Yogananda, Paramahansa, 1893-1952; Yogis -- India -- Biography
In a few weeks Sasi was stouter and in better health than ever
before. {FN17-1} But his singular reaction to his healing had an
ungrateful tinge: he seldom visited Sri Yukteswar again! My friend
told me one day that he so deeply regretted his previous mode of
life that he was ashamed to face Master.
I could only conclude that Sasi’s illness had had the contrasting
effect of stiffening his will and impairing his manners.
The first two years of my course at Scottish Church College were
drawing to a close. My classroom attendance had been very spasmodic;
what little studying I did was only to keep peace with my family.
My two private tutors came regularly to my house; I was regularly
absent: I can discern at least this one regularity in my scholastic
career!
In India two successful years of college bring an Intermediate Arts
diploma; the student may then look forward to another two years
and his A.B. degree.
The Intermediate Arts final examinations loomed ominously ahead.
I fled to Puri, where my guru was spending a few weeks. Vaguely
hoping that he would sanction my nonappearance at the finals, I
related my embarrassing unpreparedness.
But Master smiled consolingly. “You have wholeheartedly pursued
your spiritual duties, and could not help neglecting your college
work. Apply yourself diligently to your books for the next week:
you shall get through your ordeal without failure.”
I returned to Calcutta, firmly suppressing all reasonable doubts
that occasionally arose with unnerving ridicule. Surveying the
mountain of books on my table, I felt like a traveler lost in a
wilderness. A long period of meditation brought me a labor-saving
inspiration. Opening each book at random, I studied only those
pages which lay thus exposed. Pursuing this course during eighteen
hours a day for a week, I considered myself entitled to advise all
succeeding generations on the art of cramming.
The following days in the examination halls were a justification
of my seemingly haphazard procedure. I passed all the tests, though
by a hairbreadth. The congratulations of my friends and family were
ludicrously mixed with ejaculations betraying their astonishment.
On his return from Puri, Sri Yukteswar gave me a pleasant surprise.
“Your Calcutta studies are now over. I will see that you pursue
your last two years of university work right here in Serampore.”
I was puzzled. “Sir, there is no Bachelor of Arts course in this
town.” Serampore College, the sole institution of higher learning,
offered only a two-year course in Intermediate Arts.
Master smiled mischievously. “I am too old to go about collecting
donations to establish an A.B. college for you. I guess I shall
have to arrange the matter through someone else.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account