Part 59 (1/2)

”Yes” Master smiled at my direct question; his eyes lit with reverence ”Three tiuru Our first ious fairs held in India since time immeoals in constant sight of the ather by the is, swamis, and ascetics of all kinds Many are hermits who never leave their secluded haunts except to attend the MELAS and bestow their blessings on worldly men and women

”I was not a swami at the time I met Babaji,” Sri Yuktesent on

”But I had already received KRIYA initiation froedin January, 1894 at Allahabad It was htly dazed by the claazes around I saw no illue on the bank of the Ganges, I noticed an acquaintance standing near-by, his begging bowl extended

”'Oh, this fair is nothing but a chaos of noise and beggars,'

I thought in disillusion the realood ofto God than these idlers who profess religion but concentrate on al reflections on social reform were interrupted by the voice of a tall sannyasi who halted beforeyou'

”'Who is he?'

”'Co this laconic advice, I soon found uru with an attractive group of disciples Thedark eyes, rose at my approach and embraced me

”'Welcome, Swamiji,' he said affectionately

”'Sir,' I replied emphatically, 'I am NOT a swami'

”'Those on whom I am divinely directed to bestow the title of ”swami” never cast it off' The saint addressedin his words; I was engulfed in an instant wave of spiritual blessing S at my sudden elevation into the ancient monastic order, {FN36-1} I bowed at the feet of the obviously great and angelic being in human form who had thus honored me

”Babaji-for it was indeed he- and young, and looked like Lahiri Mahasaya; yet the reseh I had often heard of the extraordinary similarities in the appearance of the two masters Babaji possesses a power by which he can prevent any specific thought frouru wished me to be perfectly natural in his presence, not overawed by knowledge of his identity

”'What do you think of the kureatly disappointed, sir' I added hastily, 'Up until the time I met you Soether'

”'Child,' the e, 'for the faults of theon earth is of ar Be like the wise ant which seizes only the sugar, and leaves the sand untouched Though many sadhus here still wander in delusion, yet the MELA is blessed by a fewwith this exalted reed with his observation

”'Sir,' I co of the scientific ence thanin distant Europe and Anorant of the real values of such MELAS as the present one They are the s with India's h in intellectual attainments, many Westerners are wedded to rank materialisnize the essential unity in religion Their creeds serve as insurmountable barriers that threaten to separate them from us forever'

”'I saw that you are interested in the West, as well as the East'

Babaji's face beas of your heart, broad enough for all men, whether Oriental or Occidental That is why I suolden middle path of activity and spirituality combined,' he continued 'India has much to learn from the West in material development; in return, India can teach the universal ious beliefs on the unshakable foundations of yogic science

”'You, Swae between Orient and Occident Some years hence I shall send you a disciple whoa dissemination in the West

The vibrations there ofsouls come floodlike toto be awakened'”

At this point in his story, Sri Yukteswar turned his gaze fully on ht, ”you are the disciple that, years ago, Babaji promised to send me”

I was happy to learn that Babaji had directed my steps to Sri Yukteswar, yet it was hard for me to visualize uru and the sie peace

”Babaji then spoke of the BHAGAVAD GITA,” Sri Yuktesent on