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Lanfranc Unregistered User (1/27/02 1:46 pm) Reply	Storys about Master - Unofficial Hello everyone! I am an A-nanda member who has been observing the interesting debates going on on this website. It seems to me that there are several main themes. There is the sharing of stories and information among those who have been hurt by SRF, debates about where to go from here, etc. But one of the points that I thought most intriguing was that of an interest in searching for an image of Yogananda that was more real than the "official" one promoted by SRF. A de-sanitized—a living, breathing Yogananda. And the thought occurred to me: why don't we pool our resources and share those stories of experiences of Yogananda that we have had, or heard of, even second or third hand. I'm sure that many of you know stories that I have never heard. And I know at least three (from people other than Swami Kriya-nanda) that I'm sure most of you have never heard. It seems to me that, as time goes on, these stories will be lost forever unless they are recorded somewhere, somehow. This seems an ideal forum for such a compilation. I recall reading somewhere here where someone wrote of a direct disciple of Master who was dying, and I wanted to read the stories that that disciple had to share. Most of those who knew Yogananda are gone. But many of those people spoke to others. Let's gather together those stories that we have, lest they be lost to human memory forever. P.S. I think that, while doing our best to be as accurate in our storytelling as possible, that we should not feel shy if we heard the stories long ago and are unsure of our memories. Even if the stories are slightly apocryphal, they have value. And better one with slight variations than that story unshared. P.S.2 I also think it might be interesting to have similar topic windows dedicated to St. Lynn, Sister Gyanamata, Doctor Lewis, and others. Anyway, let me know what you think. The light, love, peace and joy of Babaji, Lahiri, Sri Yukteswar and Master to you all. SRFWalrus Edit: I have no idea why the title was blanked out like that. I think I fixed it. Edited by: srfwalrus at: 1/28/02 10:03:58 pm
Annonimous Unregistered User (1/27/02 2:21 pm) Reply	Yogananda's Mahasamadhi According Swami Premananda Good idea Lanfranc! Here is my first contribution: ------------------------------------------------------ MY GURUDEV: SWAMI YOGANANDA PARAMHANSA BY SWAMI PREMANANDA (From “The Mystic Cross” magazine, Dedication Issue, Self-Revelation Church of Absolute Monism, Copyright 1998 Swami Premananda, p. 4-11) I know not who led me to your hallowed being. I came, and you received me with the divine love of your heart. You illumined my soul with the light of your soul. We became one soul in the cosmic Soul. We were made one self in the cosmic Self. Trinity evolves into duality; duality attains perfection in unity. Unity melts into the One – the Absolute. Such is the heavenly glory when, in this plane of realities shrouded in evanescent multiplicity, two souls meet once again in the blessedness of truth, goodness and beauty. The light of your spiritual ideal always guided me through all the vicissitudes of life on earth wherein service commingles with joy and sorrow, and wherein hope and aspiration are clouded by doubt and disappointment. Travelling on the path of light, peace came to me and confided its secret to my heart. I understood its message and realized that selfless service is the path of renunciation and the unfailing source of inner contentment. Peace is inner contentment, subjective happiness and pure joy. Within the fortnight of our first meeting at Ranchi you accepted me as a student of your school, and in a very simple and sacred room, with a picture of Lahiri Mahasaya before us you initiated me into the Kriya Yoga of Babaji. You became my Guru and I your disciple. One day I saw a soft shaft of light from the afternoon sun come down through the window of the upper northwest corner of the ashram stone house and gently illumine your youthful face while you were sleeping on a cot. Outside the storehouse, Bimal and I were preparing a light lunch for all the ashramites. You woke up and told us that you had had a vision that you were going to America. Almost instantly Bimal jumped up and ran to inform all the teachers and students of your school. Within a few minutes, everyone knew of your vision of your future mission in America. A holiday was declared, and late that very afternoon we all went with you to the railroad station to see you off to Calcutta. I was happily among the few who went with you finally to the Calcutta dock from where the S. S. CITY OF SPARTA sailed out to sea taking you to America. At that time, a little incident took place which was rather amusing, but at the same time revealing of your character. You were talking to those of us who had come from Ranchi where we all stood along the rail of the main deck. The ship’s captain came near you and said, “Either you go to your cabin or get off the ship.” You turned around, looking him firmly in the eye, and replied, “Sir, a gentleman does not speak in that manner.” The humbled English captain withdrew with bowed head, speechless. Behind us on the dock stood a towering spiritual personality whose noble countenance was aglow with pride, love and blessings for you. It was your Gurudeva Swami Sri Yukteswarji whose hallowed feet you had touched