Babaji, the GURU of
Lahiri Mahasaya, was the PARAM-GURU of Sri Yukteswar.
{FN36-6} My visit to Keshabananda's ashram is described on pp.
405-408.
{FN36-7} September 26, 1895 is the date on which Lahiri Mahasaya left
his body. In a few more days he would have reached his sixty-eighth
birthday.
{FN36-8} Facing the north, and thrice revolving the body, are parts
of a Vedic rite used by masters who know beforehand when the final
hour is about to strike for the physical body. The last meditation,
during which the master merges himself in the Cosmic AUM, is called
the MAHA, or great, SAMADHI.
{FN36-9} Kabir was a great sixteenth-century saint whose large
following included both Hindus and Mohammedans. At the time of his
death, the disciples quarreled over the manner of conducting the
funeral ceremonies. The exasperated master rose from his final sleep,
and gave his instructions. "Half of my remains shall be buried by
the Moslem rites;" he said, "let the other half be cremated with
a Hindu sacrament." He then vanished. When the disciples opened
the coffin which had contained his body, nothing was found but a
dazzling array of gold-colored champak flowers. Half of these were
obediently buried by the Moslems, who revere his shrine to this
day.
In his youth Kabir was approached by two disciples who wanted minute
intellectual guidance along the mystic path. The master responded
simply:
"Path presupposes distance;
If He be near, no path needest thou at all.
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