Beyond the Autobiography of a Yogi - Oswald Pereira

Oswald Pereira is a senior journalist who worked with the Times of India and Outlook and runs a website called www.yourspositively.com. He is a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and practices Kriya Yoga. He has also authored eight books. The book is divided into two parts - the first about the 'Autobiography of a Yogi' and the second which are the author's commentaries on various aspects of Yogananda's teachings and being.

The book starts with the miracles surrounding the early days of Paramahansa Yogananda, then called Mukunda Lal Ghosh (born in 1893 in Uttar Pradesh). Once when on what appeared to a sure death from illness to the boy, he fully recovers thanks to his mother's ardent pleas to the yogi Lahiri Mahasaya who they followed. Then a vision about his mother's death when he was 11 years which came true. Yogananda finally followed his teacher Yukteswar Giri who was a follower of Lahiri Mahasaya who followed Bababji and so on.

'Lahiri Mahasaya never allowed the ego principle to consider itself a causative force. By perfection of resistless surrender, the master enabled the Prime Healing Power to flow freely through him' 

'You should meditate all day long'. Yogananda himself meditated 7-8 hours a day. The route to God was through meditation.

'Tried to get people to understand that God is not a mere abstraction. He is also human in a way. Relates to human children. Likes above all to see in them a childlike trust.'

'God won't come to people who cannot meet him on his own level of self-giving love.'

Yogananda had no sense of ownership on anything. He would give away his belongings, once even his bike because his friend asked for it.

Something powerful about how he viewed astrology - 'The planets are made by the same God who made me. As his child I am forever free. I won't submit to the dictates of a mere planet.'

There is the interesting story about how he was drawn to his master Yukteswar Giri who told him to go home and meet him again after four weeks. He took him as his disciple and developed him under strict training.

'Wisdom is better sought from a man of realisation than from an inert mountain.'

Also that one only needs a bit of space to be alone to do their spiritual practices. 

'Spiritual advancement is not measured by one's outward power but only by the depth of his bliss in meditation.'

'The Swami's goal is absolute unity with Spirit. A Swami may follow reasoning, renunciation while the Yogi engages in step by step procedure by which the body and mind are disciplined and the soul liberated.'

'Anyone who practices a scientific technique of God-contact is a yogi.'

Yogananda said that Kriya Yoga is the airplane route to God. Kriya yoga includes body discipline, mental control and meditating on Aum. The advanced Yogi is cleansed of all human desires.

'Human body can be recharged with energy through the direct agency of human will.'

'Man's conscious state is an awareness of body and breath. His subconscious state, active in sleep, is associated with his mental, and temporary, separation from body and breath. His superconscious state is freedom from the delusion that existence depends on body and breath. God lives without breath; the soul made in His image becomes conscious of itself, for the first time, only during the breathless state.'

'For the Kriya Yogi however, the breath link is severed at will by scientific wisdom, not by rude intrusion of karmic necessity.'  

'The physical world operates under one fundamental law of maya - the principle of duality and relativity.'

'Light is king. The masters who are able to materialise and dematerialise their bodies or any other object, and to move with the velocity of light, and to utilise the creative light rays in bringing into instant visibility any physical manifestation, have fulfilled the Einsteinian condition - their mass is infinite.'

In 1920 Yogananda went to America, spoke at the Science of Religions congregation.Set up his ashram at California, set up the Self-Realisation Church of all Religions, the Brotherhood colony. Lived there for 35 years.

'The mystery of life and death is all about breath.'

'Truth is no theory - it is the unshakeable knowledge of his real nature, his self as soul.'

'God is love.'

In Part II the book addresses the impact and some ideas. Elvis, George Harrison, Steve Jobs were some of those who followed him. Many believe he is an avatar. As a person he was characterised by a 'complete absence of ego, centred in his Infinite Self, desirelessness, enjoyed everything, had complete inner freedom.'

Among his many miracles and healings are people rising from their death beds, blind who could see, chronic conditions healed etc. He attributed all his miracles to the Divine Mother. Yogananda spoke of the Krishna-Christ connection. He in fact says Christ was an Oriental who visited India and met many masters. Warren Hastings was one who pointed out the many parallels between the Gita and the Bible - concepts such as detachment, forgiveness, loving your enemy, loving your neighbour, reincarnation etc.

