Once again we entered the breach and took the plunge into deeper sadhana during our time at Loon Lake. Our topic was a meditation upon Lahiri Mahasaya: the Father of Kriya Yoga for our Modern Age. Kriya Yoga has been part of yoga tradition for time immemorial, spoken of in the Mahabharata and other spiritual texts, and clearly such techniques were part of the early Christian Church, such as when St. Paul wrote, “I die daily.” Certainly he did not die in the ordinary sense we use the word, rather he entered into the same breathless state of meditating yogis in Samadhi, or Christ Consciousness. Common knowledge of these meditation techniques had fallen into disuse down the centuries and Babaji revived this yogic science back into use through his beloved disciple Lahiri Mahasaya. Jesus and Babaji then orchestrated its introduction into the West through that powerful spiritual engine, Paramhansa Yogananda, and for us then through our own Prem-Avatar Mother Hamilton.
Our time together was spent going deeper into the Hong Sau, the Light and Sound meditation practices, as well as the Clearing and Charging Exercises Babaji taught me. Then we took incidents from the Master’s life as launching pads for exploring his experiences and relating them to our own. One of the great things about saints and realized masters is that their divinized lives become allegories for realization, blueprints surcharged with divine consciousness for those who meditate deeply upon them. So, Lahiri Baba’s own life and experiences becomes a gateway to the Infinite—such is the grace of a great spiritual master.
Besides our time delving in the master’s life, we also chanted at every opportunity—led by Cate and Carla on the harmonium, we took walks in the scenic woodlands surrounding Loon Lake; some even took dips in the mountain lake and paddled on the mirror-like surface in kayaks. The spiritual charge from such gatherings help propel us to the Goal of goals, it lifts our spirits as well as those attuning themselves to our gathering even at great distances—even from an ICU hospital bed.
Special thanks to Carla for all her work in organizing these retreats, Karim and staff for their beautiful service to us during our stays and working with Carla in between, and those beautiful souls who have sponsored others, including Carla and I, in attending the retreat. Jai Gurus! Jai Lahiri Mahasaya!