First Call of Gurudev: Tests at every step 4

I was being put to test whether I was afraid of loneliness. In a few days my resolve became stronger and the creatures of that region become my own kith and kin in spirit. Fear disappeared, loneliness became a friend. With this success in the first question paper, started the series of successes in others.

The next test was of stoically bearing the rigors of Himalayan winter. I thought that when by practice, mouth, nose, eyes, head, ears, hands, which remain exposed, did not catch cold, why should the covered parts of the body feel cold? In Norway, Finland and regions around the North Pole the temperature was always below the freezing point and still Eskimos and people of other communities' lives there. Here the altitude was only about ten to twelve thousand feet above the sea level. I thought the challenge was not insurmountable and means could be found out to seek protection from cold. I came to know from a local man that on the outer surface of the mountains there was severe cold but insides of the caves were comparatively warm. There were some specific types of shrub which catch fire although they are green, and these can be used to make fire for warning up and cooking. There were vegetables like leaves of langada, marca etc. which could be eaten raw. The knots on the stem of birch tree (bhojpatra) on being boiled, give a tea-like drink which removes cold. If one sat on his feet in a pose so that his head touches the knees, he would not feel much cold. Feeling less or more cold also depended on one's imagination. Children run here and there scantly clothed, yet they do not feel any discomfort. ONe cannot speak about old and sick persons, but the fact remained that a young and healthy man cannot die of cold. I adopted these measures and got fully convinced of their efficacy. Cold became manageable. It also helps a great deal if optimistic thoughts are entertained.

One more thing about ferocious animals, their eyes shine when they move out mostly in the dark. All animals, even lions, are afraid of human beings. If a person is not aftaid of them and they are not teased they do not attack human beings. They can thus be befriended.

In the beginning, I was afraid of them. Then I recalled how wild animals are tamed and trained to perform miraculous feats in circus. I had read the description of a European lady of Tanzania, whose husband was an employee in the Forest Department that she had tamed two tiger-cubs who had separated from their parents. They used to sleep in her lap even after they had fully grown up. If there is authentic fearlessness and a genuine feeling of love a person can enjoy living in a dense forest. Adivasis and Bhils often live in dense forests and they are not afraid of anything. Remembering such instances, i became fearless sand thought that a day would come when I would live in a cottage in the forest and a cow and a tiger would drink water at the same place.