'Find God through joy, in immaculate silences, through meditation. The spirit of God is within you. God is beauty and love, is for everyone and everywhere.'

...

It's a easier read which tried to capture the essence of the 'Autobiography of a Yogi' and also gives insights into Yogananda as a person. Practice Kriya Yoga, be egoless, pursue truth and God, meditate, God is love, forgive, detach, merge with the one. Thanks for the gift mate.    

Hyderabad by Walk - Osman Sagar

 Deccan Archives announced a Osman Sagar walk and since I was at Charminar at 645, I decided to catch the walk which was at 830. The walk was from the Lake View Park - entry to the road leading to the park itself cost some 50 bucks. I realised they had done some work to spruce up the place and make it a tourist attraction - the road was in better condition, trees and plants well maintained, some walks on the side and finally as we get near the park a huge structure which I am not sure has a purpose.

The road leading up

The bund - no permission to go

Beyond the structure is the parking area which is basically a flat area made by lopping off the top of the granite hill. It looked very different from how it was some 12-15 years ago when everything was as it must have been during the Nizam's time. Anyway I found Wahaj at the gate and we started chatting about this and that. Soon some people joined up - Ajay (from the last walk), Chandrika (a budding novelist) and others.

The bund, a park - all forbidden

Steps leading up to the viewpoint

View from the viewpoint - the point of having the viewpoint

Wahaj had got permission to walk along the bund but it was cancelled at the last minute apparently citing safety reasons since the reservoir was full. So our scope was rather limited and Wahaj did the best he could. He explained that Osman Sagar lake and reservoir are fed by the Musi river which originates in Vikarabad. Before 1921 when the reservoir and dam were not made, there were frequent floods, the deadliest of them being the one in 1908 which claimed thousands of lives. The then Nizam sought the services of Sir M. Visweswariah to solve the problem of flooding in monsoon and lack of drinking water in summer. Sir Visweswariah who advocated the creation of the lake and reservoir to act as a check for floods. The lake and reservoir were constructed between 1912-1921 and since then have been successful in containing the Musi. The dam apparently has an earthen bund at the bottom, then stone masonry. 

Another view - a pointed one

Parties galore - broken bottles and such

Wahaj pointed out the villas and other constructions on the downside of the dam and how norms were being flouted all around the lake. He also pointed out that there were many places of interest all around the lake if one had the inclination to explore - mosques, palaces, temples and such. 

Beyond the temple - to its right, one can see the Musi winding it way down

The white mosque is of Qutb Shahi time - the buildings are not

In the foreground - Jewel of Nizam  

The lake and reservoir were named after the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, who was instrumental in its construction. There is a royal guest house by name Sagar Mahal which the royals used and which now we can use - its a resort let out by the Tourism department. 

Some boulders

Park entry - this seemed pointless

Park

Another view

In 1921 the construction of another lake a reservoir parallel to Osman Sagar called Himayat Sagar was begun. It was completed in 1927 and was named after Mir Osman Ali Khan's son Himayat. This was built across the river Esa which is a tributary of Musi. Wahaj mentioned that there was a linking canal between these two lakes which now seems to have been encroached.

Looking out from the parking area we could see the earthen bund, the encroachments, the river Musi flowing downstream, the crazy construction to the left, a Qutb Shahi mosque for the workers. Wahaj also mentioned that there was an aqueduct kind of structure which leads up to the bund which is actually a mini railway line to transport stones and material to the site.

More views of the lake

We walked down to the park which is now modernised so much that the old charm is completely lost. However we just walked and saw the scale which measures how full the lake is. Two other people joined us towards the end and decided to join up next Sunday.

Quite enlightening. It does add up to one more piece of the jigsaw for me. Wahaj also gave me the general idea of how to do the food walk from Nampally. Loved it.   

