Yukteswar Mini-History
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"I like it!"- P. M. A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure. - Buddha |
Mini-History of Yukteswar
I was born and that is all that is necessary. [The brief Albert Einstein story by himself]
This online work tells about Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855-1936), guru of Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), who got quite a following in the West.
Yukteswar became a monk after his wife died
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BEFORE he became a monk, Yukteswar was known as Priya Nath Karar, also written Priyanath Karar and Preonath Karar. He was born on 10 May 1855 in a suburb of Calcutta, got married and had a daughter, and died on 9 March 1936.
Some say that in his case Sri is part of the monk's name, and write Sriyukteshvar or Sriyukteswar. However, in the Autobiography of a Yogi by Yukteswar's disciple Yogananda, a note says that Sri (holy) "is not a name but a respectful title". [Note 3 in Chapter 12 in the Autobiography's first edition, which is on-line [LINK].
After his wife died after giving birth to a daughter, he was initiated in kriya yoga by Shyama Charan Sharman Lahiri (variously called Lahiri Baba and Lahriri Mahasaya) in Banaras in 1883, and within seven years he mastered kriya yoga too. He started to write, and most known is the book, The Holy Science (Kaivalya Darshanam) from 1894. Here is how it came about:
Yukteswar's Holy Science book
In 1894 he met a kriya yogi called Babaji, the guru of Shyama Lahiri, without recognising him. The stranger called him swami, which he was not at the time, and said in essence, "You have been writing [a commentary on the Bhagavad] Gita at your Gurus behest - write another book."
Priya was startled and replied in consternation, "What a suggestion, sir! I am not a man of erudition in the shastras [scriptures]."
At this Babaji burst into a loud laughter, just as he had done when Priya had protested against being called a swami. Within the year the book was finished.
There is a blend of flaws and valuable substance in Yukteswar's book The Holy Science. And it is not an easy read. It will be discussed on following pages.
The astrologer-yogi's Sat Sanga Sabha
Years later Priya was ordained as a hindu monk at the Bodh Gaya monastery, and was named Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. In the interrim period he called himself Priya Nath Swami. 'Giri' (mountain) is a 'branch name' in the swami order Among the others are sagar (ocean), bharati (land), aranya (forest) og puri (region, tract). There are ten swami branches in all. Priya became a proficient Hindu astrologer in time. Further, in 1902 he established a socio-religious institution called Sat Sanga Sabha (Sat-Sanga Society). Through that society centres of Kriya Yoga and deliberations on Yoga Shastras [scriptures, works] came about.
In 1912 or 1913 Yukteswar and Mukunda Lal Ghosh first met, and soon discovered they were fellow disciples of Lahiri Baba - and Mukunda took the monk's name Swami Yogananda Giri in July 1915. (In 1935 'swami' was replaced by 'paramahansa'.) In a non-ceremonious manner Yukteswar dipped a piece of silk into a dye of ochre, and draped it around Yogananda as a monk's robe, Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952) tells in his Autobiography. He seems to be the only source of information about the happening. Yogananda tells he was sent to America in 1920. The same year he founded his American sister organisation of Yukteswar's Sat Sanga Society, naming it Self-Realization Fellowship, SRF. In subsequent years Yogananda made his kriya yoga and views of and by Yukteswar quite well known. SRF, headquartered in Los Angeles, publishes books and lectures by Yogananda.
Yukteswar's titles and Yogananda's overblown titlephrenia
To praise me for being wiser than I am, isn't that, doesn't that border on irony? Do I deserve that?
Yukteswar became the main guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, whom he trained for spreading kriya yoga in the West. Yukteswar is venerated as Jnanavatar, ie. 'divine wisdom incarnated' in the church set up by Yogananda in 1935, and which is described as a sect. Cult membership is not ideal for winners, and is easy to get fooled by Yogananda and SRF - irksome and demanding about imposing inconvenient standards on all those who get fooled to submit to Yogananda big time.
In Hinduism an avatar is per definition a divine descension of a sort. There are various forms of avatars, such as complete incarnation of a deity, partial incarnations, and incarnated qualities.
