Yoga of Perfect Sight

How my Blind Eye got Cured

When I was twelve, I often suffered from headaches and my eyes were examined. It was found that my left eye had always been blind, I could not see even the biggest letter of the eye chart and no glasses could improve the vision of this eye.

At the end of May 1967 Dr. Thadani came to our school for the eye checkup. All the students were excited to see whose eyes were best. They read the Snellen test card perfectly—all except me. I knew about my bad eye but the children were stunned to see that I could hardly read even the big letter from 20 feet with my left eye though the right eye was quite normal. Dr. Thadani gave a long discourse on how to improve my eyesight with natural methods. He said that since I had only one good eye, if something happened to it, then I would be quite blind. Would I like it? He encouraged me to go to Dr. Agarwal's Eye Clinic and be under his treatment. He talked to me about his own eyes and how at the age of 69 he still reads without glasses. So finally I decided to go to Dr. Agarwal.

It was on the 4th June 1967, Sunday, that I went to his clinic. There I saw many patients, mostly children; they were busy doing their eye exercises. The doctor welcomed me very warmly. He tested my eyes carefully and examined them in the dark room. Immediately he told me what was wrong with my left eye. He explained to me that I had amblyopia, which means blindness; the eye cannot be helped with glasses, and for this no apparent or sufficient cause can be found in the constitution of the eye.

At first I was given a book Better Sight, then Mind and Vision to read. I learnt many things about the eye and I found the books quite interesting. I was surprised at myself, for usually I am not in the least interested in medical subjects; I just don't have the nerve to read all that with quaint names. But luckily the books were quite simple and I was glad to read them.

On the very first day Dr. Agarwal told me with confidence that I would be cured in two months' time. I was overjoyed and agreed to take up his treatment as guided. I somehow just wanted to be cured. And surprisingly within two months, with regular exercises for about two hours a day, my sight slowly came back, then considerably improved and I began to read fine print. I also saw the cinema on every Saturday with the left eye only and I greatly enjoyed it.

I was much obliged and happy at the time and energy and interest the doctor allotted to me, so I gave up many other activities which were very dear to me, for nothing could be dearer than to be healthy and strong and free of all artificial contraptions. To get back one's sight is to see the world with a new light and new vision.

One day without the doctor's permission I was doing some fretwork at home. I was feeling the strain in my eyes but I continued the work. Suddenly severe headache developed, I could not sleep that night. Next morning I came to the doctor very much depressed and told him all about my headache. He gave me something to smell and asked me to do palming till the headache was relieved. After half an hour I was quite relaxed.

I had never realized before such a love of the doctor for his patient. Along with the improvement of eyesight my inner being also began to develop by his touch and influence. My patience, forbearance and concentration power considerably increased and I felt more self-confident and strong within.

A Teacher