Iswara's Will

This question was posed by Siva Prakasham Pillai when Bhagawan was living at Skandashrama ,these question and answers are brought out in a book "Who am I".

Pillai: Is not this universe,with what takes place therein ,the result of Iswara's Will ; and if so why should He will thus

Bhagawan: God has no purpose. He is not fettered by any action. The world's activities cannot affect Him.As the sun rises without any desire, purpose, or effort, yet directly it rises numerous activities take place in this earth; the lens placed in its rays produces fire in its focus; the bud of the lotus blossoms ,water evaporates , and every living being enters upon , maintains and finally drops its activity. But the sun is not affected by such activity, as it merely maintains its nature, acts by fixed laws, has no purpose, and is merely a witness. so it is with God.

Again take the case of space or ether.Earth, water, fire and air ,are all in it and have their motions and modifications therein.Yet none of these affects ether or space. the same is the case with God.God has no desire or propose in His acts of creation, maintenance , destruction, withdrawal and salvation to which the beings (Jiva) are subject.As the beings (Jivas) reap the fruits of their acts accordance with His laws( the laws of Karma etc) the responsibility for such fruits is theirs , not God's. God is not affected or bound by any acts.

 

FAITH OF TWO DEVOTEES

Chalam in his book Bhagawan Smruthulu (Bhagawan Remembered) gives accounts of two devotees who immensely devoted to Bhagawan and  put their life in Bhagwan.

One a old devotee who lived in Draupadi temple , at distance from the Ashram. His only possessions were a pot and a axe to cut wood.He used to beg in the town and cook and eat in the pot.He used to come to ashram and look at Bhagawan hours together and then go away in the night to the temple which is in the middle of a jungle ,dilapidated and visited by none.

Chalam once asked him "Do you live here? Are you not afraid  to live alone at night?"

He said" Why should I be afraid ,Bhagawan looks after me. In the night I am surrounded by a blue light from Bhagawan , which protects me."

The second one is a old blind Muslim from Peshawar who over heard about Bhagawan through a Urdu book and travelled on his own to Tiruvannamalai and placed himself in front of Bhagawan.

Chalam asked him what he want to do next , for the reply was "Whatever Bagawan tells me to do."

These two devotees stand as an example for us.

SRI RAMANA

LIFE AND HABITS

Bhagawan never gave any instructions to anyone regarding lifestyle or any special instructions ,but his day to day life gives a standing example of a ideal lifestyle for a Spiritual aspirant.One noticed in Bhagawan's Life

Personal Cleanliness,tideness of dress
Habitual wearing of Vibhuthi and Kumkum on forehead
equal sharing of all enjoyments with those around HIM
Strict adherence to time schedule
doing useful work however low it be
Never leaving work unfinished
the pursuit of perfection in every action
Indessant activity except while sleeping or resting after a spell of hard work
never considering onself superior to others
speaking the truth always or strict silence if the expression of truth would hurt or lower the reputation of others
perfect self help;never asking another to do a piece of work which can be done by onself
taking full responsibility of failure ,if any , withour shifting the blame on others
accepting success and failure with equanimity
never disturbing the peace of another
Leaving the leaf or plate clean after eating
compete non-interference in the affairs of others
never worrying about future

These are the lessons Sri Ramana tought by example and we should try and follow these with all strenght of body ,mind and spirit.

SRI RAMANA

 

Venuammal

Venuammal, Echammal’s younger sister, was a committed devotee and did service in the days at Virupaksha. She came to Bhagavan at an early age, having been widowed shortly after becoming a mother. Raising her daughter on her own, she found time to assist Bhagavan’s mother in the kitchen at Skandasramam and cared for her in the final hours of her life in May 1922. When Venuammal’s daugther died, she took refuge in Bhagavan. She was once again saddled with the responsibility of raising a child on her own, this time her two-and-half year old granddaughter, Rajalakshmi. One day Bhagavan painted a Sri Chakra and gave it to her.

