A Muslim Miracle Worker

“Years ago, right in this very room you now occupy, a Mohammedan wonder-worker performed four miracles before me!”

“Years ago, in this very room where you’re staying now, a Muslim miracle-worker performed four miracles before my eyes!”

Sri Yukteswar made this surprising statement during his first visit to my new quarters. Immediately after entering Serampore College, I had taken a room in a near-by boardinghouse, called Panthi . It was an old- fashioned brick mansion, fronting the Ganges.

Sri Yukteswar made this surprising statement during his first visit to my new lodgings. Immediately after enrolling at Serampore College, I had rented a room in a nearby boardinghouse called Panthi. The boardinghouse was an old-fashioned brick mansion facing the Ganges.

“Master, what a coincidence! Are these newly decorated walls really ancient with memories?” I looked around my simply furnished room with awakened interest.

“Master, what a coincidence! Are these newly decorated walls really filled with old memories?” I looked around my simply furnished room with new interest.

“It is a long story.” My guru smiled reminiscently. “The name of the fakir [^18] was Afzal Khan. He had acquired his extraordinary powers through a chance encounter with a Hindu yogi.

“It’s a long story.” My guru smiled as he remembered. “The fakir [^18] was named Afzal Khan. He had gained his extraordinary powers through a chance meeting with a Hindu yogi.

“‘Son, I am thirsty; fetch me some water.’ A dust-covered sannyasi made this request of Afzal one day during his early boyhood in a small village of eastern Bengal.

“‘Son, I’m thirsty. Bring me some water.’ A dust-covered sannyasi asked Afzal for water one day when Afzal was a young boy in a small village in eastern Bengal.

“‘Master, I am a Mohammedan. How could you, a Hindu, accept a drink from my hands?’

“‘Master, I am a Muslim. How could you, a Hindu, accept a drink from me?’

“‘Your truthfulness pleases me, my child. I do not observe the ostracizing rules of ungodly sectarianism. Go; bring me water quickly.’

“‘Your honesty pleases me, my child. I do not follow the rules of godless religious prejudice that shut people out. Go, bring me water quickly.’

“Afzal’s reverent obedience was rewarded by a loving glance from the yogi.

“Afzal’s respectful obedience earned him a loving look from the yogi.

“‘You possess good karma from former lives,’ he observed solemnly. ‘I am going to teach you a certain yoga method which will give you command over one of the invisible realms. The great powers that will be yours should be exercised for worthy ends; never employ them selfishly! I perceive, alas! that you have brought over from the past some seeds of destructive tendencies. Do not allow them to sprout by watering them with fresh evil actions. The complexity of your previous karma is such that you must use this life to reconcile your yogic accomplishments with the highest humanitarian goals.’

“‘You have good karma from past lives,’ he said solemnly. ‘I am going to teach you a specific yoga method. This method will give you control over one of the invisible realms. You should use the great powers you will gain for worthy purposes. Never use them selfishly! Sadly, I see that you have carried some seeds of destructive tendencies from your past lives. Do not let those seeds sprout by watering them with new evil actions. Your past karma is so complex that you must spend this life aligning your yogic achievements with the highest humanitarian goals.’

“After instructing the amazed boy in a complicated technique, the master vanished.

“After teaching the amazed boy a complicated technique, the master vanished.

“Afzal faithfully followed his yoga exercise for twenty years. His miraculous feats began to attract widespread attention. It seems that he was always accompanied by a disembodied spirit whom he called ‘Hazrat.’ This invisible entity was able to fulfill the FAKIR’S slightest wish.

“Afzal faithfully practiced his yoga exercises for twenty years. His miraculous feats began to attract widespread attention. He seems to have always been accompanied by a spirit without a body, whom he called ‘Hazrat.’ This invisible spirit could fulfill the FAKIR’S slightest wish.

