Saved by Mother Kali

Chinmoy clears the pole vault bar. 

            All spiritual people have to go through some kind of examination. When I was fourteen years old, I was competing in the pole vault. In India we used a bamboo pole and we just fell onto the hard ground. There were no cushions, nothing!

            I was the best at this event, but alas, on this particular day, I failed to clear the starting height. The second time also I failed. I could not believe it. On other days I could have done it with my eyes closed!

            Only one chance was left. If I failed on my third attempt also, then I would be disqualified. All of a sudden, Mother Kali came to me. I saw her clearly. She said to me, "Go home! Make a circle on your left heel with ink. If you do that, you will cross the bar easily. Go! If you do not go immediately, you will fail and then you will feel miserable."

            Immediately my mind wanted to discard what she had asked me to do. My mind was saying, "What is this? What does pole vault have to do with my left heel? What can one small circle with ink do? For God's sake, go on. Finish the competition."

            But my heart was telling me, "My Mother Kali is so kind to me. At this time also, when I am doing pole vault, she has to come and show her concern for me. I know that she is only examining my faith in her. If I do not prove that I have implicit faith in her, then why should she take the trouble of helping me?"

            Luckily the playground was only a block and a half away from my house, so I knew I would have time to go and come back. I went running home. There was an inkpot. I took from it a little ink and very nicely on my left foot I made a big, round circle. Then I ran back to the playground. I did not tell anybody what had happened.