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> 第九十一章 The Resurrection Of Sri Yukteswar
第九十一章 The Resurrection Of Sri Yukteswar
A glorious form of the avatar appeared in a shimmering blaze as I sat in my room at the Regent Hotel in Bombay。
The divine fgure waved to me，smiling and nodding in greeting。When I could not understand the exact message of Lord Krishna，he departed with a gesture of blessing。Wondrously uplifted，I felt that some spiritual event was presaged。
My Western voyage had，for the time being，been cancelled。I was scheduled for several public addresses in Bombay before leaving on a return visit to Bengal。
Sitting on my bed in the Bombay hotel at three oclock in the afternoon of June 1，1936-one week after the vision of Krishna-I was roused from my meditation by a beatifc light。Before my open and astonished eyes，the whole room was transformed into a strange world，the sunlight transmuted into supernal splendor。
Waves of rapture engulfed me as I beheld the fesh and blood form of Sri Yukteswar！“My son！”Master spoke tenderly，on his face an angel-bewitching smile。
For the first time in my life I did not kneel at his feet in greeting but instantly advanced to gather him hungrily in my arms。
“Master mine，beloved of my heart，why did you leave me？”I was incoherent in an excess of joy。
“Why did you let me go to the Kumbha Mela？How bitterly have I blamed myself for leaving you！”
“I did not want to interfere with your happy anticipation of seeing the pilgrimage spot where frst I met Babaji。I left you only for a little while；am I not with you again？”
“But is it you，Master，the same Lion of God？Are you wearing a body like the one I buried beneath the cruel Puri sands？”
“Yes，my child，I am the same。This is a fesh and blood body。Though I see it as ethereal，to your sight it is physical。From the cosmic atoms I created an entirely new body，exactly like that cosmic-dream physical body which you laid beneath the dream-sands at Puri in your dream-world。I am in truth resurrected-not on earth but on an astralplanet。”
“Deathless guru，tell me more！”
Master gave a quick，mirthful chuckle。“Please，dear one，”he said，“wont you relax your hold a little？”
“Only a little！”I had been embracing him with an octopus grip。I could detect the same faint，fragrant，natural odor which had been characteristic of his body before。
“I have been directed by God to serve on an astral planet as a savior，”Sri Yukteswar explained。It is called Hiranyaloka or‘Illumined Astral Planet’。There I am aiding advanced beings to rid themselves of astral karma and thus attain liberation from astral rebirths。The dwellers on Hiranyaloka are highly developed spiritually；all of them had acquired，in their last earth-incarnation，the meditation-given power of consciously leaving their physical bodies at death。No one can enter Hiranyaloka unless he has passed on earth beyond the state of sabikalpa samadhi into the higher state of nirbikalpa samadhi。
“The Hiranyaloka inhabitants have already passed through the ordinary astral spheres，where nearly all beings from earth must go at death；there they worked out many seeds of their past actions in the astral worlds。None but advanced beings can perform such redemptive work effectually in the astral worlds。Then，in order to free their souls more fully from the cocoon of karmic traces lodged in their astral bodies，these higher beings were drawn by cosmic law to be reborn with new astral bodies on Hiranyaloka，the astral sun or heaven，where I have resurrected to help them。There are also highly advanced beings on Hiranyaloka who have come from the superior，subtler，causal world。”
My mind was now in such perfect attunement with my gurus that he was conveying his word-pictures to me partly by speech and partly by thought-transference。I was thus quickly receiving his idea-tabloids。
“You have read in the scriptures，”Master went on，“that God encased the human soul successively in three bodies-the idea，or causal，body；the subtle astral body，seat of mans mental and emotional natures；and the gross physical body。On earth a man is equipped with his physical senses。An astral being works with his consciousness and feelings and a body made of lifetrons。A causal-bodied being remains in the blissful realm of ideas。My work is with those astral beings who are preparing to enter the causal world。”
“Adorable Master，please tell me more about the astral cosmos。”Though I had slightly relaxed my embrace at Sri Yukteswars request，my arms were still around him。Treasure beyond all treasures，my guru who had laughed at death to reach me！
“There are many astral planets，teeming with astral beings，”Master began。The inhabitants use astral planes，or masses of light，to travel from one planet to another，faster than electricity and radioactive energies。
The astral universe，made of various subtle vibrations of light and color，is hundreds of times larger than the material cosmos。The entire physical creation hangs like a little solid basket under the huge luminous balloon of the astral sphere。Just as many physical suns and stars roam in space，so there are also countless astral solar and stellar systems。Their planets have astral suns and moons，more beautiful than the physical ones。The astral luminaries resemble the aurora borealis-the sunny astral aurora being more dazzling than the mild-rayed moon-aurora。The astral day and night are longer than those of earth。
The astral world is infnitely beautiful，clean，pure，and orderly。There are no dead planets or barren lands。The terrestrial blemishes-weeds，bacteria，insects，snakes-are absent。Unlike the variable climates and seasons of the earth，the astral planets maintainthe even temperature of an eternal spring，with occasional luminous white snow and rain of many-colored lights。Astral planets abound in opal lakes and bright seas and rainbow rivers。
The ordinary astral universe-not the subtler astral heaven of Hiranyaloka-is peopled with millions of astral beings who have come，more or less recently，from the earth，and also with myriads of fairies，mermaids，fshes，animals，goblins，gnomes，demigods and spirits，all residing on different astral planets in accordance with karmic qualifcations。Various spheric mansions or vibratory regions are provided for good and evil spirits。Good ones can travel freely，but the evil spirits are confined to limited zones。In the same way that human beings live on the surface of the earth，worms inside the soil，fsh in water，and birds in air，so astral beings of different grades are assigned to suitable vibratory quarters。
Among the fallen dark angels expelled from other worlds，friction and war take place with lifetronic bombs or mental mantric vibratory rays。These beings dwell in the gloom-drenched regions of the lower astral cosmos，working out their evil karma。
In the vast realms above the dark astral prison，all is shining and beautiful。The astral cosmos is more naturally attuned than the earth to the divine will and plan of perfection。Every astral object is manifested primarily by the will of God，and partially by the will-call of astral beings。They possess the power of modifying or enhancing the grace and form of anything already created by the Lord。
but the astral realms know a happy harmony and equality。Astral beings dematerialize or materialize their forms at will。No fxed，defnite，natural law hems them round-any astral tree，for example，can be successfully asked to produce an astral mango or other desired fruit，fower，or indeed any other object。
No one is born of woman；offspring are materialized by astral beings through the help of their cosmic will into specially patterned，astrally condensed forms。The recently physically disembodied being arrives in an astral family through invitation，drawn by similar mental and spiritual tendencies。
