August 15, 2023
Early in 1961, I had the Darshan for the last time of Swami Puroshottamananda, a very holy sage. This wonderful man had lived for a long time in a cave on the Himalayan hillside. He led a type of ascetic and simple life, which I don't think many of you can even visualize, because the mind can only comprehend that which it can compare with something that is already known. For years his only friends were the tigers and cheetahs of the Himalayan forests.
We used to visit him quite frequently and have his Darshan. He was a very stern and severe type of man, though also extremely loving. He used to come to the ashram quite frequently, and Gurudev asked him to address the Parliament of Religions in 1953. He was perched on top of a big table - a tiny little person seated in the diamond posture - and everybody was watching him, waiting for him to deliver a lecture. He said one word, "Sincerity". The lecture consisted of one word repeated thrice, "Sincerity, sincerity, sincerity," then he got up and left the stage. I thought that was the best lecture in the world.