My keen love of travel was seldom hindered by Father. He permitted me, even as a mere2 boy, to visit many cities and pilgrimage spots. Usually one or more of my friends accompanied me; we would travel comfortably on first-class passes provided by Father. His position as a railroad official was fully3 satisfactory to the nomads4 in the family.
Father promised to give my request due consideration. The next day he summoned me and held out a round-trip pass from Bareilly to Benares, a number of rupee notes, and two letters.
"I have a business matter to propose to a Benares friend, Kedar Nath Babu. Unfortunately I have lost his address. But I believe you will be able to get this letter to him through our common friend, Swami Pranabananda. The swami, my brother disciple5, has attained6 an exalted7 spiritual stature8. You will benefit by his company; this second note will serve as your introduction."
Father's eyes twinkled as he added, "Mind, no more flights from home!"
I set forth9 with the zest10 of my twelve years (though time has never dimmed my delight in new scenes and strange faces). Reaching Benares, I proceeded immediately to the swami's residence. The front door was open; I made my way to a long, hall-like room on the second floor. A rather stout11 man, wearing only a loincloth, was seated in lotus posture12 on a slightly raised platform. His head and unwrinkled face were clean-shaven; a beatific13 smile played about his lips. To dispel14 my thought that I had intruded15, he greeted me as an old friend.
"Baba anand (bliss16 to my dear one)." His welcome was given heartily17 in a childlike voice. I knelt and touched his feet.
"Are you Swami Pranabananda?"
He nodded. "Are you Bhagabati's son?" His words were out before I had had time to get Father's letter from my pocket. In astonishment18, I handed him the note of introduction, which now seemed superfluous19.
"Of course I will locate Kedar Nath Babu for you." The saint again surprised me by his clairvoyance20. He glanced at the letter, and made a few affectionate references to my parent.
"You know, I am enjoying two pensions. One is by the recommendation of your father, for whom I once worked in the railroad office. The other is by the recommendation of my Heavenly Father, for whom I have conscientiously21 finished my earthly duties in life."
I found this remark very obscure. "What kind of pension, sir, do you receive from the Heavenly Father? Does He drop money in your lap?"
He laughed. "I mean a pension of fathomless22 peace-a reward for many years of deep meditation23. I never crave24 money now. My few material needs are amply provided for. Later you will understand the significance of a second pension."
Abruptly25 terminating our conversation, the saint became gravely motionless. A sphinxlike air enveloped26 him. At first his eyes sparkled, as if observing something of interest, then grew dull. I felt abashed27 at his pauciloquy; he had not yet told me how I could meet Father's friend. A trifle restlessly, I looked about me in the bare room, empty except for us two. My idle gaze took in his wooden sandals, lying under the platform seat.
"Little sir, 3-1 don't get worried. The man you wish to see will be with you in half an hour." The yogi was reading my mind-a feat28 not too difficult at the moment!
Again he fell into inscrutable silence. My watch informed me that thirty minutes had elapsed.
The swami aroused himself. "I think Kedar Nath Babu is nearing the door."
I heard somebody coming up the stairs. An amazed incomprehension arose suddenly; my thoughts raced in confusion: "How is it possible that Father's friend has been summoned to this place without the help of a messenger? The swami has spoken to no one but myself since my arrival!"
Abruptly I quitted the room and descended29 the steps. Halfway30 down I met a thin, fair-skinned man of medium height. He appeared to be in a hurry.
"Are you Kedar Nath Babu?" Excitement colored my voice.
"Yes. Are you not Bhagabati's son who has been waiting here to meet me?" He smiled in friendly fashion.
"Sir, how do you happen to come here?" I felt baffled resentment31 over his inexplicable32 presence.
"Everything is mysterious today! Less than an hour ago I had just finished my bath in the Ganges when Swami Pranabananda approached me. I have no idea how he knew I was there at that time.
