Picture: Swami Yogananda 1924; San Francisco
[This is an excerpt from The Flawless Mirror by Kamala, a disciple of Master’s since 1925. This writing gives a personal account of what it would have been like to be with Swami Yogananda from a unique view. Today is Masters birthday; born January 5, 1893. Happy Birthday Master!]On August 19th [1926] we were happily busy at Mt. Washington with preparations for Swami’s [Yogananda’s] arrival. The next afternoon many students met him at the train and presented him with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Mother and I were in the car with him as we rode back. He seemed immersed in God. Later he said to us: “Cultivate God’s friendship; meditate on Him and feel Him. Be a stubborn child and knock at the door until He opens it.” In the evening he visited with us for a while and said that he was very pleased that we were there.
Swami had brought fresh mangoes with him from the East Coast. The next night we had mango ice cream, which he had planned as a surprise for everyone. He touched a blossom at the table, and remarked: “In the flowers we capture the beauty of God.” He had Gali-Gurci (a famous opera singer and disciple of Master’s) recordings and many spiritual songs from India which he played for us. He enjoyed listening to them and sharing them with us.
We attended a symphony concert with Swami and heard “Death and Transfiguration” by Strauss. We were at the Hollywood Bowl and Ralph Waldo Trine (author of In tune with the Infinite) was there. Swami and he were acquainted. He, his wife, and son were invited to Mt. Washington for a luncheon the next day. I took pictures of them with Swami.
Those of us who were living at Mt. Washington, and other guests, were invited by Swami on a holiday excursion to Catalina Island. We were given nice rooms at the hotel and then went out to take drives around the island. We also had a picnic lunch. Afterward, several went in swimming, and a footrace followed. Five participated in the running contest. I noted that Swami’s foot movements seemed to match the rapidity of pistons in a racing motor, and the long strides of the others were no match for him. He outdistanced even the nearest one by a whole block in a two-block race! Mother and I enjoyed watching this event.
The next morning we rode in motor boats for miles over the smooth waters, seeing many seals. Later we took a special trip in the glass-bottom boat. It was exquisite. We saw beautiful and colorful gardens under the clear water. That evening, on another trip, the flying fish were bright flashes of silver leaping out of the water, even into our boat. We found so much of interest to see and do in the happy days spent there. Swami was a wonderful host to all.
When we returned to the mainland, Swami accepted our invitation to stop at our cottage in nearby Manhattan Beach. On the way we marketed and later he cooked a meal of East Indian food that was relished by everyone. Friends of ours came to see us, and Swami delighted their two small children with some games which he taught them to play. Then afterward, we all walked to the beach, where he and one of his guests went in swimming.
Later afternoon Swami read a few stanzas to us from a book of poetry that was at the cottage; then he became very still. After a silence his eyes filled with tears of devotion. He said, “Oh, Brahma is so good to me! There is a current surging within me and through my whole body. Such bliss!” Hours later, when we meditated, I had a spiritual experience. Of this I wrote, “It is just the beginning. I can’t describe the joy.”
It was an unexpected happiness to have Swami come our home, and was the beginning of a time that allowed friendship to grow and deepen with the blessing of daily association with him.
We remained at Manhattan Beach for a few days, then drove with Swami and guests to Santa Barbara. It was his first visit to our home there. On that evening, following a conversation about the plays of Shakespeare, Swami delighted us with a dramatic portrayal of Anthony’s famous oration from “Julius Caesar.” He gave the spontaneous reading from flawless memory. It took place by candle light since the electricity was not on then. A little later Shakespeare’s strains, and all earthly drama, were forgotten as we turned heart and mind to meditation.
Afterward as we sat looking out into the star-lit sky, Swami told of the joy he felt in God. He then spoke poetically, saying the Day and the Night were talking together in friendliness, and yet each wished the other to withdraw! The Day longed to reveal the beauties of the world; the Night felt the soft mantle of darkness brought serenity to mankind.
His words became a poem, created at that moment, wherein he related a search in the cosmos for the Infinite One. He asked of star and cloud: “Tell me, in stillness, whom do you see? Is it He Who within me thrilled me with an invisible touch and quickly fled unseen?” He inquired of all Nature: “Have you seen God’s hidden Presence?”
We each felt the inspiration of these days. They seemed to pass so quickly! Swami always radiated an aura of peace; one of quiet happiness. When we returned to Manhattan Beach he gave me an autograph album. These are the thoughts inscribed:
There is an Invisible Cord that binds the East and the West and all strangers. We are all strangers and there are no strangers since we are all of our one Father, God. Worship Him as Bliss, the most interesting thing within you.
May He Whom I feel in the cool touch of the breeze, and watch wrestling in the ocean waves, and hear in the sea roar, and see emerging from the opening petaled-gate of flowers, be yours always in reality.
Wherever in this house I have prayed I leave an everlasting altar of devotion built in the Invisible Ether, wherein ye shall find Him always. In the self-same places quickly delve deep within yourself with reverence and steady concentration and ye shall find that secret altar.
Swami Yogananda