The Final Exam
A Nigerian Man Faces a Test with the Help of the Inner Master
By KE
After years of hard work, I only had one more test to face before finally receiving my PhD.
During this exam, I was expected to defend my research before a committee of examiners and explain my results.
Although I was nervous about standing up in front of all these learned men to defend my work, I took comfort in knowing that my supervising professor would stand with me. If I wasn't clear enough in my explanations, I could rely on him to help shed light on my work.
The exam was scheduled for a Monday. A few days before the test, the dean of the school called me.
He told me my supervisor was traveling and wouldn't be back in time for the exam. The dean was sorry to say I would have to defend my research all by myself.
I was shocked.
How was I going to face all those examiners alone, without the help and guidance of my supervisor? My mind raced as I thought about all the hard work and pain I had gone through to get to this point in my studies.
Helpless and afraid I would fail, I began to cry.
There was nothing I could do to bring my supervisor back to help me. How would I stand a chance going it alone? Even students fully supported by their supervising professors had failed this exam.
It looked like my dreams of a PhD were lost.
As I sat in my room that weekend, trying to prepare, the world became a very lonely place. My heart ached, and I felt betrayed by my supervisor.
Eventually I realized that self-pity was not going to help. I was alone. That was the simple truth I had to accept.
Then suddenly I realized this was not the truth. I was not alone. I had an inner guide, the Mahanta.
Earlier that year, friends who were members of Eckankar had told me about a spiritual Master from America who was both an inner and outer guide. He was called the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master.
When they first told me about the Mahanta, I had a good feeling about him. It felt like we had close ties from long ago. Immediately, I loved and trusted him. I couldn't explain it. I just felt that way.
Now I took my thoughts off my troubles and put all my attention on the Mahanta. His presence surrounded me, and I realized I wasn't alone. I began to feel whole again.
Then I remembered something else.
My friends had also told me about singing HU, a beautiful love song to God. Singing HU is a way of becoming true to yourself so you can receive help from Divine Spirit, the ECK. It helps open your heart to divine love.
With my attention on the Mahanta, I began to sing HU with all my heart. I sang it as often as I could while I prepared for the exam. The more I sang, the more I knew that I was not alone. The Mahanta was with me.
The morning of the exam soon came.
But now, rather than being filled with anxiety, I beamed with great assurance. I didn't need my supervising professor anymore. I had adopted a new supervisor—the spiritual leader of Eckankar, Sri Harold Klemp, the Mahanta, the Living ECK Master.
I continued to sing HU silently to myself as I walked into the hall for the exam.
What happened there still baffles me.
When I entered the room, I felt as if I were standing tall above all the examiners, unafraid and full of confidence.
During my presentation, I left no room for questions. I broke down all the facts and figures to the simplest terms and spoke like a knowledgeable professor talking to a class of new students.
By the time I was through, there was no need for any professor to come to my aid. My work was accepted without conditions. I had passed!
Gratitude filled my heart, and tears of joy rolled down my cheeks.
As I walked into the privacy of my room that day, my knees were weak from happiness. I fell on the bed and buried my face in the pillow. Sobbing to myself, I whispered, "Thank you, Mahanta."
I learned that day that I am never alone. Now the Inner Master guides me in everything I do. I know that no matter what challenges the future brings, the Mahanta is always with me.
Excerpted from the 2008 Eckankar Journal, copyright © 2007 ECKANKAR. All rights reserved. Illustration by Catherine Purnell.
