Paul Brunton - The Maharshi and His Message #6

[Guest guest]

...............

 

 

 

Comes the first ripple. Someone approaches me and whispers

 

in my ear. " Did you not wish to question the Maharshi? "

 

 

 

 

He may have lost patience, this quondam guide of mine.

 

More likely, he imagines that I, a restless European, have reached

 

the limit of my own patience. Alas, my inquisitive friend! Truly

 

I came here to question your Master, but now ... I, who am at

 

peace with all the world and with myself, why should I trouble

 

my head with questions? I feel that the ship of my soul is

 

beginning to slip its moorings; a wonderful sea waits to be crossed;

 

yet you would draw me back to the noisy port of this world, just

 

when I am about to start the great adventure!

 

 

 

But the spell is broken. As if this infelicitous intrusion is a

 

signal, figures rise from the floor and begin to move about the

 

hall, voices float up to my hearing, and wonder of wonders! -

 

the dark brown eyes of the Maharshi flicker once or twice. Then

 

the head turns, the face moves slowly, very slowly, and bends

 

downward at an angle. A few more moments and it has brought

 

me into the ambit of its vision. For the first time the Sage's

 

mysterious gaze is directed upon me. It is plain that he has now

 

awakened from his long trance.

 

 

 

The intruder, thinking perhaps that my lack of response is a

 

sign that I have not heard him, repeats his question aloud. But

 

in those lustrous eyes which are gently staring at me, I read

 

another question, albeit unspoken:

 

" Can it be - is it possible - that you are still tormented

 

with distracting doubts when you have now glimpsed the deep

 

mental peace which you - and all men - may attain? "

 

The peace overwhelms me. I turn to the guide and answer:

 

" No. There is nothing I care to ask now. Another time...... "

 

........................