Hyderabad by Walk - Toli Masjid

 Dropped A at Charminar and decided to join the Deccan Archives walk at Osman Sagar. On the Karwan Road which incidentally connects Golconda to Charminar (and Bidar to Masulipatnam) I suddenly saw a beautiful mosque and stopped. I walked back to it. It was really beautiful and eye catching.

Toli Masjid or Damri Masjid

Learned later that it is the Toli Masjid or Damri Masjid which was built in the 1671-1672 period (a Qutb Shahi era mosque) by one Musa Khan who was the chamberlain for Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah. He apparently was contracted to construct the Mecca Masjid and got a discount of one damri per rupee and they say that he built this mosque with the proceeds.

Toli Masjid 

 The mosque itself is considered a highly ornate mosque which has influences  from both Qutb Shahi era and also Hindu influences (excessive ornamentation, miniature shikharas etc).

How it appears from the road

Very impressive. I did not go in as it was shut. Apparently it is a protect monument but has little maintenance. The mosque is active though. Musa Khan's grave is also in the area. Definitely worth a look.   

Acts of Love - Birthday Cards

Went looking for cards to send to Anjali for her birthday recently. Of course I did not know if people still sold birthday cards - so I went to the one shop I knew that sold cards etc - Fantasies in Maitri Vanam. Fantasies had unfortunately shut shop but there was a small Archies shop open nearby and they had some cards.

I looked and found Daughter cards, some witty ones - none that really fit the bill - but still picked them up just for the experience. I am not sure if it was a great experience for her but for me it certainly was - because it brought back memories of how I would stop at this shop near Patny while returning from college which had this brilliant parking space, this open area and some lovely cards - forget the name though (I suspect it was used to shoot in one of Mohana Krishna's films). 

The entire process was something - picking the right card (some were great at it - Ranjan for one), writing the appropriate message in it (I think I was pretty good there), sending it off in time so it would reach the person just in time for the birthday - it was a carefully orchestrated act. The whole idea was to give a moment of pure pleasure to the receiver, someone you cared about. Someone who will love the idea that you cared enough to do all that. It's fully worth it. Even if it is for a moment. 

It is an Act of Love. Thoughtfulness to me is an act of love. Sending a card is an act of love. Cards don't get lost like messages, like mails. They remain physically somewhere, reminding one of the love someone felt for them sometime. Someday when it shows up, it will bring a faint smile back, a memory that someone cared enough to do all that, and that somehow we may have forgotten what we shared but it was so real then. It all comes back.

Greeting cards are an expression of love. More so in this age. 

   

Hyderabad by Walk - Rashtrapati Nilayam

Tucked away in sylvan Bolarum, Secunderabad, is the Rashtrapati Nilayam (President's House), the official winter Retreat of the President of India who spends at least two weeks here conducting official business. Many times it is used to house visiting dignitaries as well.

Entry

Knowledge Gallery

President's Car

Formerly known as the Residency House, it was built in 1860 by Nizam Nazir Ud-Dowla which was later used as the country house by the British Resident. Interestingly it was moved away from the scene of action, the British Residency in Kothi, which was attacked during the 1857 Mutiny. Since the Hyderabad state got integrated with the Indian Union in 1948, it has become the Rashtrapati Nilayam. In Match 2023 it was opened to the general public to view.

So when Deccan Archives put this on their calendar I decided to walk with them. Madhav ditched me as expected and I went by myself. The ticket area is quite elaborate with a cafe etc. and lots of parking. I met Ajay, an IT Pro from Bidar, a regular on the walks, bought ourselves tickets for 50 bucks apiece (an elaborate process which involves showing Aaadhar cards, paying only online and not by cash, giving phone numbers and email ids and all that - after all its not ordinary Retreat). Anyway Ajay paid online and I gave him cash. It was a biggish crowd of some 15-20 people and I could recognise a couple more faces - young Satwik and Zubair. On the walk I met Prof Kanika who teaches at the Kautilya Insititute of Public Policy (a GITAM initiative) and her writer husband Karan Kashyap.

Entry into the Rashtrapati Nilayam also took some time as they checked the scanners and all that finally let us in. Its a huge place, 90 acres or so and requires a long walk. Buggies are available. 

