J. A. Babalola (seated) and Samuel Isong zoom

J. A. Babalola and Samuel Isong

A 1950’s correspondence student of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons, J. A. Babalola lived in Lagos, Nigeria.

As a postal worker in the Nigerian government, Babalola found the Self-realization teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda a great benefit to his life. He found that they helped him develop a better work ethic, physical and mental health, and a greater sense of contentment in his day to day struggle to survive.

During the month of March in 1952, Babalola had a very interesting experience happen to him while at work. He was sorting the mail in the office as usual when suddenly, he felt the presence of his guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, very strongly. Then, right before his very eyes a miracle took place.

Babalola said, “I was sorting my mail when I began feel Yogananda presence in my heart very strongly. Then all of sudden he appeared to me right before my eyes. Yogananda was standing in a physical body! I was astonished. He spoke to me about certain things that I’ve keep treasured secretly in my heart. Afterwards, he blessed me and then dematerialized.”

This spiritual vision of Yogananda that Babalola experienced was very precious to him. He couldn’t share it with anyone with whom he knew. So, Babalola wrote to the SRF Mother Center about it, but never got a direct reply until a copy of Self-Realization Magazine came to him in the mail. On it’s cover was the picture of Paramhansa Yogananda and it said that he had just passed away into Mahasamdhi, a great yogi’s conscious passing from this world, on March 7, 1952.

Nigerian Kriya Yoga Initiates zoom

Realizing the date of his vision was the same date of Yogananda’s Mahasamadhi, Babalola finally understood the signifance of the vision – his guru was blessing him at the time of his earthly parting. Babalola wrote the SRF Mother Center about sending ministers to Nigeria to help spread Yogananda’s teachings there, but no one ever came even though he persisted in his request.

It wasn’t until Ram and Dhyana Smith, ministers from Ananda, that a representative of Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings finally visited Nigeria in January/February 1991. For over month, Ram and Dianna visited Nigeria and lectured throughout the country. Sponsored by Babalola’s spiritual son, Samuel Isong, who had studied the Ananda Course in Self-Realization for many years, Ram and Dianna had the opportunity to meet Babalola.

When they met Babalola for the first time, he said to them, “Finally someone as come! I’ve waited all these year, some 40 years, for a representative of Yogananda’s teachings to come to Nigeria. You have come!”

After this meeting with Babalola, Ram and Dhyana lectured around the country and was hosted by Samuel Isong in his town of Eket, Ekwa Ibom (Southern Nigeria). The tour went very well and a small meditation group was started by Samuel after Ram and Dianna departed. One month after their departure Babalola unexpectedly died. His death was shock, but it was like a sign that Babalola’s soul was waiting for someone to fulfill his life’s dream of having someone present Yogananda’s teachings on a nationwide level in Nigeria.

Samuel Isong continues with Yogananda’s mission in Nigeria called, “Ananda Africana”. Over the last eleven years, Samuel has been steadfast in starting not only a meditation group, but he’s also opened a school, a retreat center and has lectured extensively on the Self-realization teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.

There are two documents listed here that will be of interest to the reader. The first, is an article by J. A. Babalola taken from the Nigerian Tribune, a national newspaper, entitled Let’s Try Yoga in Nigeria, dated April 13, 1953. Babalola talks about the importance of practicing yoga and Self-realization teachings. This same article was featured in Self-Realization Magazine in 1953. The second, is a recent letter written by Samuel Isong about his activities in Nigeria that is entitled, Ananda Nigeria.

May Kriya Yoga be spread in all lands! Om Shanti.

Contact Samuel Isong at: ananda62ng@yahoo.com

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