Light and Darkness

By Krishnanand

Man can learn more from their own experiences than other sources. In his previous years Swami Krishnanand was narrating the experiences and the episodes of his pilgrimage to his visitors. In its mortal Swamiji is not with us but by his writing we feel his immortal and appealing presence with us. The first goal of life is not ‘MOKSHA’ or ‘SAKSHATKAR’ that is the second for a man. The premier goal of life is to be a MAN a HUMANE. If one will be a good HUMANE, GOD will pick him and show the path of ‘MOKSHA’, this is real philosophy of life in Swamiji’s view. If we try to adopt the values of a good conduct and be a perfect humane on this earth, the writing of Swami Krishnanand and publishing this volume by us will be valuable in its real sense.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mrugank Patel
• Release date: Oct 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311761569

Book preview

Light & Darkness

By Krishnanand

Published by Mrugank Patel at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents

'Vishvaprem'-The Psychometrist

The Dead Also Guide

Balanced Understanding

Hemavati's Humane Highness

Raksha Rose And Raised

Nature's Reverse Game

Pranavakumar

Shocks And Surprises

Poem: Maturity

Poem: Change Of Vision

Poem: I Have To Leave

Life Sketch of Swami Krishnanand

Preface

Beloved Readers,

It adds to my delight to place before you LIGHT AND DARKNESS- the fourth series of experiences of my wandering life.

What I have written about psychometry, self-hypnosis and invisible guidance etc. in this and in my previous book ‘REMINISCENCES are nothing new or novel to the knowledgeable circles. As for the general public who rarely come by or don’t very often hear of experiences related to the above said para-normal phenomena, it is understandable that all of these should sound and strike as strange or enigmatical to them . In this regard, my humble suggestion to our brethren is that, when it comes to subjects untackled by us either by serious studies of all the available literature on them, or through independent reflective thinking, one shouldn’t ostentatiously step out and sweepingly declare that, ‘ IT IS ALL HUMBUG-WE DONT BELIEVE"

Differently said, it would be wise to note that just because something dosen’t appeal to our intelligence or because we wish to obsitinately cling to our old beliefs without the readiness of openly examine the researched views and rational facts discovered by the dedicated men in the field of mental culture and spiritual science, ‘ NATURAL TRUTHS’ aren’t nullified. Acknowledged facts cannot be buried by the irrational disbelifes of anyone. For, they don’t depend upon our beliefs to be proved not can our disbeliefs seal them as disproved.

Though smaller this book is, compared to my earlier publications, yet, I have no doubt that you will find the experiences in this one also as interesting, instructive and inspiring as you found those in the previous printed pages.

If after reading this book, you truthfully happen to regard, Accommodativeness, Balangedness, Continence, Discriminativeness, Earnestness, Forgiveness, Gratefulness, Humbleness, Introspectiveness, Judociousness, Knowingness, Liberality, Mirthfulness, Neatness, Openness, Pentitence, Quiescency, Resolutness, Simpleness, Temperateness, Unitedness, Virtuouness, Winsomeness, Xenialness, Yearningness, and Zealousness, as transforming qualities and as representing ‘LIGHT’, leading to liberated life, and that all other tendencies that are opposed to them as standing for ‘DARKNESS’ and bondage; and in the understanding of this factual knowledge, you are prompted to resolve a little more, to further implement the foregoing qualities in your day to day twenty four hours’ life and avidly attempt again somehow and somewhat to reject those that go against your fight for full freedom from animality, I should feel that my labor of sharing my travel experiences with you all, has been rightly rewarded. I shall endeavor to include more number of experiences in my next publication.

May the heavenly Lord bless with success such of your genuine efforts as are aimed at achieving abiding happiness here and hereafter. Love and salutation to your all. Amen.

Shanti Ashram,Bhadran, Gujarat, India

15th March 1969.

'VISHVAPREM'-THE PSYCHOMETRIST

It was a clear dawn and I started for Vishvaprem’s place from 'Tulshisham’ - a spot of pilgrimage in Saurashtra which is also popular for hot-springs. I had to cover about two and a half miles. The recent rains had added coolness to the pleasant jungle temperature of May.

