Part 37 (1/2)

I took a mouthful ”What delicious strawberries!” I exclaied fro to realize that long ago Sri Yukteswar's God-tuned ra in the ether of futurity

Our party soon left Sie landau, drawn by two horses, in which we started a seven-day trip to Srinagar, capital city of Kashht into view the true Hie creaked along the hot, stony roads, ere enraptured with changing vistas of randeur

”Sir,” Auddy said to Master, ”I alorious scenes in your holy company”

I felt a throb of pleasure at Auddy's appreciation, for I was acting as host on this trip Sri Yukteswar caught ht; he turned to me and whispered:

”Don't flatter yourself; Auddy is not nearly as entranced with the scenery as he is with the prospect of leaving us long enough to have a cigaret”

I was shocked ”Sir,” I said in an undertone, ”please do not break our harmony by these unpleasant words I can hardly believe that Auddy is hankering for a smoke” {FN21-1} I looked apprehensively at uru

”Very well; I won't say anything to Auddy” Master chuckled ”But you will soon see, when the landau halts, that Auddy is quick to seize his opportunity”

The carriage arrived at a small caravanserai As our horses were led to be watered, Auddy inquired, ”Sir, do you et a little outside air”

Sri Yukteswar gave permission, but remarked to me, ”He wants fresh smoke and not fresh air”

The landau resuress over the dusty roads Master's eyes were twinkling; he instructed e door and see what Auddy is doing with the air”

I obeyed, and was astounded to observe Auddy in the act of exhaling rings of cigaret setic

”You are right, as always, sir Auddy is enjoying a puff along with a panoraift froarets from Calcutta

We continued on the labyrinthine way, adorned by views of rivers, valleys, precipitous crags, and ht we stopped at rustic inns, and prepared our own food

Sri Yukteswar took special care ofthat I have li, though the rattling carriage was strictly designed for discomfort

Joyous anticipations filled our hearts as we neared central Kashaily canopied houseboats, the ed Jhelued round by the Hih an avenue of tall, welcoed roo the noble hills

No running water was available; we drew our supply from a near-by well The suhts

We ar teazed upon the ainst the sky, I fell into an ecstatic trance A vision appeared of a hilltop mansion in a distant land The lofty Shankara ashram before me was transformed into the structure where, years later, I established the Self-Realization Fellowshi+p headquarters in Ae building on the crest of Mount Washi+ngton, I recognized it at once fro-past visions in Kashar; then on to Gul (”mountain paths of flowers”), elevated by six thousand feet There I had e horse Rajendra mounted a small trotter, whose heart was fired with a; the path led through a dense forest, abounding in tree-mushrooms, where the mist-shrouded trails were often precarious

But Rajendra's little animal never permitted my oversized steed a moly came Rajendra's horse, oblivious to all but the joy of competition

Our strenuous race was rewarded by a breath-taking view For the first tiazed in all directions at subli tier upon tier like silhouettes of huge polar bears My eyes feasted exultingly on endless reaches of icy ainst sunny blue skies

I rolledovercoats, on the sparkling white slopes On our doard tripafar a vast carpet of yelloers, wholly transfiguring the bleak hills

Our next excursions were to the fair, at Shalih is built directly over a natural waterfall

Rushi+ng down froenious contrivances to flow over colorful terraces and to gush into fountains a flower-beds The strea fairy like into the lake below The iardens are riotous with color--roses of a dozen hues, snapdragons, lavender, pansies, poppies An eiven by symmetrical rows of CHINARS, {FN21-2} cypresses, cherry trees; beyond them tower the white austerities of the Hirapes are considered a rare delicacy in Calcutta Rajendra, who had been pro Kashe vineyards Now and then I chaffed him jocosely over his baseless anticipation

”Oh, I have becorapes I can't walk!” I would say ”The invisible grapes are breithin row abundantly in Kabul, west of Kashmir

We consoled ourselves with ice cream made of RABRI, a heavily condensed milk, and flavored hole pistachio nuts