Part 69 (1/2)

LAST DAYS WITH MY GURU

”Guruji, I a” I had just arrived at the Serarant burden of fruit and roses Sri Yukteswar glanced at me meekly

”What is your question?” Master looked about the roo escape

”Guruji, I carown h you have showered me with silent affection from the first hour to this, do you realize that once only, on the day of , have you ever said, 'I love you'?”

I looked at hiananda,out into the cold realuarded by the wordless heart?”

”Guruji, I know you love me, but my mortal ears ache to hear you say so”

”Be it as you wish During ic path But when you came into my life, I was content; in you I have found my son” Two clear teardrops stood in Sri Yukteswar's eyes ”Yogananda, I love you always”

”Your answer is ht lift from my heart, dissolved forever at his words Often had I wondered at his silence Realizing that he was unemotional and self-contained, yet so hie nature, never utterly to be known; a nature deep and still, unfatho transcended

A few days later, when I spoke before a huge audience at Albert Hall in Calcutta, Sri Yukteswar consented to sit beside me on the platform, with the Maharaja of Santosh and the Mayor of Calcutta

Though Master lanced at hiht I detected a pleased twinkle in his eyes

Then caazed upon azed on their own ”Mad Monk,”

tears of joy showed unashaued professor of philosophy, Dr Ghoshal, cas dissolved by the alchemist Time

A Winter Solstice Festival was celebrated at the end of Decee As always, Sri Yukteswar's disciples gathered from far and near Devotional SANKIRTANS, solos in the nectar-sweet voice of Kristo-da, a feast served by young disciples, Master's profoundly ed courtyard of the ashra past! Tonight, however, there was to be a new feature

”Yogananda, please address the asse as heof the shi+pboard predicalish? I told the story towith a fervent tribute to our guru

”His ouidance ith me not alone on the ocean steahout my fifteen years in the vast and hospitable land of Auests had departed, Sri Yukteswar called me to the same bedroom where-once only, after a festival of my early years-I had been per there quietly, a semicircle of disciples at his feet He sananda, are you leaving now for Calcutta? Please return here tos to tell you”

The next afternoon, with a few si, Sri Yukteswar bestowed on me the further monastic title of PARAMHANSA {FN42-1}

”It now formally supersedes your former title of SWAMI,” he said as I knelt before hile which o over the pronunciation of PARAMHANSAJI {FN42-2}

”My task on earth is now finished; you entle My heart was palpitating in fear

”Please send soe of our ashra in your hands You will be able to successfully sail the boat of your life and that of the organization to the divine shores”

In tears, I was ely

The following day I summoned from Ranchi a disciple, Swae duties {FN42-3} Laterhis estate; he was anxious to prevent the possibility of litigation by relatives, after his death, for possession of his two heres and other properties, which he wished to be deeded over solely for charitable purposes