From Abracadabra to Zombies

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reader comments: incorruptible bodies

10 Feb 2000
First, a very minor correction: "According to Jesus Preciado, who has been in the mortuary business for thirty years, 'in general, the less pronounced the pathology [at the time of death], the less notable are the symptoms of necrosis.' " The quotes around the necrosis clause effectively attribute that language to Preciado. However, it is my own paraphrasing of Preciado's remarks, if my memory serves me.

Second, a quite interesting bit of trivia: SRF reported (as you quote): "On March 7, 1952, Paramahansa Yogananda entered mahasamadhi...." Of course, entering mahasamadhi elicits images of a peaceful event, the soul blissfully (even purposely) leaving the master's body, the God-illumined master having readied himself for this supreme moment....

Well, it didn't go quite like that. As it happens, Yogananda died of a HEART ATTACK [Question: why would a heart-diseased body become incorruptible after a fatal heart attack?). What's more, the heart attack occurred while he was giving a speech--in front of a large audience. The attack happened as he was about to introduce a colleague. He was 65--pretty young for a heart attack victim, even in 1952.

Also in the news: SRF is moving Yogananda's remains to a sarcophagus at the group's headquarters as part of a $40 million expansion. Yep--that's seven zeros. [I wonder if they'll be publicly opening the old casket to look at the "incorruptible" remains?]

I guess the moral is this: Money corrupts, but incorruptibility enriches.
Mike Drake

 incorruptible bodies