Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-06-17


to the forests OF the Himilayas, where
he spent twelve years In contempla-
tion until enlightenment came. Then
he returned to the world. became
Mahatma Ia teacher) and wandered
from place to place throughout India,
teaching those who desired the Higher
Knowledge and the philosophy of
Yoga. His ability. wisdom and learn
ing, as well as the belief that he Is
the reincarnation OF Krishna, gives
him a rank higher than that OF any
temporal prince or authority. The
proudest rajah In India would not
dare enter his presence without ask
ing permission and would bow to his
feet. He never enters city. but al
ways Is welcomed as the guest OF
people of high rank who live In the
suburbs and place his chair in an
arbor or garden or a drawing room
and listen to his wisdom with anx-
iety and awe. There are two other
Mahatmas OF equal sanctity among the
Yogis, but they do not speak English
and for that reason he was selected
to carry the Light into the western
world.
He accepts no money. He holds
that a true teacher cannot be paid
for his knowledge. He depends en-
tirely upon his disciples to furnish
him food and clothing and shelter.
Like the wandering Yogis of India
whom Rpling describes. he possesses
nothing in the world but knowledge,
which he will impart to those who
sincerely desire 1t; but very few peo-
pie are capable or are deemed worthy
of receiving the mental training known
as Yoga, a method that goes back into
a time beyond the first records OF
human speech. Its professors assert
that 1t is not code; 1t is not a re-
ligion; 1t Is not ethics, but 1t is a
combination of all. They declare that
1t seeks no proselytes; 1t conflicts
with no other faith; 1t attacks no cher:
ished beliefs; it engages in no con
troversies; 1t needs no arguments, but
Is simply the publication OF the mind
and the cultivation of the spiritual
vision. The Mahatma converses Will
animation with all visitors, but avoids
all disputes. He does not trouble
himself about being misunderstood; he
never seeks to convince anyone, but is
| always ready to impart knowledge tS
| those who desire 1t and believes that
| no person can resist the Universal
VIII which leads his disciples into the
Life of the Way.
He came from India to London last
November as the guest OF his disciples
in that city, who number about l5l
and have headquarters at 60 South
Audley street, Grosvenor square. He
came to the United States a few day.
ago to impart instruction to his disci
pies here in New York, who number
about twenty and include some quite
prominent men. They rented house
for him at SO West Eighty-second
street, where he is attended by q
young physician and disciple and g
native servant, and will receive any
respectable person who may call a
| any hour of the day or night.
He Is man of imposing presence
with face and head life the busts o.
Augustus Caesar. Although 81 years
of age he looks like man of 40
| and the slightest glance into his great
brown eyes is sufficient to convince
one OF his remarkable intellectual
powers. He is asserted to be the
greatest living metaphysician.
Usually he wears u plain brown
robe of the color of those worn b!
| Franciscan monks, but he has great
variety made of the richest silks, most
| ly yellow, the color of the ascetics
| which have been presented to him by
his admirers and disciples. He buys
nothing, he owns nothing, he never
touches money; he has none; he de
pends entirely upon the gifts of the
gods, and If they do not come he
goes without them. He wears bril-
liant turban which heightens the stat
uesQue poise of his head. His tur'
| bans are similar to those worn by
the Rajahs Of India, and are presents
from them.
His life is very simple. He never
leaves his room. He takes one mea
day, slice of bread, vegetable
glass Of milk or a cup OF tea. He
sleeps four hours, more or less. and
spends the rest of the time in medi
tatation or in giving instruction to his
disciples. Notwithstanding his simple
food and the complete abstinence from
exercise, he has extraordinary muscle
power. His disciples assert that he
is the strongest man in the world
| In India he is called THE Tiger Ma
hatma" because his strength is suff
cient to tear apart the jaws of a
tiger 1t was recently tested in Lon
don by one of the most celebrated
English athletes before a committee
of experts, and they acknowledged
that he was the strongest man that
they had ever seen. He possesses
the extraordinary faculty of controlling
the beating of his own heart and says
he can release his soul from his body
by mental action at any time he de-
sires. He knows the day of his death,
but has not revealed the date, which
lie selected himself, Notwithstanding
the fact that he claims the mower tn