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> 第八十四章 Babajis Interest In The West
第八十四章 Babajis Interest In The West
“Master，did you ever meet Babaji？”
“Yes。”Master smiled at my direct question；his eyes lit with reverence。“Three times I have been blessed by the sight of the deathless guru。Our frst meeting was in Allahabad at a Kumbha Mela。”
“I was not a swami at the time I met Babaji，”Sri Yukteswar went on。But I had already received Kriya initiation from Lahiri Mahasaya。He encouraged me to attend the mela which was convening in January，1894 at Allahabad。It was my frst experience of a kumbha；I felt slightly dazed by the clamor and surge of the crowd。In my searching gazes around I saw no illumined face of a master。Passing a bridge on the bank of the Ganges，I noticed an acquaintance standing near-by，his begging bowl extended。
‘Sir，’he said，‘a saint is calling you。’
‘Who is he？’
‘Come and see for yourself。’
Hesitantly following this laconic advice，I soon found myself near a tree whose branches were sheltering a guru with an attractive group of disciples。The master，a bright unusual fgure，with sparkling dark eyes，rose at my approach and embraced me。
‘Welcome，Swamiji，’he said affectionately。
‘Sir，’I replied emphatically，‘I am not a swami。’
“Those on whom I am divinely directed to bestow the title of”‘swami’never cast it off。The saint addressed me simply，but deep conviction of truth rang in his words；I was engulfed in an instant wave of spiritual blessing。Smiling at my sudden elevation into the ancient monastic order，I bowed at the feet of the obviously great and angelic being in human form who had thus honored me。
Babaji-for it was indeed he-motioned me to a seat near him under the tree。He was strong and young，and looked like Lahiri Mahasaya。
‘What do you think of the Kumbha Mela？’
‘I was greatly disappointed，sir。’I added hastily。
‘Child，’the master said，though apparently I was nearly twice his own age，‘for the faults of the many，judge not the whole。Though many sadhus here still wander in delusion，yet the mela is blessed by a few men of God-realization。’
‘Sir，’I commented，‘I have been thinking of the scientifc men of the West，greater by far in intelligence than most people congregated here，living in distant Europe and America。They are the men who could beneft greatly by meetings with India’s masters。But，although high in intellectual attainments，many Westerners are wedded to rank materialism。Others，famous in science and philosophy，do not recognize the essential unity in religion。
Babajis face beamed with approval。I felt the pangs of your heart，broad enough for all men，whether Oriental or Occidental。That is why I summoned you here。
‘East and West must establish a golden middle path of activity and spirituality combined，’he continued。India has much to learn from the West in material development；in return，India can teach the universal methods by which the West will be able to base its religious beliefs on the unshakable foundations of yogic science。
“You，Swamiji，have a part to play in the coming harmonious exchange between Orient and Occident。Some years hence I shall send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West。The vibrations there of many spiritually seeking souls come foodlike to me。I perceive potential saints in America and Europe，waiting to be awakened。’”
At this point in his story，Sri Yukteswar turned his gaze fully on mine。
“My son，”he said，smiling in the moonlight，“you are the disciple that，years ago，Babaji promised to send me。”
I was happy to learn that Babaji had directed my steps to Sri Yukteswar，yet it was hard for me to visualize myself in the remote West，away from my beloved guru and the simple hermitage peace。
“Babaji then spoke of the Bhagavad Gita，”Sri Yukteswar went on。To my astonishment，he indicated by a few words of praise that he was aware of the fact that I had written interpretations on various Gita chapters。
‘At my request，Swamiji，please undertake another task，’the great master said。‘Will you not write a short book on the underlying basic unity between the Christian and Hindu scriptures？Show by parallel references that the inspired sons of God have spoken the same truths，now obscured by men’s sectarian differences。
