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Bak 4-14
greTTATIT,
which was not less sumptuous or attractive than his monastery
with all its riches. The object. which induced me to do away
with all these worldly blessings, I added, "I find you neither
strive for, nor possess the knowledge of." He then enquired
what was that object for which I so strived. "That object," I
answered, "is the secret knowledge, the Vidya, or true erudition
of a genuine Yogi the Mooktee, which is reached only by the
purity of one's soul, and certain attainments unattainable
without it ; in the meanwhile, the performance of all the duties
of man towards his fellow-men, and the elevation of humanity
thereby." The Mahant remarked that it was very good, and
asked me to remain with him for some time at least; But I
kept silent and returned no reply : I had not yet found what
I sought for. Rising on the following morning very early, I kit
this rich dwelling and went to Joshee Math. There, in the
company of Dakshanee or Maharashtra Shastrees and Sannyasis,
the true ascetics of the 4th Order, I rested for a while.
Yogis at Joshi Math (Convent)
At Joshee Math I met many Yogis and learned ascetics
and, in a series of discussions, learnt more about Yoga-Vidya,
and parting with them, went to Badrinarayan. The learned
Rawaljee was at that time the chief priest of that temple ; and
I lived with him a few days, We held discussions upon the
Vedas, and the "Darshanas," Having enquired from him
whether he knew of some genuine Yogi in the neighbourhood
I learnt, to my great regret, that there were none there at the
time, but that he had heard that they were in the habit of
visiting his temple at times. Then I resolved to make a
thorough search for them throughout the country and espe-
cially in the hills,
Further search of clairvoyants
One morning at day break, I set out on my journey ;
when, following along the foot of the mountains, I at last
reached the banks of the Alaknanda river. I had no desire of
crossing it, as I saw on its opposite bank the large village
called "Mana." Keeping, therefore, still to the foot of the
hills, I directed my steps towards the jungle, following the
river course. The hills and the road itself were thickly co-
vered with snow and, with the greatest difficulty, I succeeded