Lady and the King....

[Guest guest]

While looking for the Bhagavan story of the cracked egg, and more

animal stories, I found so many other wonderful stories, but still

have not found that egg :-) Anyway, here are two more stories that

I found last night and really liked. Just goes to show that the Lord

does not discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status and that

suffering is in the eyes of the beholder, or as Chris just quoted in

another post...

"My hell was worse than anyone elses because it happened to me!!"

Read on...

Love,

Joyce

Rajapalayam Ramani Ammal - Part II

Story of Harijan Lady

I once remember a Harijan lady who for the past twenty-five years was

gathering honey to send to Sri Bhagavan. On every occasion she was

unable to bring the honey herself and had to send it with someone.

After waiting for twenty-five years, she finally found the

opportunity to come. The poor lady was in tattered clothes, standing

before Bhagavan. Her eyesight was poor and I still vividly recall the

unusual way she looked at Sri Bhagavan, calling out "Oh Darling, where

are you? I want to see you." Bhagavan in all his graciousness said,

"Grandmother, look this way. I am here." Looking at the honey she had

brought with her, he said to me, "They are Brahmins, they won't eat

this. We will share it, and eat it."It is often said, Bhagavan did

not give direct Upadesa (spiritual teaching), but what else is all

this? Although Bhagavan repeatedly pointed out human frailty, people

were not prepared to rectify themselves. As if talking to himself, he

looked at this poor old woman in ragged clothes and said, "Poor lady,

she must be hungry. And where will she go for clothes? Who will offer

her food and clothes?" Upon hearing this, Ondu Reddiyar got up and

said, "We will give her food and also see that some clothes are

purchased." Then Reddiyar took the woman to the Dining Hall and fed

her sumptuously. He also sent someone to town to buy her a sari. As

the old woman had no money, she had walked a great distance to come

here. Bhagavan knowing this, said in an impersonal way, "Would anyone

be interested in getting her a bus ticket?" Reddiyar again came

forward and said, "We will provide her with a bus ticket and see her

off." When this lady returned from the Dining Hall she was touching

the ground, and then touching her eyes. That is a way of prostration

and thanksgiving.It is noteworthy that whenever the poor or

untouchables came, Bhagavan took a very personal interest in them,

which was a moving sight to see.

http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Sp/Ramana2b/Ramana2b.htm#Harijan

Sin of Being Born a King

Once the Maharaja of Mysore visited the Ashram. He would not visit

Bhagavan in the Hall and asked for a private interview. We were

perplexed, for Bhagavan never allowed such a thing. Whatever had to

be said was said in public, by letter, or in the mind. Finally, it

was decided to bring the Maharaja in when Bhagavan was having his

bath. The Maharaja entered the bathroom and we were all standing

outside. Trays and trays of costly presents and all kinds of sweets

and dainties were offered at Bhagavan's feet. For ten minutes the

Maharaja just stood looking and then prostrated before Bhagavan.

Tears flowing from his eyes actually made Bhagavan's feet wet. He

sobbed for some time and went away.A few days later the Maharani of

Travancore also came to the Ashram. When Bhagavan was sitting alone

in the dining hall after lunch, I asked him: "The Maharani was here.

What did she do?""She asked many questions and went away.""And the

Maharaja of Mysore?""Oh, he is a ripe fruit," said Bhagavan, and with

great feeling he re-enacted the scene. We could almost see the

Maharaja's eagerness, his humility and sadness. The Maharaja had told

him: "They made me a Maharaja and bound me to a throne. For the sin of

being born a king I lost the chance of sitting at your feet and

serving in your glorious presence. I cannot stay here and I do not

hope to come again. Only these few minutes are mine. I can only pray

for your grace."

Shantammal, Eternal Bhagavan

http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Sp/Ramana2b/Ramana2b.htm#King

Attachment: (image/jpeg) MaharshiAtAshram[1].jpg [not stored]