Mrinalini Mata (President and Sangha Mata)
One evening in the Encinitas hermitage, late in 1946, we younger
devotees were busily engaged with our kitchen duties when Gurudeva came
through the door. All activity stopped and our attention was fully
concentrated on his broad smile and an even more beautiful than usual
twinkle in his eyes. His hand was behind his back, concealing
“something.” He called for a few others to come and had us line up in
front of him. Then he displayed before us the hidden treasure — an
advance copy of his book, Autobiography of a Yogi. Midst “Oh’s”
and “Ah’s” we could scarcely express our joy to behold at last the
long-awaited account of his life among the great saints and sages of
India — with which he had so often enthralled us during precious hours
in his company. He opened to a few pages, saving for last the
illustration of Mahavatar Babaji. Almost breathlessly we offered our
reverence and absorbed the blessing we felt to be among the first to
glimpse the likeness of our Param-Paramguru.
In early December, we were all summoned to Mt. Washington to
participate in the arrival of parcels of books from the publisher, and
in preparing them for posting to the many eager devotees — hundreds of
back orders. Weeks ahead of time when any of us had free moments we were
engaged in typing address labels on one of our old manual typewriters.
Huge tables (flat boards on sawhorses) were set up in the office, ready
for assembly-line wrapping of each individual book in brown mailing
paper off a huge roll, hand-cutting it to just the right size, affixing
labels and postage stamps moistened first from wet sponges. No
automation or mailing machines in those days! But oh what joy to
participate in this momentous event in Self-Realization Fellowship
history. The world would know our blessed Master through this sublime
ambassador.
In the third-floor sitting room, Gurudeva sat at a desk for hours
without a break, autographing every book. The books were removed from
the publisher’s shipping cartons, opened, and placed before him in a
steady stream as he signed each one — emptying one fountain pen while
another was being refilled.
It was late when he summoned me to come upstairs. He was still
autographing books. The senior disciples urged him to take some rest,
but he refused even to consider it until every book in that shipment was
signed with his blessings. He had the most beatific expression on his
face, as though a very real part of himself and his love for God were
going out to all the world in those printed pages, and it should not be
withheld one extra moment.
It was with inexpressible joy that we sat at his feet to meditate in
the wee hours of the morning. The Master had handed each of us our
personal copy of this treasure, and all other copies had been wrapped
for mailing in the morning or packed for sending to his temples in
Hollywood and San Diego. Autobiography of a Yogi was on its way to a divine destiny, ultimately to carry the Guru’s blessings and love for God to millions of seeking souls.
Brother Bhaktananda
Shortly after I entered the ashram in 1939, Paramahansaji spoke with a
couple of us on the verandah of the Administration Building at Mt.
Washington. He remarked to us that God told him he was to write certain
books during his lifetime; and when those books were finished, his
mission on earth would be over. Autobiography of a Yogi was one of those books. When the Autobiography
first came out, I read it from cover to cover in a day, or two — how
wonderful and inspiring! I remember thinking that this book will play a
major role in promoting interest in Paramahansaji’s teachings. To date
we have seen only the tip of the iceberg.
Sister Parvati
nice :-) ....
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