当前位置：
纪实传记
> 一个瑜伽行者的自传
> 第五十二章 The Saint With Two Bodies
第五十二章 The Saint With Two Bodies
“Father，may I take a sight-seeing trip to Benares？”
Father promised to give my request due consideration。The next day he summoned me and held out a round-trip pass from Bareilly to Benares，a number of rupee notes，and two letters。
“I have a business matter to propose to a Benares friend，Kedar Nath Babu。Unfortunately I have lost his address。But I believe you will be able to get this letter to him through our common friend，Swami Pranabananda。The swami，my brother disciple，has attained an exalted spiritual stature。You will beneft by his company；this second note will serve as your introduction。”
I set forth with the zest of my twelve years（though time has never dimmed my delight in new scenes and strange faces）。Reaching Benares，I proceeded immediately to the swamis residence。A rather stout man，wearing only a loincloth，was seated in lotus posture on a slightly raised platform。He greeted me as an old friend。
“Are you Swami Pranabananda？”
He nodded。“Are you Bhagabatis son？”His words were out before I had had time to get Fathers letter from my pocket。
“Of course I will locate Kedar Nath Babu for you。”
The saint again surprised me by his clairvoyance。He glanced at the letter，and made a few affectionate references to my parent。“You know，I am enjoying two pensions。One is by the recommendation of your father，for whom I once worked in the railroad offce。The other is by the recommendation of my Heavenly Father。”
I found this remark very obscure。Sir，do you receive from the Heavenly Father？
He laughed。“I mean a pension of fathomless peace-a reward for many years of deep meditation。I never crave money now。My few material needs are amply provided for。Later you will understand the signifcance of a second pension。”
Abruptly terminating our conversation，the saint became gravely motionless。My idle gaze took in his wooden sandals，lying under the platform seat。
“Little sir，dont get worried。The man you wish to see will be with you in half an hour。”The yogi was reading my mind。
Again he fell into inscrutable silence。
The swami aroused himself。“I think Kedar Nath Babu is nearing the door。”
I heard somebody coming up the stairs。An amazed incomprehension arose suddenly；my thoughts raced in confusion：“How is it possible that Fathers friend has been summoned to this place without the help of a messenger？The swami has spoken to no one but myself since my arrival！”
Abruptly I quitted the room and descended the steps。Halfway down I met a thin，fair-skinned man of medium height。He appeared to be in a hurry。
“Are you Kedar Nath Babu？”Excitement colored my voice。
“Yes。Are you not Bhagabatis son who has been waiting here to meet me？”He smiled in friendly fashion。
“Sir，how do you happen to come here？”I felt baffled resentment over his inexplicable presence。
Everything is mysterious today！Less than an hour ago I had just fnished my bath in the Ganges when Swami Pranabananda approached me。I have no idea how he knew I was there at that time。
‘Bhagabati’s son is waiting for you in my apartment，‘he said。’Will you come with me？I gladly agreed。As we proceeded hand in hand，the swami in his wooden sandals was strangely able to outpace me。
‘How long will it take you to reach my place？’Pranabanandaji suddenly halted to ask me this question。
‘About half an hour。’
‘I have something else to do at present。’You can join me in my house，where Bhagabati‘s son and I will be awaiting you。’
“Before I could remonstrate，he dashed swiftly past me and disappeared in the crowd。I walked here as fast as possible。”
“I cannot believe my ears！Am I losing my mind？Did you meet him in a vision，or did you actually see him？”
He fushed angrily。“I am not lying to you。”
“Why，that man，Swami Pranabananda，has not left my sight a moment since I frst came about an hour ago。”I blurted out the whole story。
His eyes opened widely。“Are we living in this material age，or are we dreaming？Ithought this swami was just an ordinary man，and now I fnd he can materialize an extra body and work through it！”Together we entered the saints room。
“Look，those are the very sandals he was wearing at the ghat，”Kedar Nath Babu whispered。
As the visitor bowed before him，the saint turned to me with a quizzical smile。
“Why are you stupefed at all this？The subtle unity of the phenomenal world is not hidden from true yogis。I instantly see and converse with my disciples in distant Calcutta。They can similarly transcend at will every obstacle of gross matter。”
But instead of enthusiasm，I experienced only an awe-stricken fear。In as much as I was destined to undertake my divine search through one particular guru-Sri Yukteswar，whom I had not yet met-I felt no inclination to accept Pranabananda as my teacher。
The master sought to banish my disquietude by bestowing a soul-awakening gaze，and by some inspiring words about his guru。
“Lahiri Mahasaya was the greatest yogi I ever knew。He was Divinity Itself in the form of fesh。”
If a disciple，I refected，could materialize an extra feshly form at will，what miracles indeed could be barred to his master？
I used to meditate with another disciple for eight hours every night。We had to work at the railroad offce during the day。Finding diffculty in carrying on my clerical duties，I desired to devote my whole time to God。