I deemed myself empowered by the blessings of the saint，and agreed to write thebook。Feeling reluctantly that the parting-hour had arrived，I rose from my leafy seat。
‘Do you know Lahiri？’the master inquired。‘He is a great soul，isn’t he？Tell him of our meeting。He then gave me a message for Lahiri Mahasaya。
After I had bowed humbly in farewell，the saint smiled benignly。‘When your book is fnished，I shall pay you a visit，’he promised。‘Good-by for the present。’
I left Allahabad the following day and entrained for Benares。Reaching my gurus home，I poured out the story of the wonderful saint at the Kumbha Mela。
Lahiri Mahasaya‘s eyes were dancing with laughter。’I see you couldn‘t，for he prevented you。He is my incomparable guru，the celestial Babaji！’
‘Babaji！’I repeated，awestruck。‘The Yogi-Christ Babaji！The invisible-visible savior Babaji！’
‘Never mind，’Lahiri Mahasaya said consolingly。‘He has promised to see you again。’
‘Gurudeva，the divine master asked me to give you a message。Tell Lahiri，’he said，‘that the stored-up power for this life now runs low；it is nearly fnished。’
At my utterance of these enigmatic words，Lahiri Mahasayas fgure trembled as though touched by a lightning current。In an instant everything about him fell silent；his smiling countenance turned incredibly stern。Like a wooden statue，somber and immovable in its seat，his body became colorless。I was alarmed and bewildered。Never in my life had I seen this joyous soul manifest such awful gravity。The other disciples present stared apprehensively。
Three hours passed in utter silence。Then Lahiri Mahasaya resumed his natural，cheerful demeanor。
I realized by my master‘s reaction that Babaji’s message had been an unmistakable signal by which Lahiri Mahasaya understood that his body would soon be untenanted。His awesome silence proved that my guru had instantly controlled his being，cut his last cord of attachment to the material world，and fed to his ever-living identity in Spirit。
Though Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya were omniscient，and had no need of communicating with each other through me or any other intermediary，the great ones often condescend to play a part in the human drama。Occasionally they transmit their prophecies through messengers in an ordinary way，that the final fulfillment of their words may infuse greater divine faith in a wide circle of men who later learn the story。
“I soon left Benares，and set to work in Serampore on the scriptural writings requested by Babaji，”Sri Yukteswar continued。
The chapters frst appeared in the Sadhusambad journal；later they were privately printed as a book by one of my Kidderpore disciples。
“The morning after I had concluded my literary efforts，”Master continued，I went to the Rai Ghat here to bathe in the Ganges。The only sound in the silence was that of my Ganges-drenched cloth，swish-swashing with every step。As I passed beyond the site of the large banyan tree near the river bank，a strong impulse urged me to look back。There，under the shade of the banyan，and surrounded by a few disciples，sat the great Babaji！
‘Greetings，Swamiji！’The beautiful voice of the master rang out to assure me I was not dreaming。‘I see you have successfully completed your book。As I promised，I am here to thank you。’
With a fast-beating heart，I prostrated myself fully at his feet。‘Param-guruji，’I said imploringly，‘will you and your chelas not honor my near-by home with your presence？’
The supreme guru smilingly declined。‘No，child，’he said，‘we are people who like the shelter of trees；this spot is quite comfortable。’
‘Please tarry awhile，Master。’I gazed entreatingly at him。‘I shall be back at once with some special sweetmeats。’
When I returned in a few minutes with a dish of delicacies，lo！the lordly banyan no longer sheltered the celestial troupe。
I was deeply hurt。‘Even if we meet again，I would not care to talk to him，’I assured myself。‘He was unkind to leave me so suddenly。’This was a wrath of love，of course，and nothing more。
A few months later I visited Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares。As I entered his little parlor，my guru smiled in greeting。
‘Welcome，Yukteswar，’he said。‘Did you just meet Babaji at the threshold of my room？’
‘Why，no，’I answered in surprise。
