" {FN30-6}
In 1915, shortly after I had entered the Swami Order, I witnessed
a vision of violent contrasts. In it the relativity of human
consciousness was vividly established; I clearly perceived the
unity of the Eternal Light behind the painful dualities of MAYA.
The vision descended on me as I sat one morning in my little attic
room in Father's Gurpar Road home. For months World War I had been
raging in Europe; I reflected sadly on the vast toll of death.
As I closed my eyes in meditation, my consciousness was suddenly
transferred to the body of a captain in command of a battleship.
The thunder of guns split the air as shots were exchanged between
shore batteries and the ship's cannons. A huge shell hit the powder
magazine and tore my ship asunder. I jumped into the water, together
with the few sailors who had survived the explosion.
Heart pounding, I reached the shore safely. But alas! a stray
bullet ended its furious flight in my chest. I fell groaning to the
ground. My whole body was paralyzed, yet I was aware of possessing
it as one is conscious of a leg gone to sleep.
"At last the mysterious footstep of Death has caught up with me,"
I thought. With a final sigh, I was about to sink into unconsciousness
when lo! I found myself seated in the lotus posture in my Gurpar
Road room.
Hysterical tears poured forth as I joyfully stroked and pinched my
regained possession-a body free from any bullet hole in the breast.
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