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第七十九章 An Interview With
第七十九章 An Interview With The Sacred Mother
I was addressing Srimati Kashi Moni，the life-companion of Lahiri Mahasaya。Finding myself in Benares for a short period，I was fulflling a long-felt desire to visit the venerable lady。She received me graciously at the old Lahiri homestead in the Garudeswar Mohulla section of Benares。Although aged，she was blooming like a lotus，silently emanating a spiritual fragrance。She was of medium build，with a slender neck and fair skin。Large，lustrous eyes softened her motherly face。
“Son，you are welcome here。Come upstairs。”
Kashi Moni led the way to a very small room where，for a time，she had lived with her husband。I felt honored to witness the shrine in which the peerless master had condescended to play the human drama of matrimony。
“It was years before I came to realize the divine stature of my husband，”she began。One night，in this very room，I had a vivid dream。Glorious angels foated in unimaginable grace above me。So realistic was the sight that I awoke at once；the room was strangely enveloped in dazzling light。
My husband，in lotus posture，was levitated in the center of the room，surrounded by angels who were worshiping him with the supplicating dignity of palm-folded hands。Astonished beyond measure，I was convinced that I was still dreaming。
‘Woman，’Lahiri Mahasaya said，‘you are not dreaming。As he slowly descended to the foor，I prostrated myself at his feet。’
‘Master，’I cried，‘again and again I bow before you！Will you pardon me for having considered you as my husband？I die with shame to realize that I have remained asleep in ignorance by the side of one who is divinely awakened。From this night，you are no longer my husband，but my guru。Will you accept my insignifcant self as your disciple？’
The master touched me gently。‘Sacred soul，arise。You are accepted。’He motioned toward the angels。‘Please bow in turn to each of these holy saints。’
When I had fnished my humble genufections，the angelic voices sounded together，like a chorus from an ancient scripture。
‘Consort of the Divine One，thou art blessed。We salute thee。’They bowed at my feet and lo！their refulgent forms vanished。The room darkened。
My guru asked me to receive initiation into Kriya Yoga。
He touched my forehead。Masses of whirling light appeared；the radiance gradually formed itself into the opal-blue spiritual eye，ringed in gold and centered with a white pentagonal star。
‘Penetrate your consciousness through the star into the kingdom of the Infnite。’My gurus voice had a new note，soft like distant music。
Vision after vision broke as oceanic surf on the shores of my soul。The panoramic spheres fnally melted in a sea of bliss。I lost myself in ever-surging blessedness。When I returned hours later to awareness of this world，the master gave me the technique of Kriya Yoga。
“From that night on，Lahiri Mahasaya never slept in my room again。Nor，thereafter，did he ever sleep。He remained in the front room downstairs，in the company of his disciples both by day and by night。”
The illustrious lady fell into silence。Realizing the uniqueness of her relationship with the sublime yogi，I fnally ventured to ask for further reminiscences。
“Well，you shall have one more story。”She smiled shyly。Some months after my initiation，I began to feel forlorn and neglected。One morning Lahiri Mahasaya entered this little room to fetch an article；I quickly followed him。
‘What about your responsibilities for your wife and children？I regret that you do not interest yourself in providing more money for the family。’
The master glanced at me for a moment，then lo！he was gone。Awed and frightened，I heard a voice resounding from every part of the room：
‘It is all nothing，don’t you see？How could a nothing like me produce riches for you？
‘Guruji，’I cried，‘I implore pardon a million times！Please appear in your sacred form。’
‘I am here。’This reply came from above me。I looked up and saw the master materialize in the air，his head touching the ceiling。His eyes were like blinding fames。Beside myself with fear，I lay sobbing at his feet after he had quietly descended to the foor。
‘Woman，’he said，‘seek divine wealth，not the paltry tinsel of earth。After acquiring inward treasure，you will fnd that outward supply is always forthcoming。’
“My gurus words naturally came true；a disciple did leave a considerable sum for our family。”
His wife was not the only woman disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya；there were hundreds of others，including my mother。A woman chela once asked the guru for his photograph。He handed her a print，remarking，“If you deem it a protection，then it is so；otherwise it is only a picture。”
A few days later this woman and Lahiri Mahasaya‘s daughter-in-law happened to be studying the Bhagavad Gita at a table behind which hung the guru’s photograph。An electrical storm broke out with great fury。
“Lahiri Mahasaya，protect us！”The women bowed before the picture。Lightning struck the book which they had been reading，but the two devotees were unhurt。
“I felt as though a sheet of ice had been placed around me to ward off the scorching heat，”the chela explained。
Lahiri Mahasaya performed two miracles in connection with a woman disciple，Abhoya。She and her husband，a Calcutta lawyer，started one day for Benares to visit the guru。Their carriage was delayed by heavy traffc；they reached the Howrah main station only to hear the Benares train whistling for departure。
