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THIS MONK FROM INDIA

YVONNE LEBEAU

Sri Swami Sivananda

Founder of

The Divine Life Society

SERVE, LOVE, GIVE,

PURIFY, MEDITATE,

REALIZE

So Says

Sri Swami Sivananda

Sri Swami Chidananda

Chidananda is a Jeevanmukta, a great saint,

an ideal Yogi, a Para Bhakta and a great sage.

Swami Chidananda is all this and much more....

He was born to fulfil a great mission.

He is the torch-bearer of my mission.

—SWAMI SIVANANDA

A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION

Second Edition: 1989

(2,000 Copies)

World Wide Web (WWW) Edition: 1999

WWW site: http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org

This WWW reprint is for free distribution

Published By

THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

P.O. SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192

Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,

Himalayas, India.

DEDICATED

MY GURU

His Holiness Pujya Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj

and through him

to all the Gurus

who in an unbroken line

for the past many millennia

have transmitted to mankind

the spiritual heritage

of the holy land of India.

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

This book by Yvonne LeBeau, a spiritual seeker from France, is in the nature of a tribute to

her Guru or spiritual mentor, Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj. An interesting aspect of the book is

the light it throws on the encounter between the occidental mind and oriental philosophy. Another

aspect of the book—and an equally significant one—is the insight it gives into the various struggles

which every spiritual seeker has to undergo in traversing the path of Yoga or conscious spiritual

evolution. It speaks volumes for the magnanimity of the author that she has been motivated by an

earnest desire that the message of this book, viz., the message of Yoga-Vedanta, should be

broadcast far and wide, especially in the Western world. May God bless her with health, long life

and many more years of spiritual service and illumination too!

The present edition is enriched with fresh matter that the writer felt would add to the value

of the book. We are grateful to Dr. Anil Suchak who sponsored the publication of this book in

memory of his brother, Dr. Ashok Suchak, who was called back to his Heavenly Abode in March

last year.

Shivanandanagar,

March 3rd 1989 The Publishers

iii

THE ORIGIN OF THIS EDITION

It is the good fortune of my family and myself that Gurudev Swami Chidanandji Maharaj’s

blessings have been with us for the last several years. On a number of occasions we have had the

proud privilege of serving Swamiji and coming close to him, and also having his discourses and

attending his Satsangs. On yet other occasions Swamiji pulled us out of the mire of despair in our

personal problems, and showed us light where we could only see darkness.

But sometime back, quite by chance, I happened to lay my hands on a book called THIS

MONK FROM INDIA, written about Swamiji by a foreign devotee, Mrs. Yvonne LeBeau. After

reading the book, I was amazed that everything I had experienced earlier and known about Gurudev

was, as it were, re-lived by me in the course of going through the writing of the author. It was indeed

a revelation to have an intimate glimpse into Swamiji’s life, and it was almost as if Gurudev himself

had been talking to me.

Ever since, I have recommended this book to many friends, who have read it and have been

similarly drawn to Gurudev afterwards. Subsequently, I tried to obtain copies of the book from the

Ashram as well as from devotees etc., but was unable to do so. This gave birth to the thought of

publishing another edition of the book and thereby spread the message of Gurudev. Here then is a

new edition of the book, which will not only delight those of us who know Gurudev, but will also

prove a source of inspiration to countless others who have not had the good fortune of knowing

Gurudev and deriving invaluable guidance from his life and thoughts.

Ever longing for the blessings of my GURU.

8th March 1989 —Dr. Anil N. Suchak

Suchak Prakashan

Divine Life Society (Malad Branch)

186, Manchhubhai Road,

Malad (E), Bombay—400 097.

Tel.: 6914 84 ! 688 52 29

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

After coming to Sivananda Ashram and into contact with Pujya Sri Swami Chidanandaji

Maharaj, I have received many letters from devotees and friends asking me to put down in writing,

for the benefit of all, some of the stories I had told them on different occasions. Some said, “If you

can’t write, tape record them and we will write them. We have been so inspired by them and

everywhere we relate them, people have the same reaction. Those stories must not get lost and

forgotten, for they depict Swamiji’s saintliness better than words of devotion could ever do. And for

Westerners, for people who are new to Yoga, those stories show what a Guru like Chidananda

really is. They show how he can protect, teach and guide the disciple who has faith in him, and how

faith can work wonders.”

“Relate your own experiences too,” they said, “for though we can read such things in books,

it is so inspiring to see it happening to one of us, someone we know, one who led a very happy life

and who was very much attached to everything, to everyone around her, her husband, her children,

even to her country, and her security, and possessed no special qualities whatsoever.”