‘Come here。’Lahiri Mahasaya touched me gently on the forehead；at once I beheld，near the door，the form of Babaji，blooming like a perfect lotus。
I remembered my old hurt，and did not bow。Lahiri Mahasaya looked at me in astonishment。
The divine guru gazed at me with fathomless eyes。‘You are annoyed with me。’
‘Sir，why shouldn’t I be？I answered。
‘I told you I would see you，but didn’t say how long I would remain。Babaji laughed softly。
‘Child，you must meditate more，’he said。‘Your gaze is not yet faultless-you could not see me hiding behind the sunlight。’With these words in the voice of a celestial fute，Babaji disappeared into the hidden radiance。
“That was one of my last visits to Benares to see my guru，”Sri Yukteswar concluded。Even as Babaji had foretold at the Kumbha Mela，the householder-incarnation of Lahiri Mahasaya was drawing to a close。During the summer of 1895 his stalwart body developed a small boil on the back。He protested against lancing；he was working out in his own fesh the evil karma of some of his disciples。Finally a few chelas became very insistent；the master replied cryptically：
“The body has to fnd a cause to go；I will be agreeable to whatever you want to do。’”A short time later the incomparable guru gave up his body in Benares。No longer
need I seek him out in his little parlor；I find every day of my life blessed by his omnipresent guidance。
Years later，from the lips of Swami Keshabananda，an advanced disciple，I heard many wonderful details about the passing of Lahiri Mahasaya。
“A few days before my guru relinquished his body，”Keshabananda told me，he materialized himself before me as I sat in my hermitage at Hardwar。
‘Come at once to Benares。’With these words Lahiri Mahasaya vanished。
“I entrained immediately for Benares。At my gurus home I found many disciples assembled。For hours that day the master expounded the Gita；then he addressed us simply。”‘I am going home。’
Sobs of anguish broke out like an irresistible torrent。
‘Be comforted；I shall rise again。’After this utterance Lahiri Mahasaya thrice turned his body around in a circle，faced the north in his lotus posture，and gloriously entered the fnal maha-samadhi。
“Lahiri Mahasayas beautiful body，so dear to the devotees，was cremated with solemn householder rites at Manikarnika Ghat by the holy Ganges，”Keshabananda continued。The following day，at ten oclock in the morning，while I was still in Benares，my room was suffused with a great light。Lo！before me stood the fesh and blood form of Lahiri Mahasaya！It looked exactly like his old body，except that it appeared younger and more radiant。My divine guru spoke to me。
‘Keshabananda，’he said，‘it is I。From the disintegrated atoms of my cremated body，I have resurrected a remodeled form。My householder work in the world is done；but I do not leave the earth entirely。Henceforth I shall spend some time with Babaji in theHimalayas，and with Babaji in the cosmos。’
With a few words of blessing to me，the transcendent master vanished。
Another disciple who was blessed by the sight of his resurrected guru was the saintly Panchanon Bhattacharya，founder of the Calcutta Arya Mission Institution。
I visited Panchanon at his Calcutta home，and listened with delight to the story of his many years with the master。
“Here in Calcutta，”Panchanon said，“at ten oclock of the morning which followed his cremation，Lahiri Mahasaya appeared before me in living glory。”
“A few days before Lahiri Mahasaya left his body，”Pranabananda told me at the time he visited my Ranchi school，I received a letter from him，requesting me to come at once to Benares。I was delayed，however，and could not leave immediately。As I was in the midst of my travel preparations，about ten oclock in the morning，I was suddenly overwhelmed with joy to see the shining fgure of my guru。
‘Why hurry to Benares？’Lahiri Mahasaya said，smiling。‘You shall fnd me there no longer。’
As the import of his words dawned on me，I sobbed broken-heartedly，believing that I was seeing him only in a vision。
“The master approached me comfortingly。‘Here，touch my flesh，’he said。‘I am living，as always。Do not lament；am I not with you forever？’”
From the lips of these three great disciples，a story of wondrous truth has emerged：At the morning hour of ten，on the day after the body of Lahiri Mahasaya had been consigned to the fames，the resurrected master，in a real but transfgured body，appeared before three disciples，each one in a different city。