“The astral body is an exact counterpart of the last physical form。Astral beings retain the same appearance which they possessed in youth in their previous earthly sojourn；occasionally an astral being chooses，like myself，to retain his old age appearance。”Master，emanating the very essence of youth，chuckled merrily。
They possess three eyes，two of which are partly closed。The third and chief astral eye，vertically placed on the forehead，is open。Astral beings have all the outer sensoryorgans-ears，eyes，nose，tongue，and skin-but they employ the intuitional sense to experience sensations through any part of the body；they can see through the ear，or nose，or skin。They are able to hear through the eyes or tongue，and can taste through the ears or skin，and so forth。
“Mans physical body is exposed to countless dangers，and is easily hurt or maimed；the ethereal astral body may occasionally be cut or bruised but is healed at once by mere willing。”
“Gurudeva，are all astral persons beautiful？”
“Beauty in the astral world is known to be a spiritual quality，and not an outward conformation，”Sri Yukteswar replied。Astral beings therefore attach little importance to facial features。They have the privilege，however，of costuming themselves at will with new，colorful，astrally materialized bodies。
Joyous astral festivities on the higher astral planets like Hiranyaloka take place when a being is liberated from the astral world through spiritual advancement，and is therefore ready to enter the heaven of the causal world。On such occasions the Invisible Heavenly Father，and the saints who are merged in Him，materialize Themselves into bodies of Their own choice and join the astral celebration。
“Friends of other lives easily recognize one another in the astral world，”Sri Yukteswar went on in his beautiful，flutelike voice。Rejoicing at the immortality of friendship，they realize the indestructibility of love，often doubted at the time of the sad，delusive partings of earthly life。
The intuition of astral beings pierces through the veil and observes human activities on earth，but man cannot view the astral world unless his sixth sense is somewhat developed。Thousands of earth-dwellers have momentarily glimpsed an astral being or an astral world。
The advanced beings on Hiranyaloka remain mostly awake in ecstasy during the long astral day and night，helping to work out intricate problems of cosmic government and the redemption of prodigal sons，earthbound souls。When the Hiranyaloka beings sleep，they have occasional dreamlike astral visions。Their minds are usually engrossed in the conscious state of highest nirbikalpa bliss。
Inhabitants in all parts of the astral worlds are still subject to mental agonies。The sensitive minds of the higher beings on planets like Hiranyaloka feel keen pain if any mistake is made in conduct or perception of truth。These advanced beings endeavor to attune their every act and thought with the perfection of spiritual law。
“Communication among the astral inhabitants is held entirely by astral telepathy and television；there is none of the confusion and misunderstanding of the written and spoken word which earth-dwellers must endure。Man depends upon solids，liquids，gases，and energy for sustenance；astral beings sustain themselves principally by cosmic light。”
“Master mine，do astral beings eat anything？”
“Luminous raylike vegetables abound in the astral soils，”he answered。The astral beings consume vegetables，and drink a nectar fowing from glorious fountains of light and from astral brooks and rivers。Just as invisible images of persons on the earth can be dug out of the ether and made visible by a television apparatus，later being dismissed again into space，so the God-created，unseen astral blueprints of vegetables and plants foating in the ether are precipitated on an astral planet by the will of its inhabitants。In the same way，from the wildest fancy of these beings，whole gardens of fragrant fowers are materialized，returning later to the etheric invisibility。
Although dwellers on the heavenly planets like Hiranyaloka are almost freed from any necessity of eating，still higher is the unconditioned existence of almost completely liberated souls in the causal world，who eat nothing save the manna of bliss。
The span of life in the astral world is much longer than on earth。A normal advanced astral beings average life period is from fve hundred to one thousand years，measured in accordance with earthly standards of time。As certain redwood trees outlive most trees by millenniums，or as some yogis live several hundred years though most men die before the age of sixty，so some astral beings live much longer than the usual span of astral existence。Visitors to the astral world dwell there for a longer or shorter period in accordance with the weight of their physical karma，which draws them back to earth within a specifed time。
The astral being does not have to contend painfully with death at the time of shedding his luminous body。Many of these beings nevertheless feel slightly nervous at the thought of dropping their astral form for the subtler causal one。
“Physical death is attended by the disappearance of breath and the disintegration of fleshly cells。Astral death consists of the dispersement of lifetrons，those manifest units of energy which constitute the life of astral beings。At physical death a being loses his consciousness of flesh and becomes aware of his subtle body in the astral world。Experiencing astral death in due time，a being thus passes from the consciousness of astral birth and death to that of physical birth and death。These recurrent cycles of astral and physical encasement are the ineluctable destiny of all unenlightened beings。Scriptural defnitions of heaven and hell sometimes stir mans deeper-than-subconscious memories of his long series of experiences in the blithesome astral and disappointing terrestrial worlds。”
“Beloved Master，”I asked，“will you please describe more in detail the difference between rebirth on the earth and in the astral and causal spheres？”
“Man as an individualized soul is essentially causal-bodied，”my guru explained。That body is a matrix of the thirty-fve ideas required by God as the basic or causal thought forces from which He later formed the subtle astral body of nineteen elements and the gross physical body of sixteen elements。
The nineteen elements of the astral body are mental，emotional，and lifetronic。The nineteen components are intelligence；ego；feeling；mind（sense-consciousness）；five instruments of knowledge，the subtle counterparts of the senses of sight，hearing，smell，taste，touch；five instruments of action，the mental correspondence for the executive abilities to procreate，excrete，talk，walk，and exercise manual skill；and fve instruments of life force，those empowered to perform the crystallizing，assimilating，eliminating，metabolizing，and circulating functions of the body。This subtle astral encasement of nineteen elements survives the death of the physical body，which is made of sixteen gross metallic and nonmetallic elements。
God thought out different ideas within Himself and projected them into dreams。
In thirty-five thought categories of the causal body，God elaborated all the complexities of man‘s nineteen astral and sixteen physical counterparts。By condensation of vibratory forces，frst subtle，then gross，He produced man’s astral body and fnally his physical form。According to the law of relativity，by which the Prime Simplicity has become the bewildering manifold，the causal cosmos and causal body are different from the astral cosmos and astral body；the physical cosmos and physical body are likewise characteristically at variance with the other forms of creation。
