Christians always talk about the second coming. Maybe Yogananda was a spiritual being sent from God. Would we recognize a being sent by God, or would we repeat the same persecution like we did to Jesus?
—Paige, US
Dear Paige,
To paraphrase your question, it is: Would we humans today recognize an avatar or spiritual master like Jesus Christ, Buddha, Krishna, and Paramhansa Yogananda or would we repeat the same persecution Jesus experienced? The answer to the first half of your question is in the Bible itself: “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”
This means, the souls that could perceive the Christ within the man, Jesus, on a deep intuitive level were able to recognize him as a perfected soul completely filled with the Divine Presence. These souls would actually receive the “living waters” flowing from the fountain of the Christ.
Who would be able to perceive the greatness of such a Master to “receive Him”? One who has already climbed the ladder of soul evolution significantly in previous incarnations and is sincerely seeking Divine Union himself. All Avatars and Masters have a divine mission and the goal is to guide true, sincere disciples back to union with the Omnipresent Divine Presence or God through Self-realization. The teachings may vary with a particular emphasis depending on the period in history and the needs of the followers.
There are multiple true religions in the world each with its own Avatar: Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and others. Most Masters were not persecuted and crucified.
Paramhansa Yogananda, and the other Masters of this spiritual path written about in the Autobiography of a Yogi, were all Self-realized Christs playing their part on the stage of time. Though they were not recognized by the majority of people as Christs or Avatars, they were and continue to be for those who tune in to their guidance and are receptive to their grace.
May you feel God’s presence ever more perfectly through your seeking,
Kristy