“Yes。”Master smiled at my direct question；his eyes lit with reverence。“Three times I have been blessed by the sight of the deathless guru。Our frst meeting was in Allahabad at a Kumbha Mela。”
“I was not a swami at the time I met Babaji，”Sri Yukteswar went on。But I had already received Kriya initiation from Lahiri Mahasaya。He encouraged me to attend the mela which was convening in January，1894 at Allahabad。It was my frst experience of a kumbha；I felt slightly dazed by the clamor and surge of the crowd。In my searching gazes around I saw no illumined face of a master。Passing a bridge on the bank of the Ganges，I noticed an acquaintance standing near-by，his begging bowl extended。
‘Sir，’he said，‘a saint is calling you。’
‘Who is he？’
‘Come and see for yourself。’
Hesitantly following this laconic advice，I soon found myself near a tree whose branches were sheltering a guru with an attractive group of disciples。The master，a bright unusual fgure，with sparkling dark eyes，rose at my approach and embraced me。
‘Welcome，Swamiji，’he said affectionately。
‘Sir，’I replied emphatically，‘I am not a swami。’
“Those on whom I am divinely directed to bestow the title of”‘swami’never cast it off。The saint addressed me simply，but deep conviction of truth rang in his words；I was engulfed in an instant wave of spiritual blessing。Smiling at my sudden elevation into the ancient monastic order，I bowed at the feet of the obviously great and angelic being in human form who had thus honored me。
Babaji-for it was indeed he-motioned me to a seat near him under the tree。He was strong and young，and looked like Lahiri Mahasaya。
‘What do you think of the Kumbha Mela？’
‘I was greatly disappointed，sir。’I added hastily。
‘Child，’the master said，though apparently I was nearly twice his own age，‘for the faults of the many，judge not the whole。Though many sadhus here still wander in delusion，yet the mela is blessed by a few men of God-realization。’
‘Sir，’I commented，‘I have been thinking of the scientifc men of the West，greater by far in intelligence than most people congregated here，living in distant Europe and America。They are the men who could beneft greatly by meetings with India’s masters。But，although high in intellectual attainments，many Westerners are wedded to rank materialism。Others，famous in science and philosophy，do not recognize the essential unity in religion。
Babajis face beamed with approval。I felt the pangs of your heart，broad enough for all men，whether Oriental or Occidental。That is why I summoned you here。
‘East and West must establish a golden middle path of activity and spirituality combined，’he continued。India has much to learn from the West in material development；in return，India can teach the universal methods by which the West will be able to base its religious beliefs on the unshakable foundations of yogic science。
“You，Swamiji，have a part to play in the coming harmonious exchange between Orient and Occident。Some years hence I shall send you a disciple whom you can train for yoga dissemination in the West。The vibrations there of many spiritually seeking souls come foodlike to me。I perceive potential saints in America and Europe，waiting to be awakened。’”
At this point in his story，Sri Yukteswar turned his gaze fully on mine。
“My son，”he said，smiling in the moonlight，“you are the disciple that，years ago，Babaji promised to send me。”
I was happy to learn that Babaji had directed my steps to Sri Yukteswar，yet it was hard for me to visualize myself in the remote West，away from my beloved guru and the simple hermitage peace。
“Babaji then spoke of the Bhagavad Gita，”Sri Yukteswar went on。To my astonishment，he indicated by a few words of praise that he was aware of the fact that I had written interpretations on various Gita chapters。
‘At my request，Swamiji，please undertake another task，’the great master said。‘Will you not write a short book on the underlying basic unity between the Christian and Hindu scriptures？Show by parallel references that the inspired sons of God have spoken the same truths，now obscured by men’s sectarian differences。
I deemed myself empowered by the blessings of the saint，and agreed to write thebook。Feeling reluctantly that the parting-hour had arrived，I rose from my leafy seat。
