Rajasi and His Highly Advanced Bank Account

Book Review: Part three

A Paramahansa Yogananda Trilogy of Divine Love

by: Durga Mata

"It fell to my lot to intercede between Master and Rajasi when Master wanted funds for different projects."

-Durga-

THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL

Durga was often sent by Yogananda to ask for funds from Rajasi (James Lynn). 

( Note Durga uses the name "Rajasi" not "Rajarsi")

Yogananda would tell her to hurry and come back with an answer from Rajasi, but Rajasi was never that quick in replying.  Durga said that Rajasi was very generous but Yogananda would come up with projects that always required more and more money from Rajasi. Durga was stuck in the middle of these requests. 

Durga told Yogananda it was easier to ask for money if she could use her own time and say it her own way. She found that asking when he was well fed, well rested and the conversation lent itself to fund begging requesting worked best. 

"That thought pleased Master" and he told her to do it her own way. She had to be very careful not to let the least negativity enter the conversation with Rajasi. If she did not quickly turn the conversation to a positive trend the deal was always off.

She often found herself asking for more money than Rajasi could easily supply. 

Yogananda did not want to discuss money as he felt it would bring "Disharmony" but he also "felt the right of a father to demand from the son whom he knew was destined to play the role of SRF's financial savior. Though Master knew this deep hidden truth and often wrote to Rajasi about it, still it did not penetrate as deeply in Rajasi's consciousness." (page 118)

Yogananda wrote many very, very flattering letters to Rajasi explaining to him that he was a Great Yogi Prince  and a very, very highly advanced soul and he was Yogananda's right hand man in previous incarnations and Divine Mother and all the great yogis of the Himalayas and God and Christ and everyone was blessing him and the money he was giving but still Rajasi didn't always get it. So Durga was sent to intervene. "Rajasi was human enough to get ruffled with some demands. He did not say anything or just a few words, but his jaw would be set more firmly with either determination or repulsion." (page 118)

Jethro and Jed Clampett discuss Milburn_Drysdale 

HOME SWEET HOME

"As early as 1934 Master began hinting to Mr. Lynn that he wished to go (back) to India." for a visit. Rajasi funded the trip.

At their first meeting Rajasi gave Yogananda a large sum of money to restart East-West magazine and also to promote Kriya yoga spreading lessons and such. In 1932 Yogananda asked Rajasi to pay off the mortgage on the Mount Washington mansion/ashram. Rajasi gave him some government bonds to the value of which was enough to pay the mortgage.

THAT TIME OF THE MONTH: BILLS, BILLS, BILLS

Yogananda sold the bonds and used the money for other purposes. When the mortgage came due neither of the two men had the money. Rajasi had given him all of the available money at the first meeting. While Yogananda was in India Rajasi was able to save the property and pay down the debts.

ENCINITAS

Yogananda wanted Rajasi to buy the Hermitage in Encinitas for the two of them to have as a retreat. on November 6,1934 he wrote that he was "principally thinking of your future retirement in god" (page 99)

When Yogananda went to India he instructed Durga to show Rajasi the Encinitas property when he was in California. He cooked up a little scheme...

June 5, 1935-Dear Duj:

When Mr. Lynn comes to Mount Washington, take him to Encinitas with Sister Gyanamata, you, Faye, and Costillo driving. First let Sister ride in back with Mr. Lynn and you and Faye in front. Coming back you ride with Mr. Lynn and Sister and Faye in front. Coming back talk to him about the great retreat we could make for him and my retirement.

From Calcutta he wrote another letter instructing her to show the property and try her utmost.

...Mr. Lynn purchased the property....

After the property was purchased Rajasi experienced some financial problems. He did not say anything about it to Yogananda. Yogananda continued to spend money on improvements on the property and he continuously wrote to Rajasi for funds which he could not supply. The funds that had been set up for India relief were used instead to pay the bills.

(to be continued....)

Peace and Best wishes,
Katie