only a little while before. Your father, brothers Gora and Bishnu, your sister and others of your father’s family loved and cared for us because they believe, and truly so, that we were the children of your spiritual family. You sent for me to come to America. On my way to the train, I went to see your saintly father (B. C. Ghose) at his Garpar Road home in Calcutta to offer my reverential salutation at his hallowed feet. He blessed me with these words, “Jotin, now go to America and spread my Guru’s (Lahiri’s) message.” I promised him with my soul that I would do my very best to fulfill his wish. Lahiri’s blessings came to me through your father. How totally and completely has my whole life been blessed by the love, grace and goodness of godly souls. The initial stage of my ministry had a very humble beginning. I started in a basement room in the poor section of Northwest Washington at Columbia Road in the District of Columbia. Those days were extremely difficult, and life was very harsh. I suffered both physically and emotionally. A friend of mine told me, “Brahmachari, your suffering is indeed too much to bear. Why don’t you go home? Go back to India. Here they are not ready for your philosophy, nor are they really interested in your religion.” I replied, “Some day India will be free, and here in this nation’s capital, which indeed will become the world’s capital, I want to leave something of the best, the highest and the noblest that India has to offer.” In spite of cruel and crushing blows, humiliation and spitefulness I performed all my actions and fulfilled all my obligations to the best of my ability with utmost selflessness in the spirit of renunciation. I endured a great deal and suffered much. I have often faltered and stumbled along the way. Yet, you were pleased and proud of my achievements in establishing your pure and highest ideal in the city that enshrines the parchment that records for all mankind and for all eternity man’s inalienable right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You told me, “Jotin, what you have accomplished in Washington, I could not have done.” I came to be with you in California during the summer months as I had done for many years. In June, 1941, at Encinitas in your dream temple of golden lotus and blue marble, observing the rites and whispering the sacred Word, the Mantram, you ordained and consecrated me a swami of the ancient Swami Order of Swami Sankarachariya and gave me my new name, Swami Premananda. You promised that you would again visit the Washington church and return to the hallowed ground where we stood together remembering the life and message of our great gurus. But you went away, my godly Gurudeva. You passed away renouncing your mortal garb. Over half a century has gone since we renewed our spiritual relationship in this life. I never asked of you anything of material return. How could I? You have bestowed upon me abundantly the spiritual treasures of your divine soul. I gathered them with the purity and devotion of my soul. When souls meet, the finiteness of duality fades away into the joy of oneness, in transcendental ecstasy. Like the Creator, shrouded by the mantle of His own Maya you have purposefully and most adroitly concealed your true self behind the veil of man’s innate curiosity and infatuation for the mystifying and enticing supersensory phenomena. In your own inimitable way you have lured devotees for all time to come to believe in God and to truly live on earth by following the path of godliness. Now you have gone away, leaving all your earthly possessions to the earth. Never again will I touch your hallowed feet nor will I feel the tenderness of your loving hands upon my head receiving the blessings of your heart and soul. I was not broken-hearted, nor was I sad. On the contrary, I was filled with joy and ecstasy remembering what you and I know regarding the truth and beauty of death. Death is the Mahasamadhi, the liberation of soul in the blissful perfection of God. Now I realize why you sent for me to come almost immediately after your dehatyag (renunciation of the body). You beckoned me in order that I may receive a small portion of your deathless life to my life. In your death you gave the affirmation of the transitory nature of the body and the immortality of the soul. What greater blessing can a disciple receive from his Gurudeva? Upon my arrival at Mount Washington six disciples of yours – my sister disciples – took me to your quarters upstairs. Thoughts of divine grace and blessed joy which I received from you there in your living area for so many years filled my heart. The disciples ushered me to your bedroom. There on the white silken sheet-covered bed rested your body, motionless in sublime serenity. Immersed in etheric radiance your earthly form laid still – still as the summit of the Everest Mount beneath the star-lit heaven of midnight blue. Even in death your countenance was shining in a heavenly glow. We, the seven of us, stood in a semi-circle at your feet. I was near to your heart on the left side. We all remained quiet in silence. I gazed upon your mortal form, and the thought of your immortal soul rose in my mind. I longed to commune with you once again. My soul prayed that you, your soul would come to us. You appeared before me, and I knew you were with us in the room. I placed my right hand upon your heart and motioned to my fellow sister disciples to do the same. Our hands jointly