By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
What was Paramahansa Yogandanda thinking
building his Golden Lotus Temple
on sandstone cliff?
The town doctor warned,
“Erosion!”
Was it returning waves of karma?
condensation from past lives deviating from
path?
Was it watered Hinduism?
The refracted face of Jesus?
leading to back slide?
Did the self-realized guru’s third eye
blink
in face of empirical faith
moving hillside into sea?
In meditating gardens
spires of pine trees
poking fingernails into heaven
ocean splashing Brahman blue sky
The master’s plans
cut
Spiritual tourists and monks
stand together
three steps from nirvana
Author’s Note: Paramahansa Yogananda founded the Self Realization Fellowship in Encinitas, California.