Abhoya，near the ticket offce，stood quietly。
“Lahiri Mahasaya，I beseech thee to stop the train！”she silently prayed。“I cannot suffer the pangs of delay in waiting another day to see thee。”
The wheels of the snorting train continued to move round and round，but there was no onward progress。The engineer and passengers descended to the platform to view the phenomenon。An English railroad guard approached Abhoya and her husband。Contrary to all precedent，he volunteered his services。
“Babu，”he said，“give me the money。I will buy your tickets while you get aboard。”Abhoya visited Lahiri Mahasaya on another memorable occasion。
“I pray you to bless me that my ninth child may live，”she said。“Eight babies have been born to me；all died soon after birth。”
The master smiled sympathetically。“Your coming child will live。Please follow my instructions carefully。The baby，a girl，will be born at night。See that the oil lamp is kept burning until dawn。Do not fall asleep and thus allow the light to become extinguished。”
Abhoyas child was a daughter，born at night，exactly as foreseen by the omniscient guru。The mother instructed her nurse to keep the lamp flled with oil。Both women kept the urgent vigil far into the early morning hours，but fnally fell asleep。The lamp oil wasalmost gone；the light fickered feebly。
The bedroom door unlatched and few open with a violent sound。The startled women awoke。Their astonished eyes beheld the form of Lahiri Mahasaya。
“Abhoya，behold，the light is almost gone！”He pointed to the lamp，which the nurse hastened to refll。As soon as it burned again brightly，the master vanished。The door closed；the latch was affxed without visible agency。
Abhoyas ninth child survived。
Lahiri Mahasaya had a very famous friend，Swami Trailanga，who was reputed to be over three hundred years old。The two yogis often sat together in meditation。
On many occasions the swami was seen to drink，with no ill effect，the most deadly poisons。Thousands of people，including a few who are still living，have seen Trailanga foating on the Ganges。For days together he would sit on top of the water，or remain hidden for very long periods under the waves。
His weight exceeded three hundred pounds：a pound for each year of his life！As he ate very seldom，the mystery is increased。
Trailanga always remained completely nude。The natural swami，like the early Adam in the garden of Eden，was utterly unconscious of his nakedness。The police were quite conscious of it，however，and unceremoniously committed him to jail。General embarrassment ensued；the enormous body of Trailanga was soon seen，in its usual entirety，on the prison roof。His cell，still securely locked，offered no clue to his mode of escape。
The great yogi preserved a habitual silence。In spite of his round face and huge，barrel-like stomach，Trailanga ate only occasionally。After weeks without food，he would break his fast with potfuls of clabbered milk offered to him by devotees。A skeptic once determined to expose Trailanga as a charlatan。A large bucket of calcium-lime mixture，used in whitewashing walls，was placed before the swami。
“Master，”the materialist said，in mock reverence，“I have brought you some clabbered milk。Please drink it。”
Trailanga unhesitatingly drained，to the last drop，the containerful of burning lime。In a few minutes the evildoer fell to the ground in agony。
“Help，swami，help！”he cried。“I am on fre！Forgive my wicked test！”
The great yogi broke his habitual silence。“Scoffer，”he said，“you did not realize when you offered me poison that my life is one with your own。Except for my knowledge that God is present in my stomach，as in every atom of creation，the lime would havekilled me。Now that you know the divine meaning of boomerang，never again play tricks on anyone。”
The well-purged sinner，healed by Trailangas words，slunk feebly away。
The grace of the Christlike yogi，Trailanga，was once bestowed on my sajo mama（maternal uncle）。One morning Uncle saw the master surrounded by a crowd of devotees at a Benares ghat。He managed to edge his way close to Trailanga，whose feet he touched humbly。Uncle was astonished to find himself instantly freed from a painful chronic disease。
The only known living disciple of the great yogi is a woman，Shankari Mai Jiew。Daughter of one of Trailanga‘s disciples，she received the swami’s training from her early childhood。She lived for forty years in a series of lonely Himalayan caves near Badrinath，Kedarnath，Amarnath，and Pasupatinath。The brahmacharini（woman ascetic），born in 182，is now well over the century mark。Not aged in appearance，however，she has retained her black hair，sparkling teeth，and amazing energy。She comes out of her seclusion every few years to attend the periodical melas or religious fairs。
This woman saint often visited Lahiri Mahasaya。
On one occasion her master Trailanga，forsaking his usual silence，honored Lahiri Mahasaya very pointedly in public。A Benares disciple objected。
“Sir，”he said，“why do you，a swami and a renunciate，show such respect to a householder？”
“My son，”Trailanga replied，“Lahiri Mahasaya is like a divine kitten，remaining wherever the Cosmic Mother has placed him。While dutifully playing the part of a worldly man，he has received that perfect self-realization for which I have renounced even my loincloth！”
