Yukteswar Teachings 1: Introduction

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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
More about Yukteswar

Mini-History of Yukteswar

We introduce Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (1855-1936), guru of Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), who got quite a following in the West.

The author

"Without attaining Knowledge ... enslaved ... one becomes involved in an unaware state."
- Yukteswar

BEFORE he became a monk, Yukteswar was known as Priya Nath Karar (born 10 May 1855 in a suburb of Calcutta, dead 9 March 1936). Some say that in his case Sri is part of the monk's name, and write Sriyukteshvar in one word. 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 (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:
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. 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.
Years later Priya was ordained as a hindu monk at the Bodh Gaya monastery, and was named Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri. 'Giri' is a 'branch name' in the swami order. There are ten swami branches in all. In 1912 or 1913 he and Mukunda Lal Ghosh first met, and soon discovered they were fellow disciples of Shyama Lahiri - 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. Yogananda went to America in 1920 and in subsequent years made kriya yoga and his views of Yukteswar more known.
As for Yukteswar's book The Holy Science, there are flaws and good substance too. We have become aware of some "theoretical debris" in it, and show much of it too on following pages, at times in detail. A wish is that this pinpointing helps against over-praise, which is unbecoming according to selected proverbs that focus on various angles of the subject:

"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 such sayings.

Yukteswar's titles and Yogananda's great "titlephrenia"

Yukteswar became the main guru of Paramahansa Yogananda, whom he trained for spreading kriya yoga in the West. Yukteswar is called Jnanavatar, ie. 'divine wisdom incarnated' in the church set up by Yogananda. 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. Thus:

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 one whose words obliged or bound the cosmos [Ak 99, Pa, ch. 17 etc.]
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]

Hoorays go on in SRF

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]
A good conscience has to ask, "Are all these claims so sure? Where is the evidence?" Facts we have dug up, reveal there are many fat claims in Yogananda's universe. You are welcome to browse these pages to find them. As you may sense already, we are not particularly fond of undue praise. Nor are we fond of throwing out the baby with the dirty water.

Satyananda's Comment

About Lahiri Baba (1828-96), the guru of Yukteswar and thousands of others: "Even such a great being and avatar can succumb to error; they are also not beyond reprimand." - Satyananda

More about Yukteswar

Words by Yogananda

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.]

It is an error to suppose that masters do not suffer at all. - Paramahansa Yogananda [Ak 421]

Below is some material for budding scientists and others.

His Disciple Yogananda Exclaimed Gladly in Shame

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

We should exchange old speculations for solutions as time goes by. - T. Kinnes

We have read through Yukteswar's slender Kaivalya Darsanam: The Holy Science. We have studied the 7th SRF edition (1972) and an earlier Indian edition. And since the last publishing date of the book is 1990, SRF might have added some more quite needed information to it after 1972. The book is still published.
Those who intend 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 reader's praise there: 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 . . ."

Disciples make all the trouble and differences. They begin to create narrowness and bigotry . . . The time has come to separate truth from falsehood, knowledge from ignorance. [Yogananda, in the lecture "Oriental Christ", in East West (Magazine), March-April, 1930, vol. 4-4.]

Now Yogananda was a highly praise-full disciple . . .
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 juicier comment at this point. [Source: Amazon.com; Books: The Holy Science. Page accessed May 7, 2003]

Yogananda calls Yukteswar a Christ

Yukteswar's disciple Yogananda called many acquaintances in India for Christs - even full-blown such ones. We, on the other hand, prefer deflations of unmeritorious terms.
In Yogananda's lecture "Oriental Christ" (above) he says "it has been definitely proven that Jesus was connected with the High Initiates and the Masters of India." Then he elaborates 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. 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, the greatest disciple, with Christlike miraculous powers . . .
8. Sri Bhagavati Charan, my earthly father, very high in morality and Self-Realization . . .
Lahiri Mahasaya's teaching is the Second Coming of Christ . . . in actuality.
- Paramahansa Yogananda. "Yogavatar Shyama Lahiri Mahasaya's Ladder of Self-Realization, for Salvation for All". Inner Culture, March 1937.