Yogananda's panegyric and famous Autobiography of a Yogi devotes many chapters to Yukteswar, starting on chapter 10. It is quite easy to hail, but overdoing it can set bad things moving. Study the facts. They are:
- In the SRF published book Man's Eternal Quest Yogananda writes that Yukteswar was a master in every way, and in his Autobiography it is also held that the words of his guru obliged or bound the cosmos. They believe it in SRF, and they believe heaven is populated by fairies and mermaids too. [Ak 99, Pa, ch. 17 etc and ch 43]
- In the now SRF published book, The Holy Science, Yogananda writes of Yukteswar's "unerring spiritual insight" [Hos v].
- SRF also announces, in the footsteps of Yogananda, that Yukteswar is a Jnanavatar, that is, "Divine Wisdom (jnana) in a body (avatar, from Sanskrit 'step down'). [Pa 499-501]
- "Praise undeserved is scandal in disguise [Ap 153]."
- "Deepest wounds are often inflicted by praise [Ap 142]."
- Better still, "When a disciple praises his guru, maybe he flatters himself [New saying]. Compare, "When a father praises his son he flatters himself [Ap 201]."
- "Proper praise sticks [Ap 479]," whereas "Blame-all and praise-all are two blockheads [Ap 55]."
There is food for thought in those sayings.
Hoorays go on in SRF
There are many fat claims in Yogananda's universe, which he calls non-existent: "There is no material universe; its warp and woof is . . . illusion." [Autobiography, ch. 30].
A monastic at Self-Realization Fellowship's Mother Center in turn wrote that in SRF they do not find faults with Yogananda's guidelines and that his wisdom is "flawless" [to them] [[MORE]
Oi oi, where is the evidence that it is so (in a non-existing world)? There are many fat claims in Yogananda's universe. A part of his overdoing it is related to Oriental ways of expression, where appellations like "Great King" for a yogi is common. However, sound measure and proper jokes may be far better.
In conclusion, there are in part embarrassing or unpleasant sides to unfounded and undue praise that is upheld for a long time. The weeds of exaggerations may bear bitter fruits, and not everyone should have to accept the bitter with the sweet (good teachings).
One bitter side to Yoganandan's efforts is the later cult deterioration from accepting the cult's gurus as divine, not just great authority figures. Massive exaggerations come close to lies, if they are not. For all that, it is not sensible to throw out the baby with the dirty water either.
❖ Be exact. (American)
Satyananda's Comment
About Lahiri Baba (1828-96), the guru of Yukteswar and thousands more: "Even such a great being and avatar can succumb to error; they are also not beyond reprimand." - Satyananda
Christ Yukteswar
Words by Yogananda
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| Bitten from head to foot and in a daze. |
Yukteswar's disciple Yogananda recalls from his years of training under Yukteswar,
"At home my family always used protective curtains at night. I was dismayed to discover that in the Serampore hermitage [of Yukteswar] . . . I was bitten from head to foot. [As a result, Sri Yukteswar] would ask me to arrange . . . bedtime curtains.
The mosquitoes one evening were especially virulent. But Master failed to issue his usual instructions. . . . I thought I would go mad with the bites and especially the singing drone as the mosquitoes celebrated bloodthirsty rites.
No responsive stir from Master; I approached him cautiously. He was not breathing . . . it filled me with fright.
"His heart must have failed!" I placed a mirror under his nose; no breath-vapour appeared. To make doubly certain, for minutes I closed his mouth and nostrils with my fingers . . . In a daze, I turned toward the door to summon help.
"So! A budding experimentalist! My poor nose!" Master's voice was shaky with laughter. "Why don't you go to bed?" . . .
Meekly I returned to my bed . . .
"He was giving me a demonstration," I thought." [Ay ch. 12, selections.]
❖ To subject oneself often to narcissistic guru-hailing and further propaganda is equal to being bitten by flies. There are better things to do.
