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> 第六十章 Years In My Masters Hermitage
第六十章 Years In My Masters Hermitage
Sri Yukteswar greeted me from a tiger skin on the foor of a balconied sitting room。His voice was cold，his manner unemotional。
“Yes，dear Master，I am here to follow you。”Kneeling，I touched his feet。“How can that be？You ignore my wishes。”
“No longer，Guruji！Your wish shall be my law！”
“My frst request，then，is that you return home to your family。I want you to enter college in Calcutta。Your education should be continued。”
“Very well，sir。”I hid my consternation。
“Someday you will go to the West。Its people will lend ears more receptive to Indias ancient wisdom if the strange Hindu teacher has a university degree。”
“You will be near in Calcutta；come here whenever you fnd time。”
“Come；I will show you the hermitage。”Master rose from his tiger mat。I glanced about；my gaze fell with astonishment on a wall picture。
“Lahiri Mahasaya！”
“Yes，my divine guru。”Sri Yukteswars tone was reverently vibrant。“Greater he was，as man and yogi，than any other teacher。”
Soul-homage sped to the peerless master who，blessing my infancy，had guided my steps to this hour。
Led by my guru，I strolled over the house and its grounds。Large，ancient and well-built，the hermitage was surrounded by a massive-pillared courtyard。Outer walls were moss-covered；pigeons futtered over the fat gray roof，unceremoniously sharing the ashram quarters。A rear garden was pleasant with jackfruit，mango，and plantain trees。Balustraded balconies of upper rooms in the two-storied building faced the courtyard from three sides。A spacious ground-foor hall，with high ceiling supported by colonnades，was used，Master said，chiefy during the annual festivities of Durgapuja。A narrow stairway led to Sri Yukteswars sitting room，whose small balcony overlooked the street。
“My family name was Priya Nath Karar。I was born here in Serampore，where Father was a wealthy businessman。He left me this ancestral mansion，now my hermitage。My formal schooling was little；I found it slow and shallow。In early manhood，I undertook the responsibilities of a householder，and have one daughter，now married。My middle life was blessed with the guidance of Lahiri Mahasaya。After my wife died，I joined the Swami Order and received the new name of Sri Yukteswar Giri。Such are my simple annals。”
Sri Yukteswar chose the following morning to grant me his Kriya Yoga initiation。The technique I had already received from two disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya-Father and my tutor，Swami Kebalananda-but in Masters presence I felt＆nbsp；transforming power。
“You will return in thirty days。”As I reached my Calcutta home，the fulfllment of Masters prediction entered with me。
Father was also pleased that my formal studies would be resumed；he made suitable arrangements。I was enrolled the following day at the Scottish Church College in Calcutta。
I was little seen in the college classrooms。Master accepted my ubiquitous presence without comment。
At home my family always used protective curtains at night。I was dismayed to discover that in the Serampore hermitage this prudent custom was honored in the breach。Yet the insects were in full residency；I was bitten from head to foot。My guru took pity on me。
“Buy yourself a curtain，and also one for me。”He laughed and added，“If you buy only one，for yourself，all mosquitoes will concentrate on me！”
The mosquitoes one evening were especially virulent。But Master failed to issue his usual instructions。A half hour later，I coughed pretentiously to attract my gurus attention。
No responsive stir from Master；I approached him cautiously。He was not breathing。This was my frst observation of him in the yogic trance；it flled me with fright。
“To make doubly certain，for minutes I closed his mouth and nostrils with my fngers。His body was cold and motionless。In a daze，I turned toward the door to summon help。”So！A budding experimentalist！My poor nose！“Masters voice was shaky with laughter。”Why dont you go to bed？Is the whole world going to change for you？Change yourself：be rid of the mosquito consciousness。
Meekly I returned to my bed。Not one insect ventured near。I realized that my guru had previously agreed to the curtains only to please me；he had no fear of mosquitoes。His yogic power was such that he either could will them not to bite，or could escape to an inner invulnerability。
“Guruji，should one offer himself a sacrifce rather than kill a wild beast？”
“No；mans body is precious。It is true that one incurs the debt of a minor sin if he is forced to kill an animal or any living thing。But the Vedas teach that wanton loss of a human body is a serious transgression against the karmic law。”
A deadly cobra once confronted him，only to be conquered by my gurus love。This variety of snake causes more than fve thousand deaths annually。The dangerous encounter took place at Puri，where Sri Yukteswar had a second hermitage，charmingly situated near the Bay of Bengal。Prafulla，a young disciple of later years，was with Master on this occasion。
