An Excerpt from The
Golden Frog by Michael Mamas
 The
day before this excerpt, Nathaniel and Bruce
attend a talk by a so-called "Indian saint"
traveling in the U.S. Nathaniel meets an
Indian man who is also attending the talk.
The Indian man tells Nathaniel of his teacher
in India, and Nathaniel feels strongly that
he should travel to India to study with
the guru.
The excerpt begins with Bruce trying to
convince Nathaniel to stay in the U.S. to
study with the Indian man he met at the
talk instead.
From Chapter 13 - Judging Discernment
"So why not study with him? At least for
awhile?" I pleaded.
"No, I need to see the guru in India who
lit the flame in his soul. That man is still
a student, like us. He even told me he's
not capable of giving me what I long for,
but that his guru is."
Exasperated, I closed my eyes, rubbed my
forehead, and sighed. "What exactly is it you long for, Nathaniel?"
"I don't know exactly what 'it' is." Nathaniel's
eyes were fixed and his jaw was firm. "I
only know that I'm going to India."
Didn't know what he wanted, but was going
halfway around the world to get it. That
was awfully impulsive. I was worried.
"Many talk about it, and get emotional about
it, but they do not know it," he
continued. "They only think they have it
because they know something about it and
do their best to act it out. But, that's
not it.
"Last night, I told the Indian man that
he seemed to understand spirituality, but
something confused me. Why was he there?
"I told him, 'This swaying around and getting
enthralled in an emotional trance with this
so-called saint won't help people grow spiritually.
It will only sidetrack them from what spirituality
is really all about. Your presence here
may encourage them to believe this guy knows
what spirituality really is.'
"He answered me by saying, 'I'm here because
I am of this culture. This reminds me of
my home and my childhood. It's a part of
my tradition.
"'These people are here because this matches
their particular level of understanding.
It isn't wise to take toys away from children
because you have outgrown toys. In
time, the child himself will outgrow toys
and then he will stop playing with them
all by himself. Everything has its appropriate
time.'
"Then I said, 'I have wondered why some
saints allow their devotees to do this sort
of thing. Sometimes, they teach them to
do one thing, but allow them-almost encourage
them-to do another. With your help, I'm
beginning to understand why.'
"He said, 'People think what they think
and do what they do. There's little we can
do about it. Saints understand that. When
the devotee is ready to hear, he or she
will listen, not before. Your life will
be different from many. You will inspire
people to move beyond their current limitations.
People can waste time getting stuck in old
habits, just as water flowing down a river
can get stuck in an eddy current when it
wanders off to the side of the main flow.
You will prod people on and encourage them
to move forward, beyond their habitual behaviors
and perspectives.'
"I asked him, 'How do you know that?"
"He answered, 'I don't know it. I feel it.
But I can assure you, it will happen.'"
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Surya
Ram Meditation promotes a person's spiritual
growth and well-being. Imbalances carried
in the mind and body throughout one's life
are released. The physiology attains deep
relaxation.