As I write you today, August 11, it’s a dual holiday: Janmashtami, the celebration of Krishna’s birth, and for Ananda, Babaji Commemoration Day. I first heard of Babaji-Krishna (for they are one and the same) in reading Autobiography of a Yogi. Of all of our line of gurus, for me this deathless yogi living in remote reaches of the Himalayas … Read More
(Nayaswami Jyotish and Nayaswami Devi received this prayer from a European devotee, and thought to share it with our worldwide family in honor of Babaji Commemoration Day, celebrated each year on Janmashtami, Krishna’s birthday, which falls this year on August 11.) Babaji-Krishna, beloved deathless Master, in this time of great planetary transition, we beseech you, receive our prayers. Babaji, we pray … Read More
Dear Friends, We send our love to all of you and want to share what’s been happening for the past few weeks, which seems like the grand finale of our time in India this year. We’ll begin by sharing about the pilgrimage to Babaji’s cave with Diya, Keshava, Dharmini, Dharmaraj, and 40 Indian pilgrims. It was an extraordinary experience. On … Read More
We recently went on a pilgrimage to Babaji’s cave. There were forty-five pilgrims on the trip, with most of us seeing this sacred spot for the first time. It was here, in this little secluded cave in the middle of nowhere and of everywhere, that our lineage took birth. From this tiny cave, the science of Kriya Yoga has spread around the globe. It was here that Lahiri Mahasaya received not only Kriya initiation, but also the charge to take it back to the masses of spiritually thirsty souls. Autobiography of a Yogi relates that Babaji told him, “A deep purpose underlay the fact that you did not meet me this time until you were already a married man, with modest business responsibilities. You must put aside your thoughts of joining our secret band in the Himalayas; your life lies in the crowded marts, serving as an example of the ideal yogi-householder.”
In our last letter, Devi wrote about karma and free will. I would like to look at another aspect of this fascinating question. Once, during a satsang, Swami Kriyananda was asked, “How much of what happens to us is determined by our karma?” His reply brought a gasp from the audience, “Virtually everything is pre-determined, even the choice of the shirt you put on this morning.”
“Surely this must be the cave itself! It matches every description given in Autobiography of a Yogi.” We were listening, enthralled, to a remarkable tale of the search for Babaji’s cave, the existence of which was revealed to the world by Paramhansa Yogananda in that book.