Paramahansa Yogananda

Name: Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42
Author: Paramahansa Yogananda

Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

Summary

“Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42”, published in 1946, is a work by Paramahansa Yogananda. It explores elements such as sadhu, Puri and guru.

Quotes from Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (Paramahansa Yogananda)

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ Seething with rebellion, my soul was like a volcano. By the time I reached the Puri hermitage I was nearing collapse. The inner voice was tenderly repeating: "Collect yourself. Be calm."
I entered the ashram room where Master's body, unimaginably lifelike, was sitting in the lotus posture-a picture of health and loveliness. A short time before his passing, my guru had been slightly ill with fever, but before the day of his ascension into the Infinite, his body had become completely well. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ The peculiar genius of the Indian people is the reverence innate in even the lowliest peasant for the worth of the Spirit, and for the monks and sadhus who have forsaken worldly ties to seek a diviner anchorage. Imposters and hypocrites there are indeed, but India respects all for the sake of the few who illumine the whole land with supernal blessings. Westerners who were viewing the vast spectacle had a unique opportunity to feel the pulse of the land, the spiritual ardor to which India owes her quenchless vitality before the blows of time. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ At the time of his demise he nominated Swami Yogananda his successor as the president of SADHU SABHA.
India is really poorer today by the passing of such a great man. May all fortunate enough to have come near him inculcate in themselves the true spirit of India's culture and SADHANA which was personified in him.
I returned to Calcutta. Not trusting myself as yet to go to the Serampore hermitage with its sacred memories, I summoned Prafulla, Sri Yukteswar's little disciple in Serampore, and made arrangements for him to enter the Ranchi school. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ Imagine the happy life of one unattached to the material world; free of the clothing problem; free of food craving, never begging, never touching cooked food except on alternate days, never carrying a begging bowl; free of all money entanglements, never handling money, never storing things away, always trusting in God; free of transportation worries, never riding in vehicles, but always walking on the banks of the sacred rivers; never remaining in one place longer than a week in order to avoid any growth of attachment. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ Master spoke quietly, his eyes calm and gentle. My heart was palpitating in fear.
"Please send someone to take charge of our ashram at Puri," Sri Yukteswar went on. "I leave everything in your hands. You will be able to successfully sail the boat of your life and that of the organization to the divine shores."
In tears, I was embracing his feet; he rose and blessed me endearingly.
The following day I summoned from Ranchi a disciple, Swami Sebananda, and sent him to Puri to assume the hermitage duties. {FN42-3} Later my guru discussed with me the legal details of settling his estate ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ To my pressing inquiries, Sri Yukteswar only replied, "I shall go to Kidderpore no more." For a moment, Master trembled like a frightened child.
("Attachment to bodily residence, springing up of its own nature [i.e., arising from immemorial roots, past experiences of death] ," Patanjali wrote, {FN42-5} "is present in slight degree even in great saints." In some of his discourses on death, my guru had been wont to add: "Just as a long-caged bird hesitates to leave its accustomed home when the door is opened.") ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ No answer came.
"It is best that Master has completed his union with the Cosmic Beloved," my mind assured me. "He is eternally glowing in the dominion of deathlessness."
"Never again may you see him in the old Serampore mansion," my heart lamented. "No longer may you bring your friends to meet him, or proudly say: 'Behold, there sits India's JNANAVATAR!'"
Mr. Wright made arrangements for our party to sail from Bombay for the West in early June. After a fortnight in May of farewell banquets and speeches at Calcutta, Miss Bletch, Mr. Wright and myself left in the Ford for Bombay. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ The tiger is an animal of great conscious dignity. He prowls around and challenges man until he comes to the flypaper; he then slinks away. No dignified tiger would dare face a human being after squatting down upon a sticky flypaper!"
{FN42-10} After I returned to America I took off sixty-five pounds.
{FN42-11} Sri Yukteswar passed at this hour-7:00 P.M., March 9, 1936.
{FN42-12} Funeral customs in India require cremation for householders; swamis and monks of other orders are not cremated, but buried. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ Apparently I was remaining oblivious to implications in Sri Yukteswar's attitude because the Lord wished to spare me the experience of being forced, helplessly, to witness my guru's passing. It has always happened in my life that, at the death of those dearly beloved by me, God has compassionately arranged that I be distant from the scene. {FN42-7}
Our party reached the KUMBHA MELA on January 23, 1936. The surging crowd of nearly two million persons was an impressive sight, even an overwhelming one. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ Keshabananda chuckled. "Later a Ganges flood washed away the hermitage and cobras alike. My disciples then helped me to build this Brindaban ashram."
One of our party asked the swami how he had protected himself against the Himalayan tigers. {FN42-9}
Keshabananda shook his head. "In those high spiritual altitudes," he said, "wild beasts seldom molest the yogis. Once in the jungle I encountered a tiger face-to-face. At my sudden ejaculation, the animal was transfixed as though turned to stone." Again the swami chuckled at his memories. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ In India (nowhere else, alas!) a well-padded swami is considered a delightful sight. {FN42-10}
Wikipedia:Yogananda Image Gallery (Mr. Wright, myself, Miss Bletch--in Egypt) Wikipedia:Yogananda Image Gallery (Rabindranath Tagore, inspired poet of Bengal, and Nobel Prizeman in literature) Wikipedia:Yogananda Image Gallery (Mr. Wright and I pose with the venerable Swami Keshabananda and a disciple at the stately hermitage in Brindaban) After dinner, Keshabananda led me to a secluded nook. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi — Chapter 42 (1946)

“ AHAM-SA is literally "I am He."
{FN42-2} They have generally evaded the difficulty by addressing me as SIR.
{FN42-3} At the Puri ashram, Swami Sebananda is still conducting a small, flourishing yoga school for boys, and meditation groups for adults. Meetings of saints and pundits convene there periodically.
{FN42-4} A section of Calcutta.
{FN42-5} APHORISMS: II:9.
{FN42-6} Religious MELAS are mentioned in the ancient MAHABHARATA. The Chinese traveler Hieuen Tsiang has left an account of a vast KUMBHA MELA held in A.D. 644 at Allahabad. The largest MELA is held every twelfth year ”

Paramahansa Yogananda

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