Gabriele/The Bargain of a Lifetime/Repost

[Guest guest]

Gabriele, Bhagavan used to say that there are basically two approaches. One

is that of enquiry and the other is that of devotion and surrender. Either

one, carried to its conclusion, merges in the other and leads to the Heart.

Here is a story about Sri Ramana that I like very much and I have selected

certain portions to make it easier to read.

 

A bit busy this week but will be happy to answer any questions. I am sure

Gloriaji, Maceji, Danji, Magneji, Cyji, Richardji, Miraji, Bruceji, Jamesji,

TGji, Lindaji, Jillji, Amandaji, Mikeji, Mazieji, Markji, Hollyji, Ericjis,

Janakji, Gregji, Bobbyji, Johnji, Andrewji, Davidji, and many other wise

souls here can do the same thing.

***************************

Conversations with Ramana Maharshi were typically public and watched by

other devotees. The following dialogue between Sri Ramana and an unknown

visitor occurred at the Ashram and is recalled by a devotee. The man was in

depth of despair and at first Bhagwan seemed quite unsympathetic. The

visitor's conversation with the sage is quite remarkable and worth reading.

Selected portions presented from the Maharshi newsletters.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

The man started moaning and crying even more, as if his heart were breaking.

"All my hopes of salvation are gone. You were my last refuge and you say you

have nothing to do with me! To whom shall I turn now? What am I to do? To

whom am I to go?"

 

Bhagavan watched him for some time and said, "Am I your guru that I should

be responsible for your salvation? Have I ever said that I am your master?"

 

"If you are not my master, then who is? And who are you, if not my master?

You are my guru, you are my guardian angel, you will pity me and release me

from my sins!" He started sobbing and crying again.

 

We all sat silent, overcome with pity. Only Bhagavan looked alert and

matter-of-fact.

 

Bh: "If I am your guru, what are my fees? Surely you should pay me for my

services."

 

D: "But you won't take anything," cried the visitor. "What can I give you?"

 

Bh: "Did I ever say that I don't take anything? And did you ever ask me what

you can give me?"

 

D: "If you would take, then ask me. There is nothing I would not give you."

 

Bh: "All right. Now I am asking. Give me. What will you give me ?"

 

D: "Take anything, all is yours."

 

Bh: "Then give me all the good you have done in this world."

 

D: "What good could I have done? I have not a single virtue to my credit"

 

Bh: "You have promised to give. Now give. Don't talk of your credit. Just

give away all the good you have done in your past."

 

D: "Yes, I shall give. But how does one give? Tell me how the giving is done

and I shall give."

 

Bh: "Say like this: 'All the good I have done in the past I am giving away

entirely to my guru. Henceforth I have no merit from it nor have I any

concern with it.' Say it with your whole heart."

 

D: "All right, Swami, I am giving away to you all the good I have done so

far, if I have done any, and all its good effects. I am giving it to you

gladly, for you are my master and you are asking me to give it all away to

you."

 

Bh: "But this is not enough," said Bhagavan sternly.

 

D: "I gave you all I have and all you asked me to give. I have nothing more

to give."

 

Bh: "No, you have. Give me all your sins."

 

D: The man looked wildly at Bhagavan, terror stricken. "You do not know,

Swami, what you are asking for. If you knew, you would not ask me. If you

take over my sins, your body will rot and burn. You do not know me, you do

not know my sins. Please do not ask me for my sins." And he wept bitterly.

 

Bh: "I shall look after myself, don't you worry about me," said Bhagavan.

"All I want from you is your sins."

 

For a long time the bargain would not go through. The man refused to part

with his sins. But Bhagavan was adamant.

 

Bh: "Either give me your sins along with your merits, or keep both and don't

think of me as your master."

 

In the end the visitor's scruples broke down and he declared: "Whatever sins

I have done, they are no longer mine. All of them and their results, too,

belong to Ramana."

 

Bhagavan seemed to be satisfied. "From now on there is no good nor bad in

you. You are just pure. Go and do nothing, neither good nor bad. Remain

yourself, remain what you are."

 

A great peace fell over the man and over us all. No one knows what happened

to the fortunate visitor; he was never seen in the Ashrama again. He might

have been in no further need of coming.

