The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-14

He is a tall powerfully built man,
weighing probably 100 pounds, though his
flowing robes made IT somewhat difficult
| TO gauge his actual size. He is smooth
shaver, even the hair of his head being
all removed with a razor. His face Is
/ short and broad and at rst sight does
not appear specially intellectual to an oc-
cidental observer, but It is yet pecu-
harly powerful face. The eyes are deep
set, large and cleaning; the nose of no
special character, but rather broad; the
mouth wide, but firm. and the chin mas
sive and square and well set
His clothing seems to consist of two
| garments and pair of slippers. The
| upper garment is a sort of loose gown. Of
brown color and some stuff like worsted
that falls from shoulder 10 heel
How does it happen that you are in
financial stress" he was asked.
1 never touch money. he said. AT
/ home | have no use for money. for my
/ faithful disciples provide all things for
ne. / live in a great garden where there
are many bungalows and my people at
tend to my wants They come to me with
! garlands and sandal and water. and they
adorn me with the flowers and anoint me
with the sandal and they wash my feet
and then drink the water, prostrating
themselves on the ground.
| If l should telegraph to them they
would send me thousands Of rupees, but
do not wish TO trouble them. l have come
to this country to give this people the
riches of my wisdom if l can find any
who are fit to be scholars. And it is their
duty if / teach them, to provide for my
necessities. But this city is full of foolish
people with whom l can have no concern,
and the learned me mare away having
their holidays and l do not know what'to
do. If L stay here | shall be sick, for
this room is poor place, and If go out
my costume is strange and the children
follow me and throw stones at me. / was
nearly killed the other Cay by stone
on my head.
But If my friends who asked me to
come to America come to me it will be all
right. l cannot blaze those who dc not
know that l am here for ont helping me-
The Mahatma explained further that he
was born in the Himalayas and was edu-
Gated for a lawyer. becoming ''pleader
in the higher courts when he was
young man. Having bent for religious
matters, however, he gave himself to
study and in time rose to his present emil
nence.
"A Guru is a teacher as l said to you,
he continued, land Mahatma is one who
has learned the mysteries. He has not
only mastered the Yogic philosophy, which
is practical science. and is able by means
of it to do many things which are strange
to the people who do not understand it,
but he is enabled to learn the mysteries
of the universe by leaving his physical
body and pursuing his studies while he is
in the casual body
Are there many Mahatmas?'
There are some he replied, but he
could by no means be induced to give any
figures.
Then. he continued, 1.-The Parama-
hansa is one who is the teacher among
Maha tmas. He is the only one who knows
all. In my book which / have here, all
things are explained. But the book is in
Sancrit 1 can. however, translate it into
English.
1t should be said at this point that the
Mahatmas command of the English Ian
guage is very great. He talks in a curii
Gus tone much of the time loudly and
monotonously, as if exhorting and his
pronunciation sounds curious to the unac-
customed ear; but his vocabulary is large
and his selection of words is deft and
excellent.
II am Paramashansa. he continued.
land as many people worship me and l
have no necessitie sin my own country
which they do not supply. If I should
touch money they would be surprised and
they would lose faith in me. Even my
chelah will not accept it unless l give him
permission.
$50 when I left my home thousands OF
people came down to the shore and pros
trated themselves on the ground wor-
shipping me, when the steamer left. and
were much astorished."
Why did you leave your own country"
he was asked.
Because y hav5 heard much about
America. Yo} are "a good people in all
material thingt You are very prosperous
in all that pertains 10 money. but in
spiritual things you are ignorant so l
come to give you of my riches which are
not material. If l find only a few dis
ciples. if l find only one who is fit to
learn and who will study with me- it is
well. but If in all America ] find not one
who will learn ihe higher truths I will
look for Americas downfall.
Then. l met in India two or three gem
tlemen from America who wished me to
come her, so / came.
Did they provide your passage Over?'
'Oh. no. They wished to do it, but my
people would not allow it. My people sent I
me over here. but now l am here It is
for the friends who urged me to come 10
provide for me while ] remain.
Il landed in Boston in August and re-
mairel there a few days. but then l came
TO New York. expecting TO meet my
friends here But they are away and I
Go not know what to do. I have taken
this room because ! do not know whore
to go. but it is very bad. And when I
send my man out 10 look for better rooms /
they do not know him and he cannot set !
the rooms. And when l go out my cos
tune is strange and the foolish people (
throw stones at me. do not blame them.
for lhsy must he foolish people TO 90 the
work OF the weird bat il IS very bod for
me not TO go ont
Sat what DO YOU propose to teach?
If you are my scholar viii teach YOU
the Yogic philosophy. I viii take one
process first ard viii show you br doing
myself the thing YOU are To do. Then. II
you viii follow my teachings and viii
practice you viii -; results. do rot say
what the results viii be. but you will
write to me in India and VIII know by
what Won .el No what YOUR progreSs :