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第五十五章 The Tiger Swami
“I have discovered the Tiger Swamis address。Let us visit him tomorrow。”
This welcome suggestion came from Chandi，one of my high school friends。I was eager to meet the saint who，in his premonastic life，had caught and fought tigers with his naked hands。
Summoned by the servant，Chandi and I entered a sleeping apartment。The famous Sohong Swami was seated on his bed。The sight of his tremendous body affected us strangely。
With bulging eyes，we stood speechless。We had never before seen such a chest or such football-like biceps。On an immense neck，the swamis ferce yet calm face was adorned with flowing locks，beard and moustache。A hint of dovelike and tigerlike qualities shone in his dark eyes。He was unclothed，save for a tiger skin about his muscular waist。
“Will you not tell us，please，how it is possible to subdue with bare fsts the most ferocious of jungle beasts，the royal Bengals？”
“My sons，it is nothing to me to fght tigers。I could do it today if necessary。”He gave a childlike laugh。“You look upon tigers as tigers；I know them as pussycats。”
“Swamiji，I think I could impress my subconsciousness with the thought that tigers are pussycats，but could I make tigers believe it？”
“Of course strength also is necessary！One cannot expect victory from a baby who imagines a tiger to be a house cat！Powerful hands are my suffcient weapon。”
He asked us to follow him to the patio，where he struck the edge of a wall。A brick crashed to the foor；the sky peered boldly through the gaping lost tooth of the wall。I fairly staggered in astonishment；he who can remove mortared bricks from a solid wall with one blow，I thought，must surely be able to displace the teeth of tigers！
A number of men have physical power such as mine，but still lack in cool confdence。Those who are bodily but not mentally stalwart may fnd themselves fainting at mere sight of a wild beast bounding freely in the jungle。The tiger in its natural ferocityand habitat is vastly different from the opium-fed circus animal！
At our entreaty，the impressive swami consented to tell us something of his own life。
“My earliest ambition was to fight tigers。My will was mighty，but my body was feeble。”
An ejaculation of surprise broke from me。It appeared incredible that this man，now“with Atlantean shoulders，ft to bear，”could ever have known weakness。
“It was by indomitable persistency in thoughts of health and strength that I overcame my handicap。I have every reason to extol the compelling mental vigor which I found to be the real subduer of royal Bengals。”
“Do you think，revered swami，that I could ever fght tigers？”This was the frst，and the last，time that the bizarre ambition ever visited my mind！
“Yes。”He was smiling。“But there are many kinds of tigers；some roam in jungles of human desires。No spiritual beneft accrues by knocking beasts unconscious。Rather be victor over the inner prowlers。”
“May we hear，sir，how you changed from a tamer of wild tigers to a tamer of wild passions？”
The Tiger Swami fell into silence。Remoteness came into his gaze，summoning visions of bygone years。Finally he smiled in acquiescence。
When my fame reached a zenith，it brought the intoxication of pride。I began to perform my feats publicly，with gratifying success。
One evening my father entered my room in pensive mood。
‘Son，I have words of warning。I would save you from coming ills，produced by the grinding wheels of cause and effect。’
‘Are you a fatalist，Father？’
‘I am no fatalist，son。But I believe in the just law of retribution，as taught in the holy scriptures。There is resentment against you in the jungle family；sometime it may act to your cost。’
Father，you astonish me！You well know what tigers arebeautiful but merciless！
Son，you compel me to relate an ominous prediction from the lips of a saint。He approached me yesterday as I sat on the veranda in my daily meditation。
“Dear friend，I come with a message for your belligerent son。Let him cease his savage activities。Otherwise，his next tiger-encounter shall result in his severe wounds，followed by six months of deathly sickness。He shall then forsake his former ways and become a monk。’”
“This tale did not impress me。”
Not long after Fathers warning，I visited the capital city of Cooch Behar。
I was relaxing quietly in the evening，when I heard the hoofbeats of galloping horses。In came a number of tall，turbaned policemen。
‘Honored Sir，we are sent to welcome you on behalf of the Prince of Cooch Behar。He is pleased to invite you to his palace tomorrow morning。’
I agreed to go。
The royal scion himself was at the palace door to welcome me。He proffered his own gold-brocaded seat，smilingly placing himself in a chair of simpler design。
‘My city is flled with the rumor that you can fght wild tigers with nothing more than your naked hands。Is it a fact？’