It is an error to suppose that masters do not suffer at all. - Paramahansa Yogananda [Ak 421]
His Disciple Yogananda Exclaimed Gladly in Shame
Below is some material for budding scientists and others.
In 1920 Yukteswar's disciple Yogananda had a vision that he was lecturing before a large gathering of American men and women. At once he wanted to go to America. He learnt that a certain conference would be held that in Boston, and got a delegate membership to that conference. His father Bhagabati offered him money to help him only when he learnt that his son had failed to get any from elsewhere.
Yogananda went on board "The City of Sparta", a ship that was leaving for America. It is said that he had forgotten to meet his guru and consult with him all this time. But Yukteswar was at the door of Yogananda's cabin on the day of departure. Then Yogananda exclaimed in great joy and fell on the guru's feet, smitten by shame and remorse.
But Yukteswar still had concern and affection for him, and advised that his book The Holy Science should be the basis of Yogananda's mission to America. Today in SRF it seems to be one of several basis-pillars, but not the one basis. They focus more on Yogananda. Things change.
[Retold. Sources: Reminiscences by Yogananda in SRF's Golden Anniversary Booklet, and a book by Sailendra Bejoy Dasgupta on Kriya Yoga and Swami Sri Yukteshvar, and the Autobiography of a Yogi, passim.]
Too High-Strung Reader's Praise in the Footsteps of Yogananda
Now Yogananda was a highly praise-full disciple. And inferior minds just seem to copy that, without much thinking, alas. Better be just and considerate.
Yukteswar's book, Kaivalya Darsanam: The Holy Science, is slender. There are several editions. The current eighth edition is from 1990, and the 7th SRF edition came in 1972. The book is still published. Those who want to "circle in" on the book, may want to read Amazon.com comments and the publishers' praise and other sorts of promoting words that are included in the book. An example of too high-strung or cultish reader's praise ther may serve: A reader from Bay Area in California writes (October 14, 2001) that "most of it went over my head and probably will for a long time . . . The faultless spiritual vision of Swami Yukteswar pierces many mysteries . . ."
Amazon.com tells that 7 of 7 people found the "Bay Area" review helpful. But how can a person who does not understand a work, feel qualified or fit to judge the author's vision as "faultless"? Solid tact hinders a far juicier comment at this point. [Source: Amazon.com; Books: The Holy Science. Page accessed May 7, 2003]
In September 2008 that particular review is no longer there. There is some improvement to be found in the universe, in other words. But there are others reviews in its place, such as "It is difficult to grasp in many places but his wisdom and clarity are unmatched. (Michael Haigh)" And Eric S. Lloyd writes "Sri Yukteshwar in my opinion has been severly under-praised." And another: "I must frankly say that most of it went over my head and probably will for a long time to come. The faultless spiritual vision of Swami Yukteswar pierces many mysteries."
The praisers dominate the reader comments of the book. They seem to want something to lean on. Does that mean the book is top? Think twice. It turns out that proselytes banding together like to hail the books of their faith, for one thing, and thereby give the sum of Amazon reviews of the book an inappropriate bias. Compare the flatterer examples above.
To think that "wisdom and clarity is difficult to grasp" goes again the norms of several top-notch physicists, like Erwin Schrödinger, Werner Heisenberg, and Albert Einstein: " Even for the physicist the description on plain language will be a criterion of the degree of understanding that has been reached. (Werner Heisenberg, Thd 27)." "If you cannot - in the long run - tell everyone what you have been doing, your doing has been worthless." (Erwin Schroedinger, ibid.)." "Most of the fundamental ideas of science are essentially simple, and may, as a rule, be expressed in language comprehensible to everyone. (Albert Einstein, ibid.)."
❖ A companion saying to "Don't criticise what you don't understand" is "Don't praise what you don't understand either." It is so foolish.