I was addressing Srimati Kashi Moni，the life-companion of Lahiri Mahasaya。Finding myself in Benares for a short period，I was fulflling a long-felt desire to visit the venerable lady。She received me graciously at the old Lahiri homestead in the Garudeswar Mohulla section of Benares。Although aged，she was blooming like a lotus，silently emanating a spiritual fragrance。She was of medium build，with a slender neck and fair skin。Large，lustrous eyes softened her motherly face。
“Son，you are welcome here。Come upstairs。”
Kashi Moni led the way to a very small room where，for a time，she had lived with her husband。I felt honored to witness the shrine in which the peerless master had condescended to play the human drama of matrimony。
“It was years before I came to realize the divine stature of my husband，”she began。One night，in this very room，I had a vivid dream。Glorious angels foated in unimaginable grace above me。So realistic was the sight that I awoke at once；the room was strangely enveloped in dazzling light。
My husband，in lotus posture，was levitated in the center of the room，surrounded by angels who were worshiping him with the supplicating dignity of palm-folded hands。Astonished beyond measure，I was convinced that I was still dreaming。
‘Woman，’Lahiri Mahasaya said，‘you are not dreaming。As he slowly descended to the foor，I prostrated myself at his feet。’
‘Master，’I cried，‘again and again I bow before you！Will you pardon me for having considered you as my husband？I die with shame to realize that I have remained asleep in ignorance by the side of one who is divinely awakened。From this night，you are no longer my husband，but my guru。Will you accept my insignifcant self as your disciple？’
The master touched me gently。‘Sacred soul，arise。You are accepted。’He motioned toward the angels。‘Please bow in turn to each of these holy saints。’
When I had fnished my humble genufections，the angelic voices sounded together，like a chorus from an ancient scripture。
‘Consort of the Divine One，thou art blessed。We salute thee。’They bowed at my feet and lo！their refulgent forms vanished。The room darkened。
My guru asked me to receive initiation into Kriya Yoga。
He touched my forehead。Masses of whirling light appeared；the radiance gradually formed itself into the opal-blue spiritual eye，ringed in gold and centered with a white pentagonal star。
‘Penetrate your consciousness through the star into the kingdom of the Infnite。’My gurus voice had a new note，soft like distant music。
Vision after vision broke as oceanic surf on the shores of my soul。The panoramic spheres fnally melted in a sea of bliss。I lost myself in ever-surging blessedness。When I returned hours later to awareness of this world，the master gave me the technique of Kriya Yoga。
“From that night on，Lahiri Mahasaya never slept in my room again。Nor，thereafter，did he ever sleep。He remained in the front room downstairs，in the company of his disciples both by day and by night。”
The illustrious lady fell into silence。Realizing the uniqueness of her relationship with the sublime yogi，I fnally ventured to ask for further reminiscences。
“Well，you shall have one more story。”She smiled shyly。Some months after my initiation，I began to feel forlorn and neglected。One morning Lahiri Mahasaya entered this little room to fetch an article；I quickly followed him。
‘What about your responsibilities for your wife and children？I regret that you do not interest yourself in providing more money for the family。’
The master glanced at me for a moment，then lo！he was gone。Awed and frightened，I heard a voice resounding from every part of the room：
‘It is all nothing，don’t you see？How could a nothing like me produce riches for you？
‘Guruji，’I cried，‘I implore pardon a million times！Please appear in your sacred form。’
‘I am here。’This reply came from above me。I looked up and saw the master materialize in the air，his head touching the ceiling。His eyes were like blinding fames。Beside myself with fear，I lay sobbing at his feet after he had quietly descended to the foor。
‘Woman，’he said，‘seek divine wealth，not the paltry tinsel of earth。After acquiring inward treasure，you will fnd that outward supply is always forthcoming。’
“My gurus words naturally came true；a disciple did leave a considerable sum for our family。”
His wife was not the only woman disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya；there were hundreds of others，including my mother。A woman chela once asked the guru for his photograph。He handed her a print，remarking，“If you deem it a protection，then it is so；otherwise it is only a picture。”
A few days later this woman and Lahiri Mahasaya‘s daughter-in-law happened to be studying the Bhagavad Gita at a table behind which hung the guru’s photograph。An electrical storm broke out with great fury。
“Lahiri Mahasaya，protect us！”The women bowed before the picture。Lightning struck the book which they had been reading，but the two devotees were unhurt。
“I felt as though a sheet of ice had been placed around me to ward off the scorching heat，”the chela explained。
Lahiri Mahasaya performed two miracles in connection with a woman disciple，Abhoya。She and her husband，a Calcutta lawyer，started one day for Benares to visit the guru。Their carriage was delayed by heavy traffc；they reached the Howrah main station only to hear the Benares train whistling for departure。