“The fleshly body is made of the fixed，objectified dreams of the Creator。The dualities are ever-present on earth：disease and health，pain and pleasure，loss and gain。Human beings fnd limitation and resistance in three-dimensional matter。When man‘s desire to live is severely shaken by disease or other causes，death arrives；the heavy overcoat of the flesh is temporarily shed。The soul，however，remains encased in the astral and causal bodies。The adhesive force by which all three bodies are held together is desire。The power of unfulflled desires is the root of all man’s slavery。”Physical desires are rooted in egotism and sense pleasures。
Astral desires center around enjoyment in terms of vibration。Astral beings enjoy the ethereal music of the spheres and are entranced by the sight of all creation as exhaustless expressions of changing light。
Causal desires are fulfilled by perception only。The nearly-free beings who are encased only in the causal body see the whole universe as realizations of the dream-ideas of God；they can materialize anything and everything in sheer thought。Causal beings therefore consider the enjoyment of physical sensations or astral delights as gross and suffocating to the souls fne sensibilities。Causal beings work out their desires by materializing them instantly。Those who fnd themselves covered only by the delicate veil of the causal body can bring universes into manifestation even as the Creator。Because all creation is made of the cosmic dream-texture，the soul thinly clothed in the causal has vast realizations of power。
A soul，being invisible by nature，can be distinguished only by the presence of its body or bodies。The mere presence of a body signifes that its existence is made possible by unfulflled desires。
“So long as the soul of man is encased in one，two，or three body-containers，sealed tightly with the corks of ignorance and desires，he cannot merge with the sea of Spirit。When the gross physical receptacle is destroyed by the hammer of death，the other two coverings-astral and causal-still remain to prevent the soul from consciously joining the Omnipresent Life。When desirelessness is attained through wisdom，its power disintegrates the two remaining vessels。The tiny human soul emerges，free at last；it is one with the Measureless Amplitude。”
I asked my divine guru to shed further light on the high and mysterious causal world。“The causal world is indescribably subtle，”he replied。In order to understand it，one
would have to possess such tremendous powers of concentration that he could close his eyes and visualize the astral cosmos and the physical cosmos in all their vastness-the luminous balloon with the solid basket-as existing in ideas only。If by this superhuman concentration one succeeded in converting or resolving the two cosmoses with all their complexities into sheer ideas，he would then reach the causal world and stand on the borderline of fusion between mind and matter。There one perceives all created things-solids，liquids，gases，electricity，energy，all beings，gods，men，animals，plants，bacteria-as forms of consciousness，just as a man can close his eyes and realize that he exists，even though his body is invisible to his physical eyes and is present only as an idea。
Souls in the causal world recognize one another as individualized points of joyousSpirit；their thought-things are the only objects which surround them。Causal beings see the difference between their bodies and thoughts to be merely ideas。As a man，closing his eyes，can visualize a dazzling white light or a faint blue haze，so causal beings by thought alone are able to see，hear，feel，taste，and touch；they create anything，or dissolve it，by the power of cosmic mind。
Both death and rebirth in the causal world are in thought。Causal-bodied beings feast only on the ambrosia of eternally new knowledge。They drink from the springs of peace，roam on the trackless soil of perceptions，swim in the ocean-endlessness of bliss。Lo！see their bright thought-bodies zoom past trillions of Spirit-created planets，fresh bubbles of universes，wisdom-stars，spectral dreams of golden nebulae，all over the skiey blue bosom of Infnity！
Many beings remain for thousands of years in the causal cosmos。By deeper ecstasies the freed soul then withdraws itself from the little causal body and puts on the vastness of the causal cosmos。All the separate eddies of ideas，particularized waves of power，love，will，joy，peace，intuition，calmness，self-control，and concentration melt into the ever-joyous Sea of Bliss。No longer does the soul have to experience its joy as an individualized wave of consciousness，but is merged in the One Cosmic Ocean，with all its waves-eternal laughter，thrills，throbs。
“When a soul is out of the cocoon of the three bodies it escapes forever from the law of relativity and becomes the ineffable Ever-Existent。Behold the butterfly of Omnipresence，its wings etched with stars and moons and suns！The soul expanded into Spirit remains alone in the region of lightless light，darkless dark，thoughtless thought，intoxicated with its ecstasy of joy in Gods dream of cosmic creation。”
“A free soul！”I ejaculated in awe。
“When a soul fnally gets out of the three jars of bodily delusions，”Master continued，it becomes one with the Infnite without any loss of individuality。Christ had won this fnal freedom even before he was born as Jesus。In three stages of his past，symbolized in his earth-life as the three days of his experience of death and resurrection，he had attained the power to fully arise in Spirit。
“The undeveloped man must undergo countless earthly and astral and causal incarnations in order to emerge from his three bodies。A master who achieves this fnal freedom may elect to return to earth as a prophet to bring other human beings back to God，or like myself he may choose to reside in the astral cosmos。There a savior assumes some of the burden of the inhabitantskarma and thus helps them to terminate their＆nbsp；cycle of reincarnation in the astral cosmos and go on permanently to the causal spheres。Or a freed soul may enter the causal world to aid its beings to shorten their span in the causal body and thus attain the Absolute Freedom。”
“Resurrected One，I want to know more about the karma which forces souls to return to the three worlds。”I could listen forever，I thought，to my omniscient Master。Never in his earth-life had I been able at one time to assimilate so much of his wisdom。Now for the frst time I was receiving a clear，defnite insight into the enigmatic interspaces on the checkerboard of life and death。
“The physical karma or desires of man must be completely worked out before his permanent stay in astral worlds becomes possible，”my guru elucidated in his thrilling voice。Two kinds of beings live in the astral spheres。Those who still have earthly karma to dispose of and who must therefore reinhabit a gross physical body in order to pay their karmic debts could be classifed，after physical death，as temporary visitors to the astral world rather than as permanent residents。
Beings with unredeemed earthly karma are not permitted after astral death to go to the high causal sphere of cosmic ideas，but must shuttle to and fro from the physical and astral worlds only，conscious successively of their physical body of sixteen gross elements，and of their astral body of nineteen subtle elements。After each loss of his physical body，however，an undeveloped being from the earth remains for the most part in the deep stupor of the death-sleep and is hardly conscious of the beautiful astral sphere。After the astral rest，such a man returns to the material plane for further lessons，gradually accustoming himself，through repeated journeys，to the worlds of subtle astral texture。
