One hundred and six years ago, the great Mahavatar Babaji-Krishna visited Yogananda on the eve of his departure to America.
“You are the one I have chosen to spread Kriya Yoga in the West,” he told the chosen disciple.
Babaji went on to explain:
“Kriya Yoga, the supreme science of knowing God, will ultimately spread through all lands, harmonizing the nations through man’s personal, transcendental perception of the Infinite Father.”
Beyond the global conflicts and karmas, this is what is really happening in the world. Babaji and Christ are bringing divine grace to humanity, and receptive Kriya Yogis are helping to further that mission through their devotion, service, and attunement.
Every year in late July we celebrate Babaji Day, a true holy day honoring the great spiritual work and mission of Babaji and Yogananda. The work of Ananda is a direct extension of that mission, and each devotee plays a crucial part—no matter how small it may seem—according to his or her sincere spiritual efforts.
Here at Ananda Portland we celebrated with a powerful fire ceremony, inspirational talks, and chanting in our beautiful Shanti Garden—a temple of flowers and sky. This space has already served us so well, and will continue to do so for many years, as we complete the major renovations to our temple kitchen and Sangha Hall.
Just a few days earlier, however, our contractor called me with an ominous message: the news we had hoped to avoid from the city building department had just arrived. A technical aspect of our project had been flagged under the city fire code and would likely result in substantial delays, significant unplanned expenses, and impractical requirements.
Being Babaji week, I immediately prayed to the great Master for his blessings and grace: “Babaji, our Ananda Portland temple and sangha are a humble part of your great work. I trust in you.” I suggested to our contractor, Gavin, that we stay positive and meet the following morning to brainstorm a way forward together.
While we remained optimistic and explored several possible solutions, the road ahead still looked daunting. We found a couple of exceptions in the building code that would cost considerably less time and money and might still be acceptable to the city. We parted with a plan to contact the building inspector, but even our best-case scenario seemed difficult and uncertain.
Not thirty minutes later, Gavin called again with an urgent request that I return immediately. He wanted to explain face-to-face that he had never, in all his years of contracting, encountered a city inspector so reasonable and genuinely willing to work toward an expedient solution. Without granting us any special favors, our contractor, designer, and the city official worked diligently together to finalize a solution that very day—allowing the subcontractors to continue their work and preventing an avalanche of unnecessary expenses, complications, and delays.
Whether Babaji himself intervened directly or simply bestowed his grace through the willing cooperation of others, I don’t know. But I deeply feel that his blessings were present, and I remain profoundly grateful.
As Lahiri Mahasaya explains with great power and simple clarity in Autobiography of a Yogi:
“Anyone who utters with reverence the name of Babaji attracts an instant spiritual blessing.”
I have often marveled then, at those who gather with brother and sister devotees to pray to Babaji with devotion, practice Kriya Yoga, and sing his name with joy and energy in service to this great work.
Some years ago, a great devotee was discussing Ananda’s work in India with Swami Kriyananda. Swamiji gently reminded her:
“Always remember, this is not your work or my work; this is the work of Babaji and Master.”
In that simple truth lies both the great power and the real success in everything we do.
Babaji’s work never ceases. It continues wherever anyone sincerely seeks God, wherever one devotee serves with devotion, and wherever Kriya Yoga is practiced with love. Even in this moment, call to Babaji at the spiritual eye in the language of your own heart. Pray to know God, to share God through this path of Kriya Yoga, and to feel his living blessings in your life.
Aum, Babaji, Aum.