“Ignoring his master’s warning, Afzal began to misuse his powers. Whatever object he touched and then replaced would soon disappear without a trace. This disconcerting eventuality usually made the Mohammedan an objectionable guest!

“Ignoring his master’s warning, Afzal began to misuse his powers. Any object he touched and then put back would soon disappear without a trace. These unsettling disappearances usually made the Muslim an unwelcome guest!

“He visited large jewelry stores in Calcutta from time to time, representing himself as a possible purchaser. Any jewel he handled would vanish shortly after he had left the shop.

“He sometimes visited large jewelry stores in Calcutta, posing as a potential buyer. Any jewel he handled would vanish shortly after he left the shop.

“Afzal was often surrounded by several hundred students, attracted by the hope of learning his secrets. The fakir occasionally invited them to travel with him. At the railway station he would manage to touch a roll of tickets. These he would return to the clerk, remarking: ‘I have changed my mind, and won’t buy them now.’ But when he boarded the train with his retinue, Afzal would be in possession of the required tickets. [^18]

“Afzal was often surrounded by several hundred students who hoped to learn his secrets. The fakir sometimes invited them to travel with him. At the railway station, he would find a way to touch a roll of tickets. He would return the tickets to the clerk, saying: ‘I’ve changed my mind and won’t buy them now.’ But when Afzal boarded the train with his followers, he would have the tickets they needed. [^18]

“These exploits created an indignant uproar; Bengali jewelers and ticket-sellers were succumbing to nervous breakdowns! The police who sought to arrest Afzal found themselves helpless; the fakir could remove incriminating evidence merely by saying: ‘Hazrat, take this away.’”

“These exploits caused an angry uproar. Bengali jewelers and ticket sellers were suffering nervous breakdowns! The police trying to arrest Afzal were helpless. The fakir could make incriminating evidence disappear simply by saying: ‘Hazrat, take this away.’”

Sri Yukteswar rose from his seat and walked to the balcony of my room which overlooked the Ganges. I followed him, eager to hear more of the baffling Mohammedan Raffles.

Sri Yukteswar stood up and walked to my room’s balcony, which overlooked the Ganges. I followed him, eager to hear more about the puzzling Muslim Raffles.

“This Panthi house formerly belonged to a friend of mine. He became acquainted with Afzal and asked him here. My friend also invited about twenty neighbors, including myself. I was only a youth then, and felt a lively curiosity about the notorious fakir .” Master laughed. “I took the precaution of not wearing anything valuable! Afzal looked me over inquisitively, then remarked:

“This Panthi house used to belong to a friend of mine. He got to know Afzal and invited him here. My friend also invited about twenty neighbors, including me. I was young then and very curious about the notorious fakir.” Master laughed. “As a precaution, I wore nothing valuable! Afzal looked me over curiously, then said:

“‘You have powerful hands. Go downstairs to the garden; get a smooth stone and write your name on it with chalk; then throw the stone as far as possible into the Ganges.’

“‘You have powerful hands. Go downstairs to the garden. Find a smooth stone and write your name on it with chalk. Then throw the stone as far as you can into the Ganges.’

“I obeyed. As soon as the stone had vanished under distant waves, the Mohammedan addressed me again:

“I obeyed. As soon as the stone disappeared beneath the distant waves, the Muslim spoke to me again:

“‘Fill a pot with Ganges water near the front of this house.’

“‘Fill a pot with water from the Ganges near the front of this house.’

“After I had returned with a vessel of water, the fakir cried, ‘Hazrat, put the stone in the pot!’

“After I returned with a container of water, the fakir shouted, ‘Hazrat, put the stone in the pot!’

“The stone appeared at once. I pulled it from the vessel and found my signature as legible as when I had written it.

“The stone appeared immediately. I pulled it from the container and found my signature as clear as when I had written it.

“Babu, [^18] one of my friends in the room, was wearing a heavy antique gold watch and chain. The fakir examined them with ominous admiration. Soon they were missing!