Normal or long-established residents of the astral universe，on the other hand，are those who，freed forever from all material longings，need return no more to the gross vibrations of earth。Such beings have only astral and causal karma to work out。At astral death these beings pass to the infnitely fner and more delicate causal world。Shedding the thought-form of the causal body at the end of a certain span，determined by cosmic law，these advanced beings then return to Hiranyaloka or a similar high astral planet，reborn in a new astral body to work out their unredeemed astral karma。
“My son，you may now comprehend more fully that I am resurrected by divine decree，”Sri Yukteswar continued，as a savior of astrally reincarnating souls coming back from the causal sphere，in particular，rather than of those astral beings who are coming up from the earth。Those from the earth，if they still retain vestiges of materialkarma，do not rise to the very high astral planets like Hiranyaloka。
Just as most people on earth have not learned through meditation-acquired vision to appreciate the superior joys and advantages of astral life and thus，after death，desire to return to the limited，imperfect pleasures of earth，so many astral beings，during the normal disintegration of their astral bodies，fail to picture the advanced state of spiritual joy in the causal world and，dwelling on thoughts of the more gross and gaudy astral happiness，yearn to revisit the astral paradise。Heavy astral karma must be redeemed by such beings before they can achieve after astral death a permanent stay in the causal thought-world，so thinly partitioned from the Creator。
Only when a being has no further desires for experiences in the pleasing-to-the-eye astral cosmos，and cannot be tempted to go back there，does he remain in the causal world。Completing there the work of redeeming all causal karma or seeds of past desires，the confned soul thrusts out the last of the three corks of ignorance and，emerging from the fnal jar of the causal body，commingles with the Eternal。
“Now do you understand？”Master smiled so enchantingly！
“Yes，through your grace。I am speechless with joy and gratitude。”
Never from song or story had I ever received such inspiring knowledge。Though the Hindu scriptures refer to the causal and astral worlds and to mans three bodies，how remote and meaningless those pages compared with the warm authenticity of my resurrected Master！For him indeed existed not a single“undiscoverd country from whose bourn no traveller returns”！
“The interpenetration of mans three bodies is expressed in many ways through his threefold nature，”my great guru went on。In the wakeful state on earth a human being is conscious more or less of his three vehicles。When he is sensuously intent on tasting，smelling，touching，listening，or seeing，he is working principally through his physical body。Visualizing or willing，he is working mainly through his astral body。His causal medium fnds expression when man is thinking or diving deep in introspection or meditation；the cosmical thoughts of genius come to the man who habitually contacts his causal body。In this sense an individual may be classifed broadly as‘a material man’，‘an energetic man’，or‘an intellectual man’。
“A man identifes himself about sixteen hours daily with his physical vehicle。Then he sleeps；if he dreams，he remains in his astral body，effortlessly creating any object even as do the astral beings。If mans sleep be deep and dreamless，for several hours he is able to transfer his consciousness，or sense of I-ness，to the causal body；such sleep isrevivifying。A dreamer is contacting his astral and not his causal body；his sleep is not fully refreshing。”
I had been lovingly observing Sri Yukteswar while he gave his wondrous exposition。
“Angelic guru，”I said，“your body looks exactly as it did when last I wept over it in the Puri ashram。”
“O yes，my new body is a perfect copy of the old one。I materialize or dematerialize this form any time at will，much more frequently than I did while on earth。By quick dematerialization，I now travel instantly by light express from planet to planet or，indeed，from astral to causal or to physical cosmos。”My divine guru smiled。“Though you move about so fast these days，I had no diffculty in fnding you at Bombay！”
“O Master，I was grieving so deeply about your death！”
“Ah，wherein did I die？Isnt there some contradiction？”Sri Yukteswars eyes were twinkling with love and amusement。
“You were only dreaming on earth；on that earth you saw my dream-body，”he went on。“Later you buried that dream-image。Now my fner feshly body-which you behold and are even now embracing rather closely！-is resurrected on another fner dream-planet of God。Someday that finer dream-body and finer dream-planet will pass away；they too are not forever。All dream-bubbles must eventually burst at a fnal wakeful touch。Differentiate，my son Yogananda，between dreams and Reality！”
This idea of Vedantic resurrection struck me with wonder。I was ashamed that I had pitied Master when I had seen his lifeless body at Puri。I comprehended at last that my guru had always been fully awake in God，perceiving his own life and passing on earth，and his present resurrection，as nothing more than relativities of divine ideas in the cosmic dream。
“I have now told you，Yogananda，the truths of my life，death，and resurrection。Grieve not for me；rather broadcast everywhere the story of my resurrection from the God-dreamed earth of men to another God-dreamed planet of astrally garbed souls！New hope will be infused into the hearts of misery-mad，death-fearing dreamers of the world。”
“Yes，Master！”How willingly would I share with others my joy at his resurrection！
“On earth my standards were uncomfortably high，unsuited to the natures of most men。Often I scolded you more than I should have。You passed my test。”He added tenderly，“I have also come today to tell you：Never again shall I wear the stern gaze of censure。I shall scold you no more。”
“Dearest Master！Rebuke me a million times-do scold me now！”
Sri Yukteswar gave me light on certain matters which I cannot reveal here。During the two hours that he spent with me in the Bombay hotel room he answered my every question。A number of world prophecies uttered by him that June day in 1936 have already come to pass。
“I leave you now，beloved one！”At these words I felt Master melting away within my encircling arms。
“My child，”his voice rang out，vibrating into my very soul-frmament，“whenever you enter the door of nirbikalpa samadhi and call on me，I shall come to you in fesh and blood，even as today。”
With this celestial promise Sri Yukteswar vanished from my sight。
I was not the only one privileged to behold the Resurrected Guru。
One of Sri Yukteswars chelas was an aged woman，affectionately known as Ma（Mother），whose home was close to the Puri hermitage。Master had often stopped to chat with her during his morning walk。On the evening of March 1，193，Ma arrived at the ashram and asked to see her guru。
“Why，Master died a week ago！”Swami Sebananda，now in charge of the Puri hermitage，looked at her sadly。
“Thats impossible！”She smiled a little。“Perhaps you are just trying to protect the guru from insistent visitors？”
“No。”Sebananda recounted details of the burial。“Come，”he said，“I will take you to the front garden to Sri Yukteswarjis grave。”
Ma shook her head。There is no grave for him！This morning at ten oclock he passed in his usual walk before my door！I talked to him for several minutes in the bright outdoors。
‘Come this evening to the ashram，’he said。
“I am here！Blessings pour on this old gray head！The deathless guru wanted me to understand in what transcendent body he had visited me this morning！”
