Dr. Chaudhuri recovered from his heart attack, but asked me if I wouldn’t remain teaching at the Cultural Integration Fellowship ashram and share the load of teaching with him. Thus, I continued giving Sunday services bi-weekly, and (if memory serves) at least some of the mid-week classes. Meanwhile, it seemed to me the time had … Read more
In the summer of 1964 I spent a week vacationing at Yosemite National Park, in California. Yosemite must surely be one of the most beautiful places on earth. By an interesting coincidence, it was here I wrote Part One of the present book, during the summer of 1996. My first visit may have been the … Read more
God had other plans for me in this life than becoming a hermit. He now gave me a dramatic demonstration of His intentions. After Christmas, the Chaudhuris invited me to a Saturday evening dinner party at the home of one of their students, Ethel Appleby. I was scheduled to leave two days later for Mexico. … Read more
Living at my parents’ home necessitated my fitting in with their lifestyle. This wasn’t always easy. My father, especially, had no understanding of the life of a devotee. I remember him entering my room one evening without knocking. I was meditating, and had lit a stick of incense to provide a spiritual atmosphere. Without apology … Read more
By an interesting coincidence, one month before Tara summoned me to New York I had already been thinking that a book was needed, one I might even write myself. This would be the first of the books Master had himself told me to write. The idea was inspired by an article I’d just finished reading … Read more
The goal of this book is to take the reader down the road to a place that has become known in the world as Ananda: a community (now there are several of them) and a religious mission dedicated to spreading the message of unity in religion, and of Self-realization, as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda. Ananda, … Read more
The Sufi woman saint, Rabbi’a, lay on her deathbed, her body ill and in pain. Three disciples of hers came to console her. “He is no true lover of God, after all,” said one, “who is not willing to suffer for God’s sake.” “This smacks of egoism to me,” replied the saint. Another of the … Read more
Looking back now, thirty-four years (to the day, as it happens) after that meeting in New York, it is clear to me that everything that happened was for a divine purpose. From SRF’s point of view, they weren’t ready to develop the work into a world mission of the magnitude Master had visualized. Tara … Read more
Daya Mata used sometimes to tease me for being what she called “naive.” In one respect she was right. I trusted in friendship, and believed that ours superseded any mere organizational consideration. I often expressed myself to her without giving my words careful thought, as friends will. I couldn’t help the frustration I felt at … Read more
Binay-da was reluctant to see me leave Calcutta for New Delhi. I postponed that trip, accordingly, and remained near him for several months. Our discussions centered on the work and how to develop it. The alternative to starting afresh, as I wanted to do, was to concentrate on clearing out (as I put it) the … Read more