difficult terrain to find him, so as to offer himself as a disciple. He went many days without food, and reached the castle footsore and starving. The guards, not liking his looks, refused to let him in, so he screamed, “Janaka, Janaka”, and the king, being a Master, heard, and sent for him. But then, instead of succoring the poor wretch, the king consigned him to prison where he was for eight days more without food. Naturally he was bewildered and wondered what kind of a Master this was.

Eventually Janaka had him brought forth from his dungeon. The night before he had commanded that the whole city be filled with entertainments, dancing and merriment and music on that day. The poor aspirant, thought, at the sight of such luxury, “How can Janaka, who is dwelling in the midst of such enjoyment, be a Sadguru?” King Janaka, reading his thoughts, then called for a glass of milk “full to the brim.” But as it was placed in the man’s hands the king said, “Look behind you!” There stood two executioners with great drawn swords. “Now,” the king went on, “You must carry this milk all over the city and not spill one drop, for if you do, these men will cut off your head.”

The poor man, hungry and woebegone, grasped the glass of milk in both hands, and walked carefully throughout the entire city, followed by the executioners. When he returned, King Janaka said to him, “What did you think of all the entertainment and music going on in my city?” The poor man replied he had not been aware of any as his eyes had been on that glass of milk the whole time.

The King then pointed out that so he, the Sadguru, was absorbed in the Infinite, and paid no attention to outer things. So also, should the aspirant for God-Realization live . . . in the world, but not of it, with his eyes and heart fixed on God all the time. Then he took the man as a disciple.”

FROM A LETTER: “The most wonderful thing of my life happened today. I have met BABA personally. It was all so wonderful and so soon . . . I have only just got back to earth. His gracious radiance enthralled me; I was speechless and yet I can still hear: ‘BABA loves you. I know you understand. I will help you.’

“What more can life give me. I ask nothing more, but that I may be made more worthy of that Divine Love . . . My heart sings to my Soul in loving gratitude for the Love and Beauty and Wisdom of GOD, revealed to a tiny little human heart.”