The astounded Sebananda knelt before her。
“Ma，”he said，“what a weight of grief you lift from my heart！He is risen！”
The divine fgure waved to me，smiling and nodding in greeting。When I could not understand the exact message of Lord Krishna，he departed with a gesture of blessing。Wondrously uplifted，I felt that some spiritual event was presaged。
My Western voyage had，for the time being，been cancelled。I was scheduled for several public addresses in Bombay before leaving on a return visit to Bengal。
Sitting on my bed in the Bombay hotel at three oclock in the afternoon of June 1，1936-one week after the vision of Krishna-I was roused from my meditation by a beatifc light。Before my open and astonished eyes，the whole room was transformed into a strange world，the sunlight transmuted into supernal splendor。
Waves of rapture engulfed me as I beheld the fesh and blood form of Sri Yukteswar！“My son！”Master spoke tenderly，on his face an angel-bewitching smile。
For the first time in my life I did not kneel at his feet in greeting but instantly advanced to gather him hungrily in my arms。
“Master mine，beloved of my heart，why did you leave me？”I was incoherent in an excess of joy。
“Why did you let me go to the Kumbha Mela？How bitterly have I blamed myself for leaving you！”
“I did not want to interfere with your happy anticipation of seeing the pilgrimage spot where frst I met Babaji。I left you only for a little while；am I not with you again？”
“But is it you，Master，the same Lion of God？Are you wearing a body like the one I buried beneath the cruel Puri sands？”
“Yes，my child，I am the same。This is a fesh and blood body。Though I see it as ethereal，to your sight it is physical。From the cosmic atoms I created an entirely new body，exactly like that cosmic-dream physical body which you laid beneath the dream-sands at Puri in your dream-world。I am in truth resurrected-not on earth but on an astralplanet。”
“Deathless guru，tell me more！”
Master gave a quick，mirthful chuckle。“Please，dear one，”he said，“wont you relax your hold a little？”
“Only a little！”I had been embracing him with an octopus grip。I could detect the same faint，fragrant，natural odor which had been characteristic of his body before。
“I have been directed by God to serve on an astral planet as a savior，”Sri Yukteswar explained。It is called Hiranyaloka or‘Illumined Astral Planet’。There I am aiding advanced beings to rid themselves of astral karma and thus attain liberation from astral rebirths。The dwellers on Hiranyaloka are highly developed spiritually；all of them had acquired，in their last earth-incarnation，the meditation-given power of consciously leaving their physical bodies at death。No one can enter Hiranyaloka unless he has passed on earth beyond the state of sabikalpa samadhi into the higher state of nirbikalpa samadhi。
“The Hiranyaloka inhabitants have already passed through the ordinary astral spheres，where nearly all beings from earth must go at death；there they worked out many seeds of their past actions in the astral worlds。None but advanced beings can perform such redemptive work effectually in the astral worlds。Then，in order to free their souls more fully from the cocoon of karmic traces lodged in their astral bodies，these higher beings were drawn by cosmic law to be reborn with new astral bodies on Hiranyaloka，the astral sun or heaven，where I have resurrected to help them。There are also highly advanced beings on Hiranyaloka who have come from the superior，subtler，causal world。”
My mind was now in such perfect attunement with my gurus that he was conveying his word-pictures to me partly by speech and partly by thought-transference。I was thus quickly receiving his idea-tabloids。
“You have read in the scriptures，”Master went on，“that God encased the human soul successively in three bodies-the idea，or causal，body；the subtle astral body，seat of mans mental and emotional natures；and the gross physical body。On earth a man is equipped with his physical senses。An astral being works with his consciousness and feelings and a body made of lifetrons。A causal-bodied being remains in the blissful realm of ideas。My work is with those astral beings who are preparing to enter the causal world。”
“Adorable Master，please tell me more about the astral cosmos。”Though I had slightly relaxed my embrace at Sri Yukteswars request，my arms were still around him。Treasure beyond all treasures，my guru who had laughed at death to reach me！
“There are many astral planets，teeming with astral beings，”Master began。The inhabitants use astral planes，or masses of light，to travel from one planet to another，faster than electricity and radioactive energies。
The astral universe，made of various subtle vibrations of light and color，is hundreds of times larger than the material cosmos。The entire physical creation hangs like a little solid basket under the huge luminous balloon of the astral sphere。Just as many physical suns and stars roam in space，so there are also countless astral solar and stellar systems。Their planets have astral suns and moons，more beautiful than the physical ones。The astral luminaries resemble the aurora borealis-the sunny astral aurora being more dazzling than the mild-rayed moon-aurora。The astral day and night are longer than those of earth。
The astral world is infnitely beautiful，clean，pure，and orderly。There are no dead planets or barren lands。The terrestrial blemishes-weeds，bacteria，insects，snakes-are absent。Unlike the variable climates and seasons of the earth，the astral planets maintainthe even temperature of an eternal spring，with occasional luminous white snow and rain of many-colored lights。Astral planets abound in opal lakes and bright seas and rainbow rivers。
The ordinary astral universe-not the subtler astral heaven of Hiranyaloka-is peopled with millions of astral beings who have come，more or less recently，from the earth，and also with myriads of fairies，mermaids，fshes，animals，goblins，gnomes，demigods and spirits，all residing on different astral planets in accordance with karmic qualifcations。Various spheric mansions or vibratory regions are provided for good and evil spirits。Good ones can travel freely，but the evil spirits are confined to limited zones。In the same way that human beings live on the surface of the earth，worms inside the soil，fsh in water，and birds in air，so astral beings of different grades are assigned to suitable vibratory quarters。
Among the fallen dark angels expelled from other worlds，friction and war take place with lifetronic bombs or mental mantric vibratory rays。These beings dwell in the gloom-drenched regions of the lower astral cosmos，working out their evil karma。
In the vast realms above the dark astral prison，all is shining and beautiful。The astral cosmos is more naturally attuned than the earth to the divine will and plan of perfection。Every astral object is manifested primarily by the will of God，and partially by the will-call of astral beings。They possess the power of modifying or enhancing the grace and form of anything already created by the Lord。
but the astral realms know a happy harmony and equality。Astral beings dematerialize or materialize their forms at will。No fxed，defnite，natural law hems them round-any astral tree，for example，can be successfully asked to produce an astral mango or other desired fruit，fower，or indeed any other object。
No one is born of woman；offspring are materialized by astral beings through the help of their cosmic will into specially patterned，astrally condensed forms。The recently physically disembodied being arrives in an astral family through invitation，drawn by similar mental and spiritual tendencies。