‘It is quite true。’
‘I can scarcely believe it！You are a Calcutta Bengali，nurtured on the white rice of city folk。Be frank，please；have you not been fighting only spineless，opium-fed animals？’
I vouchsafed no reply to his insulting question。
‘I challenge you to fight my newly-caught tiger，Raja Begum。If you can successfully resist him，bind him with a chain，and leave his cage in a conscious state，you shall have this royal Bengal！Several thousand rupees and many other gifts shall also be bestowed。If you refuse to meet him in combat，I shall blazon your name throughout the state as an impostor！’
His insolent words struck me like a volley of bullets。I shot an angry acceptance。
‘The match will be set for a week hence。I regret that I cannot give you permission to view the tiger in advance。’
Whether the prince feared I might seek to hypnotize the beast，or secretly feed him opium，I know not！
My servant further apprized me that the prince had supervised the erection of a storm-proof pavilion，designed to accommodate thousands。Its center held Raja Begum in an enormous iron cage。The captive emitted a ceaseless series of blood-curdling roars。He was fed sparingly，to kindle a wrathful appetite。
As the Tiger Swamis story approached a climax，my excitement mounted with it；Chandi also was raptly mute。
Amidst piercing sound-explosions from Raja Begum，and the hubbub of the somewhat terrifed crowd，I quietly made my appearance。I opened the bolt on the doorof the safety room and calmly locked it behind me。The tiger sensed blood。Leaping with a thunderous crash on his bars，he sent forth a fearsome welcome。The audience was hushed with pitiful fear。
As I slammed the door，Raja Begum was headlong upon me。My right hand was desperately torn。Human blood，the greatest treat a tiger can know，fell in appalling streams。
I rallied instantly from the shock of the first serious injury I had ever received。Banishing the sight of my gory fngers by thrusting them beneath my waist cloth，I swung my left arm in a bone-cracking blow。The beast reeled back，swirled around the rear of the cage，and sprang forward convulsively。My famous fstic punishment rained on his head。
But Raja Begum‘s taste of blood had acted like the maddening frst sip of wine to a dipsomaniac long-deprived。Punctuated by deafening roar，the brute’s assaults grew in fury。My inadequate defense of only one hand left me vulnerable before claws and fangs。Mutually ensanguined，we struggled as to the death。Blood splashed in all directions，and blasts of pain and lethal lust came from the bestial throat。
‘Shoot him！’‘Kill the tiger！’Shrieks arose from the audience。So fast did man and beast move，that a guards bullet went amiss。I mustered all my will force，bellowed fercely，and landed a fnal concussive blow。The tiger collapsed and lay quietly。
“Like a pussycat！”I interjected。
The swami laughed in hearty appreciation，then continued the engrossing tale。Raja Begum was vanquished at last。His royal pride was further humbled：with my lacerated hands，I audaciously forced open his jaws。For a dramatic moment，I held my head within the yawning deathtrap。I looked around for a chain。Pulling one from a pile on the foor，I bound the tiger by his neck to the cage bars。In triumph I moved toward the door。
But that fend incarnate，Raja Begum，had stamina worthy of his supposed demoniac origin。With an incredible lunge，he snapped the chain and leaped on my back。My shoulder fast in his jaws，I fell violently。But in a trice I had him pinned beneath me。Under merciless blows，the treacherous animal sank into semiconsciousness。This time I secured him more carefully。Slowly I left the cage。
After my wounds were treated，I was honored and garlanded；hundreds of gold pieces showered at my feet。The whole city entered a holiday period。Raja Begum was presented to me，as promised，but I felt no elation。A spiritual change had entered my heart。It seemed that with my fnal exit from the cage I had also closed the door on myworldly ambitions。
A woeful period followed。For six months I lay near death from blood poisoning。As soon as I was well enough to leave Cooch Behar，I returned to my native town。
‘I know now that my teacher is the holy man who gave the wise warning。’I humbly made this confession to my father。‘Oh，if I could only find him！’My longing was sincere，for one day the saint arrived unheralded。
‘Enough of tiger taming。’He spoke with calm assurance。‘Come with me；I will teach you to subdue the beasts of ignorance roaming in jungles of the human mind。You are used to an audience：let it be a galaxy of angels，entertained by your thrilling mastery of yoga！’
“I was initiated into the spiritual path by my saintly guru。He opened my soul-doors，rusty and resistant with long disuse。Hand in hand，we soon set out for my training in the Himalayas。”