“Babu, [^18] one of my friends in the room, wore a heavy antique gold watch and chain. The fakir examined the watch and chain with an admiration that seemed to signal trouble. Soon the watch and chain were missing!

“‘Afzal, please return my prized heirloom!’ Babu was nearly in tears.

“‘Afzal, please give back my treasured family heirloom!’ Babu was almost in tears.

“The Mohammedan was stoically silent for awhile, then said, ‘You have five hundred rupees in an iron safe. Bring them to me, and I will tell you where to locate your timepiece.’

“The Muslim remained silent and showed no emotion for a while, then said, ‘You have five hundred rupees in an iron safe. Bring me the money, and I will tell you where to find your watch.’

“The distraught Babu left immediately for his home. He came back shortly and handed Afzal the required sum.

“The distraught Babu left for home immediately. He returned soon afterward and handed Afzal the required amount.

“‘Go to the little bridge near your house,’ the fakir instructed Babu. ‘Call on Hazrat to give you the watch and chain.’

“‘Go to the little bridge near your house,’ the fakir told Babu. ‘Ask Hazrat to give you the watch and chain.’

“Babu rushed away. On his return, he was wearing a smile of relief and no jewelry whatever.

“Babu rushed away. When he returned, he wore a relieved smile and no jewelry at all.

“‘When I commanded Hazrat as directed,’ he announced, ‘my watch came tumbling down from the air into my right hand! You may be sure I locked the heirloom in my safe before rejoining the group here!’

“‘When I gave Hazrat the command as instructed,’ he announced, ‘my watch fell out of the air into my right hand! You can be sure I locked the heirloom in my safe before coming back to the group here!’

“Babu’s friends, witnesses of the comicotragedy of the ransom for a watch, were staring with resentment at Afzal. He now spoke placatingly.

“Babu’s friends had witnessed the comic yet tragic affair of the ransom for a watch. They were staring resentfully at Afzal. Afzal now spoke in a soothing tone.

“‘Please name any drink you want; Hazrat will produce it.’

“‘Please name any drink you want. Hazrat will produce it.’

“A number asked for milk, others for fruit juices. I was not too much shocked when the unnerved Babu requested whisky! The Mohammedan gave an order; the obliging Hazrat sent sealed containers sailing down the air and thudding to the floor. Each man found his desired beverage.

“Some asked for milk, others for fruit juices. I was not too shocked when the shaken Babu asked for whisky! The Muslim gave an order. The helpful Hazrat sent sealed containers sailing down through the air and thudding onto the floor. Each man found the drink he wanted.

“The promise of the fourth spectacular feat of the day was doubtless gratifying to our host: Afzal offered to supply an instantaneous lunch!

“The promise of the day’s fourth spectacular feat no doubt pleased our host: Afzal offered to provide lunch instantly!

“‘Let us order the most expensive dishes,’ Babu suggested gloomily. ‘I want an elaborate meal for my five hundred rupees! Everything should be served on gold plates!’

“‘Let’s order the most expensive dishes,’ Babu suggested gloomily. ‘I want a lavish meal for my five hundred rupees! Everything should be served on gold plates!’

“As soon as each man had expressed his preferences, the fakir addressed himself to the inexhaustible Hazrat. A great rattle ensued; gold platters filled with intricately-prepared curries, hot luchis , and many out-of-season fruits, landed from nowhere at our feet. All the food was delicious. After feasting for an hour, we started to leave the room. A tremendous noise, as though dishes were being piled up, caused us to turn around. Lo! there was no sign of the glittering plates or the remnants of the meal.”

“As soon as each man had said what he wanted, the fakir spoke to Hazrat, whose supplies never ran out. A loud rattling followed. Gold platters appeared from nowhere and landed at our feet. They held elaborately prepared curries, hot luchis, and many out-of-season fruits. All the food was delicious. After feasting for an hour, we started to leave the room. A tremendous noise, as though dishes were being piled up, made us turn around. To our amazement, there was no sign of the glittering plates or the remains of the meal.”

