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A RETROSPECTION
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at the place of worship belonging to Swatidutta the Brahmin, where he kept his holy sacrificial fires Once Swatıdutta enquired of me,'"What is atman My Lord ?'
'That which experiences the ego (1) is the atman (self)' 'What are its characteristics ?' 'It is subtle and imperceptible by the senses' 'How to realise it?'
'Swatidutta began to pursue the self Self is my sole concern It has been the end of my pursuit and I have been time and again, driving others towards that noble endeavour!
'During the second year of my pursuit I admitted a man into my discipleship He was called Makkhalıputra Gaushalak He accompanied me for a few years Then he deserted me
'I and Gaushalak had mataphysical discussions | satisfied his queries and acquinted him with my transcendental experiences I also imparted to him the mysteries of occult
powers'
'The subject is too intriguing to be discussed cursorily, my Lord Pray bless me with a deeper understanding of it'
'Gautam! Gaushalak has chosen to become a believer in destiny It was I who once sowed the seeds of this faith in his mind
'Gautam! Once he and I proceeded to Suwarnakhal from Kollag 2 A few cowherds had been boiling rice in milk in the way Gaushalak requested me to tarry there Said I, 'The sweet dish is not destined to be cooked The earthen pot shall be broken'
"I moved ahead while Gaushalak stayed on He warned the cowherds of the likely disaster The cowherds fastened the cooking utensil with bamboo splinters The pot was full of mulk The rice was also ample As soon as the soaked rice swelled, the earthen pot burst into bits The milk and rice spilled down the first seed of fatalism was sown in the mind
1 2
'Awashyakchurni I pt pp 320-321 Third year of the pursuits
