Part 46 (1/2)

Directing his gaze inwardly to the spiritual eye, he becaht he wasin an ecstatic state, he had already left the tabernacle of flesh and plunged his soul into the cosmic vastness The disciples touched his body, seated in the lotus posture, but it was no longer the warm flesh

Only a stiffened frame remained; the tenant had fled to the immortal shore”

I inquired where Pranabananda was to be reborn

”That's a sacred trust I cannot divulge to anyone,” Sanandan replied

”Perhaps you may find out some other way”

Years later I discovered from Swami Keshabananda {FN27-10} that Pranabananda, a few years after his birth in a new body, had gone to Badrinarayan in the Hireat Babaji

{FN27-1} VIDYALAYA, school BRAHMACHARYA here refers to one of the four stages in the Vedic plan forthat of (1) the celibate student (BRAHMACHARI); (2) the householder orldly 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 es are carried out religiously under the lifelong direction of a guru

{FN27-2} A number of American students also haveBernard Cole, an instructor in Los Angeles of the Self-Realization Fellowshi+p teachings

{FN27-3} MARK 10:29-30

{FN27-4} YoGoda: YOGA, union, hara: SAT, truth; SANGA, fellowshi+p In the West, to avoid the use of a Sanskrit name, the YOGodA SAT-SANGA movement has been called the SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWshi+P

{FN27-5} The activities at Ranchi are described more fully in chapter 40 The Lakshe of Mr

G C Dey, BA The medical department is ably supervised by Dr

S N Pal and Sasi Bhusan Mullick

{FN27-6} One of Lahiri Mahasaya's favorite reement for his students' perseverance A free translation is: ”Striving, striving, one day behold! the Divine Goal!”

{FN27-7} ie, 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 ti the last exit of death, a moment they invariably know beforehand

{FN27-10} Mywith Keshabananda is described in chapter 42

CHAPTER: 28

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 ere acco hill The pond before us was inviting, but a distaste for it had arisen inbuckets, 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”