Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramhansa Yogananda-Summary-Chapter
IV-QS-Ans
CHAPTER 4: MY INTERRUPTED FLIGHT TOWARD THE HIMALAYA –
SUMMARY (ABOUT 1000 WORDS)
(Simplified and student-friendly)
In this chapter of Autobiography of a Yogi, Yogananda
(Mukunda) narrates his adventurous and emotional attempt to escape to the
Himalayas in search of a true spiritual master. He was inspired by an inner
longing for God, which had intensified ever since he received a sacred amulet.
Living with his family in Calcutta at 4 Gurpar Road, Mukunda used the attic as
his meditation room and constantly dreamed of finding a guru in the Himalayas.
However, his elder brother Ananta watched him closely because he suspected
Mukunda would try to run away.
Mukunda’s friend Amar Mitter agreed to accompany him. On the
chosen morning, despite rain, Mukunda secretly packed a few essentials—a
blanket, beads, photo of Lahiri Mahasaya, the Bhagavad Gita, and a couple of
loincloths—and threw the bundle from the window. He slipped out quietly and met
Amar. They had saved money to buy English clothes, hoping to disguise
themselves so Ananta’s detective-like intelligence would not catch them. They
picked up another companion, Jatin Ghosh (Jatinda), a new seeker who also
wished to find a guru.
The three boys bought canvas shoes because leather was
considered impure for a holy journey. They boarded a train for Burdwan,
planning to catch another train for Hardwar. On the journey, Mukunda joyfully
described how the Himalayan masters would initiate them, and how even wild
animals would become harmless through spiritual power. Amar liked the idea, but
Jatinda became uneasy.
At Burdwan station, Jatinda proposed they divide money and
buy separate tickets. Mukunda innocently agreed. But when Jatinda went to the
ticket office, he never returned. Terrified and heartbroken, Mukunda felt this
was a bad omen and cried like a child. Amar strengthened him by saying this
might be a divine test. Mukunda recovered and continued the journey.
During the journey, railway officials stopped them several
times. Ananta had sent telegrams everywhere to catch the “three Bengali boys in
English clothes.” Amar cleverly fooled the officers by pretending they were
“half-English boys” named Thomas and Thompson. The officials believed the lie
and even placed them in a European compartment. This amused Mukunda greatly.
They safely reached Hardwar, changed into native clothes, and
prepared to go to Rishikesh, the land of saints. But at the station, a
policeman stopped them, seized their money, and held them until their families
arrived. The officer then narrated a miraculous incident: he had mistakenly
attacked a saint he thought was a criminal. The saint’s arm was nearly severed,
yet he calmly reattached it, and within three days it healed completely.
Mukunda and Amar were amazed that such a great yogi existed, and regretted
missing him.
While waiting, Mukunda planned an escape on foot to
Rishikesh, but Amar lost courage now that they had no money. Soon Ananta
arrived with Amar’s brother. Amar happily returned to his family, but Mukunda
angrily accused Ananta of stopping his spiritual quest. Ananta promised that
after visiting Benares and then Calcutta, Mukunda could resume his search.
In Benares, Ananta brought Mukunda to a pundit and his son,
who tried to dissuade Mukunda from becoming a monk. The pundit's son claimed to
have clairvoyant powers and warned that Mukunda would face misfortune if he
renounced worldly life. Mukunda quoted Lord Krishna’s teachings that sincere
devotion can overcome all past karma. Confused by mixed messages, he prayed
intensely to God for a clear sign.
Suddenly, a saintly SADHU appeared outside the courtyard. He
called Mukunda aside and told him that God had heard his prayer and that he was
indeed born to be a renunciate. This instant answer deeply moved Mukunda. But
when he returned, the pundit called the sadhu “crazy,” and Mukunda refused to
continue the debate. They soon returned to Calcutta.
On the journey back, Ananta revealed how he had tracked the
boys: by finding Amar’s timetable, following clues from the coachman, learning
Jatinda’s secret trip, and sending telegrams to several stations. Mukunda now
found the whole episode amusing rather than frustrating.