But as I found myself unable to speak in front of a tape recorder, I started to write in

long-hand. At first I was a little apprehensive as I tried to describe the wonders of Swamiji’s

saintliness, his awe-inspiring greatness; for, how could something which surpasses human

understanding be put into words? Also, how could I speak of a philosophy I knew so little about?

Was not my way of Yoga more a way of acceptance and experience first, with knowledge coming

slowly afterwards?

But, as I went on with my work, a great joy came over me; for writing about Swamiji meant I

was in his invisible presence all day; his grace guiding me, help coming from all sides.

When the book was practically finished, some Indian ladies, great and sincere devotees of

Swamiji, told me, “You should not have been so short in the description of how you met Swamiji

and of your own experiences. For us Indians, it is the most inspiring part, especially as you are a

Westerner.”

So I added a few pages, where I tried to describe the role of Chidananda in my life and the

wonders of his guidance, which I was then made to realise anew; and a song of gratitude, a song of

joy welled up in my heart. If I had been reluctant to write about my sufferings and trials, I was now

made to be happy because I realised that it would bring a message of hope to all the suffering ones.

They would know forever, as Charles de Foueault expresses so beautifully, that “the darker the

night of suffering, the more radiant the ‘life’ of pure love and joy that emerges from it”.

Now I must say a special thanks to Sri Ananthanarayanan who took the. responsibility of

editing, planning and supervising the production of the book in all its stages.

I shall never forget the day of the celebrations of Swami Chidananda’s jubilee when he

arrived from Delhi only just in time to give me the book so as to present it to Swamiji. He was

exhausted after the many troubles he had to get the book printed because of the many strikes in

Delhi. And the way he rushed up the hundred steps of the mountain to bow and offer his work at the

feet of Sivananda, his beloved guru, moved me deeply. I will never forget the way he had the

patience to decipher the pages about my son’s death. I had written them for myself. The mechanics

of writing and the profuse tears that I had shed while doing it had seemed to relieve me and keep me

alive. But the tears had wet the paper and made it practically impossible to read what I had written.

Ananthanarayanan often had to put the sheets of paper against a light so as to be able to read

my words.

The feelings he felt for the book, the intuition he had that I could write and transmit them,

and the perseverance with which he infused courage into me to publish the book afterwards is also

something rare. So if the book has helped many a seeking soul, it is in great part to him that their

hearts should turn to in gratitude.

I would also like to say a very special word of thanks to the Brahmachari who took the

trouble to type the few additions people had asked me to write for this new edition. And this in the

midst of all occupations, and in spite of the difficulties my very bad handwriting was to be for him.

When I proposed to ask someone to help him, but he refused and I was made to understand that he

wanted to do it as a labour of love for his Guru.

As I write this last sentence, a thought comes to me that from the start this little book has

been coming into life, into the hands of love. First of all, from the people of the different countries in

the West who persevered in asking for it, even sending letters to ask Swamiji to make me write it.

From Indian people themselves, and somehow always from the most truly and sincerely spiritual

ones. I shall never forget the way one day Brigadier Sabherwal stopped a convoy he was leading

and came down from his turret to ask me about the book. When I told him I had not started it and did

not feel capable of doing it, just the way he climbed up again into his turret without a word broke my

heart. Back in my kutir, I started to write and never stopped until it was completed in time for the

celebration of Swami Chidananda’s Jubilee.

I shall never forget how the Commander-in-Chief, General Raina came with his wife and

some of his staff “to meet the French Lady who had written THIS MONK FROM INDIA”. When

Swami Chidananda told me about his visit, I proposed to go and meet him in Delhi so as to save him

the trouble of coming to the Ashram with the display of security that it meant. He refused and said

“he wanted to honour the woman who had written THIS MONK FROM INDIA”. I shall never forget

my apprehension at the idea this big event that his visit was to be for all the ashrams around here,

and how this apprehension vanished when I saw his simplicity, his sincerity, his directness and his

humility. I shall never forget his wife either. They were both so alike, and it was such an

unforgettable joy for me to meet them both. I was so sorrowful to see them go, and even as I write

this my heart goes out to them both, and to God who allowed me to meet such people, people who

give one such faith in one’s fellowmen, and even expands one’s heart into God.

I shall never forget the Indian ladies who came to me in my kutir. They themselves had lost

their sons; and they had only recovered their faith in God, their faith in an after-life, after reading the

story of my son’s death, that they came to tell me their joy. The way they had had to travel,

sometimes three days in the most uncomfortable conditions, just to come and thank me is

something that ever moves me anew.

Sivananda Ashram,

July, 1988.