Chandi and I bowed at the swamis feet，grateful for his vivid outline of a life truly cyclonic。
This welcome suggestion came from Chandi，one of my high school friends。I was eager to meet the saint who，in his premonastic life，had caught and fought tigers with his naked hands。
Summoned by the servant，Chandi and I entered a sleeping apartment。The famous Sohong Swami was seated on his bed。The sight of his tremendous body affected us strangely。
With bulging eyes，we stood speechless。We had never before seen such a chest or such football-like biceps。On an immense neck，the swamis ferce yet calm face was adorned with flowing locks，beard and moustache。A hint of dovelike and tigerlike qualities shone in his dark eyes。He was unclothed，save for a tiger skin about his muscular waist。
“Will you not tell us，please，how it is possible to subdue with bare fsts the most ferocious of jungle beasts，the royal Bengals？”
“My sons，it is nothing to me to fght tigers。I could do it today if necessary。”He gave a childlike laugh。“You look upon tigers as tigers；I know them as pussycats。”
“Swamiji，I think I could impress my subconsciousness with the thought that tigers are pussycats，but could I make tigers believe it？”
“Of course strength also is necessary！One cannot expect victory from a baby who imagines a tiger to be a house cat！Powerful hands are my suffcient weapon。”
He asked us to follow him to the patio，where he struck the edge of a wall。A brick crashed to the foor；the sky peered boldly through the gaping lost tooth of the wall。I fairly staggered in astonishment；he who can remove mortared bricks from a solid wall with one blow，I thought，must surely be able to displace the teeth of tigers！
A number of men have physical power such as mine，but still lack in cool confdence。Those who are bodily but not mentally stalwart may fnd themselves fainting at mere sight of a wild beast bounding freely in the jungle。The tiger in its natural ferocityand habitat is vastly different from the opium-fed circus animal！
At our entreaty，the impressive swami consented to tell us something of his own life。
“My earliest ambition was to fight tigers。My will was mighty，but my body was feeble。”
An ejaculation of surprise broke from me。It appeared incredible that this man，now“with Atlantean shoulders，ft to bear，”could ever have known weakness。
“It was by indomitable persistency in thoughts of health and strength that I overcame my handicap。I have every reason to extol the compelling mental vigor which I found to be the real subduer of royal Bengals。”
“Do you think，revered swami，that I could ever fght tigers？”This was the frst，and the last，time that the bizarre ambition ever visited my mind！
“Yes。”He was smiling。“But there are many kinds of tigers；some roam in jungles of human desires。No spiritual beneft accrues by knocking beasts unconscious。Rather be victor over the inner prowlers。”
“May we hear，sir，how you changed from a tamer of wild tigers to a tamer of wild passions？”
The Tiger Swami fell into silence。Remoteness came into his gaze，summoning visions of bygone years。Finally he smiled in acquiescence。
When my fame reached a zenith，it brought the intoxication of pride。I began to perform my feats publicly，with gratifying success。
One evening my father entered my room in pensive mood。
‘Son，I have words of warning。I would save you from coming ills，produced by the grinding wheels of cause and effect。’
‘Are you a fatalist，Father？’
‘I am no fatalist，son。But I believe in the just law of retribution，as taught in the holy scriptures。There is resentment against you in the jungle family；sometime it may act to your cost。’
Father，you astonish me！You well know what tigers arebeautiful but merciless！
Son，you compel me to relate an ominous prediction from the lips of a saint。He approached me yesterday as I sat on the veranda in my daily meditation。
“Dear friend，I come with a message for your belligerent son。Let him cease his savage activities。Otherwise，his next tiger-encounter shall result in his severe wounds，followed by six months of deathly sickness。He shall then forsake his former ways and become a monk。’”
“This tale did not impress me。”
Not long after Fathers warning，I visited the capital city of Cooch Behar。
I was relaxing quietly in the evening，when I heard the hoofbeats of galloping horses。In came a number of tall，turbaned policemen。
‘Honored Sir，we are sent to welcome you on behalf of the Prince of Cooch Behar。He is pleased to invite you to his palace tomorrow morning。’
I agreed to go。
The royal scion himself was at the palace door to welcome me。He proffered his own gold-brocaded seat，smilingly placing himself in a chair of simpler design。
‘My city is flled with the rumor that you can fght wild tigers with nothing more than your naked hands。Is it a fact？’
‘It is quite true。’
