In Paramahansa Yogananda’s essential book of poems, titled Songs of the Soul, the great Guru includes the poem, “Yogoda Dream Hermitage – A Dream Dropped from Heaven,” which is a tribute to the generosity of his devotee, Rajarsi Janakananda. The poem features three verse paragraphs of the beautiful styling that Guruji enshrines in all of his poetry and prose.
First Verse Paragraph: “A vision of yore — of incarnations”
In the opening verse paragraph, Guruji begins his tribute to the special meditation gardens and ashram that he received from his disciple, Mr. James J. Lynn (later given the monastic name Rajarsi Janakananda). The great Guru states that having been given the vision of his future hermitage was like having that beautiful place “gr[e]w in the garden of [his] soul.”
He then describes the beauty of the setting located in Encinitas, California, on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He also lets his listener understand that along with the majesty of the location, the true importance rests in the solitude the place would afford Guruji, the monks and nuns who would live there, and then all the devotees who would visit and be inspired by the great Guru’s living presence.
This great spiritual leader’s “dream-bud blossomed true,” and after having seen that ashram in his dreams and meditation-induced visions, he finally realized that dream, when his “Beloved Saint Lynn divine” presented the great Guru with the gift of the hermitage.
Second Verse Paragraph: “The muted mystery fragrance of this flower-home’
Guruji avers that the blueprint for the marvelous hermitage and meditation gardens had existed in the ether throughout eternity, and then “it came wafting — enchanting, entrancing — / Down the arches of the ancient years.”
After he came to America from India, he had searched in other locations for the building and grounds that would match his vision. He searched “the golden California coast” “everywhere” looking for his dream in reality, until finally through the grace of “Divine Mother’s whispered call” and the generosity of his devoted disciple, he had to search no more, and the bounty he received was indeed spectacular: “With decks of rocks and caves, and many a lacy tree — Jutting out to sea, / Anchored forever / By sands of silver.”
Third Verse Paragraph: “Seated on sandy mound”
Just as he had searched for the Divine Mother Herself, he searched for the promise of the ashram, where he could continue his work to assist others in their spiritual search. After exploring the possibilities of the California coast, he looked further around the area of Lake Elsinore, which is north and inland from the Encinitas location that finally became the realization of his vision.
After he finally was led to the Encinitas location, he realized that this was the spot he had visualized many times, even though the actual building had not yet been constructed. Then while he was away, his devotee Rajarsi Janakananda, the former Mr. Lynn, acquired the property where the guru and a group of his disciples had enjoyed meditation outings. With the construction of the hermitage, the guru recognized the building as one he had seen many times in his meditations.
The experience of receiving this important location, which assisted with his spiritual work, became yet another example of the glorious giving that “Dame Divinity” provided for the Guru and his work. In his meditations, the great spiritual leader experienced “bless-showers raining” from the Mother Divine “by enrapturing Encinitas’ elysian shore.”
Today, the spiritually drenched site continues to summon the Elysian Fields for those who visit, whether they be Yogananda’s devotees or not.
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