"A few months later I visited Lahiri Mahasaya in Benares. As I
entered his little parlor, my guru smiled in greeting.
"'Welcome, Yukteswar,' he said. 'Did you just meet Babaji at the
threshold of my room?'
"'Why, no,' I answered in surprise.
"'Come here.' Lahiri Mahasaya touched me gently on the forehead;
at once I beheld, near the door, the form of Babaji, blooming like
a perfect lotus.
"I remembered my old hurt, and did not bow. Lahiri Mahasaya looked
at me in astonishment.
"The divine guru gazed at me with fathomless eyes. 'You are annoyed
with me.'
"'Sir, why shouldn't I be?' I answered. 'Out of the air you came
with your magic group, and into the thin air you vanished.'
"'I told you I would see you, but didn't say how long I would remain.'
Babaji laughed softly. 'You were full of excitement. I assure you
that I was fairly extinguished in the ether by the gust of your
restlessness.'
"I was instantly satisfied by this unflattering explanation. I
knelt at his feet; the supreme guru patted me kindly on the shoulder.
"'Child, you must meditate more,' he said. 'Your gaze is not yet
faultless-you could not see me hiding behind the sunlight.' With
these words in the voice of a celestial flute, Babaji disappeared
into the hidden radiance.
"That was one of my last visits to Benares to see my guru," Sri
Yukteswar concluded. "Even as Babaji had foretold at the KUMBHA
MELA, the householder-incarnation of Lahiri Mahasaya was drawing
to a close.
Pages:
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457