How I Became A Disciple of Babaji

The inspiring story of a young man's quest for God and Self realization through Babaji's knva Yoga. Marshall Govindan is the author of "Babaji and the 18 Siddha Kriya Yoga Tradition" and a long time disciple of Babaji, the immortal Himalayan yogi.

From early years of seeking, through ascetic trials in India and Sri Lanka, filled with adventure and difficulties, the author shares a rare story with unusual candor and courage, His inspiring story provides rare insights into a little known world.

The author is frequently asked how he learned Babaji's Kriya Yoga. It is a difficult question to answer because it has not been an easy path. There is a tendency for autobiographies in the spiritual dimension of life to present only wonderful experiences. Their authors do not want to present the difficulties of the spiritual path lest potential readers become discouraged. It might also affect book sales negatively! Also rather than nurture the memories of the past. a person on the spiritual path is advised to let go of them. One finds peace and joy in the present moment.

However, when seekers of truth read only of the brighter side of life in such accounts and subsequently their own personal experiences include many... dark nights" and other difficulties they often give up their efforts. Such aspirants think that they are not fit to continue. or that there is something missing in the teaching.

The following account by the author of his life will therefore serve to illustrate some of the important lessons learned which permitted him to progress. It is not meant to satisfy some personal vanity. It is shared with deep reluctance and a sense of dedication to expressing the truth. The author has only been able to find the words by writing it in a detached way using the third person rather than the usual 'T' and by avoiding discussion of his personal inner subjective experiences.

The Kriya Yoga tradition is like a tree. The roots of it are the siddhas and rishis who in ancient times developed the powerful techniques or "Kriyas" which lead one to God realization. The trunk of the tree is Satguru Babaji Nagaraj who preserved these techniques and taught various ones of them to several disciples up to modern times including Lahiri Mahasaya, VT. Neelakantan and this author's teacher, Yogi S.A.A. Ramaiah. Today we can find many branches of this tree each bearing different kinds of fruit. according to what their adepts were taught and appreciated. The Divine Mother feeds her children differently according to their needs. Lahiri Mahasaya taught each of his two sons and various disciples different sets of Kriyas, and their descendants are each teaching only what they learned from their forbearers. Truth seekers should sample test and compare what each has to offer treating Kriya Yoga as a science as well as an art requiring skill and practice. Scientists are always ready to experiment with new data and change their conclusions. Kriya Yoga should not be treated as a religion where there is only one "true way" This is the story of how Babaji fed one soul tested him and made him his own.