A Living Flame--Shape is Gone, Spirit Continues to Shine: Pt. 2

By Swami Yogatmananda

A correction to what has been stated in the first blog: The documented records painstakingly collected and sent to me show that I became acquainted with Father Paul in 2002; and his maiden speech here was on Sept 20, 2003, at our 75th Anniversary Celebration, alongside the late Rev. Swami Swahananda, the then head of our Hollywood Center and the Chief Guest of the 75 Anniversary Celebration. 

Father Paul came to Providence Vedanta and stayed overnight so many times. On many such occasions he would take a train from Boston South Station and myself or someone else from here would pick him up from the train station. Sometimes he preferred to walk uphill – especially when the weather was nice – so that he could get the needed exercise. He had taken up the teaching of Religious French language at Harvard. He was also running his own Church at his Somerville apartment. Occasionally, his student Louis Carlos would accompany him. We spent hours discussing spiritual matters, lives of saints. We both had this common interest: St. John of the Cross. 

He was a wonderful, jovial conversationalist and had a deep sense of humor – the humor that does not put anyone down, nor does it pull the mind down.

In early Sept. of 2009 (actually, the Labor Day Weekend), he attended the retreat I was giving at Ridgely Manor in upstate New York. The place is known as Vivekananda Retreat. It was sanctified by a long stay of Swami Vivekananda. I reached there on Sat. morning around 8:45 a.m. Father Paul had reached there before me. We stayed in the same building. He eagerly attended all the classes. But a really notable incident happened the next day (Sun., Sept. 05) in the morning. I went out for a walk on the ‘Shrine Trail.’ It was through thick, grassy meadows. There was early morning dew, which had made the ground so wet that my shoes and socks got fully drenched. Could not put them on. When I returned from the walk, Father Paul saw the situation and with loving kindness gave me his slippers to put on. I expressed my gratefulness to him. By the time the classes were over in the afternoon, my shoes had dried and I returned his slippers back before he left for Boston with Carlos. 

For me, that matter ended there. But as I was discussing about him with Srinivas Gandhi (who first introduced us) after his passing away, Srinivas searched his emails and found this very touching email from Father Paul. The words of the email were full of devotional spirit. Srinivas forwarded to me the email along with the photograph taken on that day at Ridgely Manor, which I am sharing here in conclusion. 

‘I treasure the photos of Swami Yogatmananda with me.
He went walking in the grass and wet his shoes and socks, so I had to lend him my slippers until his shoes dried. When he returned them he said, "Let me take off the dust." To which I replied, "Oh, no, Swami! I wish to keep the dust of your feet as a blessing”. These were old slippers and I was going to throw them away. But after Swamiji wore them, they have become precious to me. I shall keep them, though never wear them again.’