Back in Calcutta, Father lovingly tried another method to
guide Mukunda. He arranged for a scholarly Sanskrit teacher, Swami Kebalananda,
to teach him at home. But Swami Kebalananda turned out to be a highly advanced
disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya and encouraged Mukunda’s spiritual thirst. Instead
of discouraging him, the saintly teacher deepened his longing for God through
Kriya Yoga and scriptural wisdom.
Thus, the chapter narrates Mukunda’s longing, failed escape,
divine signs, and his continued spiritual preparation. Although his journey to
the Himalayas was interrupted, it led him closer to finding his true guru, Sri
Yukteswar, in later chapters.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
(40–45 words each)
1. Why did Mukunda plan to escape to the Himalayas?
Mukunda planned to escape to the Himalayas because he longed
deeply for a true spiritual master who often appeared in his visions. The
sacred amulet he had received intensified his desire, and he believed the
Himalayas would lead him to his destined guru.
2. Why did the boys wear English clothes for the journey?
The boys wore English clothes to deceive Ananta, who they
knew would try to track them. Since European clothes were uncommon for Bengali
boys, they hoped this disguise would hide their identity and avoid suspicion
from railway officials searching for them.
3. How did Jatinda betray the group at Burdwan?
At Burdwan, Jatinda suggested dividing the money and buying
separate tickets. When he entered the ticket office, he never returned. His
fear of tigers—after imagining them in Himalayan caves—made him abandon the
plan, leaving the others shocked and disheartened.
4. How did Amar trick the railway officials?
Amar cleverly pretended that he and Mukunda were half-English
boys named Thomas and Thompson. By boldly speaking to the officials and using
their English disguises, he convinced them they were not the runaway Bengali
boys described in Ananta’s telegram.
5. What miraculous story did the policeman narrate?
The policeman narrated how he mistakenly attacked a saint,
almost severing his arm. The saint calmly pushed the arm back, and it healed
completely within three days. The officer felt spiritually blessed, realizing
he had encountered a highly advanced yogi.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
(180 words each)
1. Describe Mukunda’s attempted escape to the Himalayas and
the reasons for its failure.
Mukunda’s attempted escape to the Himalayas was driven by a
powerful spiritual longing. Living in Calcutta, he felt an irresistible inner
call to meet a true master in the Himalayan region. He secretly planned the
journey with his friend Amar and a seeker named Jatinda. To avoid suspicion,
the boys disguised themselves in English clothing and boarded a train for
Burdwan. However, the first setback came when Jatinda, frightened by Mukunda’s
mention of wild tigers and spiritual trances, disappeared from the station.
Though deeply upset, Mukunda continued onward. During the journey, railway
officials repeatedly questioned them because Ananta had sent telegrams warning
that three Bengali boys in English dress were running away. Amar bravely fooled
the officials by pretending they were half-English boys. Eventually, they
reached Hardwar but were stopped by a policeman who had instructions to hold
them until their families arrived. Their money was taken away, and escape
became impossible. Thus, the escape failed due to Jatinda’s fear, Ananta’s
detective-like pursuit, and the strict vigilance of the police. The interrupted
journey, however, became an important spiritual lesson for Mukunda.
2. What roles do divine guidance and human obstacles play in
this chapter?
This chapter beautifully balances human obstacles with divine
guidance in Mukunda’s spiritual journey. On the human level, Mukunda faces
several hindrances: Ananta’s close watch, Jatinda’s sudden disappearance,
railway officials searching for the boys, and the policeman who finally detains
them. These obstacles symbolize the worldly forces that resist renunciation and
spiritual quests. Yet, alongside these difficulties, divine guidance appears
repeatedly. Mukunda’s inner longing is itself a divine impulse. Amar’s
encouragement strengthens him at critical moments. The policeman’s story of the
miraculous saint reminds Mukunda that true spiritual greatness exists in the
world. Most importantly, when Mukunda feels confused about becoming a monk, God
answers instantly through a wandering sadhu, who tells him that renunciation is
indeed his path. This moment confirms that divine help appears when devotion is
sincere. Thus, the chapter shows that while worldly obstacles may interrupt
one’s outer journey, they cannot stop the inner spiritual calling. God’s
guidance remains stronger than human resistance.
