一个瑜伽行者的自传

第六十九章 We Visit Kashmir

　　“You are strong enough now to travel。I will accompany you to Kashmir，”Sri Yukteswar informed me two days after my miraculous recovery from Asiatic cholera。

　　That evening our party of six entrained for the north。Our frst leisurely stop was at Simla，a queenly city resting on the throne of Himalayan hills。We strolled over the steep streets，admiring the magnifcent views。

　　“English strawberries for sale，”cried an old woman，squatting in a picturesque open market place。

　　Master was curious about the strange little red fruits。He bought a basketful and offered it to Kanai and myself，who were near-by。I tasted one berry but spat it hastily on the ground。

　　“Sir，what a sour fruit！I could never like strawberries！”

　　My guru laughed。“Oh，you will like them in America。At a dinner there，your hostess will serve them with sugar and cream。After she has mashed the berries with a fork，you will taste them and say：‘What delicious strawberries！’Then you will remember this day in Simla。”

　　Sri Yukteswars forecast vanished from my mind，but reappeared there many years later，shortly after my arrival in America。I was a dinner guest at the home of Mrs。Alice T。Hasey（Sister Yogmata）in West Somerville，Massachusetts。When a dessert of strawberries was put on the table，my hostess picked up her fork and mashed my berries，adding cream and sugar。“The fruit is rather tart；I think you will like it fxed this way，”she remarked。

　　I took a mouthful。“What delicious strawberries！”I exclaimed。At once my guru‘s prediction in Simla emerged from the fathomless cave of memory。It was staggering to realize that long ago Sri Yukteswar’s God-tuned mind had sensitively detected the program of karmic events wandering in the ether of futurity。

　　Our party soon left Simla and entrained for Rawalpindi。There we hired a large landau，drawn by two horses，in which we started a seven-day trip to Srinagar，capitalcity of Kashmir。The second day of our northbound journey brought into view the true Himalayan vastness。

　　I felt a throb of pleasure at Auddys appreciation，for I was acting as host on this trip。Sri Yukteswar caught my thought；he turned to me and whispered：

　　“Dont fatter yourself；Auddy is not nearly as entranced with the scenery as he is with the prospect of leaving us long enough to have a cigaret。”

　　I was shocked。“Sir，”I said in an undertone，“I can hardly believe that Auddy is hankering for a smoke。”I looked apprehensively at my usually irrepressible guru。The carriage arrived at a small caravanserai。As our horses were led to be watered，Auddy inquired，“Sir，do you mind if I ride awhile with the driver？I would like to get a little outside air。”

　　Sri Yukteswar gave permission，but remarked to me，“He wants fresh smoke and not fresh air。”

　　The landau resumed its noisy progress over the dusty roads。Masters eyes were twinkling；he instructed me，“Crane up your neck through the carriage door and see what Auddy is doing with the air。”

　　I obeyed，and was astounded to observe Auddy in the act of exhaling rings of cigaret smoke。

　　“You are right，as always，sir。Auddy is enjoying a puff along with a panorama。”I surmised that my friend had received a gift from the cab driver；I knew Auddy had not carried any cigarets from Calcutta。

　　Joyous anticipations flled our hearts as we neared central Kashmir，paradise land of lotus lakes，foating gardens，gaily canopied houseboats，the many-bridged Jhelum River，and fower-strewn pastures，all ringed round by the Himalayan majesty。Our approach to Srinagar was through an avenue of tall，welcoming trees。We engaged rooms at a double-storied inn overlooking the noble hills。

　　We made a pilgrimage to the ancient Srinagar temple of Swami Shankara。As I gazed upon the mountain-peak hermitage，standing bold against the sky，I fell into an ecstatic trance。