“We were seated outdoors near the ashram，”Prafulla told me。A cobra appeared near-by，a four-foot length of sheer terror。My guru gave a welcoming chuckle，as though to a child。I was beside myself with consternation to see Master engage in a rhythmical clapping of hands。The serpent，very close to my guru，was now motionless，seemingly magnetized by his caressing attitude。
Prafulla concluded。“I have since come to realize that my divine master is beyond fear of hurt from any living creature。”
One afternoon during my early months at the ashram，found Sri Yukteswars eyes fxed on me piercingly。
“You are too thin，Mukunda。”
Chronic dyspepsia had pursued me since childhood。
“Believe that：you shall be well and strong。”
Day by day，behold！I waxed。My persistent stomach ailments vanished with a lifelong permanency。On later occasions I witnessed my gurus instantaneous divine healings of persons suffering from ominous disease-tuberculosis，diabetes，epilepsy，or paralysis。
“You are not here。”Master interrupted himself one afternoon。
“Guruji！”My tone was a protest。“I have not stirred！”
“Nevertheless you were not fully with me。Your objection forces me to remark thatin your mental background you were creating three institutions。One was a sylvan retreat on a plain，another on a hilltop，a third by the ocean。Your architectural dreams will materialize later。Now is the time for study！”
Thus incidentally my guru revealed in his simple way the coming of three great events in my life。Since early youth I had had enigmatic glimpses of three buildings，each in a different setting。In the exact sequence Sri Yukteswar had indicated，these visions took ultimate form。First came my founding of a boysyoga school on a Ranchi plain，then my American headquarters on a Los Angeles hilltop，fnally a hermitage in southern California by the vast Pacifc。
Master never arrogantly asserted：“I prophesy that such and such an event shall occur！”He would rather hint：“Dont you think it may happen？”
“The darkness of maya is silently approaching。Let us hie homeward within。”With these words at dusk Master constantly reminded his disciples of their need for Kriya Yoga。
Master spoke fuent English，French，Hindi，and Bengali；his Sanskrit was fair。He patiently instructed his young disciples by certain short cuts which he had ingeniously devised for the study of English and Sanskrit。Sri Yukteswars health was excellent；I never saw him unwell。He permitted students to consult doctors if it seemed advisable。But he extolled the superiority of mental therapy，and often repeated：“Wisdom is the greatest cleanser。Disbelieve in the reality of sickness even when you are ill；an unrecognized visitor will fee！”
“Observe how the activities of your father Bhagabati are well-organized and balanced in every way，”my guru pointed out。The two disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya had met，soon after I began my pilgrimages to Serampore。Father and Sri Yukteswar admiringly evaluated the others worth。Both had built an inner life of spiritual granite，insoluble against the ages。
“If you dont like my words，you are at liberty to leave at any time，”Master assured me。“I want nothing from you but your own improvement。Stay only if you feel benefted。”
Though Sri Yukteswar‘s undissembling speech prevented a large following during his years on earth，nevertheless his living spirit manifests today over the world，through sincere students of his Kriya Yoga and other teachings。He has further dominion in men’s souls than ever Alexander dreamed of in the soil。
Father arrived one day to pay his respects to Sri Yukteswar。My parent expected，very likely，to hear some words in my praise。He was shocked to be given a long accountof my imperfections。It was Masters practice to recount simple，negligible shortcomings with an air of portentous gravity。Father rushed to see me。“From your gurus remarks I thought to fnd you a complete wreck！”My parent was between tears and laughter。
My guru mixed freely with men and women disciples，treating all as his children。Perceiving their soul equality，he showed no distinction or partiality。
“In sleep，you do not know whether you are a man or a woman，”he said。“The soul，impersonating both man and woman，has no sex。”
Sri Yukteswar never avoided or blamed women as objects of seduction。Men，he said，were also a temptation to women。I once inquired of my guru why a great ancient saint had called women“the door to hell。”
“A girl must have proved very troublesome to his peace of mind in his early life。”my guru answered causticly。
“Just as the purpose of eating is to satisfy hunger，not greed，so the sex instinct is designed for the propagation of the species according to natural law，never for the kindling of insatiable longings，”he said。“Destroy wrong desires now。Even when the fesh is weak，the mind should be constantly resistant。If temptation assails you with cruel force，overcome it by impersonal analysis and indomitable will。”