SWAMI CHIDANANDA (b. 1916) is the President of the Divine Life Society founded by

that illustrious sage of modern times, H.H. Sri Swami Sivananda. Swami Chidananda had his

education in the Loyola College, Madras, and this training in a Catholic institution left an indelible

impression in his mind of the Christian ideals of compassion and service. Service of the sick is a

passion with Swami Chidananda, and his pioneering work in the field of leprosy relief in the

Garhwal region has earned for him the praise of both the Government and the general public.

Acclaimed by many as a great Saint and Yogi in his own right, Swami Chidananda has been

travelling extensively all over the world disseminating the healing message of his Master, Swami

Sivananda. A linguist and orator, he is also the author of a number of books on the life spiritual.

vii

CONTENTS

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE ......................................iii

THE ORIGIN OF THIS EDITION ................................iv

AUTHOR’S PREFACE......................................iv

THE GURU COMES INTO MY LIFE ..............................1

DEATH UNFOLDS ITS MYSTERIES .............................10

AM I A HINDU? .........................................21

MOTHER INDIA ........................................27

THE POWER THAT PROTECTS................................34

WITH SWAMIJI IN THE ASHRAM ..............................41

SELF-RESTRAINT: THE FOUNDATION OF YOGA.....................47

PAULA: ABHISHIKTANANDA: KARUNANANDA .....................51

THE REDEEMER ........................................57

THE DIVINITY OF WOMANHOOD..............................62

CHIDANANDA AND THE CHILDREN OF FATHER DAMIEN...............67

BIRDS, BEASTS AND INSECTS................................72

LIKE UNTO CHRIST ......................................75

AS THE WEST VIEWS HIM ..................................82

EPILOGUE............................................90

viii

THE GURU COMES INTO MY LIFE

All my life, suffering seemed to be my way. I seemed to accept it. What else could I do?

But when my nearest and dearest ones were in agony, I lifted my fist to God and shouted in

revolt. This revolt, however, did not last. My arm fell down, and, moved by a mysterious impulse, I

fell on my knees and with bowed head said, “Thy will be done, Oh Lord...I want nothing.” Then

everything started. My breathing, for instance. The movements of my body were not my own any

more. Mudras, Asanas and Pranayama came to me spontaneously, automatically. I watched it all in

perfect composure. I seemed to forget food and sleep, but my half-paralysed body slowly began to

recover movement and strength. My mind did not ask any question, but a holy man spoke to me and

said, “Mystical fervour can burn you up. Now you are in touch with God. Ask for health and

strength.” He was a knowing man, so I obeyed. I knelt down. But even before I could start praying

in the manner advised by the holy man, a mysterious soul whisper came to me, “Don’t you think I

know best? Didn’t you say ‘Thy will be done”? I did not talk anymore to anyone. I knew that I knew

best and I was at peace. My body had hardly begun to recover movements and strength when

Chidananda came. I left everything without a glance backward. I knew nothing about Yoga and he

was the first Swami I had ever seen. But I knew that I knew him from beginningless time. After the

Satsang, I was the only one who did not ask questions. Swamiji noticed it.

“You have no questions?”

I bowed my head in response. My heart was full. And to the Presence within me I said,

“Crucifixion seems to be my way,

but if this be the quickest way

to Thee, my Lord,

I thank Thee for Thy mercy.

Didn’t Jesus show us the way?”

In Lyons, I was staying in the home of M., a great devotee of Swami Sivananda, when one

day a Swami, who was also a devotee of Swami Sivananda, asked me, “You are so blissful, so

radiant, though you are new to Yoga. How did it all start with you?” I answered, “Oh, I don’t know,

it just happened.” But everyone insisted, “You must try and remember. Tonight at dinner, you must

tell us. It would be so inspiring. It would renew our faith.”

That afternoon I did a lot of soul-searching, when suddenly I realised that a new kind of joy

had come into my life.

When had this begun? Then I remembered, and that night at dinner I told my friends, “I

know when everything really began. It was the day when I first revolted against God and lifted my

fist and shouted at Him. Then I fell on my knees and I was made to say, ‘THY WILL BE DONE, I

WANT NOTHING.’” I had hardly finished saying this when the door bell rang insistently. It was

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THISMONKFROMINDIAByYVONNELEBEAUSriSwamiSivanandaFounderofTheDivineLifeSocietySERVE,LOVE,GIVE,PURIFY,MEDITATE,REALIZESoSaysSriSwamiSivanandaSriSwamiChidanandaChidanandaisaJeevanmukta,agreatsaint,anidealYogi,aParaBhaktaandagreatsage.SwamiChidanandaisallthisandmuchmore....Hewasborntofulfilagreatmission...

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