Though, I was visiting the place after seven years, the location of the underground cellar was fresh and vivid in my memory and I reached the saint's habitat.

Near the boulder which covered the cellar wherein Vishvaprem lived, there were wet tracks with clear naked foot-prints and puddles of water. All of it indicated that the saint had returned after his bath and had wringed his wet body at the entrance before going into the pit. I hung on, wanting to allow sufficient time for the saint to get through his morning round of meditation, to which I knew, he was used to, immediately after the morning ablutions.

Excepting for the various birds moving past hither and thither with their melodious sing-songs, the surrounding was quiet. The wind was still and so were the green leaves atop the trees and the dried ones fallen on the ground.

Soon, through the thickset leafy branches of the tall jungle trees could be seen the golden-hued ball appearing on the eastern horizon, lending fresh animation all over.

Leaning on to the boulder, I was tacitly enjoying all this when suddenly I heard hushed tones of feminine voices. I turned round and saw middle-aged ladies leisurely heading in my direction. From the general looks and the dress of one, it was clear that she was from South India and the other who was in grey skirts, a foreigner. I instantly recalled having had a passing glimpse of them on the previous evening at ‘Bhimchas' another place a little away from 'Tulshisham’. About 'Bhimchas' it is said that 'Bhima’, a pouranic character of Mahabharata’s fame had summoned the spring of river-water there by an arrow which he had shot into the ground.

Because I held a very poor opinion about the courage of civilize I ladies, their presence in that part of the jungle and that too, at a time when the animals generally return from all sides to go to their respective hideouts, after the nocturnal wandering in search of prey, simply amazed me.

The ladies stopped advancing and stood staring at me in surprise. I moved towards them with folded hands. With folded hands because, I wanted to assure those strange ladies that my intentions were friendly. When I was well near them, by way of greeting I said 'Namaste'. They didn't wish me back. Finding me still standing, the lady in the saris shouted in Hindi "Chale jao' and the one in skirts snarled in French Allez-Vous En " - away with you - begone.

Because one of them appeared to be from south-the part from where Vishvaprem himself hailed and also because total strangers cannot reach the spot where I was, with the ease they had appeared to have, l surmised that, may be they were also on a visit to meet Vishvaprem. So, I shot back in English, Sisters! your rough attitude doesn't fit in with the expected civility of those who have come to meet a gifted saint. In unison they raised their brows in wonderment. ''How come, you know that? the lady in the skirts sang small. A mere deductive guess," said I.

They became apologetic and friendly. Do you know the saint? asked the south Indian lady - without naming him. I had the privilege of meeting Vishvapremji'' the psychometrist some seven years back and I am now on a repeat visit, said I. The foreign lady asked me with visible curiosity if I was sure that the saint was really a psychometrist. I answered her in the affirmative and gave them a brief account of my personal experience recorded in REMINISCENCES" - my last book. They were pleased.

Thereafter, the south Indian lady introduced herself as the cousin sister of Vishvaprem and the foreign lady with her, I was told, was her guest. Adding to the detail, she said, "Know me as Dr. Damayanti from Kerala and my French friend as Miss Catherine."

We walked to the boulder and Dr. Damayanti turned it over. Signalling us to hold on, Dr. Damayanti went in and when she was well below, pulled over the boulder to cover the circular entrance of the cellar.

We hadn't to wait long outside, for, Dr. Damayanti carne up turning the rocky cover. Miss Catherine was helped to go down first and I followed her-taking care to pull, over the boulder.

The venerable Vishvaprem was there seated in his usual corner - this time on a deer-skin. He gave me a silent welcome with a smile of recognition and motioned us all to sit. Miss Catherine took her seat directly in front of the saint.

