In conclusion, he
told me of the most marvelous event in his life.
"Here in Calcutta," Panchanon said, "at ten o'clock of the morning
which followed his cremation, Lahiri Mahasaya appeared before me
in living glory."
Swami Pranabananda, the "saint with two bodies," also confided to
me the details of his own supernal experience.
"A few days before Lahiri Mahasaya left his body," Pranabananda told
me at the time he visited my Ranchi school, "I received a letter
from him, requesting me to come at once to Benares. I was delayed,
however, and could not leave immediately. As I was in the midst
of my travel preparations, about ten o'clock in the morning, I was
suddenly overwhelmed with joy to see the shining figure of my guru.
"'Why hurry to Benares?' Lahiri Mahasaya said, smiling. 'You shall
find me there no longer.'
"As the import of his words dawned on me, I sobbed broken-heartedly,
believing that I was seeing him only in a vision.
"The master approached me comfortingly. 'Here, touch my flesh,'
he said. 'I am living, as always. Do not lament; am I not with you
forever?'"
From the lips of these three great disciples, a story of wondrous
truth has emerged: At the morning hour of ten, on the day after
the body of Lahiri Mahasaya had been consigned to the flames, the
resurrected master, in a real but transfigured body, appeared before
three disciples, each one in a different city.
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Pages:
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460