Autobiography of a Yogi –
Chapter 4
My Interrupted Flight Toward the
Himalaya
(Simple Explanation – Easy
English)
In this chapter, Mukunda (later known as Yogananda) tells about his
strong desire to go to the Himalayas and find a true spiritual teacher. Since
childhood, he felt a deep love for God. This feeling became even stronger after
he received a sacred amulet. He believed that in the Himalayas he would meet
his guru.
Mukunda lived with his family in Calcutta. He used a small attic room
for meditation and often dreamed about running away. But his elder brother
Ananta always kept an eye on him because he knew Mukunda might try to escape.
One day, Mukunda finally made a plan. His friend Amar agreed to go with
him. They also took another boy, Jatinda, who was also interested in spiritual
life. Early in the morning, Mukunda quietly packed some things—a blanket,
prayer beads, a picture of Lahiri Mahasaya, the Bhagavad Gita, and simple
clothes. He threw the bundle out of the window and slipped out secretly.
To avoid being recognized, the boys wore English clothes. They thought
this disguise would help them escape from Ananta’s watch. They bought canvas
shoes because leather was considered unsuitable for a holy journey.
They took a train to Burdwan and planned to go further to Hardwar and
then to Rishikesh. During the journey, Mukunda happily talked about saints in
the Himalayas and how spiritual power could even control wild animals. Amar
enjoyed these ideas, but Jatinda became afraid.
At Burdwan station, Jatinda suggested that they should divide the money
and travel separately. Mukunda trusted him and agreed. But Jatinda never came
back. He had run away because he was scared. Mukunda felt very sad and cried.
Amar encouraged him and said this might be a test from God. Mukunda gathered
courage and continued the journey.
During the train journey, railway officers stopped them many times.
Ananta had sent telegrams to catch them. Amar cleverly fooled the officers by
saying they were half-English boys named Thomas and Thompson. The officers
believed them and even allowed them to travel in a better compartment.
Finally, they reached Hardwar. They changed into Indian clothes and
planned to go to Rishikesh. But suddenly, a policeman stopped them. He took
their money and kept them there until their families arrived.
The policeman told them a surprising story. He had once attacked a saint
by mistake, thinking he was a criminal. The saint’s arm was badly injured, but
he calmly joined it back, and it healed in a few days. Mukunda was amazed and
felt sad that he could not meet such a great yogi.
Mukunda again thought of escaping and walking to Rishikesh, but Amar
lost courage because they had no money. Soon, Ananta arrived with Amar’s
brother. Amar happily returned home. But Mukunda became angry and blamed Ananta
for stopping his spiritual journey.
Ananta tried to calm him and promised that after visiting Benares and
returning home, Mukunda could continue his search.
In Benares, Mukunda met a learned pundit and his son. They tried to
convince him not to become a monk. The son claimed to have special powers and
warned Mukunda of danger if he left worldly life. But Mukunda replied that true
devotion to God is stronger than fate.
Confused, Mukunda prayed sincerely for guidance. Suddenly, a sadhu
appeared and told him that God had heard his prayer and that he was meant to
become a monk. This gave Mukunda great peace and confidence.
However, the pundit dismissed the sadhu as mad. Mukunda refused to argue
further and soon returned to Calcutta.
On the way back, Ananta explained how he had tracked them step by step
using clues and telegrams. Now Mukunda found the whole incident a little
amusing.
Back home, Mukunda’s father arranged for a teacher, Swami Kebalananda,
to guide him. But instead of stopping Mukunda’s spiritual interest, the teacher
encouraged him. He was a great disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya and helped Mukunda
grow spiritually.
Thus, although Mukunda’s journey to the Himalayas failed, it became an
important step in his spiritual life. It prepared him for meeting his true guru
later.
Short Answer Questions (Easy
English)
1. Why did Mukunda want to go to
the Himalayas?
Mukunda wanted to go to the Himalayas because he had a deep desire to
find a true spiritual teacher. He believed that his guru lived there and that
he would find peace and God through him.
2. Why did the boys wear English
clothes?
The boys wore English clothes to hide their identity. They wanted to
escape without being recognized by Mukunda’s brother or the police, who might
stop them.
3. What did Jatinda do at
Burdwan?
At Burdwan, Jatinda ran away secretly. He became afraid after thinking
about dangers like wild animals. He left Mukunda and Amar alone, which made
them very sad.
4. How did Amar fool the railway
officers?
Amar told the officers that he and Mukunda were half-English boys named
Thomas and Thompson. His confidence made the officers believe him, and they
were not caught.
5. What story did the policeman
tell?
The policeman told about a saint whose arm was badly injured but healed
quickly after he calmly joined it back. This showed the saint’s great spiritual
power.
Long Answer Questions (Easy English)
1. Describe Mukunda’s attempt to
escape to the Himalayas. (180 words)
Mukunda strongly wished to find a spiritual teacher in the Himalayas. He
planned to run away with his friends Amar and Jatinda. To avoid being caught,
they wore English clothes and started their journey by train.
At Burdwan, Jatinda became afraid and ran away. Mukunda felt very sad
but continued with Amar. During the journey, railway officers questioned them
because Mukunda’s brother had sent telegrams. Amar cleverly fooled them by
pretending to be an English boy.
When they reached Hardwar, a policeman stopped them and took their
money. They were forced to wait until their families came. This ended their
journey.
The plan failed because of Jatinda’s fear, Ananta’s careful tracking,
and the police. However, this failure taught Mukunda an important lesson. It
showed that spiritual life is not easy and requires patience. This experience
helped him grow stronger in his faith and prepared him for meeting his real
guru later.
2. Explain the role of divine
guidance and human obstacles. (180 words)
In this chapter, Mukunda faces many difficulties in his journey. His
brother watches him closely, Jatinda leaves suddenly, railway officers question
them, and the policeman stops them. These are human obstacles that try to stop
his journey.
But along with these problems, divine help is also present. Mukunda’s
strong desire for God is itself a sign of divine guidance. Amar supports him
and gives him courage. The story of the miraculous saint reminds him that great
spiritual powers exist.
The most important moment comes when Mukunda feels confused and prays to
God. Immediately, a sadhu appears and tells him that he is meant to become a
monk. This shows that God answers sincere prayers.
Thus, the chapter teaches that while worldly problems may delay our
goals, they cannot stop true spiritual desire. Divine guidance always helps a
sincere seeker. Mukunda’s journey may be interrupted, but his faith becomes
stronger.
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