“ Satyam .. Shivam .. Sundaram ”
Living in the Himalayan caves was very pleasant, and when I was there I was in the habit of roaming through the mountains during the day .. taking notes in a haphazard manner .. and returning to my cave before darkness would fall. My diary is filled with descriptions of my experiences with the SAGES, yogis, and other spiritual leaders of the Himalayas.
When one sits in the mornings and evenings on the tops of the mountains, one can see beauty all around. If he is a spiritual man, he can understand how this beauty is an inseparable aspect of the Lord, whose attributes are Satyam, Shivam, and Sundaram .. truth, eternity, and beauty. This is the land of devas.
In the Himalayas, dawn ( usha ) and twilight ( sandhya .. when the day weds the night ) are not mere moments created by the rotation of the Earth, but have a deep symbolic meaning. Morning, afternoon, evening, and night each have their own beauty which no language can ever describe.
I used to roam in the mountains with my pet bear, who was very loyal to me. He was fond of me and became very possessive. He wouldn’t hurt anyone, but would knock down anyone who came near me. I called him ‘ Bhola ’ and he was my finest company during those days ! For eleven years he lived near my cave and would always wait for me to come out.
My MASTER did not approve of my growing attachment to this pet and used to tease me, calling me a “ bear charmer ”. In the morning, carrying a long staff to help me in climbing, I would go to the mountain-tops which were four to six miles from my cave. I had my diary, a few pencils and the bear ‘ Bhola ’ with me.
Many varieties of flowers are found in abundance in these mountains.
Among all the flowers grown in the Himalayan valleys, the most beautiful are the lilies and the orchids. Hundreds of varieties of lilies bloom after winter is over and sometimes even before snowfall.
