With Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda in Ranchi: A Student’s Recollections

by Shri S.K.D. Banerjee

I may say unhesitatingly that the three years from 1918 to 1920 were the golden years of my life. I consider myself most fortunate and blessed to have been in constant company with Sri Sri Parmahansaji, my teacher, my guru, and the most beloved friend I ever had. It is normally difficult for a man to remember the events and incidents recurring over a period of three years of growing from a boy of 10 to 12; but the period of life when I was blessed with the great happiness and invaluable privilege of being in the constant company of Paramhansaji is for me a unique epoch. I do remember even minor incidents which occurred during that time; and as I look back, I can still see, in my mind, Sri Sri Yoganandaji present in the Ranchi Brahmacharya Vidyalaya, surrounded by his faithful and devoted disciples and students.

I remember the day when I was taken to the Brahmacharya Vidyalaya by my father. It was about 10 AM. Parmahansaji was sitting in Padmasana on a blanket spread on a wooden cut. He looked at me and smiled. Immediately, it flashed in my mind that he was one who was not only a teacher, but an intimate friend. His tender smile radiated light, bliss, love, and peace. I could feel that there is no one in the world more dear and near to me… Paramhansaji was never stern to a student. He was always loving and smiling, though his tests at times were very stiff. We were required to leave our beds at 4 AM and immediately stand in a row to recite a Shivastotra starting with the line “Prabhumshi Manisha Masisha Guruang…” After about an hour, we were ready to sit for the prayers etc. A few students above the age of 12 used to be taken aside for the higher spiritual training, by Guruji himself.

The financial condition of the Ashram was not good, and Guruji possibly had to depend on the little monthly contributions which our parents could give; but Parmhansaji managed it so nicely that we never felt that we needed more than we were provided with. Our diet, though not costly, was wholesome and well prepared. Our clothes are made of course cotton, but no student could be found with dirty clothes. Under the direct supervision of Guruji, we were trained to keep our clothes, beds, and rooms quite clean and orderly. Guruji was very strict in this regard, and it was impossible for any student who did anything wrong to escape his notice. However, I do not remember a single occasion when he was found rebuking or chastising a student.

I remember that one day Payas had been prepared in the kitchen for the students, and I had accompanied a group of students who had gone to the kitchen to assist in the cooking. The head cook had a soft corner in his heart for me, and he gave me a bowl full of Payas, which I took unhesitatingly! Later on, when all students assembled to take the evening meal, Payas was served. Parmhansaji was also present. When all students started “Achaman”, Parmahansaji smilingly forbade me to do it. All started taking the Payas, but I, with a bowl full of Payas in front of me, remained inactive. After a moment, Parmhansaji looked at me again, still with a smile on his lips. He then asked whether I had taken Payas before. It was out of the question to tell a lie. I nodded my head, and then he asked how I could dare to offer to God the Payas which I had already tasted. For sometime, he remained silent; then he again looked at me smilingly and said: “Very bad.” I started weeping and felt extremely miserable. Each and every student knew that nothing wrong could be done without the knowledge of Paramhansaji.

Paramhansaji was a father to us, and we were his devoted sons. We never hesitated to lay bare to him the secrets of our hearts, and the more we did so, the greater the sympathy and help we got from him. He was our constant companion. Except Asana and preliminaries of Kriya, he seldom taught any other subjects to the students; his mere presence and company was elevating, inspiring, and soul-stirring. Merely living in his company was a spiritual education. We believed that a few words from his lips were words from God. As for the spiritual education imparted to us by Paramhansaji  he made us believe that all life was Yoga, and the whole of our lives could be turned into Yoga if we acted according to his instructions; that we could make the whole of our lives an offering to the Bavatarini Ma, (Divine Mother). Paramhansaji  inspired us to the goal of divine perfection. Some of us firmly believed that Paramhansaji could awaken our inner soul by his touch, look, or word. We believed that, like Lord Jesus, he could transmit his spiritual power to his disciples if he found them fit to bear. We therefore always obeyed him implicitly.

He had picked a few students for the practice of Kriya, and used to help them according to the stages they had reached. To other students, his general instructions and methods were for controlling the mind, withdrawing all the senses, and plunging into deep meditation. His instructions to all pupils was to cultivate moral and ethical development by observing Yama and Niyama. Paramhansaji wished every student to have a strong and healthy body. He always pointed out that the devotee must not neglect his body: as one is both mind and matter, as well as spirit, each reacts upon the other. Neglect of one’s body was more apt to produce a disordered imagination, than it would a true spiritual experience. He said that realisation can be specially and truly gained by one who is strong physically, mentally, and spiritually. One cannot sever one from the other, as body, mind, and soul all are manifestations of the Divine Creator.

In the Brahmachari Vidyalaya, regularity, discipline, conformity to the rules and regulations were equally binding upon every student. No transgression of them on the part of a student was ever overlooked. In short, we enjoyed a sanctified life in the Vidyalaya. Even now in my old age, the memories of my companionship with Paramhansaji are a valuable asset. When I look back at the golden time of my school life with Sri Sri Yoganandaji, there comes to my mind, a flood of happy recollections, which provide a never failing source of joy.

When he left for the USA, I felt very miserable. The presence of his deputies in the school was no solace to us. The absence of Paramhansaji created a vacuum which could not be filled by others. As most of us were of tender age, we felt his absence very keenly. He alone was our intimate friend, playmate, brother, father, mother; and his relation with us was spiritual, sacred, and purely divine. It had become difficult for me to stay in the Vidyalaya when Paramhansaji was not present. For sometime, we expected that Guruji would return from America and remain with us as before, but Alas! news came that he was not to come back soon….

Time went by, and in 1935, I was again blessed with the darshan of Guruji at Ranchi. I received intimation of his arrival. One cannot easily imagine my feelings when I got this news. It was not a student who has to meet his teacher, but a sincere and devoted son who was to meet the beloved father after a lapse of many years. I was overwhelmed with emotion, and with tears rolling down my cheeks, I entered the room, the same old room where I’ve been graced with his darshan during his stay at Ranchi. He looked at me with the same loving, but piercing glance, and with a tender smile on his lips. There was no question from the Master enquiring about my worldly welfare. He made me sit in front of him in Padmasana. He thereafter tested me in various ways. Then followed instructions and advice. It is presence I felt as if I was again a little boy sitting in front of the guru. At long last, I dare to ask whether he was leaving us and going back to America. With the same tender smile, which radiated, love, light, and bliss, his simple answer was: “Am I not always with you?” My strong feeling of separation vanished. Since then, whenever I think of Guruji, I feel as if he is present amongst us….