[Guest guest]

Thank you

Gabriele

-

Harsha

Monday, October 29, 2001 4:13 PM

Gabriele/The Bargain of a Lifetime/Repost

Gabriele, Bhagavan used to say that there are basically two

approaches. Oneis that of enquiry and the other is that of devotion

and surrender. Eitherone, carried to its conclusion, merges in the

other and leads to the Heart.Here is a story about Sri Ramana that I

like very much and I have selectedcertain portions to make it easier

to read.A bit busy this week but will be happy to answer any

questions. I am sureGloriaji, Maceji, Danji, Magneji, Cyji,

Richardji, Miraji, Bruceji, Jamesji,TGji, Lindaji, Jillji, Amandaji,

Mikeji, Mazieji, Markji, Hollyji, Ericjis,Janakji, Gregji, Bobbyji,

Johnji, Andrewji, Davidji, and many other wisesouls here can do the

same thing.***************************Conversations with Ramana

Maharshi were typically public and watched byother devotees. The

following dialogue between Sri Ramana and an unknownvisitor occurred

at the Ashram and is recalled by a devotee. The man was indepth of

despair and at first Bhagwan seemed quite unsympathetic. Thevisitor's

conversation with the sage is quite remarkable and worth

reading.Selected portions presented from the Maharshi

newsletters.Love to allHarshaThe man started moaning and crying even

more, as if his heart were breaking."All my hopes of salvation are

gone. You were my last refuge and you say youhave nothing to do with

me! To whom shall I turn now? What am I to do? Towhom am I to

go?"Bhagavan watched him for some time and said, "Am I your guru that

I shouldbe responsible for your salvation? Have I ever said that I am

your master?""If you are not my master, then who is? And who are you,

if not my master?You are my guru, you are my guardian angel, you will

pity me and release me>from my sins!" He started sobbing and crying

again.We all sat silent, overcome with pity. Only Bhagavan looked

alert andmatter-of-fact.Bh: "If I am your guru, what are my fees?

Surely you should pay me for myservices."D: "But you won't take

anything," cried the visitor. "What can I give you?"Bh: "Did I ever

say that I don't take anything? And did you ever ask me whatyou can

give me?"D: "If you would take, then ask me. There is nothing I would

not give you."Bh: "All right. Now I am asking. Give me. What will you

give me ?"D: "Take anything, all is yours."Bh: "Then give me all the

good you have done in this world."D: "What good could I have done? I

have not a single virtue to my credit"Bh: "You have promised to give.

Now give. Don't talk of your credit. Justgive away all the good you

have done in your past."D: "Yes, I shall give. But how does one give?

Tell me how the giving is doneand I shall give."Bh: "Say like this:

'All the good I have done in the past I am giving awayentirely to my

guru. Henceforth I have no merit from it nor have I anyconcern with

it.' Say it with your whole heart."D: "All right, Swami, I am giving

away to you all the good I have done sofar, if I have done any, and

all its good effects. I am giving it to yougladly, for you are my

master and you are asking me to give it all away toyou."Bh: "But this

is not enough," said Bhagavan sternly.D: "I gave you all I have and

all you asked me to give. I have nothing moreto give."Bh: "No, you

have. Give me all your sins."D: The man looked wildly at Bhagavan,

terror stricken. "You do not know,Swami, what you are asking for. If

you knew, you would not ask me. If youtake over my sins, your body

will rot and burn. You do not know me, you donot know my sins. Please

do not ask me for my sins." And he wept bitterly.Bh: "I shall look

after myself, don't you worry about me," said Bhagavan."All I want

from you is your sins."For a long time the bargain would not go

through. The man refused to partwith his sins. But Bhagavan was

adamant.Bh: "Either give me your sins along with your merits, or keep

both and don'tthink of me as your master."In the end the visitor's

scruples broke down and he declared: "Whatever sinsI have done, they

are no longer mine. All of them and their results, too,belong to

Ramana."Bhagavan seemed to be satisfied. "From now on there is no

good nor bad inyou. You are just pure. Go and do nothing, neither

good nor bad. Remainyourself, remain what you are."A great peace fell

over the man and over us all. No one knows what happenedto the

fortunate visitor; he was never seen in the Ashrama again. He

mighthave been in no further need of

coming./join

All paths go

somewhere. No path goes nowhere. Paths, places, sights, perceptions,

and indeed all experiences arise from and exist in and subside back

into the Space of Awareness. Like waves rising are not different than

the ocean, all things arising from Awareness are of the nature of

Awareness. Awareness does not come and go but is always Present. It

is Home. Home is where the Heart Is. Jnanis know the Heart to be the

Finality of Eternal Being. A true devotee relishes in the Truth of

Self-Knowledge, spontaneously arising from within into It Self.

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