　　Our next excursions were to the famous royal“pleasure gardens”of the Emperor Jehangir，at Shalimar and Nishat Bagh。The ancient palace at Nishat Bagh is built directly over a natural waterfall。Rushing down from the mountains，the torrent has been regulated through ingenious contrivances to fow over colorful terraces and to gush into fountains amidst the dazzling fower-beds。The stream also enters several of the palacerooms，ultimately dropping fairy like into the lake below。The immense gardens are riotous with color-roses of a dozen hues，snapdragons，lavender，pansies，poppies。An emerald enclosing outline is given by symmetrical rows of chinars，cypresses，cherry trees；beyond them tower the white austerities of the Himalayas。After spending happy weeks in Kashmir，I was forced to return to Bengal for the fall term of Serampore College。Sri Yukteswar remained in Srinagar，with Kanai and Auddy。Before I departed，Master hinted that his body would be subject to suffering in Kashmir。

　　“Sir，you look a picture of health，”I protested。

　　“There is a chance that I may even leave this earth。”

　　“Guruji！”I fell at his feet with an imploring gesture。“Please promise that you wont leave your body now。I am utterly unprepared to carry on without you。”

　　Sri Yukteswar was silent，but smiled at me so compassionately that I felt reassured。Reluctantly I left him。

　　“Master dangerously ill。”This telegram from Auddy reached me shortly after my return to Serampore。

　　“Sir，”I wired my guru frantically，“I asked for your promise not to leave me。Please keep your body；otherwise，I also shall die。”

　　“Be it as you wish。”This was Sri Yukteswars reply from Kashmir。

　　A letter from Auddy arrived in a few days，informing me that Master had recovered。On his return to Serampore during the next fortnight，I was grieved to fnd my gurus body reduced to half its usual weight。

　　Fortunately for his disciples，Sri Yukteswar burned many of their sins in the fre of his severe fever in Kashmir。The metaphysical method of physical transfer of disease is known to highly advanced yogis。A strong man can assist a weaker one by helping to carry his heavy load；a spiritual superman is able to minimize his disciplesphysical or mental burdens by sharing the karma of their past actions。

　　Having harvested God on the physical feld，a master no longer cares what happens to that material form。Though he may allow it to register a certain disease in order to relieve others，his mind is never affected；he considers himself fortunate in being able to render such aid。

　　The devotee who has achieved final salvation in the Lord finds that his body has completely fulflled its purpose；he can then use it in any way he deems ft。His work in the world is to alleviate the sorrows of mankind，whether through spiritual means or by intellectual counsel or through will power or by the physical transfer of disease。Escapingto the superconsciousness whenever he so desires，a master can remain oblivious of physical suffering；sometimes he chooses to bear bodily pain stoically，as an example to disciples。By putting on the ailments of others，a yogi can satisfy，for them，the karmic law of cause and effect。This law is mechanically or mathematically operative；its workings can be scientifcally manipulated by men of divine wisdom。

　　Many people imagine that every spiritual master has，or should have，the health and strength of a Sandow。The assumption is unfounded。A sickly body does not indicate that a guru is not in touch with divine powers，any more than lifelong health necessarily indicates an inner illumination。The condition of the physical body，in other words，cannot rightfully be made a test of a master。His distinguishing qualifcations must be sought in his own domain，the spiritual。

　　Numerous bewildered seekers in the West erroneously think that an eloquent speaker or writer on metaphysics must be a master。The rishis，however，have pointed out that the acid test of a master is a mans ability to enter at will the breathless state，and to maintain the unbroken samadhi of nirbikalpa。Only by these achievements can a human being prove that he has“mastered”maya or the dualistic Cosmic Delusion。He alone can say from the depths of realization：“Ekam sat，”——“Only One exists。”

　　Only great gurus are able to assume the karma of disciples。Sri Yukteswar would not have suffered in Kashmir unless he had received permission from the Spirit within him to help his disciples in that strange way。

　　When I ventured a few words of sympathy over his emaciated fgure，my guru said gaily：

　　“It has its good points；I am able now to get into some small ganjis（undershirts）that I havent worn in years！”

　　Listening to Masters jovial laugh，I remembered the words of St。Francis de Sales：“A saint that is sad is a sad saint！”