Yogananda calls Yukteswar one of the Christs
Yukteswar's disciple Yogananda oddly called many acquaintances in India for Christs. The reason for calling it odd, is that Yogananda claims to be in harmony with Jesus Christ to method of salvation called kriya yoga from Jesus and the guru of Lahiri Baba - all Christs, according to Yogananda. "Babaji is ever in communion with [Jesus] Christ; together they send out vibrations . . . and have planned the spiritual technique of salvation for this age. . . . Babaji realises the necessity of spreading the self-liberations of yoga [Pa 307]." It sounds good to the devoted, but is it true? That is the question. [YOGANANDA CHRISTS]
Jesus of the gospels warns against false Christs [Matthew 24;23-6, cf. Mark 13;21-3]. Yogananda's big words in this do not make sense, then. According to the gospel words he and his gurus are false Christs, leading sheep (Christians) astray. To the degree it is so, it is serious. [John 10;7-10].
In Yogananda's lecture "Oriental Christ" (above) he also says "it has been definitely proven that Jesus was connected with the High Initiates and the Masters of India." Then he draws on a sham story about Jesus in Tibet in the book Unknown Life of Christ by Nicholas Notovitch, accepting fictitious tales as true, alas. But "To inquire is neither a disaster nor a disgrace [Ap 332]:" [MORE]
Yogananda calls his guru Yukteswar Christlike on several occasions, not just once. In an article from 1937 he says that Shyama Lahiri (Lahiri Mahasaya) raised many Christs and Yukteswar is praised as "the greatest disciple" among such Christs. A question is whether it is due praise.
Yogavatar Lahiri Mahasaya created the following Christlike souls, some of them really possessing the highest Christ-consciousness:1. My Master, Swami Sri Yukeswarji . . . with Christlike miraculous powers.
2. Bindya Bhakat of Benares . . .
3. Swami Pranabananda, who could materialize or dematerialize his body, a feat actually witnessed by myself.
4. Ram Gopal Babu of Ranbajpur, a great yogi, who meditated forty years in a cave for eighteen hours a day.
5. Bhupen Sanyal, a great teacher . . .
6. Swami Kebalananda Shastri Mahasaya, a Yogi of rare quality.
7. Swami Keshabananda, a man of great renunciation.
8. Sri Bhagavati Charan, my earthly father, very high in morality and Self-Realization.
9. Abinash Babu.
- Paramahansa Yogananda. "Yogavatar Shyama Lahiri Mahasaya's Ladder of Self-Realization, for Salvation for All". Inner Culture, March 1937.
"Bible Christ" is Bad, at Any Rate
The terms "Christs" and "Christ-consciousness" above are Yogananda adaptations, and never found in the four gospels. Jesus allows no other Christ and Master than himself [Matthew 6;24].
So there are some difficulties in accepting the big titles of Yogananda too. "Christ" is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah (Aramaic: Mshikha). The term 'Messiah' in the sense of "king of God's people" is from 1 Samuel, where Samuel pours oil over the head of a Saul, who is then "the oil-anointed one", that is, a king that will not be good for the people, no matter what they imagine, it says. [1 Samuel 8; 10:1]
After some decades the Lord discarded King Saul for the shepherding, Batsheba-whoring and husband-killing David. His son, Solomon with a thousand wives and concubines, took to idolatry and ruined the kingship. Jesus implies Solomon was the wisest man that had lived before he himself entered the scene. [Luke 11:31]. But still he and followers ignored to obey the rules and keep the Sabbath holy, and much else, and Jesus behaved in ways that had him executed as a blaspheming criminal. [Lev 16:8-10]
Solomon said, "King Solomon will be blessed, and David's throne will remain secure before the Lord forever." [1 Kgs 2:45] Before "securing the throne" - which did not come to pass - God said to Solomon (in a dream): "I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. [1 Kgs 3:12] - Compare the great claims of Jesus against the Father's word. He broke his Law too. That could not be, says the Old Testament.
Do not be taken in and ensnared. The temple was demolished. The house of David fell asunder. God's words in the Bible were not taken seriously by big shots - promises and ordinances came to nothing as time went by.
The reason why gospels insist Jesus was the son of David through his non-carnal father, Joseph and by forgery: He could not count on being accepted as Messiah (king of Jews) without that "son of David" thing. Cater to your brain cells instead.
