My Guru 


The influence of Paramahansa Yogananda on my life. 

I sat down at my meditation altar this morning about 6:00 a.m. It's actually been a long time since I meditated, but I always keep the altar up. I consider Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of the Self Realization Fellowship, to be my guru. I also consider myself to be a committed episcopalian. I'd like to share here why I believe that this is not only possible, but a good thing.

Back in 1980 I started meditating on Thursday evenings at the home of some friends in Edwardsville, where a chapter of SRF had been started by John Ellsworth and Rosanda Richards-Ellsworth. A typical service lasted an hour. On the altar were the following framed 11 x 14 pictures, reading from left to right: Lahiri Mahasaya, Babaji, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, Paramahansa Yoganandaji, and Swami Sri Yukteswar.

We entered a small room and seated ourselves before the altar, lit with candles and perfumed with incense and contributed flowers. After a few moments to settle ourselves into silence, John led us in an opening prayer. Then, accompanying his singing on an accordion-like instrument called a "Harmonium," John would lead us in a chant from "Cosmic Chants" by Paramahansaji. We settled into about 20 minutes of meditation. Another chant, and then some volunteer would read from Yogananda's extensive list of writings. More meditation, a final chant, a final prayer, and then all left silently. Sometimes Rosanda treated us to cookies. It was all very personal, lovely, and quite profoundly spiritual for me.

My discipline of meditation during those years led me very deeply into the heart of my relationship to God. The highest form of SRF meditation, into which I still have not been initiated, was kriya yoga. However, by studying the two year sequence of lessons offered by the organization for a very nominal fee, I was able to progress in many rewarding techniques of mediation. There was the Hong Sau technique, which helps to quiet the busy Western mind by focusing on one's breathing. There were exercises, such as putting one's full attention on the candle flame. There was the Om technique, used to focus on the spiritual vibrations of the Universe.

Paramahansaji taught that if we wanted to communicate with God, we first had to put our conscious thoughts aside, stilling the restless mind waves like the clear surface of a crystal lake. Then there in the temple of silence, true contact with the Divine Mother was possible. But patience, dedication, and, above all, devotion, was required. I never got there, but I never doubted for very long that the Master did. His writings were so full of love and his songs were so pure and spiritual, that it simply couldn't have come from any other place.

Oh God, beautiful, Oh God beautiful.
Oh God, beautiful, Oh God beautiful.
At thy feet, oh, I do bow.
At thy feet, oh, I do bow.
Oh God, beautiful, Oh God beautiful.
Oh God, beautiful, Oh God beautiful.
In the forest, thou art green.
In the forest, thou art green.
In the mountains, thou are high.
In the mountains, thou are high.
In the river, thou are restless.
In the river, thou are restless.
In the ocean, thou art grave.
In the ocean, thou art grave.

My favorite prayer from that time was "Divine Mother, Heavenly Father, Friend, Beloved God, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, (all the SRF gurus), saints and sages of all religions, we humbly bow before you. Let Thy love shine forever on the sanctuary of my devotion, and may I be able to awaken Thy love in all hearts. Om. Peace. Shanti. Amen.

I also read the world-famous book "Autobiography of a Yogi," a truly marvelous read. In here we meet a God-filled but somewhat rebellious young Paramahansa who goes questing and meets many amazing Indian saints, seers and sages. His parents were educated by one of the SRF gurus, Lahiri Mahasaya, and he himself finally met his true guru in Sri Yukteswar, author of "The Holy Science." After this preparation, he heads for Los Angeles and founds the Self-Realization Fellowship, dedicated to bringing to the world the truths of both the Eastern Christ (Krishna) and the Western Christ (Jesus Christ). He describes those early years in the 1920s, giving talks all over the United States, finding the disciples who will lead the society after his early mahasamadi (death of a realized master) in 1953.

But I must share my prayer at the altar this morning. As I looked at all these so familiar faces (including the highly Westernized picture of Jesus), my heart was filled with gratitude, and I gave truthful prayers to them all. To Jesus Christ, in gratitude for his life which brings the God of compassion and non-violence to humanity. I believe in this life and I have faith in its teachings, as I understand them. To Krishna, in gratitude for the Hindu faith which brings comfort to countless people throughout the world. To Babaji, the avatar who manifested the created power of God to Paramahansaji. To Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar, great spiritual teachers who helped keep Paramahansa Yogananda on a true path.

But finally, with great emotion and wells of tears in my eyes, I thanked my guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. The force of divinity does indeed permeate this life. As I look into his eyes, I feel myself being led straight to devotion to God. His life is an inspiration, just as was the life of Jesus. But I have a different kind of faith in this life. Paramahansa lived and breathed and walked across this country. After his mahasamadi, he lay in state for 21 days in Forest Lawn Cemetery without any trace of deterioration. This was attested to by the Coroner of Los Angeles. His words and music have filled my heart and soul with devotion and hope.

Some people have the same kind of faith in the life of Jesus Christ. And it's not that I DOUBT the divinity of Christ. I just have to take a lot more on faith. And I do have faith. I studied the matter carefully, and came to the conclusion that the Bible is really selective and evolved thinking based on decades of oral tradition. Some people are sure that the hand of the Holy Spirit was guiding this process, and that we can take the Word literally. I honor their choice, but I cannot come to that conclusion. Nor am I willing to let others try to kick me out of the church, just because my God-given mind has led me to these conclusions. Nor do I feel guilty or ashamed before the (selective) image of Christ on my altar. I feel God working in my life, through these other lives, and I know that I am always just where I should be in my evolving understanding.

If I only knew about Jesus Christ, I would probably still be a Christian, and still trying my best to live the faith. But THANK GOD for the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, who lived and walked on this earth during MY lifetime. His life has brought an irreplaceable, precious concreteness to my faith, even as it has led me to see how narrow and sectarian it is to exclude others on different paths from God's house, which as we know, has many mansions.  

Posted: Sun - February 12, 2006 at 09:45 AM          

©