Michio glanced at the door, tornbetween the desire to return to Toemeka and the desire to serve theMaster and fulfill his spiritual destiny. At last he said, “I havealways trusted you with my spiritual training and I trust you now.”As he bowed his head an unaccountable fear for Toemeka washed overhim. But he chose long ago to surrender his will to the Master, nomatter how things appeared on the surface. “I don’t wish to spendyears of my life here, though.”
“Toemeka will be your incentiveto work hard and pass the tests quickly. Remember the tests may takeonly a moment. Find the key to each one as you go.” The Masterfaded away. The light went with him and the room immediately seemeddark and foreboding.
Michio resisted the urge to callMaster Bakka back. Instead he sat on the floor with his legs crossedunder him in contemplation, knowing he might as well get started. Heknew his own fears made this test harder than it needed to be: fearof something happening to Toemeka while he was gone, fear of beinggone for years, and fear that he wouldn’t pass the tests.
Setting aside his doubts, Michiobegan to sing HU, to align himself with Spirit. He moved out of hisphysical body and crossed into the Inner Worlds. Once there, heexamined the lock to see how it opened. He discovered the door wasnot locked with a physical key, but by a powerful mind using psychicforce.
Tuning into this mind, Michiofelt Mazarka’s energy. Mazarka planted the suggestion that the doorwas locked and said it could take years to unlock. Michio smiled athis own foolishness in accepting Mazarka’s suggestion as truth. Thetest was really a fairly simple one: the key was realizing that, as apure channel for God, no psychic force could control him.
He pondered what the purpose ofthe test could be. There must be an important lesson. He rememberedone time many years ago when he remained in a cave for an extendedperiod of time. It helped him develop inner awareness and gave him astrong motivation to perfect the ability to leave his body and travelfreely in the Inner Worlds.
While in the cave, the InnerWorlds became more important to him and the boundaries between thetwo worlds began to fade. Being in this room was like being in thatcave. As Mazarka said, nothing physical could distract his attentionfrom God—only his own mind and emotions. This test would teach himto overcome the influence of a powerful mind or psychic force.
Michio chanted HU once more,raising his vibrations and coming into harmony with the divineessence of life.
He visualized the door unlocking.In his Light Body, he saw his physical body get up, open the door andwalk out of the room. Everything had an ethereal quality about it, asif he were seeing the world through a different vibration.
He was drawn down the hallway toa room filled with Light. Inside a large man with reddish-brown skinand a short beard sat on a floor mat. He wore a white robe with goldtrim and a turban. The sound of waves crashing into an oceanshoreline surrounded him and the fragrance of a hundred red rosesemanated from him. Next to him sat Master Bakka, who smiled at Michioas if to say, Itwas easy after all, was it not?
As Michio came closer, he felthis Spiritual Eye become warm. Light flooded into him and he felthimself expand and open in consciousness. Master Bakka walked over tohim and took both of Michio’s hands in his. “You see, the limitswere all in your mind.”
“Please sit down. I’m MasterJadock,” the other man said.
Once Michio was seated, MasterJadock continued, “You are ready for the next step.” His eyessparkled and he turned to Master Bakka. “Much of the world stillclings to him.”
“Yes, he has attachments.”
Master Jadock gazed at Michio anda blinding light poured from him—raw power of a magnitude Michiohad never felt before. The power coursed through him until hecouldn’t stand it anymore. Then it changed to a warm, flowing love.
“God is love,” Master Jadocksaid. “Soul exists because God loves it. Keep love as the center ofyour being. You’ll receive further training as an Ahimsa warriorwhile you’re here so you can fight any force that attacks you,physically or psychically. Your greatest enemy is your lower self,your passions. Never fight with anger or hatred; always be centered,balanced, filled with light.”
Michio sat in silence, listeningto the sound current flowing through him and contemplating the wordsof Master Jadock. When he once more became aware of the room, MasterBakka had disappeared and he was alone with Master Jadock.
“I’ve watched yourdevelopment since you were young and have long awaited your arrival,”Master Jadock said. “Your training will be arduous; there’s muchyou have to learn.”
“I feel as if I’ve beenpreparing to come here all my life.”
“Not just this life, but formany lives.”
A disciple quietly entered theroom and placed a bowl of hot grain and a cup of tea in front ofMichio.
“Eat,” said Master Jadock.“You’ve had a long journey.”
After eating, Michio returned tohis room and lay on the pallet, wondering what the next test wouldbe.
The next morning Michio joinedthe other initiates in the dining hall for breakfast. Most were ofthe same race as Mazarka and Master Jadock, but a few were of otherraces.
Mazarka came over to him. “MasterJadock said to take you to the next place of training. You’ve beenassigned to help with the fall harvest.”
“Fall harvest? But—”
“Do you question the trainingyou are given?”
Michio bowed his head. “No.”He followed Mazarka into the hall.
“You won’t pass the othertests so easily and to pass the eleventh test you must fight me.”
“I am not competing with you;you are my brother. I will gladly learn from you and share what I’velearned with you.”
“You are a beginner. There’snothing you can teach me.”
Outside they walked past severalmats where men engaged in martial arts matches. Michio paused,watching them for a moment. This was the sort of training he’d beenexpecting. What would he learn from working in the fields? Yet thingswere often not what they seemed. He could serve life in whatever hedid.
They climbed up to a terracedfield cut into the side of the mountain.
