A SEEKER'S JOURNEY TO SELF-REALIZATION How could I make such a speech is a mystery to me till today. Maybe it was the play of an unknown destiny. On hearing these words he said, " All right. If I cannot be happy, then I forsake you. Leave my house before dawn tomorrow." I answered that I would obey his command and would leave before dawn the next day. Until today I haven't understood how it all happened. What lay in the future for me? I did not know where I would go. He went to his bedroom and so did I. However, I could not sleep. My thoughts were, "I have been given up by those who gave me birth. Now my adoptive parents have also forsaken me. I must go away." I did not have even a wink of sleep. I had already promised that I would leave the house before sunrise, since he did not wish to see me the next day. I rose right before dawn, washed my face, touched the feet of my sleeping uncle, bid him farewell and came out of the house. In those days, there was no running water in the houses in our mountain area. There was a water source outside the village where the women would go very early every morning to fetch water. I encountered my biological mother who was bringing water. I wished her good morning. She inquired where I was going so early. I lied to her and I told her that the calf of our cow was missing and that I was going to search for it. My mother was a very simple woman. Without exhibiting any emotion, she said, "Don't be late. Come back soon. There is a forest ahead where there may be a tiger. Proceed slowly when there is enough daylight." I touched the feet of my mother who carried a pitcher full of water* and without revealing the truth I proceeded ahead. * According to Hindu beliefs, it is an auspicious omen to encounter a pitcher full of water when embarking upon a journey.

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