Chapter 35 Summary and Analysis

Yogananda is convinced that Jesus and John the Baptist were reincarnations of earlier Biblical figures, and offers evidence from the Bible. Likewise, Babaji and Lahiri are linked as guru and student. In Banaras, Lahiri's presence had the effect of spreading enlightenment all around him as he initiated others into kriya. He did not recommend discussing theory and dogma, but only realizing truths. He initiated many well-known saints, as well as the Maharaja. He felt the science of religion has been cloaked in symbolism and imagery and that without raising the consciousness, moral maxims are useless. When the self communes with a higher power, nature obeys man's will effortlessly. Although Lahiri did not want the subtleties of natural law flouted, he brought the information out through people such as Yogananda. He believed in earning a living and demonstrated how to work and...