Master’s surpassing influence on his disciples stemmed from his demonstration of being someone who fully lived what he taught. Sweet behaviour and impeccable habits bore testimony to his simple life sanctioned by the scriptures. He summoned the disciples to be humble and to proceed forward to behold the divine goal. He inspired anyone and everyone to make every moment of their lives Godly. Elucidating on practical methods from the scriptures and elaborating on them with examples from his own life, he asked disciples to incorporate such salient principles into their lives. He reminded all around him that their breath is the living breath of God.

Master not only glowed with divine knowledge, but he radiated an aura of divine wonder. No one could leave his presence without being reminded of the ultimate purpose of life and Godhood. So deep was his merging with the Divine that he often did not have to explain the truth; he was simply an expression of it. Exuding an all-knowing awareness that embraced the disciples, he chose the right moments to give advice, mixing his words with sweetness and sternness appropriate to the needs of each individual. His playfulness and direct instructions bore a lesson in inner renunciation and guided the disciples to cultivate compassionate detachment as a means of soul culture.

Beholding the Light of Grace

Master would often relate to me his personal life stories and mystical practices. I would look at him in awe of his holiness. Often, he would disappear into thick white light. His body form would completely merge into the light. These events happened spontaneously without my requesting or preparing to behold the moment. Because I was convinced of Master’s exalted status from our very first meeting, I could maintain a calm divine wonder at this oft-reproducible phenomenon. I had heard about other saints and monks demonstrating a similar ethereal presence of sublimated power. He himself had witnessed a contemporary saint, the bliss-permeated Mother Anandamayima, demonstrating her dissolution into an ascending light form. Thus, I considered these personal moments with Master as special darshan from my Guru. Even now, these divine memories evoke in me a vicarious give and take. How fortunate I was to behold such glorious blessings.