“The astral body is an exact counterpart of the last physical form。Astral beings retain the same appearance which they possessed in youth in their previous earthly sojourn；occasionally an astral being chooses，like myself，to retain his old age appearance。”Master，emanating the very essence of youth，chuckled merrily。
They possess three eyes，two of which are partly closed。The third and chief astral eye，vertically placed on the forehead，is open。Astral beings have all the outer sensoryorgans-ears，eyes，nose，tongue，and skin-but they employ the intuitional sense to experience sensations through any part of the body；they can see through the ear，or nose，or skin。They are able to hear through the eyes or tongue，and can taste through the ears or skin，and so forth。
“Mans physical body is exposed to countless dangers，and is easily hurt or maimed；the ethereal astral body may occasionally be cut or bruised but is healed at once by mere willing。”
“Gurudeva，are all astral persons beautiful？”
“Beauty in the astral world is known to be a spiritual quality，and not an outward conformation，”Sri Yukteswar replied。Astral beings therefore attach little importance to facial features。They have the privilege，however，of costuming themselves at will with new，colorful，astrally materialized bodies。
Joyous astral festivities on the higher astral planets like Hiranyaloka take place when a being is liberated from the astral world through spiritual advancement，and is therefore ready to enter the heaven of the causal world。On such occasions the Invisible Heavenly Father，and the saints who are merged in Him，materialize Themselves into bodies of Their own choice and join the astral celebration。
“Friends of other lives easily recognize one another in the astral world，”Sri Yukteswar went on in his beautiful，flutelike voice。Rejoicing at the immortality of friendship，they realize the indestructibility of love，often doubted at the time of the sad，delusive partings of earthly life。
The intuition of astral beings pierces through the veil and observes human activities on earth，but man cannot view the astral world unless his sixth sense is somewhat developed。Thousands of earth-dwellers have momentarily glimpsed an astral being or an astral world。
The advanced beings on Hiranyaloka remain mostly awake in ecstasy during the long astral day and night，helping to work out intricate problems of cosmic government and the redemption of prodigal sons，earthbound souls。When the Hiranyaloka beings sleep，they have occasional dreamlike astral visions。Their minds are usually engrossed in the conscious state of highest nirbikalpa bliss。
Inhabitants in all parts of the astral worlds are still subject to mental agonies。The sensitive minds of the higher beings on planets like Hiranyaloka feel keen pain if any mistake is made in conduct or perception of truth。These advanced beings endeavor to attune their every act and thought with the perfection of spiritual law。
“Communication among the astral inhabitants is held entirely by astral telepathy and television；there is none of the confusion and misunderstanding of the written and spoken word which earth-dwellers must endure。Man depends upon solids，liquids，gases，and energy for sustenance；astral beings sustain themselves principally by cosmic light。”
“Master mine，do astral beings eat anything？”
“Luminous raylike vegetables abound in the astral soils，”he answered。The astral beings consume vegetables，and drink a nectar fowing from glorious fountains of light and from astral brooks and rivers。Just as invisible images of persons on the earth can be dug out of the ether and made visible by a television apparatus，later being dismissed again into space，so the God-created，unseen astral blueprints of vegetables and plants foating in the ether are precipitated on an astral planet by the will of its inhabitants。In the same way，from the wildest fancy of these beings，whole gardens of fragrant fowers are materialized，returning later to the etheric invisibility。
Although dwellers on the heavenly planets like Hiranyaloka are almost freed from any necessity of eating，still higher is the unconditioned existence of almost completely liberated souls in the causal world，who eat nothing save the manna of bliss。
The span of life in the astral world is much longer than on earth。A normal advanced astral beings average life period is from fve hundred to one thousand years，measured in accordance with earthly standards of time。As certain redwood trees outlive most trees by millenniums，or as some yogis live several hundred years though most men die before the age of sixty，so some astral beings live much longer than the usual span of astral existence。Visitors to the astral world dwell there for a longer or shorter period in accordance with the weight of their physical karma，which draws them back to earth within a specifed time。
The astral being does not have to contend painfully with death at the time of shedding his luminous body。Many of these beings nevertheless feel slightly nervous at the thought of dropping their astral form for the subtler causal one。
“Physical death is attended by the disappearance of breath and the disintegration of fleshly cells。Astral death consists of the dispersement of lifetrons，those manifest units of energy which constitute the life of astral beings。At physical death a being loses his consciousness of flesh and becomes aware of his subtle body in the astral world。Experiencing astral death in due time，a being thus passes from the consciousness of astral birth and death to that of physical birth and death。These recurrent cycles of astral and physical encasement are the ineluctable destiny of all unenlightened beings。Scriptural defnitions of heaven and hell sometimes stir mans deeper-than-subconscious memories of his long series of experiences in the blithesome astral and disappointing terrestrial worlds。”
“Beloved Master，”I asked，“will you please describe more in detail the difference between rebirth on the earth and in the astral and causal spheres？”
“Man as an individualized soul is essentially causal-bodied，”my guru explained。That body is a matrix of the thirty-fve ideas required by God as the basic or causal thought forces from which He later formed the subtle astral body of nineteen elements and the gross physical body of sixteen elements。
The nineteen elements of the astral body are mental，emotional，and lifetronic。The nineteen components are intelligence；ego；feeling；mind（sense-consciousness）；five instruments of knowledge，the subtle counterparts of the senses of sight，hearing，smell，taste，touch；five instruments of action，the mental correspondence for the executive abilities to procreate，excrete，talk，walk，and exercise manual skill；and fve instruments of life force，those empowered to perform the crystallizing，assimilating，eliminating，metabolizing，and circulating functions of the body。This subtle astral encasement of nineteen elements survives the death of the physical body，which is made of sixteen gross metallic and nonmetallic elements。
God thought out different ideas within Himself and projected them into dreams。
In thirty-five thought categories of the causal body，God elaborated all the complexities of man‘s nineteen astral and sixteen physical counterparts。By condensation of vibratory forces，frst subtle，then gross，He produced man’s astral body and fnally his physical form。According to the law of relativity，by which the Prime Simplicity has become the bewildering manifold，the causal cosmos and causal body are different from the astral cosmos and astral body；the physical cosmos and physical body are likewise characteristically at variance with the other forms of creation。