"'Bhagabati's son is waiting for you in my apartment,' he said. 'Will you come with me?' I gladly agreed. As we proceeded hand in hand, the swami in his wooden sandals was strangely able to outpace me, though I wore these stout walking shoes.
"'How long will it take you to reach my place?' Pranabanandaji suddenly halted to ask me this question.
"'About half an hour.'
"'I have something else to do at present.' He gave me an enigmatical glance. 'I must leave you behind. You can join me in my house, where Bhagabati's son and I will be awaiting you.'
"Before I could remonstrate33, he dashed swiftly past me and disappeared in the crowd. I walked here as fast as possible."
This explanation only increased my bewilderment. I inquired how long he had known the swami.
"We met a few times last year, but not recently. I was very glad to see him again today at the bathing ghat ."
"I cannot believe my ears! Am I losing my mind? Did you meet him in a vision, or did you actually see him, touch his hand, and hear the sound of his feet?"
"I don't know what you're driving at!" He flushed angrily. "I am not lying to you. Can't you understand that only through the swami could I have known you were waiting at this place for me?"
"Why, that man, Swami Pranabananda, has not left my sight a moment since I first came about an hour ago." I blurted34 out the whole story.
His eyes opened widely. "Are we living in this material age, or are we dreaming? I never expected to witness such a miracle in my life! I thought this swami was just an ordinary man, and now I find he can materialize an extra body and work through it!" Together we entered the saint's room.
"Look, those are the very sandals he was wearing at the ghat ," Kedar Nath Babu whispered. "He was clad only in a loincloth, just as I see him now."
As the visitor bowed before him, the saint turned to me with a quizzical smile.
"Why are you stupefied at all this? The subtle unity35 of the phenomenal world is not hidden from true yogis. I instantly see and converse36 with my disciples37 in distant Calcutta. They can similarly transcend38 at will every obstacle of gross matter."
It was probably in an effort to stir spiritual ardor39 in my young breast that the swami had condescended40 to tell me of his powers of astral radio and television. 3-2 But instead of enthusiasm, I experienced only an awe-stricken fear. Inasmuch as I was destined41 to undertake my divine search through one particular guru-Sri Yukteswar, whom I had not yet met-I felt no inclination42 to accept Pranabananda as my teacher. I glanced at him doubtfully, wondering if it were he or his counterpart before me.
pranabananda
Swami Pranabananda
"The Saint With Two Bodies"
An Exalted Disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya
The master sought to banish43 my disquietude by bestowing44 a soul- awakening45 gaze, and by some inspiring words about his guru.
"Lahiri Mahasaya was the greatest yogi I ever knew. He was Divinity Itself in the form of flesh."
If a disciple, I reflected, could materialize an extra fleshly form at will, what miracles indeed could be barred to his master?
"I will tell you how priceless is a guru's help. I used to meditate46 with another disciple for eight hours every night. We had to work at the railroad office during the day. Finding difficulty in carrying on my clerical duties, I desired to devote my whole time to God. For eight years I persevered47, meditating48 half the night. I had wonderful results; tremendous spiritual perceptions illumined my mind. But a little veil always remained between me and the Infinite. Even with super-human earnestness, I found the final irrevocable union to be denied me. One evening I paid a visit to Lahiri Mahasaya and pleaded for his divine intercession. My importunities continued during the entire night.
"'Angelic Guru, my spiritual anguish49 is such that I can no longer bear my life without meeting the Great Beloved face to face!'
"'What can I do? You must meditate more profoundly.'
"'I am appealing to Thee, O God my Master! I see Thee materialized before me in a physical body; bless me that I may perceive Thee in Thine infinite form!'
"Lahiri Mahasaya extended his hand in a benign50 gesture. 'You may go now and meditate. I have interceded51 for you with Brahma.' 3-3
"Immeasurably uplifted, I returned to my home. In meditation that night, the burning Goal of my life was achieved. Now I ceaselessly enjoy the spiritual pension. Never from that day has the Blissful Creator remained hidden from my eyes behind any screen of delusion52."
