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Date Posted: 06:09:15 10/23/05 Sun
Author: H - 27 Aug 2005
Subject: Re: Babaji Truth or Myth?
In reply to: chris - 27 Aug 2005 's message, "Babaji Truth or Myth?" on 06:08:12 10/23/05 Sun

Lahiri Mahasaya seems to have met a sadhu who he called by that name. This sadhu apparently gave him inner experience and yogic instruction. In turn Lahiri regularly sent him money (the five rupees of each initiation) later on. This is written in 'Purana Purusha'.

The story of deathless avatar, palace in the Himalayas etc. appears in the Autobiography of a Yogi, first published in the 1940s in the USA, half a century after Lahiri's passing and in another continent. Perhaps this belief goes back to Sri Yukteswar?

Are there any earlier documents providing details on Babaji? Is there any mention in early Kriya books, or those accredited to Lahiri Mahasaya?

I am not anti-Babaji, but the legends surrounding this character seem to me obscure and unbelievable. I began having doubts when I first read the non-SRF Kriya books and accounts in the late 1990s, published by Yoganiketan library and message boards. Many reports on episodes of Kriya history differ from each other considerably - what in one report is described as a mere vision becomes a physical manifestation in another book, etc. - the most obvious case being the nightly apparition at Dashashwamedh Ghat.

Incidentally I have been to that Ghat - it is the biggest one (main ghat) in the whole of Benares and any major apparation even in the dead of night should have made it to the papers. It is not a remote place. On the other hand, visions and apparitions at such places are not uncommon - but generally they are experienced by not more than one or two persons at once. At the place where I was staying there was a Shiva shrine, and apparently Shiva had appeared there shortly before and scared away one person. What I am saying is that at spots considered sacred strange appearances - real or imagined - are not uncommon, less so 150 years ago. Toned down a bit, the story about Babaji appearing at the ghat is nothing of a unique order. Lahiri Mahasaya may have had many similar experiences or encounters; some are mentioned in his notebooks.

About the nature of such experiences I find it difficult to pass a judgement. When Ramakrishna first saw the luminous form of Kali there was someone with him. This man also saw something, but not a clear image. What he saw was a light. So there must have been something.

H

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