Abhoya，near the ticket offce，stood quietly。
“Lahiri Mahasaya，I beseech thee to stop the train！”she silently prayed。“I cannot suffer the pangs of delay in waiting another day to see thee。”
The wheels of the snorting train continued to move round and round，but there was no onward progress。The engineer and passengers descended to the platform to view the phenomenon。An English railroad guard approached Abhoya and her husband。Contrary to all precedent，he volunteered his services。
“Babu，”he said，“give me the money。I will buy your tickets while you get aboard。”Abhoya visited Lahiri Mahasaya on another memorable occasion。
“I pray you to bless me that my ninth child may live，”she said。“Eight babies have been born to me；all died soon after birth。”
The master smiled sympathetically。“Your coming child will live。Please follow my instructions carefully。The baby，a girl，will be born at night。See that the oil lamp is kept burning until dawn。Do not fall asleep and thus allow the light to become extinguished。”
Abhoyas child was a daughter，born at night，exactly as foreseen by the omniscient guru。The mother instructed her nurse to keep the lamp flled with oil。Both women kept the urgent vigil far into the early morning hours，but fnally fell asleep。The lamp oil wasalmost gone；the light fickered feebly。
The bedroom door unlatched and few open with a violent sound。The startled women awoke。Their astonished eyes beheld the form of Lahiri Mahasaya。
“Abhoya，behold，the light is almost gone！”He pointed to the lamp，which the nurse hastened to refll。As soon as it burned again brightly，the master vanished。The door closed；the latch was affxed without visible agency。
Abhoyas ninth child survived。
Lahiri Mahasaya had a very famous friend，Swami Trailanga，who was reputed to be over three hundred years old。The two yogis often sat together in meditation。
On many occasions the swami was seen to drink，with no ill effect，the most deadly poisons。Thousands of people，including a few who are still living，have seen Trailanga foating on the Ganges。For days together he would sit on top of the water，or remain hidden for very long periods under the waves。
His weight exceeded three hundred pounds：a pound for each year of his life！As he ate very seldom，the mystery is increased。
Trailanga always remained completely nude。The natural swami，like the early Adam in the garden of Eden，was utterly unconscious of his nakedness。The police were quite conscious of it，however，and unceremoniously committed him to jail。General embarrassment ensued；the enormous body of Trailanga was soon seen，in its usual entirety，on the prison roof。His cell，still securely locked，offered no clue to his mode of escape。
The great yogi preserved a habitual silence。In spite of his round face and huge，barrel-like stomach，Trailanga ate only occasionally。After weeks without food，he would break his fast with potfuls of clabbered milk offered to him by devotees。A skeptic once determined to expose Trailanga as a charlatan。A large bucket of calcium-lime mixture，used in whitewashing walls，was placed before the swami。
“Master，”the materialist said，in mock reverence，“I have brought you some clabbered milk。Please drink it。”
Trailanga unhesitatingly drained，to the last drop，the containerful of burning lime。In a few minutes the evildoer fell to the ground in agony。
“Help，swami，help！”he cried。“I am on fre！Forgive my wicked test！”
The great yogi broke his habitual silence。“Scoffer，”he said，“you did not realize when you offered me poison that my life is one with your own。Except for my knowledge that God is present in my stomach，as in every atom of creation，the lime would havekilled me。Now that you know the divine meaning of boomerang，never again play tricks on anyone。”
The well-purged sinner，healed by Trailangas words，slunk feebly away。
The grace of the Christlike yogi，Trailanga，was once bestowed on my sajo mama（maternal uncle）。One morning Uncle saw the master surrounded by a crowd of devotees at a Benares ghat。He managed to edge his way close to Trailanga，whose feet he touched humbly。Uncle was astonished to find himself instantly freed from a painful chronic disease。
The only known living disciple of the great yogi is a woman，Shankari Mai Jiew。Daughter of one of Trailanga‘s disciples，she received the swami’s training from her early childhood。She lived for forty years in a series of lonely Himalayan caves near Badrinath，Kedarnath，Amarnath，and Pasupatinath。The brahmacharini（woman ascetic），born in 182，is now well over the century mark。Not aged in appearance，however，she has retained her black hair，sparkling teeth，and amazing energy。She comes out of her seclusion every few years to attend the periodical melas or religious fairs。
This woman saint often visited Lahiri Mahasaya。
On one occasion her master Trailanga，forsaking his usual silence，honored Lahiri Mahasaya very pointedly in public。A Benares disciple objected。
“Sir，”he said，“why do you，a swami and a renunciate，show such respect to a householder？”
“My son，”Trailanga replied，“Lahiri Mahasaya is like a divine kitten，remaining wherever the Cosmic Mother has placed him。While dutifully playing the part of a worldly man，he has received that perfect self-realization for which I have renounced even my loincloth！”
