Venerated Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri (vegetarian): Holy Science and Self-Realization, Part 2 of 2

In Sri Yukteswar’s younger days, His health was rather frail. One day, while recovering from an illness, His Guru, Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, commented that his wellness was a matter of will, explaining: “Thought is a force, even as electricity or gravitation. The human mind is a spark of the almighty consciousness of God. I could show you that whatever your powerful mind believes very intensely would instantly come to pass.”

Sri Yukteswar taught that a vegetarian diet is beneficial to spiritual growth and mental and physical well-being, improving the mind, intellect, will, temperament, and overall disposition. A variety of grains, fruits, roots, juices, and pure water are generally the best natural food, congenial to the human digestive system and assimilation.

During His last days with His Guru, Yogananda’s longing for His Master’s enduring love was finally assuaged when Sri Yukteswar said: “During my married life I often yearned for a son, to train in the yogic path. But when You came into my life, I was content; in You I have found My son. Yogananda, I love you always.”

During a lecture in 2012, Supreme Master Ching Hai recounted this touching encounter between Sri Yukteswar and His beloved disciple. “His teacher, His Master Sri Yukteswar scolded Him, made Him feel, almost like belittling Him all the time. Yes. But He lost no respect or love for His Master. One day He even asked Him whether He really loved Him, asked the Master. So the Master said yes. Then He was happy. And then after He died, after the Master died, He appeared to Yogananda as a live person, from the astral world, He crossed the border, came back to see His beloved disciple and He hugged Him and all that.”

“So now, the Master said… The first time ever, He said sorry to His disciple. He said, ‘I’m sorry, Yogananda. When I was alive, I was too strict with You and I scolded You all the time. Are You still angry with Me, or are You…?’ Something like that, ‘You forgive me?’ And Yogananda was so crying and happy and said, ‘Oh Master, I wish You could come back and scold Me again, again, and again all the time.’ Because He was gone already. Even if He wanted Him to scold, He could not anymore.”