“The fleshly body is made of the fixed，objectified dreams of the Creator。The dualities are ever-present on earth：disease and health，pain and pleasure，loss and gain。Human beings fnd limitation and resistance in three-dimensional matter。When man‘s desire to live is severely shaken by disease or other causes，death arrives；the heavy overcoat of the flesh is temporarily shed。The soul，however，remains encased in the astral and causal bodies。The adhesive force by which all three bodies are held together is desire。The power of unfulflled desires is the root of all man’s slavery。”Physical desires are rooted in egotism and sense pleasures。
Astral desires center around enjoyment in terms of vibration。Astral beings enjoy the ethereal music of the spheres and are entranced by the sight of all creation as exhaustless expressions of changing light。
Causal desires are fulfilled by perception only。The nearly-free beings who are encased only in the causal body see the whole universe as realizations of the dream-ideas of God；they can materialize anything and everything in sheer thought。Causal beings therefore consider the enjoyment of physical sensations or astral delights as gross and suffocating to the souls fne sensibilities。Causal beings work out their desires by materializing them instantly。Those who fnd themselves covered only by the delicate veil of the causal body can bring universes into manifestation even as the Creator。Because all creation is made of the cosmic dream-texture，the soul thinly clothed in the causal has vast realizations of power。
A soul，being invisible by nature，can be distinguished only by the presence of its body or bodies。The mere presence of a body signifes that its existence is made possible by unfulflled desires。
“So long as the soul of man is encased in one，two，or three body-containers，sealed tightly with the corks of ignorance and desires，he cannot merge with the sea of Spirit。When the gross physical receptacle is destroyed by the hammer of death，the other two coverings-astral and causal-still remain to prevent the soul from consciously joining the Omnipresent Life。When desirelessness is attained through wisdom，its power disintegrates the two remaining vessels。The tiny human soul emerges，free at last；it is one with the Measureless Amplitude。”
I asked my divine guru to shed further light on the high and mysterious causal world。“The causal world is indescribably subtle，”he replied。In order to understand it，one
would have to possess such tremendous powers of concentration that he could close his eyes and visualize the astral cosmos and the physical cosmos in all their vastness-the luminous balloon with the solid basket-as existing in ideas only。If by this superhuman concentration one succeeded in converting or resolving the two cosmoses with all their complexities into sheer ideas，he would then reach the causal world and stand on the borderline of fusion between mind and matter。There one perceives all created things-solids，liquids，gases，electricity，energy，all beings，gods，men，animals，plants，bacteria-as forms of consciousness，just as a man can close his eyes and realize that he exists，even though his body is invisible to his physical eyes and is present only as an idea。
Souls in the causal world recognize one another as individualized points of joyousSpirit；their thought-things are the only objects which surround them。Causal beings see the difference between their bodies and thoughts to be merely ideas。As a man，closing his eyes，can visualize a dazzling white light or a faint blue haze，so causal beings by thought alone are able to see，hear，feel，taste，and touch；they create anything，or dissolve it，by the power of cosmic mind。
Both death and rebirth in the causal world are in thought。Causal-bodied beings feast only on the ambrosia of eternally new knowledge。They drink from the springs of peace，roam on the trackless soil of perceptions，swim in the ocean-endlessness of bliss。Lo！see their bright thought-bodies zoom past trillions of Spirit-created planets，fresh bubbles of universes，wisdom-stars，spectral dreams of golden nebulae，all over the skiey blue bosom of Infnity！
Many beings remain for thousands of years in the causal cosmos。By deeper ecstasies the freed soul then withdraws itself from the little causal body and puts on the vastness of the causal cosmos。All the separate eddies of ideas，particularized waves of power，love，will，joy，peace，intuition，calmness，self-control，and concentration melt into the ever-joyous Sea of Bliss。No longer does the soul have to experience its joy as an individualized wave of consciousness，but is merged in the One Cosmic Ocean，with all its waves-eternal laughter，thrills，throbs。
“When a soul is out of the cocoon of the three bodies it escapes forever from the law of relativity and becomes the ineffable Ever-Existent。Behold the butterfly of Omnipresence，its wings etched with stars and moons and suns！The soul expanded into Spirit remains alone in the region of lightless light，darkless dark，thoughtless thought，intoxicated with its ecstasy of joy in Gods dream of cosmic creation。”
“A free soul！”I ejaculated in awe。
“When a soul fnally gets out of the three jars of bodily delusions，”Master continued，it becomes one with the Infnite without any loss of individuality。Christ had won this fnal freedom even before he was born as Jesus。In three stages of his past，symbolized in his earth-life as the three days of his experience of death and resurrection，he had attained the power to fully arise in Spirit。
“The undeveloped man must undergo countless earthly and astral and causal incarnations in order to emerge from his three bodies。A master who achieves this fnal freedom may elect to return to earth as a prophet to bring other human beings back to God，or like myself he may choose to reside in the astral cosmos。There a savior assumes some of the burden of the inhabitantskarma and thus helps them to terminate their＆nbsp；cycle of reincarnation in the astral cosmos and go on permanently to the causal spheres。Or a freed soul may enter the causal world to aid its beings to shorten their span in the causal body and thus attain the Absolute Freedom。”
“Resurrected One，I want to know more about the karma which forces souls to return to the three worlds。”I could listen forever，I thought，to my omniscient Master。Never in his earth-life had I been able at one time to assimilate so much of his wisdom。Now for the frst time I was receiving a clear，defnite insight into the enigmatic interspaces on the checkerboard of life and death。
“The physical karma or desires of man must be completely worked out before his permanent stay in astral worlds becomes possible，”my guru elucidated in his thrilling voice。Two kinds of beings live in the astral spheres。Those who still have earthly karma to dispose of and who must therefore reinhabit a gross physical body in order to pay their karmic debts could be classifed，after physical death，as temporary visitors to the astral world rather than as permanent residents。
Beings with unredeemed earthly karma are not permitted after astral death to go to the high causal sphere of cosmic ideas，but must shuttle to and fro from the physical and astral worlds only，conscious successively of their physical body of sixteen gross elements，and of their astral body of nineteen subtle elements。After each loss of his physical body，however，an undeveloped being from the earth remains for the most part in the deep stupor of the death-sleep and is hardly conscious of the beautiful astral sphere。After the astral rest，such a man returns to the material plane for further lessons，gradually accustoming himself，through repeated journeys，to the worlds of subtle astral texture。
