Whenever anyone utters with reverence the name of Babaji,” Lahiri Mahasaya said, “that devotee attracts an instant spiritual blessing.”
This iconic quote from the great guru, Lahiri Mahasaya, reproduced by Paramahansa Yogananda in his ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, powerfully explains the sheer transcendental significance and timeless impact of the great avatar, Mahavatar Babaji, upon the lives of all sincere followers. Babaji’s spiritual state is beyond human comprehension, as Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, premier disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, had said. Yet, if common people attempt to attune themselves with the inspiration and teachings of great gurus, none greater than Babaji, they benefit enormously in their spiritual journeys.
The Smriti Divas or commemoration day of Mahavatar Babaji, the fabled deathless Guru, is celebrated annually on July 25, in India, by devotees of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, YSS, and by members of the Self Realization Fellowship, SRF, across the world. The teachings of the ‘kriya yoga’ path of spiritual advancement have been brought to the world by Mahavatar Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri and Paramahansa Yogananda, who founded YSS in 1917.
Yogananda ji was especially chosen by Babaji to spread India’s ancient ‘kriya yoga’ teachings to the western world in the modern era. While bestowing knowledge of the science of ‘kriya yoga’ to Lahiri Mahasaya, Babaji permitted him, at Lahiri Mahasaya’s request, to teach this sacred and secret technique to all sincere truth seekers across the world. From the pages of the ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, we also learn of the eternal love that Babaji had for Lahiri Mahasaya, the love of a guru for his disciple, life after life, endlessly.
Said Babaji to Lahiri Mahasaya, during their epochal meeting in the Himalayas, “Through gloom, storm, upheaval, and light I followed you like a mother bird guarding her young.” And Lahiri Mahasaya responded, bewildered but totally immersed in his guru’s magnificent aura, “My guru, what can I say? Where has one ever heard of such deathless love?”
The pages of ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ thus bring to our eyes, hearts and souls, the enormity and even infinity of the bond which exists between a true guru and a willing disciple. Paramahansa Yogananda inherited from his guru, Sri Yukteswar ji and his param gurus, the life enhancing, soul liberating, ‘kriya yoga‘ way of life.
YSS of India also publishes detailed ‘how-to-live’ lessons, based on these teachings, and makes them available in printed as well as digital form to all members. Preliminary as well as advanced techniques of meditation are taught through the lessons, and through special classes conducted by YSS monastics, at congregations or sangams, and during monastic visits to locations all over India.
Millions have thus been inspired, to learn and know of the existence of all powerful, yet readily accessible, scientific techniques of yoga meditation, which have been passed on from the great gurus, to all sincere devotees.
Mahavatar Babaji, himself so memorably said, “Even in the world, the yogi who faithfully discharges his responsibilities, without personal motive or attachment, treads the sure path of enlightenment.”
And from the pages of ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ we further receive this oceanic, rock-like, assurance, “Babaji has promised to guard and guide, all sincere kriya yogis, in their path toward the Goal.”
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Vivek Atray