The shastric prohibitions were intended to help swamis overcome narrow identifications。Shankara and Sri Yukteswar had wholly merged their beings in the Impersonal Spirit；they needed no rescue by rule。Sometimes，too，a master purposely ignores a canon in order to uphold its principle as superior to and independent of form。Thus Jesus plucked ears of corn on the day of rest。To the inevitable critics he said：“The sabbath was made for man，and not man for the sabbath。”
Outside of the scriptures，seldom was a book honored by Sri Yukteswars perusal。Yet he was invariably acquainted with the latest scientific discoveries and other advancements of knowledge。
Among the philosophers，professors，lawyers and scientists who came to the hermitage，a number arrived for their first visit with the expectation of meeting an orthodox religionist。Yet their reluctant departure would bring an expressed conviction that Sri Yukteswar had shown precise insight into their specialized felds。
Master stressed the futility of mere book learning，again and again。
“Do not confuse understanding with a larger vocabulary，”he remarked。“Sacred writings are beneficial in stimulating desire for inward realization，if one stanza at a time is slowly assimilated。Continual intellectual study results in vanity and the falsesatisfaction of an undigested knowledge。”
Sri Yukteswar directed the study of his own disciples by the same intensive method of one-pointedness。“Wisdom is not assimilated with the eyes，but with the atoms，”he said。He discouraged any tendency a student might have to construe book-knowledge as a necessary step to spiritual realization。
“The rishis wrote in one sentence profundities that commentating scholars busy themselves over for generations。”he remarked。
A local magistrate once arrived for an interview at the seaside hermitage in Puri。The man，who held a reputation for ruthlessness，had it well within his power to oust us from the ashram。I cautioned my guru about the despotic possibilities。But he seated himself with an uncompromising air，and did not rise to greet the visitor。The man had to content himself with a wooden box；my guru did not request me to fetch a chair。There was no fulfllment of the magistrates obvious expectation that his importance would be ceremoniously acknowledged。
A metaphysical discussion ensued。The guest blundered through misinterpretations of the scriptures。As his accuracy sank，his ire rose。
“Do you know that I stood frst in the M。A。examination？”Reason had forsaken him，but he could still shout。
“Mr。Magistrate，you forget that this is not your courtroom，”Master replied evenly。“From your childish remarks I would have surmised that your college career was unremarkable。A university degree，in any case，is not remotely related to Vedic realization。Saints are not produced in batches every semester like accountants。”
After a stunned silence，the visitor laughed heartily。
“This is my frst encounter with a heavenly magistrate，”he said。Later he made a formal request，to be accepted as a“probationary”disciple。
My guru personally attended to the details connected with the management of his property。Unscrupulous persons on various occasions attempted to secure possession of Masters ancestral land。With determination and even by instigating lawsuits，Sri Yukteswar outwitted every opponent。He underwent these painful experiences from a desire never to be a begging guru，or a burden on his disciples。
His fnancial independence was one reason why my alarmingly outspoken Master was innocent of the cunnings of diplomacy。Never did I hear him ask or even hint for money for any purpose。His hermitage training was given free and freely to all disciples。
An insolent court deputy arrived one day at the Serampore ashram to serve SriYukteswar with a legal summons。A disciple named Kanai and myself were also present。The offcers attitude toward Master was offensive。
“It will do you good to leave the shadows of your hermitage and breathe the honest air of a courtroom。”The deputy grinned contemptuously。I could not contain myself。
“Another word of your impudence and you will be on the floor！”I advanced threateningly。
“You wretch！”Kanais shout was simultaneous with my own。“Dare you bring your blasphemies into this sacred ashram？”
But Master stood protectingly in front of his abuser。“Dont get excited over nothing。This man is only doing his rightful duty。”
The offcer，dazed at his varying reception，respectfully offered a word of apology and sped away。
Amazing it was to fnd that a master with such a fery will could be so calm within。He ftted the Vedic defnition of a man of God：“Softer than the fower，where kindness is concerned；stronger than the thunder，where principles are at stake。”
These scenes would bring to my mind one of Masters inimitable observations：“Some people try to be tall by cutting off the heads of others！”
The unfailing composure of a saint is impressive beyond any sermon。“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty；and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city。”