“Guruji,” I interrupted, “if Afzal could easily secure such things as gold dishes, why did he covet the property of others?”

“Guruji,” I interrupted, “if Afzal could easily get things like gold dishes, why did he want other people’s property?”

“The fakir was not highly developed spiritually,” Sri Yukteswar explained. “His mastery of a certain yoga technique gave him access to an astral plane where any desire is immediately materialized. Through the agency of an astral being, Hazrat, the Mohammedan could summon the atoms of any object from etheric energy by an act of powerful will. But such astrally-produced objects are structurally evanescent; they cannot be long retained. Afzal still yearned for worldly wealth which, though more hardly earned, has a more dependable durability.”

“The fakir was not highly developed spiritually,” Sri Yukteswar explained. “His mastery of a particular yoga technique gave him access to an astral plane. On that plane, any desire instantly takes material form. With the help of an astral being, Hazrat, the Muslim could summon any object’s atoms from etheric energy through powerful will. But objects produced this way quickly lose their structure and cannot be kept for long. Afzal still longed for worldly wealth, which, though harder to earn, lasts more reliably.”

I laughed. “It too sometimes vanishes most unaccountably!”

I laughed. “It too sometimes disappears for no apparent reason!”

“Afzal was not a man of God-realization,” Master went on. “Miracles of a permanent and beneficial nature are performed by true saints because they have attuned themselves to the omnipotent Creator. Afzal was merely an ordinary man with an extraordinary power of penetrating a subtle realm not usually entered by mortals until death.”

“Afzal had not realized God,” Master continued. “True saints perform lasting, beneficial miracles because they have brought themselves into harmony with the all-powerful Creator. Afzal was just an ordinary man with an extraordinary ability to enter a subtle realm. People do not usually enter that realm until death.”

“I understand now, Guruji. The after-world appears to have some charming features.”

“I understand now, Guruji. The afterlife seems to have some charming features.”

Master agreed. “I never saw Afzal after that day, but a few years later Babu came to my home to show me a newspaper account of the Mohammedan’s public confession. From it I learned the facts I have just told you about Afzal’s early initiation from a Hindu guru.”

Master agreed. “I never saw Afzal after that day. But a few years later, Babu came to my home to show me a newspaper report of Afzal’s public confession. The report told me the facts I have just shared with you about Afzal’s early initiation by a Hindu guru.”

The gist of the latter part of the published document, as recalled by Sri Yukteswar, was as follows: “I, Afzal Khan, am writing these words as an act of penance and as a warning to those who seek the possession of miraculous powers. For years I have been misusing the wondrous abilities imparted to me through the grace of God and my master. I became drunk with egotism, feeling that I was beyond the ordinary laws of morality. My day of reckoning finally arrived.

Sri Yukteswar recalled the main points of the published document’s final section as follows: “I, Afzal Khan, write these words as an act of penance and a warning to those seeking miraculous powers. For years I have misused the wonderful abilities given to me through the grace of God and my master. I became drunk with pride and felt I was above the ordinary laws of morality. My day of reckoning finally arrived.

“Recently I met an old man on a road outside Calcutta. He limped along painfully, carrying a shining object which looked like gold. I addressed him with greed in my heart.

“Recently I met an old man on a road outside Calcutta. He limped along in pain, carrying a shiny object that looked like gold. I spoke to him with greed in my heart.

“‘I am Afzal Khan, the great fakir . What have you there?’

“‘I am Afzal Khan, the great fakir. What do you have there?’

“‘This ball of gold is my sole material wealth; it can be of no interest to a fakir . I implore you, sir, to heal my limp.’

“‘This ball of gold is all the material wealth I have. The gold can be of no interest to a fakir. I beg you, sir, to heal my limp.’

