Excerpts from book - THE WHOLE
THING - THE REAL THING
Chapter II - Brahma Chaitanya Brahmachari:
On reaching home he tried to win over his elders to his ideas of world renunciation and God-knowledge. They dismissed his talk as childhood obduracy. To the extent that he entreated them not to bind him to the materialistic life, they went ahead with matching speed to entwine him in wedlock. They were afraid that he might again slip out of their hands. On the child’s side, however was his unshakable faith and steadfast resolve. He stood firm on his earlier decision and totally refused to get himself hooked. It worried the elders very much, even though they realized that God willing, the elevated path which the child wanted to traverse would one day benefit not only him but the whole family, perhaps the whole world. But lifelong celibacy, the rigours and tribulations of the ascetic life and at his tender age – just this one thought was enough to make them shudder. They tried their level best to dissuade him but the young Mahatma was not to be swayed. Without God-perception, without intrinsic self realization was anything of any use? |