I often refected that my majestic Master could easily have been an emperor or world-shaking warrior had his mind been centered on fame or worldly achievement。He had chosen instead to storm those inner citadels of wrath and egotism whose fall is the height of a man。
“Yes，dear Master，I am here to follow you。”Kneeling，I touched his feet。“How can that be？You ignore my wishes。”
“No longer，Guruji！Your wish shall be my law！”
“My frst request，then，is that you return home to your family。I want you to enter college in Calcutta。Your education should be continued。”
“Very well，sir。”I hid my consternation。
“Someday you will go to the West。Its people will lend ears more receptive to Indias ancient wisdom if the strange Hindu teacher has a university degree。”
“You will be near in Calcutta；come here whenever you fnd time。”
“Come；I will show you the hermitage。”Master rose from his tiger mat。I glanced about；my gaze fell with astonishment on a wall picture。
“Lahiri Mahasaya！”
“Yes，my divine guru。”Sri Yukteswars tone was reverently vibrant。“Greater he was，as man and yogi，than any other teacher。”
Soul-homage sped to the peerless master who，blessing my infancy，had guided my steps to this hour。
Led by my guru，I strolled over the house and its grounds。Large，ancient and well-built，the hermitage was surrounded by a massive-pillared courtyard。Outer walls were moss-covered；pigeons futtered over the fat gray roof，unceremoniously sharing the ashram quarters。A rear garden was pleasant with jackfruit，mango，and plantain trees。Balustraded balconies of upper rooms in the two-storied building faced the courtyard from three sides。A spacious ground-foor hall，with high ceiling supported by colonnades，was used，Master said，chiefy during the annual festivities of Durgapuja。A narrow stairway led to Sri Yukteswars sitting room，whose small balcony overlooked the street。
“My family name was Priya Nath Karar。I was born here in Serampore，where Father was a wealthy businessman。He left me this ancestral mansion，now my hermitage。My formal schooling was little；I found it slow and shallow。In early manhood，I undertook the responsibilities of a householder，and have one daughter，now married。My middle life was blessed with the guidance of Lahiri Mahasaya。After my wife died，I joined the Swami Order and received the new name of Sri Yukteswar Giri。Such are my simple annals。”
Sri Yukteswar chose the following morning to grant me his Kriya Yoga initiation。The technique I had already received from two disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya-Father and my tutor，Swami Kebalananda-but in Masters presence I felt＆nbsp；transforming power。
“You will return in thirty days。”As I reached my Calcutta home，the fulfllment of Masters prediction entered with me。
Father was also pleased that my formal studies would be resumed；he made suitable arrangements。I was enrolled the following day at the Scottish Church College in Calcutta。
I was little seen in the college classrooms。Master accepted my ubiquitous presence without comment。
At home my family always used protective curtains at night。I was dismayed to discover that in the Serampore hermitage this prudent custom was honored in the breach。Yet the insects were in full residency；I was bitten from head to foot。My guru took pity on me。
“Buy yourself a curtain，and also one for me。”He laughed and added，“If you buy only one，for yourself，all mosquitoes will concentrate on me！”
The mosquitoes one evening were especially virulent。But Master failed to issue his usual instructions。A half hour later，I coughed pretentiously to attract my gurus attention。
No responsive stir from Master；I approached him cautiously。He was not breathing。This was my frst observation of him in the yogic trance；it flled me with fright。
“To make doubly certain，for minutes I closed his mouth and nostrils with my fngers。His body was cold and motionless。In a daze，I turned toward the door to summon help。”So！A budding experimentalist！My poor nose！“Masters voice was shaky with laughter。”Why dont you go to bed？Is the whole world going to change for you？Change yourself：be rid of the mosquito consciousness。
Meekly I returned to my bed。Not one insect ventured near。I realized that my guru had previously agreed to the curtains only to please me；he had no fear of mosquitoes。His yogic power was such that he either could will them not to bite，or could escape to an inner invulnerability。
“Guruji，should one offer himself a sacrifce rather than kill a wild beast？”
“No；mans body is precious。It is true that one incurs the debt of a minor sin if he is forced to kill an animal or any living thing。But the Vedas teach that wanton loss of a human body is a serious transgression against the karmic law。”
A deadly cobra once confronted him，only to be conquered by my gurus love。This variety of snake causes more than fve thousand deaths annually。The dangerous encounter took place at Puri，where Sri Yukteswar had a second hermitage，charmingly situated near the Bay of Bengal。Prafulla，a young disciple of later years，was with Master on this occasion。
