He is able to renew his body at will; yet sometimes
he does not care to retard the aging process, but allows his karma
to work itself out on the physical plane, using his old body as a
time-saving device to exclude the necessity of working out karma
in a new incarnation.
Months later I met an old friend, Sanandan, who was one of
Pranabananda's close disciples.
"My adorable guru is gone," he told me, amidst sobs. "He established
a hermitage near Rishikesh, and gave us loving training. When we
were pretty well settled, and making rapid spiritual progress in his
company, he proposed one day to feed a huge crowd from Rishikesh.
I inquired why he wanted such a large number.
"'This is my last festival ceremony,' he said. I did not understand
the full implications of his words.
"Pranabanandaji helped with the cooking of great amounts of food.
We fed about 2000 guests. After the feast, he sat on a high platform
and gave an inspired sermon on the Infinite. At the end, before
the gaze of thousands, he turned to me, as I sat beside him on the
dais, and spoke with unusual force.
"'Sanandan, be prepared; I am going to kick the frame.' {FN27-7}
"After a stunned silence, I cried loudly, 'Master, don't do it!
Please, please, don't do it!' The crowd was tongue-tied, watching
us curiously. My guru smiled at me, but his solemn gaze was already
fixed on Eternity.
"'Be not selfish,' he said, 'nor grieve for me.
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