I entered a neat little grotto which contained several woolen
blankets and a few KAMANDULUS (begging bowls).
“‘Lahiri, do you remember that seat?’ The yogi pointed to a folded
blanket in 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.’
“I was dumbfounded that this forest ascetic should not only speak
English but also paraphrase the words of Christ. {FN34-3}
“‘I see my telegram took effect.’ The yogi’s remark was incomprehensible
to me; I inquired his meaning.
“‘I refer to the telegram that summoned you to these isolated parts.
It was I who silently suggested to the mind of your superior officer
that you be transferred to Ranikhet. When one feels his unity with
mankind, all minds become transmitting stations through which he
can work at will.’ He added gently, ‘Lahiri, surely this cave seems
familiar to you?’
“As I maintained a bewildered silence, the saint approached and
struck me gently on the forehead. At his magnetic touch, a wondrous
current swept through my brain, releasing the sweet seed-memories
of my previous life.
“‘I remember!’ My voice was half-choked with joyous sobs. ‘You are
my guru Babaji, who has belonged to me always! Scenes of the past
arise vividly in my mind; here in this cave I spent many years of
my last incarnation!’ As ineffable recollections overwhelmed me,
I tearfully embraced my master’s feet.
“‘For more than three decades I have waited for you here-waited
for you to return to me!’ Babaji’s voice rang with celestial love.
‘You slipped away and vanished into the tumultuous waves of the life
beyond death. The magic wand of your karma touched you, and you
were gone! Though you lost sight of me, 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 guarding her young. As you lived
out your human term of womb-life, and emerged a babe, my eye was
ever on you. When you covered your tiny form in the lotus posture
under the Nadia sands in your childhood, I was invisibly present!
Patiently, month after month, year after year, I have watched over
you, waiting for this perfect day. Now you are with me! Lo, here
is your cave, loved of yore! I have kept it ever clean and ready
for you. Here is your hallowed ASANA-blanket, where you daily sat
to fill your expanding heart with God! Behold there your bowl, from
which you often drank the nectar prepared by me! See how I have
kept the brass cup brightly polished, that you might drink again
therefrom! My own, do you now understand?’
“‘My guru, what can I say?’ I murmured brokenly. ‘Where has one
ever heard of such deathless love?’ I gazed long and ecstatically
on my eternal treasure, my guru in life and death.
“‘Lahiri, you need purification. Drink the oil in this bowl and lie
down by the river.’ Babaji’s practical wisdom, I reflected with a
quick, reminiscent smile, was ever to the fore.
“I obeyed his directions. Though the icy Himalayan night was descending,
a comforting warmth, an inner radiation, began to pulsate in every
cell of my body. I marveled. Was the unknown oil endued with a
cosmical heat?
“Bitter winds whipped around me in the darkness, shrieking a fierce
challenge. The chill wavelets of the Gogash River lapped now and
then over my body, outstretched on the rocky bank. Tigers howled
near-by, but my heart was free of fear; the radiant force newly
generated within me conveyed an assurance of unassailable protection.
Several hours passed swiftly; faded memories of another life wove
themselves into the present brilliant pattern of reunion with my
divine guru.
“My solitary musings were interrupted by the sound of approaching
footsteps. In the darkness, a man’s hand gently helped me to my
feet, and gave me some dry clothing.
“‘Come, brother,’ my companion said. ‘The master awaits you.’
“He led the way through the forest. The somber night was suddenly
lit by a steady luminosity in the distance.
“‘Can that be the sunrise?’ I inquired. ‘Surely the whole night
has not passed?’
“‘The hour is midnight.’ My guide laughed softly. ‘Yonder light
is the glow of a golden palace, materialized here tonight by the
peerless Babaji. In the dim past, you once expressed a desire to
enjoy the beauties of a palace. Our master is now satisfying your
wish, thus freeing you from the bonds of karma.’ {FN34-4} He added,
‘The magnificent palace will be the scene of your initiation tonight
into KRIYA YOGA. All your brothers here join in a paean of welcome,
rejoicing at the end of your long exile. Behold!’
“A vast palace of dazzling gold stood before us. Studded with
countless jewels, and set amidst landscaped gardens, it presented
a spectacle of unparalleled grandeur. Saints of angelic countenance
were stationed by resplendent gates, half-reddened by the glitter
of rubies. Diamonds, pearls, sapphires, and emeralds of great size
and luster were imbedded in the decorative arches.
“I followed my companion into a spacious reception hall. The odor
of incense and of roses wafted through the air; dim lamps shed
a multicolored glow. Small groups of devotees, some fair, some
dark-skinned, chanted musically, or sat in the meditative posture,
immersed in an inner peace. A vibrant joy pervaded the atmosphere.
“‘Feast your eyes; enjoy the artistic splendors of this palace,
for it has been brought into being solely in your honor.’ My guide
smiled sympathetically as I uttered a few ejaculations of wonderment.
“‘Brother,’ I said, ‘the beauty of this structure surpasses the
bounds of human imagination. Please tell me the mystery of its
origin.’
“‘I will gladly enlighten you.’ My companion’s dark eyes sparkled
with wisdom. ‘In reality there is nothing inexplicable about this
materialization. The whole cosmos is a materialized thought of the
Creator. This heavy, earthly clod, floating in space, is a dream
of God. He made all things out of His consciousness, even as man
in his dream consciousness reproduces and vivifies a creation with
its creatures.
“‘God first created the earth as an idea. Then He quickened it;
energy atoms came into being. He coordinated the atoms into this
solid sphere. All its molecules are held together by the will of
God. When He withdraws His will, the earth again will disintegrate
into energy. Energy will dissolve into consciousness; the earth-idea
will disappear from objectivity.
“‘The substance of a dream is held in materialization by the
subconscious thought of the dreamer. When that cohesive thought
is withdrawn in wakefulness, the dream and its elements dissolve.
A man closes his eyes and erects a dream-creation which, on awakening,
he effortlessly dematerializes. He follows the divine archetypal