“We were seated outdoors near the ashram，”Prafulla told me。A cobra appeared near-by，a four-foot length of sheer terror。My guru gave a welcoming chuckle，as though to a child。I was beside myself with consternation to see Master engage in a rhythmical clapping of hands。The serpent，very close to my guru，was now motionless，seemingly magnetized by his caressing attitude。
Prafulla concluded。“I have since come to realize that my divine master is beyond fear of hurt from any living creature。”
One afternoon during my early months at the ashram，found Sri Yukteswars eyes fxed on me piercingly。
“You are too thin，Mukunda。”
Chronic dyspepsia had pursued me since childhood。
“Believe that：you shall be well and strong。”
Day by day，behold！I waxed。My persistent stomach ailments vanished with a lifelong permanency。On later occasions I witnessed my gurus instantaneous divine healings of persons suffering from ominous disease-tuberculosis，diabetes，epilepsy，or paralysis。
“You are not here。”Master interrupted himself one afternoon。
“Guruji！”My tone was a protest。“I have not stirred！”
“Nevertheless you were not fully with me。Your objection forces me to remark thatin your mental background you were creating three institutions。One was a sylvan retreat on a plain，another on a hilltop，a third by the ocean。Your architectural dreams will materialize later。Now is the time for study！”
Thus incidentally my guru revealed in his simple way the coming of three great events in my life。Since early youth I had had enigmatic glimpses of three buildings，each in a different setting。In the exact sequence Sri Yukteswar had indicated，these visions took ultimate form。First came my founding of a boysyoga school on a Ranchi plain，then my American headquarters on a Los Angeles hilltop，fnally a hermitage in southern California by the vast Pacifc。
Master never arrogantly asserted：“I prophesy that such and such an event shall occur！”He would rather hint：“Dont you think it may happen？”
“The darkness of maya is silently approaching。Let us hie homeward within。”With these words at dusk Master constantly reminded his disciples of their need for Kriya Yoga。
Master spoke fuent English，French，Hindi，and Bengali；his Sanskrit was fair。He patiently instructed his young disciples by certain short cuts which he had ingeniously devised for the study of English and Sanskrit。Sri Yukteswars health was excellent；I never saw him unwell。He permitted students to consult doctors if it seemed advisable。But he extolled the superiority of mental therapy，and often repeated：“Wisdom is the greatest cleanser。Disbelieve in the reality of sickness even when you are ill；an unrecognized visitor will fee！”
“Observe how the activities of your father Bhagabati are well-organized and balanced in every way，”my guru pointed out。The two disciples of Lahiri Mahasaya had met，soon after I began my pilgrimages to Serampore。Father and Sri Yukteswar admiringly evaluated the others worth。Both had built an inner life of spiritual granite，insoluble against the ages。
“If you dont like my words，you are at liberty to leave at any time，”Master assured me。“I want nothing from you but your own improvement。Stay only if you feel benefted。”
Though Sri Yukteswar‘s undissembling speech prevented a large following during his years on earth，nevertheless his living spirit manifests today over the world，through sincere students of his Kriya Yoga and other teachings。He has further dominion in men’s souls than ever Alexander dreamed of in the soil。
Father arrived one day to pay his respects to Sri Yukteswar。My parent expected，very likely，to hear some words in my praise。He was shocked to be given a long accountof my imperfections。It was Masters practice to recount simple，negligible shortcomings with an air of portentous gravity。Father rushed to see me。“From your gurus remarks I thought to fnd you a complete wreck！”My parent was between tears and laughter。
My guru mixed freely with men and women disciples，treating all as his children。Perceiving their soul equality，he showed no distinction or partiality。
“In sleep，you do not know whether you are a man or a woman，”he said。“The soul，impersonating both man and woman，has no sex。”
Sri Yukteswar never avoided or blamed women as objects of seduction。Men，he said，were also a temptation to women。I once inquired of my guru why a great ancient saint had called women“the door to hell。”
“A girl must have proved very troublesome to his peace of mind in his early life。”my guru answered causticly。
“Just as the purpose of eating is to satisfy hunger，not greed，so the sex instinct is designed for the propagation of the species according to natural law，never for the kindling of insatiable longings，”he said。“Destroy wrong desires now。Even when the fesh is weak，the mind should be constantly resistant。If temptation assails you with cruel force，overcome it by impersonal analysis and indomitable will。”
The shastric prohibitions were intended to help swamis overcome narrow identifications。Shankara and Sri Yukteswar had wholly merged their beings in the Impersonal Spirit；they needed no rescue by rule。Sometimes，too，a master purposely ignores a canon in order to uphold its principle as superior to and independent of form。Thus Jesus plucked ears of corn on the day of rest。To the inevitable critics he said：“The sabbath was made for man，and not man for the sabbath。”
