Autobiography of a Yogi | Page 4

it to her with my
good will."
Father tended to first say "No" to any new proposal. His attitude toward
the strange woman who so readily enlisted Mother's sympathy was an
example of his customary caution. Aversion to instant
acceptance--typical of the French mind in the West-is really only
honoring the principle of "due reflection." I always found Father
reasonable and evenly balanced in his judgments. If I could bolster up
my numerous requests with one or two good arguments, he invariably
put the coveted goal within my reach, whether it were a vacation trip or

a new motorcycle.
Father was a strict disciplinarian to his children in their early years, but
his attitude toward himself was truly Spartan. He never visited the
theater, for instance, but sought his recreation in various spiritual
practices and in reading the BHAGAVAD GITA. {FN1-7} Shunning
all luxuries, he would cling to one old pair of shoes until they were
useless. His sons bought automobiles after they came into popular use,
but Father was always content with the trolley car for his daily ride to
the office. The accumulation of money for the sake of power was alien
to his nature. Once, after organizing the Calcutta Urban Bank, he
refused to benefit himself by holding any of its shares. He had simply
wished to perform a civic duty in his spare time.
Several years after Father had retired on a pension, an English
accountant arrived to examine the books of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway
Company. The amazed investigator discovered that Father had never
applied for overdue bonuses.
"He did the work of three men!" the accountant told the company. "He
has rupees 125,000 (about $41,250.) owing to him as back
compensation." The officials presented Father with a check for this
amount. He thought so little about it that he overlooked any mention to
the family. Much later he was questioned by my youngest brother
Bishnu, who noticed the large deposit on a bank statement.
"Why be elated by material profit?" Father replied. "The one who
pursues a goal of evenmindedness is neither jubilant with gain nor
depressed by loss. He knows that man arrives penniless in this world,
and departs without a single rupee."
[Illustration: MY FATHER, Bhagabati Charan Ghosh, A Disciple of
Lahiri Mahasaya--see father1.jpg]
Early in their married life, my parents became disciples of a great
master, Lahiri Mahasaya of Benares. This contact strengthened Father's
naturally ascetical temperament. Mother made a remarkable admission
to my eldest sister Roma: "Your father and myself live together as man

and wife only once a year, for the purpose of having children."
Father first met Lahiri Mahasaya through Abinash Babu, {FN1-8} an
employee in the Gorakhpur office of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway.
Abinash instructed my young ears with engrossing tales of many Indian
saints. He invariably concluded with a tribute to the superior glories of
his own guru.
"Did you ever hear of the extraordinary circumstances under which
your father became a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya?"
It was on a lazy summer afternoon, as Abinash and I sat together in the
compound of my home, that he put this intriguing question. I shook my
head with a smile of anticipation.
"Years ago, before you were born, I asked my superior officer-your
father-to give me a week's leave from my Gorakhpur duties in order to
visit my guru in Benares. Your father ridiculed my plan.
"'Are you going to become a religious fanatic?' he inquired.
'Concentrate on your office work if you want to forge ahead.'
"Sadly walking home along a woodland path that day, I met your father
in a palanquin. He dismissed his servants and conveyance, and fell into
step beside me. Seeking to console me, he pointed out the advantages
of striving for worldly success. But I heard him listlessly. My heart was
repeating: 'Lahiri Mahasaya! I cannot live without seeing you!'
"Our path took us to the edge of a tranquil field, where the rays of the
late afternoon sun were still crowning the tall ripple of the wild grass.
We paused in admiration. There in the field, only a few yards from us,
the form of my great guru suddenly appeared! {FN1-9}
"'Bhagabati, you are too hard on your employee!' His voice was
resonant in our astounded ears. He vanished as mysteriously as he had
come. On my knees I was exclaiming, 'Lahiri Mahasaya! Lahiri
Mahasaya!' Your father was motionless with stupefaction for a few
moments.

"'Abinash, not only do I give YOU leave, but I give MYSELF leave to
start for Benares tomorrow. I must know this great Lahiri Mahasaya,
who is able to materialize himself at will in order to intercede for you! I
will take my wife and ask this master to initiate us in his spiritual path.
Will you guide us to him?'