Normal or long-established residents of the astral universe，on the other hand，are those who，freed forever from all material longings，need return no more to the gross vibrations of earth。Such beings have only astral and causal karma to work out。At astral death these beings pass to the infnitely fner and more delicate causal world。Shedding the thought-form of the causal body at the end of a certain span，determined by cosmic law，these advanced beings then return to Hiranyaloka or a similar high astral planet，reborn in a new astral body to work out their unredeemed astral karma。
“My son，you may now comprehend more fully that I am resurrected by divine decree，”Sri Yukteswar continued，as a savior of astrally reincarnating souls coming back from the causal sphere，in particular，rather than of those astral beings who are coming up from the earth。Those from the earth，if they still retain vestiges of materialkarma，do not rise to the very high astral planets like Hiranyaloka。
Just as most people on earth have not learned through meditation-acquired vision to appreciate the superior joys and advantages of astral life and thus，after death，desire to return to the limited，imperfect pleasures of earth，so many astral beings，during the normal disintegration of their astral bodies，fail to picture the advanced state of spiritual joy in the causal world and，dwelling on thoughts of the more gross and gaudy astral happiness，yearn to revisit the astral paradise。Heavy astral karma must be redeemed by such beings before they can achieve after astral death a permanent stay in the causal thought-world，so thinly partitioned from the Creator。
Only when a being has no further desires for experiences in the pleasing-to-the-eye astral cosmos，and cannot be tempted to go back there，does he remain in the causal world。Completing there the work of redeeming all causal karma or seeds of past desires，the confned soul thrusts out the last of the three corks of ignorance and，emerging from the fnal jar of the causal body，commingles with the Eternal。
“Now do you understand？”Master smiled so enchantingly！
“Yes，through your grace。I am speechless with joy and gratitude。”
Never from song or story had I ever received such inspiring knowledge。Though the Hindu scriptures refer to the causal and astral worlds and to mans three bodies，how remote and meaningless those pages compared with the warm authenticity of my resurrected Master！For him indeed existed not a single“undiscoverd country from whose bourn no traveller returns”！
“The interpenetration of mans three bodies is expressed in many ways through his threefold nature，”my great guru went on。In the wakeful state on earth a human being is conscious more or less of his three vehicles。When he is sensuously intent on tasting，smelling，touching，listening，or seeing，he is working principally through his physical body。Visualizing or willing，he is working mainly through his astral body。His causal medium fnds expression when man is thinking or diving deep in introspection or meditation；the cosmical thoughts of genius come to the man who habitually contacts his causal body。In this sense an individual may be classifed broadly as‘a material man’，‘an energetic man’，or‘an intellectual man’。
“A man identifes himself about sixteen hours daily with his physical vehicle。Then he sleeps；if he dreams，he remains in his astral body，effortlessly creating any object even as do the astral beings。If mans sleep be deep and dreamless，for several hours he is able to transfer his consciousness，or sense of I-ness，to the causal body；such sleep isrevivifying。A dreamer is contacting his astral and not his causal body；his sleep is not fully refreshing。”
I had been lovingly observing Sri Yukteswar while he gave his wondrous exposition。
“Angelic guru，”I said，“your body looks exactly as it did when last I wept over it in the Puri ashram。”
“O yes，my new body is a perfect copy of the old one。I materialize or dematerialize this form any time at will，much more frequently than I did while on earth。By quick dematerialization，I now travel instantly by light express from planet to planet or，indeed，from astral to causal or to physical cosmos。”My divine guru smiled。“Though you move about so fast these days，I had no diffculty in fnding you at Bombay！”
“O Master，I was grieving so deeply about your death！”
“Ah，wherein did I die？Isnt there some contradiction？”Sri Yukteswars eyes were twinkling with love and amusement。
“You were only dreaming on earth；on that earth you saw my dream-body，”he went on。“Later you buried that dream-image。Now my fner feshly body-which you behold and are even now embracing rather closely！-is resurrected on another fner dream-planet of God。Someday that finer dream-body and finer dream-planet will pass away；they too are not forever。All dream-bubbles must eventually burst at a fnal wakeful touch。Differentiate，my son Yogananda，between dreams and Reality！”
This idea of Vedantic resurrection struck me with wonder。I was ashamed that I had pitied Master when I had seen his lifeless body at Puri。I comprehended at last that my guru had always been fully awake in God，perceiving his own life and passing on earth，and his present resurrection，as nothing more than relativities of divine ideas in the cosmic dream。
“I have now told you，Yogananda，the truths of my life，death，and resurrection。Grieve not for me；rather broadcast everywhere the story of my resurrection from the God-dreamed earth of men to another God-dreamed planet of astrally garbed souls！New hope will be infused into the hearts of misery-mad，death-fearing dreamers of the world。”
“Yes，Master！”How willingly would I share with others my joy at his resurrection！
“On earth my standards were uncomfortably high，unsuited to the natures of most men。Often I scolded you more than I should have。You passed my test。”He added tenderly，“I have also come today to tell you：Never again shall I wear the stern gaze of censure。I shall scold you no more。”
“Dearest Master！Rebuke me a million times-do scold me now！”
Sri Yukteswar gave me light on certain matters which I cannot reveal here。During the two hours that he spent with me in the Bombay hotel room he answered my every question。A number of world prophecies uttered by him that June day in 1936 have already come to pass。
“I leave you now，beloved one！”At these words I felt Master melting away within my encircling arms。
“My child，”his voice rang out，vibrating into my very soul-frmament，“whenever you enter the door of nirbikalpa samadhi and call on me，I shall come to you in fesh and blood，even as today。”
With this celestial promise Sri Yukteswar vanished from my sight。
I was not the only one privileged to behold the Resurrected Guru。
One of Sri Yukteswars chelas was an aged woman，affectionately known as Ma（Mother），whose home was close to the Puri hermitage。Master had often stopped to chat with her during his morning walk。On the evening of March 1，193，Ma arrived at the ashram and asked to see her guru。
“Why，Master died a week ago！”Swami Sebananda，now in charge of the Puri hermitage，looked at her sadly。
“Thats impossible！”She smiled a little。“Perhaps you are just trying to protect the guru from insistent visitors？”
“No。”Sebananda recounted details of the burial。“Come，”he said，“I will take you to the front garden to Sri Yukteswarjis grave。”
Ma shook her head。There is no grave for him！This morning at ten oclock he passed in his usual walk before my door！I talked to him for several minutes in the bright outdoors。
‘Come this evening to the ashram，’he said。
“I am here！Blessings pour on this old gray head！The deathless guru wanted me to understand in what transcendent body he had visited me this morning！”
The astounded Sebananda knelt before her。
“Ma，”he said，“what a weight of grief you lift from my heart！He is risen！”
