A Bunch of Reminiscences

At Ayodhya, on a hilltop called Maniparvat, there was a small Rama temple. I spent most of my time there. The place was about three to four miles from Faizabad and was visited by the city folk in the evenings either for a walk or for Satsang. Those days I used to recite Om aloud in order to forget the striking sensation in my bead. Once I was melodiously reciting Om with my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes I found three or four gentlemen sitting before me. They saluted me with folded hands and I reciprocated. Eventually a discussion started on 0m, its meaning, symbolism, etc.

My understanding of Om was in accordance with the following mantras: "Om ityetadkshrmidam sarvarn tasyopvyakhyanam bhutam bhavadbhavishyaditi sarvam omkar aeva Yachyanyat trikalateetam tadapyo omkar aeve... (Mandukya Upanishad), Om iti aetat akshram bhutambhavadbhavishyat iti idam sarvam tasya upavyakhyanam sarvam omkarah aevayat cha anyattrikalateetam tat api omkarah aeva." The entire universe has nothing except Om. The origin of the Universe, the source that inspired our body and senses - the Atman - is nothing but 0m.

They were delighted to hear my thoughts. One of them was a Doctor by profession, whose name was Nigam. Another was a Headmaster of a Normal School. They both requested me to visit Faizabad to sanctify their homes, but I was aware of my pitiable condition. So I agreed to dine with them but did not like to stay with them. Every day I was walking a distance of four to five miles to dine with either the Doctor or the Headmaster, and the rest of the time I spent at
Maniparvat. For bath I invariably went to the river Saryu.

In those days I was terribly afraid of human company. One day a very funny incident happened. I went far off along the bank of the river, looking for a solitary place. The river had pucca ghats. I thought of sitting on the bank for a while to enjoy the sight of the dancing silvery waves. Meanwhile, my eyes caught sight of a beautiful black, rough, circular stone adjoining the Ghat. Without any second thoughts I stepped down on that beautiful stone and was about to sit down when four legs from down below the stone suddenly emerged and it jumped off into the river. I lost my balance and fell into the stream. I swam to the bank and tried to look at the stone which was now moving. I could discern that stone with legs and neck well stretched swimming in the lower strata of the river.

I could now see that it was not a stone but a tortoise. I looked around and when I was sure that no one had noticed my foolishness, I heaved a sigh of relief. I spent a few more days in Ayodhya. A little later I received a letter from Brahmachari Yogananda and left for the Mandukya Ashrama.

(to be continued)

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