Jesus did not qualify as the son of David through the blood line of Joseph. Mary had him by an angel, a gospel says. Stay away from the false David ancestry line in Matthew 1, then. Even better, rise above any 'Christ'. [See John 14:12] Yukteswar did not use the Christ title himself. Yogananda is the cause of such dubious use. However, Yukteswar did not stop his flattering, swollen, untidy verbiage. Yogananda set an "ultra-faithy" tone by his Christ-concepts, obviously playing on big-wigs. [CHRIST, A BAD KING, A BAD THING?]
Panegyric Drivel on the Internet Is Found
There are several pages devoted to Yukteswar on the Internet. Facts and beliefs intertwine in some of them. As can be seen, Yukteswar teachings are surrounded by a "faith gang", and some "oh-so-devoted" ones who have turned stupidly dogmatic. There is no need for that, says Yukteswar.
Yes, some source texts of the cult SRF show that Yukteswar himself does not want people to believe blindly; he advocates sound investigations. And Yukteswar's own guru - Shyama Charan Sharman Lahiri (1828-95), also called Lahiri Baba and Lahiri Mahasaya - counsels against unprofitable speculations, like Buddha before him:I had steadfastly refused to join any society because I didn't find in them demonstrable truth. But when I found my guru and this path, and saw through my own experience that it worked [Paramahansa Yogananda, in Man's Eternal Quest [Ak 114].
- The fully enlightened one is the highest among all living beings. [Buddha]
- Among what is unconditioned, Nirvana is the highest to reach. [With Buddha]
- A fit man finds little interesting in philosophical discussions. [Buddha, modified]
- When you know personally that certain things are wrong, unwholesome, bad, then give them up. [Buddha]
- A grateful and thankful person is rare in this world. [Buddha] [MORE]
Yogananda also writes:
The great guru taught his disciples to avoid theoretical discussion of the scriptures. "He only is wise who devotes himself to realising, not reading only, the ancient revelations," he said. "Solve all your problems through meditation. Exchange unprofitable religious speculations for actual God-contact. Clear your mind of dogmatic theological debris; let in the fresh, healing waters of direct perception. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance; the divine Voice . . . [From Ay, ch. 35. Emphasis added.]
There are dangers outside a flock of rigorous faith of quite blind believing too - which Yukteswar spoke against when he lived.
Sources
Shyama Lahiri himself not only encouraged Yukteswar to write a Bhagavad Gita commentary [Bhg], but also dictated or wrote twenty-seven commentaries to Hindu scriptures himself. In addition to what Yogananda writes of Yukteswar in his Autobiography, and what is found in The Holy Science, There is also a biography by Sailendra, Swami Sri Yukteshvar Giri Maharaj. A Biography [Ym], and Kriya Yoga and Sri Yukteshvar [Ky]
Something is published in English translation in San Diego, and the three books referred to here, are on Yoganiketan.net. Full references are in the book list (below).
But now for some stories of Yukteswar (next page).
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Literature
Ak: Yogananda, Paramahansa. Man's Eternal Quest. New ed. Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship, 1986.
Ay: Yogananda, Paramahansa. Autobiography of a Yogi. 1st ed. New York: Philosophical Library, 1946. Online. [oaks.nvg.org/pv6bk12.html]
Bhg: Sri Yukteswar, Swami. Bhagavad Gita. Portland, Mn: Yoganiketan, 2002. On-line at www.yoganiketan.net
Hos: Sri Yukteswar, swami. The Holy Science. 7th ed. Los Angeles: Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF), 1972.
Ky: Dasgupta, Sailendra B. Kriya Yoga and Sri Yukteshvar. Np: Yoganiketan, 1998. On-line: [yoganiketan.net/kriyayoga/index.htm].
Thd: Zukav, Gary. The Dancing Wu Li Masters: An Overview of the New Physics. London: Rider, 1979.
Ym: Satyananda, Swami. Swami Sri Yukteshvar Giri Maharaj. A Biography. Portland, Mn: Yoganiketan, 2004. On-line at www.yoganiketan.net
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