rested upon your heart and we all took a sacred vow. I uttered the words and all followed me. I felt your presence. To assure us of your presence among us and the joyousness of your soul you shed tears. Tears of love and joy trickled down the corners of both of your closed eyes. The disciples stood transfixed observing this unbelievable occurrence. Astounded and amazed, Lanie, our youngest and most beloved sister-disciple, always quick with her words of self-expression – spoke out with trembling voice, “Can this be possible?” “Can... Can...?” She said this three times. I remained silent in my joyousness. In soft voice I requested it, and sister Daya gently wiped the tears from your eyes. Sisters Mataji, Durga and others stood in silence. I enjoined upon them, “please do not tell anyone what you have witnessed here this day.” They promised with their silent nods. I beheld your soul, free from its fleshly abode, in the spiritual body of the astral form gradually fading away into the sphere of etheric light. Each of us with folded palms, in love and reverence and with ever-flowing joy in our hearts, slowly and quietly walked out of your room. May this eternal blessing of your immortal soul continue to inspire and guide us with assurance and faith forever. O my adorable Gurudeva, where else shall I go to receive the heavenly grace but to your godly heart! We stood in a circle in the front lobby of the Mt. Washington mansion. We were together to decide what should be done with your body. I was informed that your brother Sananda Gora had sent a cable from India addressed to me at SRF Headquarters, saying, “Jotin, send brother’s body home.” Dr. Lewis thoughtfully said that I, being our Guru’s countryman, should make the final decision. My mind recalled the manner in which you had made the final disposition of your Guru’s body. You had returned to India for a visit. While you were there in your Motherland, your Gurudeva Swami Sri Yukteswar passed on. You told me that you did not cremate his body, as is usually the custom of the Hindus. You had a very deep grave dug in the sands, placed his body in it and filled it with huge quantity of salts and finally covered the grave with thick layers of sand. Thus you interred your Guru’s body in front of his beloved Karar Ashram at the seashore in Puri. I followed your lead and expressed myself saying that your body should not be cremated – that it should be kept in the U.S.A. We all agreed. St. Lynn asked me to conduct your funeral service. I consented and felt blessed. In pure fun and frolic – merriment and youthful jollity, with laughter and tears (yes in tears also) we have welcomed our responsibilities and fulfilled them with determination of mind and firmness of purpose as well as with devotion of heart and love of soul. We made our days blessed in holiness with songs, prayers and meditation. Our life was full and fruitful. But now you are gone. In the sanctuary of Mt. Washington, which you considered to be truly your own home, in the presence of your disciples, devotees and friends, as I performed the holy rite of liberation standing at the head of the flower covered casket, mine was the last hand to touch your sacred body – touching the shoulders, the heart and the forehead (the spiritual eye, the Kutastha) while chanting the symbolic Mantram, “By the touch of this fire, this body is purified, By the touch of this water, this body is returned to its immortal nature, By the touch of this sandalwood paste, this body is returned to God with devotion.” (...) The Forest Lawn: One day not very long before your departure from this world of sands and seas you took me to that beautiful park. It was the twilight hour of a glorious day. We walked through the mausoleum and strolled in the lovely garden. Flowers grew by the side of the road revealing the beauty of the All-Beautiful. In pensive mood, you said to me “Premananda, this place is so beautiful that it inspires one to welcome death just to be here.” These words of yours made me wonder! Now your body, embalmed and sealed in a casket, lies in a vault in the marble mausoleum. You know the place. I, with my soul, bear witness to the truth of your extra-sensory yogic perception. Alas (pity, what a pity) few, so very few, are spiritually qualified to comprehend the truth of the immensity of your divine illumination and self-perfection. Once again I returned to this hallowed ground and stood in front of the vault that sheltered your earthly form. I most reverently placed one fresh cut yellow rose in the golden vase in front of the ivory-white glistening tablet. There I stood in quiet contemplation, alone. I pondered. And as the setting sun melted into twilight on the distant horizon, I offered my silent salutation. Absorbed in my own thought I slowly – indeed very slowly – walked away. ------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: You may know that, according to SRF (see "Paramahansa Yogananda in Memoriam", p. 5 , "the ascension ceremony was conducted by Rajarsi Janakananda and Rev. M. W. Lewis." No mention is made to Swami Premananda active role at that ceremony. Now you all have another history. Furthermore, in the photo showed in the page 76, Premananda's picture was AIRBRUSHED!!! Yes, airbrushed, as the Russian communists used to do with their "historical" photos. In the original photo he stands just beside Rajarsi and in front of Dr. Lewis. Those who have the above magazine can see him.