For eight years I persevered，meditating half the night。But a little veil always remained between me and the Infnite。Even with super-human earnestness，I found the fnal irrevocable union to be denied me。One evening I paid a visit to Lahiri Mahasaya and pleaded for his divine intercession。
‘Angelic Guru，my spiritual anguish is such that I can no longer bear my life without meeting the Great Beloved face to face！’
‘What can I do？You must meditate more profoundly。’
‘I see Thee materialized before me in a physical body；bless me that I may perceive Thee in Thine infnite form！’
“Lahiri Mahasaya extended his hand in a benign gesture。‘You may go now and meditate。I have interceded for you with Brahma。’”Immeasurably uplifted，I returned to my home。In meditation that night，the burning Goal of my life was achieved。Now I ceaselessly enjoy the spiritual pension。Never from that day has the Blissful Creator remained hidden from my eyes behind any screen of delusion。
Pranabanandas face was suffused with divine light。The peace of another world entered my heart；all fear had fed。The saint made a further confdence。
Some months later I returned to Lahiri Mahasaya and tried to thank him for his bestowal of the infnite gift。Then I mentioned another matter。
‘Divine Guru，I can no longer work in the offce。Please release me。’
‘Apply for a pension from your company。’
‘What reason shall I give，so early in my service？’
‘Say what you feel。’
The next day I made my application。The doctor inquired the grounds for my premature request。
‘At work，I fnd an overpowering sensation rising in my spine。It permeates my whole body，unftting me for the performance of my duties。’
“Without further questioning the physician recommended me highly for a pension，which I soon received。I know the divine will of Lahiri Mahasaya worked through the doctor and the railroad offcials，including your father。Automatically they obeyed the great gurus spiritual direction，and freed me for a life of unbroken communion with the Beloved。”
As I was taking leave，he gave me his blessing：
“Your life belongs to the path of renunciation and yoga。I shall see you again，with your father，later on。”The years brought fulfllment to both these predictions。
Kedar Nath Babu walked by my side in the gathering darkness。I delivered Fathers letter，which my companion read under a street lamp。
“Your father suggests that I take a position in the Calcutta office of his railroad company。How pleasant to look forward to at least one of the pensions that Swami Pranabananda enjoys！But it is impossible；I cannot leave Benares。”
Father promised to give my request due consideration。The next day he summoned me and held out a round-trip pass from Bareilly to Benares，a number of rupee notes，and two letters。
“I have a business matter to propose to a Benares friend，Kedar Nath Babu。Unfortunately I have lost his address。But I believe you will be able to get this letter to him through our common friend，Swami Pranabananda。The swami，my brother disciple，has attained an exalted spiritual stature。You will beneft by his company；this second note will serve as your introduction。”
I set forth with the zest of my twelve years（though time has never dimmed my delight in new scenes and strange faces）。Reaching Benares，I proceeded immediately to the swamis residence。A rather stout man，wearing only a loincloth，was seated in lotus posture on a slightly raised platform。He greeted me as an old friend。
“Are you Swami Pranabananda？”
He nodded。“Are you Bhagabatis son？”His words were out before I had had time to get Fathers letter from my pocket。
“Of course I will locate Kedar Nath Babu for you。”
The saint again surprised me by his clairvoyance。He glanced at the letter，and made a few affectionate references to my parent。“You know，I am enjoying two pensions。One is by the recommendation of your father，for whom I once worked in the railroad offce。The other is by the recommendation of my Heavenly Father。”
I found this remark very obscure。Sir，do you receive from the Heavenly Father？
He laughed。“I mean a pension of fathomless peace-a reward for many years of deep meditation。I never crave money now。My few material needs are amply provided for。Later you will understand the signifcance of a second pension。”
Abruptly terminating our conversation，the saint became gravely motionless。My idle gaze took in his wooden sandals，lying under the platform seat。
“Little sir，dont get worried。The man you wish to see will be with you in half an hour。”The yogi was reading my mind。
Again he fell into inscrutable silence。
The swami aroused himself。“I think Kedar Nath Babu is nearing the door。”
I heard somebody coming up the stairs。An amazed incomprehension arose suddenly；my thoughts raced in confusion：“How is it possible that Fathers friend has been summoned to this place without the help of a messenger？The swami has spoken to no one but myself since my arrival！”
Abruptly I quitted the room and descended the steps。Halfway down I met a thin，fair-skinned man of medium height。He appeared to be in a hurry。
“Are you Kedar Nath Babu？”Excitement colored my voice。