The terms "Christs" and "Christ-consciousness" above are Yogananda adaptations, and never found in the four gospels, where there is only one Christ (Messiah), Jesus, and no other Christ is allowed by him. Strange, isn't it?
"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 he himself was greater in wisdom. [Luke 11:31], but still he and followers ignored to obey the rules and keep the Sabbath holy, and much else. [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 that - which did not happen - 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 by these guys. 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. They crucified him anyway. That throne of David - unbroken kingship, had failed too, and much earlier. There is much that fails in Judaism. See to it that your grey brain cells are not included there. You can remember Solomon by this:

Deal with each man according to all he does . . . (you alone know the hearts of all men), so that they will fear you all the time . . . [1 Kgs 8:39-40, emphasis added]

Such fear can surely be good for you, but you must act on it! Solomon was the wise one, God indicates . . .
Jesus was called the Christ (ie Messiah) by some - that is, he aspired to the title of Messiah, king of Jews. People often admire big shots, you know - But actually, Jesus did not qualify. Mary had him by an angel a gospel says, not by anyone in the blood line of David. Hence there is a false David ancestry line in Matthew 1.
Rise above any 'Christ'. [See John 14:12 on that]
Yukteswar did not use the Christ title himself. Yogananda is the cause of such dubious use and for "original Christianity as taught byJesus Christ". Yukteswar did not stop his swollen, untidy verbiage, and he had the chance. Hold that against him. Yogananda felt free to cross-breed many terms. He set an "ultra-faithy" tone by his overblown Christ-concepts. They must be out of place, Biblically speaking, that is. [MORE ON CHRIST AS A FALLEN, BAD KING]

Panegyric Drivel on Internet Is Found

There are several pages devoted to Yukteswar on the Internet. Not a few of them gurgle misty admiration somehow. By way of example, the first personal page on Google for the search words "the holy science sri yukteswar" informs among many other things:

Yogananda addressed his guru as "The Lion of Bengala". According to some, Yukteswarji was the direct reincarnation of the catholic saint St. Francis of Assisi.
I do not sincerely know whether these rumors are true . . . I think that Swami Maharaji [Revered Great King] may be considered by every truth seeker belonging to every religious path as an absolute point of reference.

As can be seen, Yukteswar teachings are surrounded by a "faith gang", and some "oh-so-devoted" ones seem to have dropped all points of reference but "absolute faith". They turn dogmatic.
But some source texts 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:

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 writes:

The master [Shyama Lahiri], who was slow to give his permission to devotees wishing to enter the formal path of monkhood, always cautioned them to first reflect well on the austerities of the monastic life.
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.]

Shyama Lahiri himself not only encouraged Yukteswar to write a Bhagavad Gita commentary, but also dictated or wrote twenty-seven commentaries to Hindu scriptures himself. They are published in English translation in San Diego. This suggests that a neat balance between intakes - including reading matter - and outputs is to be kept up for as long as you can.
One may question whether Yogananda arrived at a fit, nicely balanced scheme for US President Calvin Coolidge years later. But he tried -it was nine days before the swami had an interview with President Coolidge at the White House in 1927. The Washington Post for January 15, 1927, printed the following about Swami Yogananda's suggested ideal diet for Coolidge. Excerpts:

"Swami Yogananda, Hindu lecturer, yesterday prescribed a daily regimen for President Coolidge.
"No meat would be allowed the President under the daily menu . . .
"Study one hour. Meditate one hour and a half. Write two hours. Think four hours. Sleep eight hours . . ."
"He . . . was prompted to send a balanced food and health menu because of . . . a deep concern in the health of the President . . . whipped cream and nuts . . . fresh-made mayonnaise or Thousand Island dressing; nut-meat loaf, . . . half a glass of milk with boiled prunes [etc.]"
Seeing is believing. [Source: "Swami Meets President Coolidge", East West, 2 - 2 and 3, January - April 1927. ]

When you are grown-up, seek freedom enough to think your own thoughts; it could help very much. However, it depends on what sort of thoughts you think and how conform they are. Hence, there are also dangers outside a flock of rigorous faith of quite blind believing - which Yukteswar spoke against when he lived, but is "hit" by today.
But now for some stories of Yukteswar.

Literature

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