276 IN THE VISION OF GOD
beside him, but Ramdas' eyes were not for him, although he
was aware of his presence. He might be a disciple. Now
Christ's lips moved. He was speaking. Ramdas listened,
but could not make out what he said. The tongue sounded
strange and unknown to him. For, perhaps, a minute he
spoke; then the vision vanished, while the glow of light
remained in the cave for some minutes more. Ramdas wag
completely immersed in ecstasy and only came to external
consciousness after broad daylight.
(iii) Selfishness—root of all Ignorance
Ram now made him understand that his stay at that
place was coming to a close. He had no thought of the
definite hour for starting. Until three o'clock he remained,
as usual, on the rock in the open air.
Ram within told him: "Five days' fast has weakened
your body, and so you are not fit to travel back to
Swargashram. Go to the sadhu and request him to feed
you with roti and dal; then start."
Ramdas directly went up to the sadhu in the cave. The
sadhu showed surprise at the sight of him. With eyes
dilated, he looked at him and shook his head questioningly.
Ramdas observed a marked change in him. His face was
pale, dry and careworn. His frequent ebullitions of anger
must have worked havoc with him.
Ramdas: "Maharaj, Ram wills Ramdas should now take
leave of this place, but since his limbs are weak, owing to
the fast, he has come to beg of you to feed him with roti
and dal, so that he may gain sufficient strength for his
return journey."
For a while the sadhu was perfectly silent—then a
smile beamed on his face. First, he mixed some sugar in
water, and making Ramdas drink it asked him to follow
him. He took Ramdas out and both walked to the foot of
3 mountain,'a furlong away. There, at a small stream of
water flowing down-hill, they found five flturdy mount-