“Yes。Are you not Bhagabatis son who has been waiting here to meet me？”He smiled in friendly fashion。
“Sir，how do you happen to come here？”I felt baffled resentment over his inexplicable presence。
Everything is mysterious today！Less than an hour ago I had just fnished my bath in the Ganges when Swami Pranabananda approached me。I have no idea how he knew I was there at that time。
‘Bhagabati’s son is waiting for you in my apartment，‘he said。’Will you come with me？I gladly agreed。As we proceeded hand in hand，the swami in his wooden sandals was strangely able to outpace me。
‘How long will it take you to reach my place？’Pranabanandaji suddenly halted to ask me this question。
‘About half an hour。’
‘I have something else to do at present。’You can join me in my house，where Bhagabati‘s son and I will be awaiting you。’
“Before I could remonstrate，he dashed swiftly past me and disappeared in the crowd。I walked here as fast as possible。”
“I cannot believe my ears！Am I losing my mind？Did you meet him in a vision，or did you actually see him？”
He fushed angrily。“I am not lying to you。”
“Why，that man，Swami Pranabananda，has not left my sight a moment since I frst came about an hour ago。”I blurted out the whole story。
His eyes opened widely。“Are we living in this material age，or are we dreaming？Ithought this swami was just an ordinary man，and now I fnd he can materialize an extra body and work through it！”Together we entered the saints room。
“Look，those are the very sandals he was wearing at the ghat，”Kedar Nath Babu whispered。
As the visitor bowed before him，the saint turned to me with a quizzical smile。
“Why are you stupefed at all this？The subtle unity of the phenomenal world is not hidden from true yogis。I instantly see and converse with my disciples in distant Calcutta。They can similarly transcend at will every obstacle of gross matter。”
But instead of enthusiasm，I experienced only an awe-stricken fear。In as much as I was destined to undertake my divine search through one particular guru-Sri Yukteswar，whom I had not yet met-I felt no inclination to accept Pranabananda as my teacher。
The master sought to banish my disquietude by bestowing a soul-awakening gaze，and by some inspiring words about his guru。
“Lahiri Mahasaya was the greatest yogi I ever knew。He was Divinity Itself in the form of fesh。”
If a disciple，I refected，could materialize an extra feshly form at will，what miracles indeed could be barred to his master？
I used to meditate with another disciple for eight hours every night。We had to work at the railroad offce during the day。Finding diffculty in carrying on my clerical duties，I desired to devote my whole time to God。
For eight years I persevered，meditating half the night。But a little veil always remained between me and the Infnite。Even with super-human earnestness，I found the fnal irrevocable union to be denied me。One evening I paid a visit to Lahiri Mahasaya and pleaded for his divine intercession。
‘Angelic Guru，my spiritual anguish is such that I can no longer bear my life without meeting the Great Beloved face to face！’
‘What can I do？You must meditate more profoundly。’
‘I see Thee materialized before me in a physical body；bless me that I may perceive Thee in Thine infnite form！’
“Lahiri Mahasaya extended his hand in a benign gesture。‘You may go now and meditate。I have interceded for you with Brahma。’”Immeasurably uplifted，I returned to my home。In meditation that night，the burning Goal of my life was achieved。Now I ceaselessly enjoy the spiritual pension。Never from that day has the Blissful Creator remained hidden from my eyes behind any screen of delusion。
Pranabanandas face was suffused with divine light。The peace of another world entered my heart；all fear had fed。The saint made a further confdence。
Some months later I returned to Lahiri Mahasaya and tried to thank him for his bestowal of the infnite gift。Then I mentioned another matter。
‘Divine Guru，I can no longer work in the offce。Please release me。’
‘Apply for a pension from your company。’
‘What reason shall I give，so early in my service？’
‘Say what you feel。’
The next day I made my application。The doctor inquired the grounds for my premature request。
‘At work，I fnd an overpowering sensation rising in my spine。It permeates my whole body，unftting me for the performance of my duties。’
“Without further questioning the physician recommended me highly for a pension，which I soon received。I know the divine will of Lahiri Mahasaya worked through the doctor and the railroad offcials，including your father。Automatically they obeyed the great gurus spiritual direction，and freed me for a life of unbroken communion with the Beloved。”
As I was taking leave，he gave me his blessing：
“Your life belongs to the path of renunciation and yoga。I shall see you again，with your father，later on。”The years brought fulfllment to both these predictions。
Kedar Nath Babu walked by my side in the gathering darkness。I delivered Fathers letter，which my companion read under a street lamp。
“Your father suggests that I take a position in the Calcutta office of his railroad company。How pleasant to look forward to at least one of the pensions that Swami Pranabananda enjoys！But it is impossible；I cannot leave Benares。”