 Sri Chakra painted by hand by Bhagawan for Venuammal

 

In 1950 when Venuammal took leave of Bhagavan to go on pilgrimage to Kasi, Bhagavan asked her to bathe in the Ganges on his behalf. In Kasi she had a dip one night in the river while meditating on the name ‘Ramana’. At that very moment, she saw a huge shooting star trailing the sky. The next morning she learnt that Bhagavan had shed his body.

BHAGAWAN AND DAKSHINAMURTHY

Raghavachariar was working as a Superintendent of Public works at Tiruvannamalai when he visited Sri Ramana at Skandashramam. 

Bhagawan was sitting on the platform with a picture of Dakshinamurthy painted on the wall next to him.Bhagawan silently gazed on  as usual and the visitor gazed into his eyes and said "Just as Arjuna wished to see the form of Krishna and asked for darshan,I wished to have darshan of your real form". then Bhagawan's body and the picture of Dakhinamurthy disappeared from his view. There was only empty space ,without even a wall.Then followed a whitish cloud in the outline of Maharishi and Dakshinamurthy ,before his eyes. Gradually the eyes, nose etc and other details were outlined in lightning like lines. These got broadened till the figure of Bhagawan and Dakshinamurthy became ablaze with strong and unendurable light. Raghavachariar closed eyes in consequence. He waited for few minutes and when he opened his eyes he found the Maharishi and Dakshinamurthy in the same form as before.He prostrated and went away.

The impact of this experience was such that he did not dare to go near Maharishi almost for one month. Later when he when he went up the hill , he narrated the above experience and requested Bhagawan to explain.After a pause Maharishi said" You wanted to see my form.you saw my disappearance.I am formless.Ganapathi Muni has a similar experience and you may consult him".Raghavachariar did no consult the muni.

PROXIMITY OF SRI RAMANA-EXPERIENCES OF DEVOTEES

PASCALINE MALLETT, French Lady visited Bhagawan in 1937

 

 

We slipped in quietly and seated ourselves on the ground amongst the crowd. The Maharishi's calm majesty , serene , strength and perfect poise filled the place with unutterable peace. It was for the first time I came to know the meaning of eternity and to be caught up into bliss that passeth understanding.When the sun shines does one need to know why and how it shines? I opened my heart to the spiritual Life which radiated so intensely in the silence of Maharishi. I had the impression of being surrounded by a sea of fiery Power, welding all present into a great Flame rising Heavenwards.I had the feeling that the Maharishi lived in a state where time and space did not exist.Undoubtedly , merely to live in his presence is the greatest help that oncould possibly receive.

MERCEDES de ACOSTA, an American ,came to Bhagawan in 1938:

When I entered the hall,I felt overcome by a strong power as if an invisible wind was pushing violenlty against me.For a moment I felt dizzy .As the Maharishi sat there he seemed lie statue ,and yet something exraordinalry emanated from him.I had a feeling that on some invisible level I was receiving spiritual shocks from him. When he moved his head and looked directly at me I felt my inner being raised to new level, as if suddenly my state of consciousness was lifted to much hihger degree,.Perhaps in the split second I was no longer my human self but SELF. Then Bhagawan smiled at me.It seemed to me that I had never before known what a smile was. To write about my experiences with Bhagawan would be trying to put the Infinite into an egg cup.

 

TUNNING THE RADIO

Smt Feroza Taleyarkhan reports the following amusing story

"An Indian gentleman who had spent about a year in Germany and had brought down with him an expensive radio set was rather worried that it was not working and that there was none at hand to set it  right.

He carried his worries to Bhagawan ,perhaps expecting Bhagawan to set the radio right. Little did he (we) know Bhagawan.In  a consoling voice Bhagawan referred to his worries over the radio,its costs, the lack of mechanic to set it right and so on.

Then began something unsual.He said to the visitor that if he tried to tune his own inner radio with eyes closed he could hear and speak to any country in the worldand elsewhere too. A peal of laughter shook the Hall then. Little did we realise that the joke was on us too."