‘Do you know Lahiri？’the master inquired。‘He is a great soul，isn’t he？Tell him of our meeting。He then gave me a message for Lahiri Mahasaya。
After I had bowed humbly in farewell，the saint smiled benignly。‘When your book is fnished，I shall pay you a visit，’he promised。‘Good-by for the present。’
I left Allahabad the following day and entrained for Benares。Reaching my gurus home，I poured out the story of the wonderful saint at the Kumbha Mela。
Lahiri Mahasaya‘s eyes were dancing with laughter。’I see you couldn‘t，for he prevented you。He is my incomparable guru，the celestial Babaji！’
‘Babaji！’I repeated，awestruck。‘The Yogi-Christ Babaji！The invisible-visible savior Babaji！’
‘Never mind，’Lahiri Mahasaya said consolingly。‘He has promised to see you again。’
‘Gurudeva，the divine master asked me to give you a message。Tell Lahiri，’he said，‘that the stored-up power for this life now runs low；it is nearly fnished。’
At my utterance of these enigmatic words，Lahiri Mahasayas fgure trembled as though touched by a lightning current。In an instant everything about him fell silent；his smiling countenance turned incredibly stern。Like a wooden statue，somber and immovable in its seat，his body became colorless。I was alarmed and bewildered。Never in my life had I seen this joyous soul manifest such awful gravity。The other disciples present stared apprehensively。
Three hours passed in utter silence。Then Lahiri Mahasaya resumed his natural，cheerful demeanor。
I realized by my master‘s reaction that Babaji’s message had been an unmistakable signal by which Lahiri Mahasaya understood that his body would soon be untenanted。His awesome silence proved that my guru had instantly controlled his being，cut his last cord of attachment to the material world，and fed to his ever-living identity in Spirit。
Though Babaji and Lahiri Mahasaya were omniscient，and had no need of communicating with each other through me or any other intermediary，the great ones often condescend to play a part in the human drama。Occasionally they transmit their prophecies through messengers in an ordinary way，that the final fulfillment of their words may infuse greater divine faith in a wide circle of men who later learn the story。
“I soon left Benares，and set to work in Serampore on the scriptural writings requested by Babaji，”Sri Yukteswar continued。
The chapters frst appeared in the Sadhusambad journal；later they were privately printed as a book by one of my Kidderpore disciples。
“The morning after I had concluded my literary efforts，”Master continued，I went to the Rai Ghat here to bathe in the Ganges。The only sound in the silence was that of my Ganges-drenched cloth，swish-swashing with every step。As I passed beyond the site of the large banyan tree near the river bank，a strong impulse urged me to look back。There，under the shade of the banyan，and surrounded by a few disciples，sat the great Babaji！
‘Greetings，Swamiji！’The beautiful voice of the master rang out to assure me I was not dreaming。‘I see you have successfully completed your book。As I promised，I am here to thank you。’
With a fast-beating heart，I prostrated myself fully at his feet。‘Param-guruji，’I said imploringly，‘will you and your chelas not honor my near-by home with your presence？’
The supreme guru smilingly declined。‘No，child，’he said，‘we are people who like the shelter of trees；this spot is quite comfortable。’
‘Please tarry awhile，Master。’I gazed entreatingly at him。‘I shall be back at once with some special sweetmeats。’
When I returned in a few minutes with a dish of delicacies，lo！the lordly banyan no longer sheltered the celestial troupe。
I was deeply hurt。‘Even if we meet again，I would not care to talk to him，’I assured myself。‘He was unkind to leave me so suddenly。’This was a wrath of love，of course，and nothing more。
A few months later I visited Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares。As I entered his little parlor，my guru smiled in greeting。
‘Welcome，Yukteswar，’he said。‘Did you just meet Babaji at the threshold of my room？’
‘Why，no，’I answered in surprise。
‘Come here。’Lahiri Mahasaya touched me gently on the forehead；at once I beheld，near the door，the form of Babaji，blooming like a perfect lotus。