Lobo Registered User (1/27/02 9:26 pm) Reply	Re: Yogananda's Mahasamadhi According Swami Premananda That is a wonderful memory poem by Swami Premanandaji. I have had the opportunity to read it before and while reading it this time I was struck anew at the natural grace and effortless harmony that seems to have been their relationship. We in the west, so conditioned by our materialist culture have been brought to the idea of the guru through various avenues and yet the idea remains strange for our countrymen, often derided. Yet for Jotin, later Premanandaji, he was naturally attuned to his guru through the vibrations of his culture and perhaps in that manner understood Master in a way that we, while striving to do so, just can't seem to match. Taking Premananda on a pre-death visit to Forest Lawn is a very interesting part of the story. I wonder if Master, who apparently saw into the future through his yogic siddhi's foresaw the recent dust-up with his organization and its attempts to build a mausleum at Mt. Washington. Personally I agree with Gora's idea. The body should have been 'shipped home.' But again, Master knew differently as is apparent to all. It will make for interesting times in the future as the body, as has been lately, becomes a matter of dispute between the various direct disciples who all claim to be doing his wishes. Maybe it will just end up in a grave, filled with salt and covered with sand, and topped with a tasteful, respectful non-ostentacious mandir for meditation and devotion.
username Registered User (1/28/02 8:50 am) Reply	Hindu tradition Hindu's cremate their dead and put the ashes in the Ganges. So, you would never ship a body home, only send the ashes to India to be put in the Ganges (like George Harrison did) However, those who have reached high states of meditation are not cremated. They are buried sitting in the cross legged position. The devotees use an instrument to break the bones of the top of the skull, so to help the energy leave from the highest chakra. According to Hindu belief, your energy leaves the body through one of your chakras. If your energy would leave from your highest chakras, those around the dying person, will hear a popping sound as the skull moves to let the energy leave from the highest chakra. I believe that Yogananda's body should remain where his disciples are. Other Indian guru's body are buried where the main ashram are, so in this respect, SRF moving Yogananda's body would be in keeping with Indian tradition. Personally, though, I think householders would have more access to Yogananda's body if he stays at Forest Lawn. And if you live in the LA area, and haven't gone there, here is how to do it. You go to the forest lawn (the one in Glendale) and stop at the gate and say you want to see Yogananda. They will give you a map to the building where his body is. Then you park outside, ring the bell and say you are there to see Yogananda. They turn on the music and buzz open the door. Walk down the main hall and then turn left at the last main hall, go down to the statue at the end and make a right and then a left. Go down this hall almost to the end. He is in the 2nd (I think) little hall on your left. If you are facing the window, he would be on your right hand side. He must have perpetual care, because he always has flowers. (I may have these directions a little wrong)
lanfranc Unregistered User (1/28/02 10:57 am) Reply	Questions for Walrus This message is actually two questions for SRF Walrus. One: is it possible to replace the "swear word" listed on the title of this thread with "stories" which is the word that was replaced. (I had no idea that "stories" would be a buzz word!) And: Two: I originally posted on the board related to SRF teachings because this subject is one that was inspired by SRF devotees' postings, and it is based on a subject that I really think is of interest to all. By moving this subject here to the A-nanda section, it means that only those SRF devotees who have an interest in A-nanda will see it and contribute to it. This vastly minimizes the number of potential stories of Master shared, which I think is a disservice to everyone. Do you disagree, or feel that stories of Master undoctored by SRF would be uninteresting to the SRF members who visit this website? Or is any subject initiated by someone from A-nanda destined to end up on the A-nanda board, regardless of the topic and its relevance? This is your website and your decision. But the way it is now, with this subject being on this sideline section, and with no one even knowing what it is about unless they happen to open it out of curiosity, discourages me from taking the time necessary to type up the little-known stories of Master that I wished to share—with SRF members and anyone who visits this website. Please respond. Sincere best wishes, Lanfranc
AumBoy Registered User (1/28/02 12:15 pm) Reply	Re: Questions for Walrus Maybe a section entitled, "Stories of Yogananda"? Would that work?
Lanfranc Unregistered User (1/28/02 2:05 pm) Reply	re: AumBoy posting AumBoy, sounds good to me. If Walrus agrees and creates that section, or if you or another SRF devotee were to start a subject under a similar name in a mainstream section, I would happily post the stories I've got, fizzling in my memory. Jai guru!
Lanfranc Unregistered User (1/30/02 8:54 am) Reply	A New Section SRF Walrus has kindly created a new section for Stories of Yogananda. For those interested, I will be posting the stories I know in that section. Please post yours there also. Blessings to all.

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