‘I can scarcely believe it！You are a Calcutta Bengali，nurtured on the white rice of city folk。Be frank，please；have you not been fighting only spineless，opium-fed animals？’
I vouchsafed no reply to his insulting question。
‘I challenge you to fight my newly-caught tiger，Raja Begum。If you can successfully resist him，bind him with a chain，and leave his cage in a conscious state，you shall have this royal Bengal！Several thousand rupees and many other gifts shall also be bestowed。If you refuse to meet him in combat，I shall blazon your name throughout the state as an impostor！’
His insolent words struck me like a volley of bullets。I shot an angry acceptance。
‘The match will be set for a week hence。I regret that I cannot give you permission to view the tiger in advance。’
Whether the prince feared I might seek to hypnotize the beast，or secretly feed him opium，I know not！
My servant further apprized me that the prince had supervised the erection of a storm-proof pavilion，designed to accommodate thousands。Its center held Raja Begum in an enormous iron cage。The captive emitted a ceaseless series of blood-curdling roars。He was fed sparingly，to kindle a wrathful appetite。
As the Tiger Swamis story approached a climax，my excitement mounted with it；Chandi also was raptly mute。
Amidst piercing sound-explosions from Raja Begum，and the hubbub of the somewhat terrifed crowd，I quietly made my appearance。I opened the bolt on the doorof the safety room and calmly locked it behind me。The tiger sensed blood。Leaping with a thunderous crash on his bars，he sent forth a fearsome welcome。The audience was hushed with pitiful fear。
As I slammed the door，Raja Begum was headlong upon me。My right hand was desperately torn。Human blood，the greatest treat a tiger can know，fell in appalling streams。
I rallied instantly from the shock of the first serious injury I had ever received。Banishing the sight of my gory fngers by thrusting them beneath my waist cloth，I swung my left arm in a bone-cracking blow。The beast reeled back，swirled around the rear of the cage，and sprang forward convulsively。My famous fstic punishment rained on his head。
But Raja Begum‘s taste of blood had acted like the maddening frst sip of wine to a dipsomaniac long-deprived。Punctuated by deafening roar，the brute’s assaults grew in fury。My inadequate defense of only one hand left me vulnerable before claws and fangs。Mutually ensanguined，we struggled as to the death。Blood splashed in all directions，and blasts of pain and lethal lust came from the bestial throat。
‘Shoot him！’‘Kill the tiger！’Shrieks arose from the audience。So fast did man and beast move，that a guards bullet went amiss。I mustered all my will force，bellowed fercely，and landed a fnal concussive blow。The tiger collapsed and lay quietly。
“Like a pussycat！”I interjected。
The swami laughed in hearty appreciation，then continued the engrossing tale。Raja Begum was vanquished at last。His royal pride was further humbled：with my lacerated hands，I audaciously forced open his jaws。For a dramatic moment，I held my head within the yawning deathtrap。I looked around for a chain。Pulling one from a pile on the foor，I bound the tiger by his neck to the cage bars。In triumph I moved toward the door。
But that fend incarnate，Raja Begum，had stamina worthy of his supposed demoniac origin。With an incredible lunge，he snapped the chain and leaped on my back。My shoulder fast in his jaws，I fell violently。But in a trice I had him pinned beneath me。Under merciless blows，the treacherous animal sank into semiconsciousness。This time I secured him more carefully。Slowly I left the cage。
After my wounds were treated，I was honored and garlanded；hundreds of gold pieces showered at my feet。The whole city entered a holiday period。Raja Begum was presented to me，as promised，but I felt no elation。A spiritual change had entered my heart。It seemed that with my fnal exit from the cage I had also closed the door on myworldly ambitions。
A woeful period followed。For six months I lay near death from blood poisoning。As soon as I was well enough to leave Cooch Behar，I returned to my native town。
‘I know now that my teacher is the holy man who gave the wise warning。’I humbly made this confession to my father。‘Oh，if I could only find him！’My longing was sincere，for one day the saint arrived unheralded。
‘Enough of tiger taming。’He spoke with calm assurance。‘Come with me；I will teach you to subdue the beasts of ignorance roaming in jungles of the human mind。You are used to an audience：let it be a galaxy of angels，entertained by your thrilling mastery of yoga！’
“I was initiated into the spiritual path by my saintly guru。He opened my soul-doors，rusty and resistant with long disuse。Hand in hand，we soon set out for my training in the Himalayas。”
Chandi and I bowed at the swamis feet，grateful for his vivid outline of a life truly cyclonic。
