462 IN THE VISION OF GOD
power of the divine Name not. from moro hearsay or taking
tlio hint from hooks. You may depend upon it )io speaks
upon this gnbjco.t on the authority of his own experience.
Since you desired to know, Ram dan gave his solution
to yonr problem."
"I have no faith in the path of bhnkti," ho ropliod.
"I do not believe in sontiiwental religion. 1 Iwvo no patience
with those who Bay that. devotion and taking of the
Lord's Name loads one to <3od-roaliswtioM. 1 have not,found
the path for myself, but I know bhukti IB not. the way,"
When the sannyaw came to thin definite and llnal eon-
elusion, Swami Antind Swamp, who wa« HO long calmly
listening to the dialogue, was roused id. t.ho dosing words
of the sadhu. In an indignant, to no he rated tho sannyasias
follows:
"Then what business had yon to raise the question at
all ? Having raised it in the spirit of a learner yon ought to'
have accepted the advice eoucjhod in th(^ rcsply. You
are combating it without possessing the least, knowledge of
the matter. Swamiji has con<'lusively wolvod your problem.
It is of course for yon to take it or not, bnt yon Hhonld
not have peremptorily condemned it. You are asked to give
a trial to the method placed Vwforo yon. However that be,
it is clear from yonr own confession that you have woof ully
failed in the path chosen by yon. Still the wonder is that
you pose yourself us a Łnirn and canvas a number of
disciples. What arc you going to teach them? Mvidently to
drown themselves in the Ganges rivorl Why do you impose
yourself upon harmless people and, living in their houses,
feed upon them ? You are strong enough lio work for your
food. Divest yourself of the misleading ochre-robes that
you have donned to fool the world. Be honost and remain
true to yourself and save thereby many a gullible Bonl from
being led on a path which will tafco them nowhere- This is
my advice to you. Follow it and be wise.*'
The sannyasi whom Ramdas was watching, when