Dr. Damayanti introduced Miss Catherine as a free-lance reporter from France. The saint who appeared to be still in a spell of introvert mood, didn't speak. In the rapt silence which had enveloped the cellar, only the ticks of the watches on the feminine wrists could be heard. Time sped on. We must have passed about three quarter of an hour and I could see Miss Catherine becoming restive. At last, no more able to hold out, she blurted in French, "Dr. Damayanti ! this silence is frightening. Haven't-we come here to talk, listen and to know?" if he is in communion, we may as well do a bit of strolling outside in the open and come back when he is free to talk to

Reviews for Light and Darkness

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of George Webb, failed police officer turned private detective. His life has been turned around by one case: the murder of Mr. Nash by his wife. Mrs. Nash hired George to follow her husband, who was cheating on her. George was drawn to her, and two years later, is still totally wrapped up in her life. Graham Swift has done an outstanding job of painting a picture of George: his personality, hopes, fears and longings. The book takes place over a single day, but with flashbacks to cover George's life. The writing is fast-paced, even though this is primarily a character study. It definitely made me want to read more by this author.

[samsheep_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I gave this four stars because....I was engaged, I liked it, I kept reading, some beautiful turns of phrase, some interesting characters. It had the quality feel to it. BUT sometimes it dragged - he really spun it out a bit too much, the pacing not quite what it could be. Also a silly small thing that really grated on me - the way that he used "sweetheart" a lot when speaking to her in prison. Somehow jarred with the rest of it.

[adrianburke_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

No. I cannot get on with this. Reading it is like listening to two radio stations at the same time. Two much cross interference. And really I feel the complication is all to do with the method of telling rather than anything else. One long fragmented flashback is intercut into a boring car trip. Did not finish. Life being too short.

[coyote99_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

What an awful book. Mesmerized by his own words, Swift manages to spin ever slower circles around events we already know happen with needless jumps forward and backward. Early on he decides that his tale has so little merit that his only chance is to make his narrative so confusing that the reader may mistake obfuscation for brilliance. A complete waste of time.

[booklistener · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have mixed feelings on this book. Author painted a very convincing picture and the imagery sticks with me. On the other hand, it did seem the story moved excruciatingly slowly at times. He would dwell for a long time on the mood of a scene and then, almost in passing, mention key plot details.

[sanddancer_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing! It plays with the conventions of the detective story and romance. We find out almost immediately who committed the crime, and the rest of the book is about piecing together the events that led up to it, all seen from the point of view of a detective, who has fallen in love with the murderer. That summary doesn't really do it justice. It is about relationships, secrets and love - all big themes, but it is beautifully written and griping.

[gocam_4 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Moderately more engaging than watching a slow paint dry, the book nonetheless explodes very occasionally with flashes of incendiary writing. 'Light of Day' indulges for most of its length in endless, insistent, circular, inevitable, here-again/there-again repetition surrounding a violent act that puzzles and initially intrigues and the back story detailing how our private detective protagonist ended up 'the man he is' - using a series of flash-back and -forward sequences we are led through a life that collides in a conclusion that should satisfy but rather stultifies . The form does tend to pull Webb's plight and life arc into tight focus, but honestly neither make for particularly engaging reading. As a treatment of a slow-burning drift into insular obsession the novel succeeds in generating a modicum of sympathy, but little more. Swift can write tremendously compelling almost poetic sequences (particularly when detailing the relationship with his daughter, and a cop whom he faces as nemesis then acquaintance), but they are buried deep in far too many words describing far too slight of a narrative where, frankly, there is little to care about. In reading this book I found myself at one point reminded of the power of selective repitition in Edwin Morgan's "In the Snack Bar" - a poem that achieves more in a few hundred words than this novel does in its entirety. Disappointing as I had high expectations after a punchy opening chapter, and having enjoyed "Last Orders".

[cliffagogo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ex-cop and private detective George Webb reflects on his past and revisits his old relationships, to find meaning in recent tragic events. The author’s knack for readable, believable dialogue makes for a compelling, addictive novel that pleases from start to finish. This, mixed with an incredible sense of structure and atmosphere, places Swift head and shoulders above the competition.

[piefuchs · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good book that failed to live up to the high expectation I had developed for this author based upon Last Orders.