{FN27-1} Vidyalaya, school. Brahmacharya
here refers to one of the four stages in the Vedic
plan for man’s life, as comprising that of (1)
the celibate student (Brahmachari); (2) the householder
with worldly responsibilities (GRIHASTHA); (3) the
hermit (VANAPRASTHA); (4) the forest dweller or wanderer,
free from all earthly concerns (sannyasi).
This ideal scheme of life, while not widely observed
in modern India, still has many devout followers.
The four stages are carried out religiously under
the lifelong direction of a guru.
{FN27-2} A number of American students also have mastered
various ASANAS or postures, including Bernard Cole,
an instructor in Los Angeles of the Self-Realization
Fellowship teachings.
{FN27-3} mark 10:29-30..
{FN27-4} Yogoda: Yoga, union, harmony, equilibrium;
da, that which imparts. Sat-Sanga:
Sat, truth; Sanga, fellowship. In the
West, to avoid the use of a Sanskrit name, the Yogoda
sat-Sanga movement has been called the self-realization
fellowship.
{FN27-5} The activities at Ranchi are described more
fully in chapter 40. The Lakshmanpur school is
in the capable charge of Mr. G. C. Dey, B.A.
The medical department is ably supervised by Dr. S.
N. Pal and Sasi Bhusan Mullick.
{FN27-6} One of Lahiri Mahasaya’s favorite remarks,
given as encouragement for his students’ perseverance.
A free translation is: “Striving, striving,
one day behold! the Divine Goal!”
{FN27-7} i.e., give up the body.
{FN27-8} Lahiri Mahasaya’s guru, who is still
living. (See chapter 33.)
{FN27-9} The second Kriya, as taught by Lahiri
Mahasaya, enables the devotee that has mastered it
to leave and return to the body consciously at any
time. Advanced yogis use the second Kriya technique
during the last exit of death, a moment they invariably
know beforehand.
{FN27-10} My meeting with Keshabananda is described
in chapter 42.
KASHI, REBORN AND REDISCOVERED
“Please do not go into the water. Let us
bathe by dipping our buckets.”
I was addressing the young Ranchi students who were
accompanying me on an eight-mile hike to a neighboring
hill. The pond before us was inviting, but a
distaste for it had arisen in my mind. The group
around me followed my example of dipping buckets, but
a few lads yielded to the temptation of the cool waters.
No sooner had they dived than large water snakes wiggled
around them. The boys came out of the pond with
comical alacrity.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch after we reached our destination.
I sat under a tree, surrounded by a group of students.
Finding me in an inspirational mood, they plied me
with questions.
“Please tell me, sir,” one youth inquired,
“if I shall always stay with you in the path
of renunciation.”