Buggy

Some interesting landscaping

Model of the Rashtrapati Nilayam 

We first went to the Knowledge Gallery which is to educate the visitor about the many Presidents, their duties, some important pictures, gifts given to them, an old horse carriage, an old car, a children's zone etc. The effort to make it accessible and entertaining is laudable. There are guides all over to help.

Rashtrapati Nialayam

The President's Quarters

From the Knowledge Park we went to the main building - a single storeyed, flat structure, built in lime with old wooden beams - set in the midst of lovely gardens. The left side building is the President's residence and the right side is the ADC building.We went in and saw the durbar hall, the dining hall, paintings from Ajanta caves, chandeliers and so on. 

Tunnel

Cheriyal Paintings

Once outside we walked to the kitchen which is in a separate building - and food was carried through a tunnel that connected the kitchen to the dining room. The tunnel is a main attraction and it is now painted with Cheriyal paintings which add some cheer to the tunnel (which is well ventilated by sky lights).

120 foot wooden flag pole

Road to the gardens

Onwards to the next attraction which is a 120 foot high flag pole made of wood - the old one went bad so a new one was made and installed - the local guides insisted that the surrender of the Nizam's forces happened here but Wahaj said it happened at Shaikpet. Wahaj also told some interesting stories about Winston Churchill who lived in Secunderabad, in a place called the Retreat a little further away, fell in love with a lady which was never reciprocated and headed out of India in despair after contemplating suicide.

Maze garden

Musical fountain

We took a picture at the flag pole, went to the Maze garden which is a maze with a musical fountain in its centre, headed out to the Jai Hind stepwell which drew water with a pulley system that operated with bulls, saw the stepwell model. 

Model of the Jai Hind Step well

We then saw the actual stepwell, actual bulls and understood how it worked. 

Jai Hind step well

We gave up on the Nakshatra garden, the Rock garden and herbal garden owing to the heat and headed back to the car park.

Ramp for bulls to climb up

Ajay and I got ourselves some buttermilk, ate a slice of dil pasand, in this cute cafe called Mitti which trains and employs adults with physical, intellectual and psychiatric disabilities through cafes across India. They also have outreach activities about disability inclusion, It was a lovely cafe and most of us stayed back to rest a bit before heading back.

Nice. Another one checked off.           

Khushwant Singh's Joke Book IV - Book Review

 I would never ignore the funny men or people who try to make others laugh. Khushwant Singh was one such and he went out and asked people to share their funny stuff and compiled them into Joke Books. They are described as 'naughty, comical, outrageous, absurd) - many Santa Banta jokes. One can see many avid joke creators sending in jokes on a regular basis in the compilation.

Can't not give a couple of short ones.

'A road sign on the way to Khandala from Bombay stated: When this sign is under water, the road is closed to traffic.' - Shashank Shekhar, New Bombay

...

'An unmarried girl prayed, 'Hey Bhagwan, I never asked you for anything. But please grant my mother a son-in-law'. Bhagwan heard the girl's prayer. Her sister found a husband.' - J.P. Singh, New Delhi

...

'Take me to the tenth floor,' said Banta as he entered the lift of a high rise building. When the lift reached its destination, the liftman opened its gates and said, 'The 10th floor beta.'

'Why did you call me beta?' demanded Santa. ' I am not your son.'

'I called you beta because I brought you up,' replied the liftman. 

...

And a risque one

'One the wall of the toilet of a first class railway compartment was found this graffiti in crude Bengali:

'I make love here with rich men's daughters.'

Someone added a postscript: You can't. They travel by air.

- Reeten Ganguly, Tezpur

...

Simple, innocent humour of everyday life. Orient Paperbacks published it in 1996 first. Never a dull moment with Khushwant Singh.

Meeting Friends at Interesting Places

 Met Vinod bhai at this cute place called 'The Bench' at Abids when I went to offload some extra books I had at my place. Nice place with good chai, decent offerings like bun and omelette and other such small pleasures.

Vinod bhai

 And then I met Joel and Rajesh at Karachi Bakery in Srinagar Colony.

Rajesh, me and Joel