Introduction
Extraordinary soul, extraordinary living memories!
It was a great pleasure to read this book about such a splendid spiritual Master. I had the great fortune of being in Prakashananda Baba's presence during my years with Swami Muktananda. I thank Titus Foster for awakening many submerged memories of Prakashananda Baba.
He and Muktananda were the closest of friends. When such a relationship exists between such beings, the notion of Guru-Disciple intertwines into oneness. I was there when Baba spoke about his desires for Prakashananda Baba concerning SYDA lineage.
It was at a time when Baba Muktananda was worried about his health and wasn't sure he would complete his work. He told us that if anything happens to Him, we should go to Prakashananda Baba. Swami Muktananda was well aware of Prakashananda's aloofness concerning the structure of school walls. They were simply the best of friends. Baba Muktananda said to me that successorship just doesn't happen the way people imagine.
Prakashananda is the successor of Siddhahood. Everyone involved in SYDA, Shanti Mandir and all other offsprings of Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri will find a veritable river of Grace from this book.
Thank you for your seva, Titus!
A beautiful book about a beautiful man.
Someone who in India is called a great being or a saint. The blissful presence and Shakti or sacred energy of this enlightened being comes through these pages.
It includes his biography, teaching parables and blissful pictures. Besides learning about the life of an enlightened being this book contains practical spiritual advice and inspiration for anyone interested in walking on the spiritual path. A wonderful book.
Prakashananda was a man of his own.
This small book consists of a short biography of Swami Prakashananda (58 pages) plus a lot of parables he told as his way to answer to requests of his pupils. This Swami seems to have had a very "rich" life. Lot's of travels and deep spiritual insights.
One would really like to know more about him, but since he was not in the limelight, nearly nothing has remained about his pilgrimages. Nevertheless, it shows one, that there are great souls out there, even if nearly unknown.
In the later part of his life he was a pupil of Swami Muktananda, and one learns here, that Muktananda would have liked Prakashananda to become his successor, Prakashananda declined, and therefore Chidvilasanda and Nityananda have been choosen.
As we know from other sources, Nityananda left the "position", so nowadays one hears only about Chidvilasananda, when it comes to SYDA Yoga.
But Swami Prakashananda was a man of his own and basically a Shakta in his temple Sapta Shring.
The book is short, but touching and worth reading. The author lived with the Swami for eight years and tells the story without bringing himself into it, which is quite an achievement. Thank you Titus.
None of us does anything.
This is a wonderful presentation of "Babaji" Swami Prakashananda of Sapta Shringh mountain, who referred to himself simply as an Agaram Bagaram Baba - a topsy-turvy sadhu, or holy man. "I am not a Siddha or Yogi nor a Jnani, still I feel that you belong to me and I belong to you," he often said, but we felt that he was surely all those.
In his presence of luminous love, I felt whole and complete, lacking nothing. His was indeed the unconditional love for all humanity and all creation. He became Divine Mother by having worshipped her and meditated on her as kundalini shakti for many years in his cave on the holy mountain, not far from Nasik.
He often declared, "None of us does anything, it is Divine Mother who does everything. I leave everything to Her."
He was caring and attentive to the specific needs of those who spent time with him. He was available to all sincere persons, seekers as well as others who simply sought some reprieve from the fever of life in this world.
Whoever reads this book will be uplifted, as the author, Harihar, as we knew him, has done a grand job of documenting and bringing to life the humble sage of Sapta Shringhi mountain.
This man didn’t live for name or fame or power.
Titus Foster a long-time devotee of Swami Prakashananda has done the world (All of us) the greatest service. He has brought to the world the wisdom and stories of one of the most loving compassionate souls to ever walk this earth. In a world coloured by hatred and prejudices of every kind.
This man didn’t live for name or fame or power. As he said,"I came for Love and Knowledge and service to humanity"- and he got it!
After Muktanandas death, Baba took on the task of helping many of Muktanandas orphaned children continue their spiritual destiny under his compassionate wing.
Being part of a large group of devotees around Muktananda, I had always wished for the close contact and training of a great being. In Prakashananda I found a simple loving presence of great light and over-whelming spiritual beauty.
I had the opportunity to live with Prakashananda and Titus off and own for years. It is of great importance that the genuine article is now available for everyone and my only wish is that Babaji now to enjoy the "Name and fame" that he ironically so deeply deserves in service to humanity. Thankyou Harihar!