Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis

Mukunda and his friend Upendra Mohun Chowdhury discuss Bhaduri Mahasaya, who is able to remain several feet in the air through his mastery of the "pranayamas,"or methods of controlling life force. Mukunda explains to his friend how Bhaduri is able to perform such feats as causing a storm with his breath, and levitation. Mukunda mentions that he laughs, perhaps too much, at the wit in Bhaduri's wisdom.

Mukunda decides to pay another visit to Bhaduri, who always stays indoors and, in his seventies, is vibrant and shows no signs of aging. He reminds Mukunda not to love meditation more than God, and not to mistake the technique for the Goal. Bhaduri shows Mukunda a stack of letters from Americans who are interested in meditation and yoga, and implies to Mukunda that he will be one who will teach westerners. Bhaduri...