Faye Wright in 1914 at Utah in America, her interest in spirituality was apparent since childhood. It reached a point of craving when she first met Paramahansa Yogananda in 1931.
Braving reluctance from her family, she joined Yogananda's ashram a few weeks later. After the passing away of Yogananda and his successor Rajarsi Janakananda, Daya Mata became the third president of YSS/SRF. In a cross-continental interview with Saurabh Bhattacharya, the 84-year-old sanghamata throws light on various aspects of YSS/SRF activities, Yogananda's philosophy,
and her own role in spreading his teachings.
How deeply is the Self Realization Fellowship (SRF) connected to the Yogoda
Satsanga Society of India (YSS)?
Paramahansa Yogananda founded the SRF/YSS to help people of all races
discover that they can know
God by the scientific, devotional methods
of
kriya yoga meditation. During the early years of his mission,
Paramahansaji used the name Yogoda Satsanga Society in America
as well as in India. Later, for the West, he translated the name to Self-Realization
Fellowship. People who visit our centers often tell me: "Whether I go
to Guruji's
ashrams in the East or West, I feel at home."This spirit
is characteristic of
Gurudev's society. His followers in India
and surrounding territories are served from YSS and those in the rest
of the world from SRF.
Ashrams and retreats are maintained in India,
USA and Europe and
meditation centers are active in nearly 500 locales
worldwide.
What was Paramahansa Yogananda's vision?
Paramahansaji was absorbed in an unending romance with the Divine.
He envisioned the highest way of
life as
meditation combined with right
activity. In the more than 20 years that I spent at the feet of
Paramahansaji,
never did I see his gaze turn away from the sacred task he had been given.
He lived for God, and for
God in all.
There is a feeling that the Yogoda movement in India has reached a state
of stasis. Is it a result of your increasing involvement in SRF?
Paramahansaji's work in India is flourishing and expanding, as
it is throughout the world. In the years since I have been in India, we
have seen the membership there increase several times over. There are
now close to 100 centers and
meditation groups under YSS in addition to
its several
ashrams and schools.
Do you visit the India chapter often enough?
My
heart always yearns to return to Guruji's beloved India and the devotees
there. And when it is Divine Mother's will, I shall do so. My active participation
and interest in YSS remains undiminished.
Has the one-to-one guru-shishya tradition of kriya yoga stopped after
Paramahansa Yogananda?
It is important to clarify the real meaning of '
guru'. A true
guru
is one who has attained union with god. Before his passing on,
Paramahansaji
stated that it was god's wish that he be the last in the YSS/SRF line
of
gurus. The one-to-one
guru-shishya tradition, however,
did not stop with the passing of
Gurudev's physical form. Not only
I, but thousands of disciples all over the world can testify that his
presence and spiritual guidance are as vibrantly real today as ever.
Some people claiming their ancestry to Sri Yukteswar and Lahiri Mahasaya
are teaching kriya yoga in the West. Comment.
Receiving
kriya is more than obtaining a set of instructions;
it means forming a sacred bond between your soul and the
guru sent
by god. We tell people that if they seek
guru-disciple
relationship
with
Paramahansa Yogananda, then the YSS/SRF teaching is the way to do
so.
Has the Yogananda tradition been diluted to suit the situation in the
West?
Yoga is a science. The effectiveness of science does not vary from
East to West, nor does it need to be 'diluted'.
Paramahansaji taught
this holy science without dilution. And one of the greatest responsibilities
he gave to me and his other disciples was this: "As I have brought this
teaching to you and kept it pure as it was given to me by
God and my guru,
so I give you this responsibility: keep it pure, undiluted by anything."
Has the immortal saint Mahavatar Babaji been sighted recently?
Gurudev told us that the
Mahavatar dwells with a group of
advanced disciples and that his
work is to assist exalted prophets in
carrying out their work. His blessings can be received by any devotee
who inwardly attunes himself through
meditation and devotion.
How do you, in your capacity as the head of the YSS/SRF movement, see
the future of Paramahansa Yogananda's teachings?
The teachings are ideal for the changing times. This is why they are attracting
so many devotees. Trends come and go. But principles remain. The
meditation
techniques and path of balanced living that
Gurudev taught were
true when given by
rishis millennia ago. They will be equally potent
10,000 years from now.
