72 pages 2 hours read

Paramahansa Yogananda

Autobiography of a Yogi

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1946

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Chapters 17-20

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 17 Summary: “Sasi and the Three Sapphires”

Sri Yukteswar heals a skeptical veterinary surgeon, Dr. Roy, of diabetes before Roy even knows he has the illness. When the disease manifests, the doctors think he will die. He reluctantly wears an astrological bangle and recovers. Sri Yukteswar then advises him to eat a meatless diet, but he ignores the advice. Six months later, he dies, exactly as Sri Yukteswar predicted. Mukunda is impressed by the incident, which proceeded according to what his master had foreseen. Sri Yukteswar managed to extend Dr. Roy’s life by six months simply because Mukunda earnestly asked him to help the man.

Mukunda brings a college friend, Sasi, to the ashram. Sri Yukteswar tells Sasi that unless he reforms his disorderly life, in one year he will be extremely ill. He tells him to wear a blue sapphire. Sasi says he cannot afford one. The guru replies that in one year, Sasi will bring three sapphires but they will be of no use to him then.

One year passes. Sasi comes to the ashram with three sapphires. He has tuberculosis and the doctors have given him three months to live. Sri Yukteswar tells him to return the sapphires to the jeweler but wear an astrological bangle.