Brij Mohan Sharma
To read books on spirituality or spiritual personalities is always rewarding. It is an unfailing source of inspiration and strength.
Hence, I consider myself very fortunate that some forty years ago, one of the world acclaimed spiritual classics, the Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, dramatically, found its way into my hands. The portrait of Yoganandaji on the front cover of the book was so fascinating that I was instantly drawn to it. It evoked in me a feeling of delight and exuberance. He looked innocent but fresh and charming. The lustrous magnetism of his eyes was rare and pure. The glow of his face literally radiated joy and divine love. I was instantaneously convinced that the man whose portrait I was holding in my hands was not an ordinary person.
My curiosity to know more and more about him and his life made me rush through the pages of the book. But this hasty exercise was of no avail. I should have read the book more thoughtfully. And, when I did so, it paid dividends. It was perhaps the third reading that made me a little wise about Yoganandaji’s mind and heart.
The predominant feature of Yoganandaji’s life was his unconditional commitment to God. He was totally devoted to Him. He loved God infinitely, more than the loved any one else. His complete surrender to and whole hearted adoration for God had earned him unbelieveable nearness and intimacy with the Divine.
It was also gathered from his Autobiography that the main purpose of his life was not awaken the hearts sleeping in forgetfulness of their Creator. And, to achieve this end, he introduced yoga on a worldwide scale and gave humanity the means of actually experiencing the love Divine.
Born on January 5, 1893 in India, Paramahansa Yoganandaji, after completing his academic studies and spiritual training under the tutelage of his revered Guru Swami Sri Yuketwar Giriji, donned the robes of a monk of Swami order at a fairly young age of 22.
In 1920, just like Swami Vivekanandaji, he began his mission of disseminating the message of yoga and universal brotherhood as a delegate to the International Congress of Religious Liberals held in Boston, USA. He was specially selected for this challenging mission by his Param Guru Mahavatar Babaji, the deathless saint still living the Himalayas.
Paramahansaji made America his second home, and stayed there till his passing on March 7, 1952. He worked ceaselessly, day and night, for almost three decades, unmindful of his health, and furthered the cause of ‘Yoga for the West’. He, indeed, came up to the expectations of his revered Guru, and builtup a bridge of rapport and spiritual understanding between East and West. It goes without saying that Paramahansa Yoganandaji was the first son of soil who took the teachings of yoga out of the Ashrama and Himalayan caves to the doors of common man both in East and West. He made yoga and yogic techniques of meditation globally popular.
Paramahansaji found a very receptive audience in America and his lectures draw large crowds in every major city. Thousands learned his teachings and techniques of yoga and yogic meditation. His followers included householders, scientists and citizens of high standing. Many of his disciples had the deepest experience of God realization. It is they and their successors who have been looking after the two organizations founded by Paramahansa Yoganandaji- Self Realization Fellowship in America and Yogoda Satsangha Society in India. One can find centres of these organizations spread over almost in every city of the globe.
What is yoga ? Yoga is self-realization or oneness with Truth, which is the basis of all valid religions. Any one who applies this science of yoga in his life experiences an expansion of his consciousness. He no longer looks outward for God but turns the attention inward. This makes possible for him to discover a sweeter and more living relationship with the Divine whose children we all are.
This relationship, however, cannot be achieved unless one gets rid of the egoity ingrained within the physical self. The desires springing from the ego and its environments are mainly responsible for our separateness from Spirit. However, the moment man achieves reunion with the Divine through ecstatic yoga meditation, he detaches himself from all such human frailties and dissolves the forces that perpetuate the delusive dichotomy of the self and spirit. Yoga teachings guide the seeker to right action- physical, mental and spiritual- and facilitate uniting human consciousness with God’s cosmic consciousness.
Lord Krishna says : “He who has not controlled his mind and senses can have no determinate reason; nor can such an undisciplined man have belief (in God). The unbelieving man can have no peace; and how can there be happiness for one lacking peace of mind. ” (BG II-66).
Paramahansa Yoganandaji was an apotheosis of yoga in the sense that he had complete control over his body. He used to take only three hours sleep at night, and, at times, could go without sleep for nights together without any fatigue. Such yogis require less food, less sleep and less material sustenance.
Modern science has also discovered the extraordinary curative and rejuvenating effects of yogic mediation on man’s body and mind. It not only rests the lungs and cures the heart but also reins in the ‘restless’ and ‘naughty’ mind, which is mainly responsible for our mental and physical weaknesses.
Paramahansa Yoganandaji virtually brought about a spiritual revolution in the world.He is gratefully remembered for his selfless service to humanity and for the universal truths he taught to the world. His followers regarded him as Premavatar, incarnation of God’s divine love. “By a touch, a word, or even a glance, he could awaken others to a greater awareness of God’s presence, or bestow the experience of superconscious ecstasy on disciples who were in tune”, says one of his closest self -realised foreign disciple.
While concluding, I leave the readers with the following sayings of Paramahansa Yoganandaji :-
“During every little period of leisure, plunge your mind into the infinite thought of Him. Talk to Him intimately. He is the nearest of near, the dearest of the dear. Love Him as a miser loves money, as an ardent man loves his sweetheart, as a drowning person loves breath. When you yearn for God with intensity, He will come to you.”
“The Lord cannot be bribed by the size of the congregation in a church or by its wealth or by well planned sermons. God visits only the altars of hearts that are cleansed by tears of devotion and lighted with candles of love.”
(The author is a former Additional
Secretary to Govt.)
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