20 February – Samadhi of Rajarshi Janakananda
AVS
James J. Lynn was an American businessman who overcame many hardships, grew through his own effort, and finally became a millionaire. It was in 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, Lynn met the great yogi Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji. Realizing the greatness and wisdom of the great Guru, he became his disciple.
Lynn, who was experiencing intense business pressure, restlessness, and anger, attained the skill of self-control and peace of mind through the spiritual practices taught by his Guru.
Even though in the worldly life he was a big businessman, as per the instructions given by his guru, Lynn lived a simple life, as simple as it can become the model for an ashram life. His humility, disciplined life, proper manners in behavior, and dedication to meditation became an inspiration for the other disciples also.
Lynn had also given great financial support to the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) founded by Paramahansa Yoganandaji during its early period of growth. His selfless contributions for the establishment of ashrams, for publications, for activities, and for the stability of the organization were decisive. Lynn had also worked tirelessly to firmly establish the great mission of his Guru in America.
Yoganandaji had wished for a cultural exchange between ‘spiritual’ India and ‘industrial’ America. Guru said that a balanced approach is required in the idea of life. Yoganandaji believed and had an opinion that although business is important, meditation (spiritual practice) is also important. James Lynn was a personality who proved this through his own life.
In 1935, Yoganandaji had returned to India. At that time, Lynn bought a seaside property in California and built an ashram in it. The establishment of this ashram lightened to the fulfillment of Yoganandaji’s dream vision. When Yoganandaji returned to America, James Lynn offered this ashram to his Guru as an unexpected gift.
On August 25, 1951, Lynn received the Sannyasa Deeksha from his Guru, and Yoganandaji gave him the sannyasa name “Rajarsi Janakananda.” Yoganandaji used to lovingly refer to his dear disciple, Rajarsi Janakanandaji, as “Saint Lynn.”
After the Mahasamadhi of his Sadguru Yoganandaji in 1952, Janakanandaji lead the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) as it’s President from 1952 to 1955. Janakanandaji did never claim himself as the Guru after Yoganandaji. It was decided that, similar to how the position of the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru in Sikhism, Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji would always remain the Guru of the SRF & YSS organization.