“I touched the ball and walked away without reply. The old man hobbled after me. He soon raised an outcry: ‘My gold is gone!’

“I touched the ball and walked away without answering. The old man hobbled after me. Soon he cried out: ‘My gold is gone!’

“As I paid no attention, he suddenly spoke in a stentorian voice that issued oddly from his frail body:

“As I paid no attention, he suddenly spoke in a booming voice, strangely powerful for his frail body:

“‘Do you not recognize me?’

“‘Don’t you recognize me?’

“I stood speechless, aghast at the belated discovery that this unimpressive old cripple was none other than the great saint who, long, long ago, had initiated me into yoga. He straightened himself; his body instantly became strong and youthful.

“I stood speechless, stunned by my late realization. This unremarkable old man with a disability was the great saint who had introduced me to yoga long, long ago. He stood up straight. His body instantly became strong and youthful.

“‘So!’ My guru’s glance was fiery. ‘I see with my own eyes that you use your powers, not to help suffering humanity, but to prey on it like a common thief! I withdraw your occult gifts; Hazrat is now freed from you. No longer shall you be a terror in Bengal!’

“‘So!’ My guru’s eyes blazed. ‘I see with my own eyes that you use your powers not to help suffering humanity. Instead, you prey on suffering people like a common thief! I take away your supernatural gifts. Hazrat is now free from your control. You will no longer terrorize Bengal!’

“I called on Hazrat in anguished tones; for the first time, he did not appear to my inner sight. But some dark veil suddenly lifted within me; I saw clearly the blasphemy of my life.

“I called out to Hazrat in anguish. For the first time, he did not appear in my inner vision. But some dark veil suddenly lifted within me. I saw clearly how my life had been an insult to God.

“‘My guru, I thank you for coming to banish my long delusion.’ I was sobbing at his feet. ‘I promise to forsake my worldly ambitions. I will retire to the mountains for lonely meditation on God, hoping to atone for my evil past.’

“‘My guru, thank you for coming to free me from the delusion I have lived under for so long.’ I was sobbing at his feet. ‘I promise to give up my worldly ambitions. I will withdraw to the mountains to meditate alone on God, hoping to atone for my evil past.’

“My master regarded me with silent compassion. ‘I feel your sincerity,’ he said finally. ‘Because of your earlier years of strict obedience, and because of your present repentance, I will grant you one boon. Your other powers are now gone, but whenever food and clothing are needed, you may still call successfully on Hazrat to supply them. Devote yourself wholeheartedly to divine understanding in the mountain solitudes.’

“My master looked at me with silent compassion. ‘I feel your sincerity,’ he said at last. ‘Because of your years of strict obedience and your repentance now, I will grant you one gift. Your other powers are now gone. But whenever you need food and clothing, you can still call on Hazrat, and he will supply them. Devote yourself wholeheartedly to understanding the divine in the solitude of the mountains.’

“My guru then vanished; I was left to my tears and reflections. Farewell, world! I go to seek the forgiveness of the Cosmic Beloved.”

“My guru then vanished. I was left alone with my tears and thoughts. Goodbye, world! I am going to seek forgiveness from the Cosmic Beloved.”

18-1: A Moslem yogi; from the Arabic faqir , poor; originally applied to dervishes under a vow of poverty.

18-1: A Muslim yogi. The term comes from the Arabic faqir, meaning poor. It originally referred to dervishes who had taken a vow of poverty.

18-2: My father later told me that his company, the Bengal-Nagpur Railway, had been one of the firms victimized by Afzal Khan.

18-2: My father later told me that Afzal Khan had victimized his company, the Bengal-Nagpur Railway, among other firms.

18-3: I do not recall the name of Sri Yukteswar’s friend, and must refer to him simply as “Babu” (Mister).

18-3: I don’t remember the name of Sri Yukteswar’s friend, so I must call him simply “Babu” (Mister).