AW: Sacred practice of Mantra

[Guest guest]

Vicky,

 

you might remember a similar story by Tolstoy, called "The Three

Hermits". It was retold in Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of

a Yogi", as follows:

 

On an island there lived three old hermits. They were so simple that

the only prayer they used was: "We are three; Thou art three - have

mercy on us!" Great miracles were manifested during this naive

prayer.

 

The local bishop came to hear about the three hermits and their

inadmissible prayer, and decided to visit them in order to teach them

the canonical invocations. He arrived on the island, told the hermits

that their heavenly petition was undignified, and taught them many of

the customary prayers. The bishop then left on a boat. He saw,

following the ship, a radiant light. As it approached, he discerned

the three hermits, who were holding hands and running upon the waves

in an effort to overtake the vessel.

 

"We have forgotten the prayers you taught us," they cried as they

reached the bishop, "and have hastened to ask you to repeat them."

The awed bishop shook his head. "Dear ones," he replied humbly,

"continue to live with your old prayer!"

 

Michael S.