I remembered my old hurt，and did not bow。Lahiri Mahasaya looked at me in astonishment。
The divine guru gazed at me with fathomless eyes。‘You are annoyed with me。’
‘Sir，why shouldn’t I be？I answered。
‘I told you I would see you，but didn’t say how long I would remain。Babaji laughed softly。
‘Child，you must meditate more，’he said。‘Your gaze is not yet faultless-you could not see me hiding behind the sunlight。’With these words in the voice of a celestial fute，Babaji disappeared into the hidden radiance。
“That was one of my last visits to Benares to see my guru，”Sri Yukteswar concluded。Even as Babaji had foretold at the Kumbha Mela，the householder-incarnation of Lahiri Mahasaya was drawing to a close。During the summer of 1895 his stalwart body developed a small boil on the back。He protested against lancing；he was working out in his own fesh the evil karma of some of his disciples。Finally a few chelas became very insistent；the master replied cryptically：
“The body has to fnd a cause to go；I will be agreeable to whatever you want to do。’”A short time later the incomparable guru gave up his body in Benares。No longer
need I seek him out in his little parlor；I find every day of my life blessed by his omnipresent guidance。
Years later，from the lips of Swami Keshabananda，an advanced disciple，I heard many wonderful details about the passing of Lahiri Mahasaya。
“A few days before my guru relinquished his body，”Keshabananda told me，he materialized himself before me as I sat in my hermitage at Hardwar。
‘Come at once to Benares。’With these words Lahiri Mahasaya vanished。
“I entrained immediately for Benares。At my gurus home I found many disciples assembled。For hours that day the master expounded the Gita；then he addressed us simply。”‘I am going home。’
Sobs of anguish broke out like an irresistible torrent。
‘Be comforted；I shall rise again。’After this utterance Lahiri Mahasaya thrice turned his body around in a circle，faced the north in his lotus posture，and gloriously entered the fnal maha-samadhi。
“Lahiri Mahasayas beautiful body，so dear to the devotees，was cremated with solemn householder rites at Manikarnika Ghat by the holy Ganges，”Keshabananda continued。The following day，at ten oclock in the morning，while I was still in Benares，my room was suffused with a great light。Lo！before me stood the fesh and blood form of Lahiri Mahasaya！It looked exactly like his old body，except that it appeared younger and more radiant。My divine guru spoke to me。
‘Keshabananda，’he said，‘it is I。From the disintegrated atoms of my cremated body，I have resurrected a remodeled form。My householder work in the world is done；but I do not leave the earth entirely。Henceforth I shall spend some time with Babaji in theHimalayas，and with Babaji in the cosmos。’
With a few words of blessing to me，the transcendent master vanished。
Another disciple who was blessed by the sight of his resurrected guru was the saintly Panchanon Bhattacharya，founder of the Calcutta Arya Mission Institution。
I visited Panchanon at his Calcutta home，and listened with delight to the story of his many years with the master。
“Here in Calcutta，”Panchanon said，“at ten oclock of the morning which followed his cremation，Lahiri Mahasaya appeared before me in living glory。”
“A few days before Lahiri Mahasaya left his body，”Pranabananda told me at the time he visited my Ranchi school，I received a letter from him，requesting me to come at once to Benares。I was delayed，however，and could not leave immediately。As I was in the midst of my travel preparations，about ten oclock in the morning，I was suddenly overwhelmed with joy to see the shining fgure of my guru。
‘Why hurry to Benares？’Lahiri Mahasaya said，smiling。‘You shall fnd me there no longer。’
As the import of his words dawned on me，I sobbed broken-heartedly，believing that I was seeing him only in a vision。
“The master approached me comfortingly。‘Here，touch my flesh，’he said。‘I am living，as always。Do not lament；am I not with you forever？’”
From the lips of these three great disciples，a story of wondrous truth has emerged：At the morning hour of ten，on the day after the body of Lahiri Mahasaya had been consigned to the fames，the resurrected master，in a real but transfgured body，appeared before three disciples，each one in a different city。