Pranabananda's face was suffused53 with divine light. The peace of another world entered my heart; all fear had fled. The saint made a further confidence.
"Some months later I returned to Lahiri Mahasaya and tried to thank him for his bestowal54 of the infinite gift. Then I mentioned another matter.
"'Divine Guru, I can no longer work in the office. Please release me. Brahma keeps me continuously intoxicated55.'
"'Apply for a pension from your company.'
"'What reason shall I give, so early in my service?'
"'Say what you feel.'
"'At work, I find an overpowering sensation rising in my spine57. 3-4 It permeates58 my whole body, unfitting me for the performance of my duties.'
"Without further questioning the physician recommended me highly for a pension, which I soon received. I know the divine will of Lahiri Mahasaya worked through the doctor and the railroad officials, including your father. Automatically they obeyed the great guru's spiritual direction, and freed me for a life of unbroken communion with the Beloved." 3-5
After this extraordinary revelation, Swami Pranabananda retired59 into one of his long silences. As I was taking leave, touching60 his feet reverently61, he gave me his blessing62:
"Your life belongs to the path of renunciation and yoga. I shall see you again, with your father, later on." The years brought fulfillment to both these predictions. 3-6
Kedar Nath Babu walked by my side in the gathering63 darkness. I delivered Father's letter, which my companion read under a street lamp.
"Your father suggests that I take a position in the Calcutta office of his railroad company. How pleasant to look forward to at least one of the pensions that Swami Pranabananda enjoys! But it is impossible; I cannot leave Benares. Alas64, two bodies are not yet for me!"
3-1: Choto Mahasaya is the term by which a number of Indian saints addressed me. It translates "little sir.".
3-2: In its own way, physical science is affirming the validity of laws discovered by yogis through mental science. For example, a demonstration65 that man has televisional powers was given on Nov. 26, 1934 at the Royal University of Rome. "Dr. Giuseppe Calligaris, professor of neuro-psychology, pressed certain points of a subject's body and the subject responded with minute descriptions of other persons and objects on the opposite side of a wall. Dr. Calligaris told the other professors that if certain areas on the skin are agitated66, the subject is given super-sensorial impressions enabling him to see objects that he could not otherwise perceive. To enable his subject to discern things on the other side of a wall, Professor Calligaris pressed on a spot to the right of the thorax for fifteen minutes. Dr. Calligaris said that if other spots of the body were agitated, the subjects could see objects at any distance, regardless of whether they had ever before seen those objects.".
3-3: God in His aspect of Creator; from Sanskrit root brih , to expand. When Emerson's poem Brahma appeared in the Atlantic Monthly in 1857, most the readers were bewildered. Emerson chuckled67. "Tell them," he said, "to say 'Jehovah' instead of 'Brahma' and they will not feel any perplexity."
3-4: In deep meditation, the first experience of Spirit is on the altar of the spine, and then in the brain. The torrential bliss is overwhelming, but the yogi learns to control its outward manifestations68.
3-5: After his retirement69, Pranabananda wrote one of the most profound commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, available in Bengali and Hindi.
3-6: See chapter 27.
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1
coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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nomads
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| n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 )；流浪者；游牧生活；流浪生活 | |
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disciple
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| n.信徒，门徒，追随者 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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beatific
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| adj.快乐的，有福的 | |
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dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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clairvoyance
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| n.超人的洞察力 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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remonstrate
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| v.抗议，规劝 | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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transcend
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| vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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46
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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47
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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49
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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51
interceded
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| v.斡旋，调解( intercede的过去式和过去分词 )；说情 | |
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52
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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53
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
bestowal
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| 赠与，给与； 贮存 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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58
permeates
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| 弥漫( permeate的第三人称单数 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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64
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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65
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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67
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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