Outside of the scriptures，seldom was a book honored by Sri Yukteswars perusal。Yet he was invariably acquainted with the latest scientific discoveries and other advancements of knowledge。
Among the philosophers，professors，lawyers and scientists who came to the hermitage，a number arrived for their first visit with the expectation of meeting an orthodox religionist。Yet their reluctant departure would bring an expressed conviction that Sri Yukteswar had shown precise insight into their specialized felds。
Master stressed the futility of mere book learning，again and again。
“Do not confuse understanding with a larger vocabulary，”he remarked。“Sacred writings are beneficial in stimulating desire for inward realization，if one stanza at a time is slowly assimilated。Continual intellectual study results in vanity and the falsesatisfaction of an undigested knowledge。”
Sri Yukteswar directed the study of his own disciples by the same intensive method of one-pointedness。“Wisdom is not assimilated with the eyes，but with the atoms，”he said。He discouraged any tendency a student might have to construe book-knowledge as a necessary step to spiritual realization。
“The rishis wrote in one sentence profundities that commentating scholars busy themselves over for generations。”he remarked。
A local magistrate once arrived for an interview at the seaside hermitage in Puri。The man，who held a reputation for ruthlessness，had it well within his power to oust us from the ashram。I cautioned my guru about the despotic possibilities。But he seated himself with an uncompromising air，and did not rise to greet the visitor。The man had to content himself with a wooden box；my guru did not request me to fetch a chair。There was no fulfllment of the magistrates obvious expectation that his importance would be ceremoniously acknowledged。
A metaphysical discussion ensued。The guest blundered through misinterpretations of the scriptures。As his accuracy sank，his ire rose。
“Do you know that I stood frst in the M。A。examination？”Reason had forsaken him，but he could still shout。
“Mr。Magistrate，you forget that this is not your courtroom，”Master replied evenly。“From your childish remarks I would have surmised that your college career was unremarkable。A university degree，in any case，is not remotely related to Vedic realization。Saints are not produced in batches every semester like accountants。”
After a stunned silence，the visitor laughed heartily。
“This is my frst encounter with a heavenly magistrate，”he said。Later he made a formal request，to be accepted as a“probationary”disciple。
My guru personally attended to the details connected with the management of his property。Unscrupulous persons on various occasions attempted to secure possession of Masters ancestral land。With determination and even by instigating lawsuits，Sri Yukteswar outwitted every opponent。He underwent these painful experiences from a desire never to be a begging guru，or a burden on his disciples。
His fnancial independence was one reason why my alarmingly outspoken Master was innocent of the cunnings of diplomacy。Never did I hear him ask or even hint for money for any purpose。His hermitage training was given free and freely to all disciples。
An insolent court deputy arrived one day at the Serampore ashram to serve SriYukteswar with a legal summons。A disciple named Kanai and myself were also present。The offcers attitude toward Master was offensive。
“It will do you good to leave the shadows of your hermitage and breathe the honest air of a courtroom。”The deputy grinned contemptuously。I could not contain myself。
“Another word of your impudence and you will be on the floor！”I advanced threateningly。
“You wretch！”Kanais shout was simultaneous with my own。“Dare you bring your blasphemies into this sacred ashram？”
But Master stood protectingly in front of his abuser。“Dont get excited over nothing。This man is only doing his rightful duty。”
The offcer，dazed at his varying reception，respectfully offered a word of apology and sped away。
Amazing it was to fnd that a master with such a fery will could be so calm within。He ftted the Vedic defnition of a man of God：“Softer than the fower，where kindness is concerned；stronger than the thunder，where principles are at stake。”
These scenes would bring to my mind one of Masters inimitable observations：“Some people try to be tall by cutting off the heads of others！”
The unfailing composure of a saint is impressive beyond any sermon。“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty；and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city。”
I often refected that my majestic Master could easily have been an emperor or world-shaking warrior had his mind been centered on fame or worldly achievement。He had chosen instead to storm those inner citadels of wrath and egotism whose fall is the height of a man。
