Chapter 3 Summary and Analysis

At twelve, Mukunda takes a trip to Banaras; his father being a railroad executive makes it easy for him to travel. His father sends him to see Swami Pranabananda, who will locate a friend, Kedar Nath Babu. The swami explains the peace that he has gained from years of deep meditation, describing it as a second pension. The swami goes into a deep meditation, and soon their guest arrives. Babu tells Mukunda that while he was at the baths earlier, the swami visited him and told him Mukunda was waiting for him. Mukunda realizes that Pranabananda is able to be in two places at once, knowing that he had been in the room meditating the entire time. The swami explains that the subtle unity of the phenomenal world is clear to true yogis, who are able to transcend gross matter at...