hoping my work is appreciated and allowed to pass Harsha in GD i trust

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A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana MaharshiBy Sadhu Arunachala (A. W. Chadwick)

The first article in this issue, "As I Saw Him," is a collection of

passages from this fascinating book.

When the author was in South America serving as a British army major

in 1935, he read Paul Brunton's book, A Search In Secret India. He

was so captivated with the chapters on the Maharshi that he resigned

his position and travelled to India, arriving at Ramanasramam on

November first of the same year.

This move was not a reckless or impulsive one, for, as revealed in his

book, we see him as a mature seeker who had been practising meditation

for many years; and, once arriving in the presence of the Maharshi, he

felt perfectly at home. In fact, he remained there to his end in 1962.

 

Bhagavan once commented, "Chadwick was with us before, he is one of

us. He had some desire to be born in the West, and that is now

fulfilled."

Sadhu Arunachala (the name given him by the Maharshi) was a man of

vast experience and keen intelligence. His grasp of the Master's

teachings was impeccable and intuitive. Equally impeccable were his

observations and interpretations of certain incidents relating to

Bhagavan. He witnessed the Maharshi's approval of a will; Bhagavan's

participation in the construction and consecration of the temple over

the Mother's grave; and the visit of the celebrated author, Somerset

Maugham. On these and other matters he unmasks the true spirit of the

Maharshi, constructing before our eyes an unforgettable personality.

This book is naturally captivating and as easy to read as it is to

breathe. The reason is that it has been written by an intimate,

Western disciple who lived for fifteen years with the Maharshi -

physically - and has now been absorbed in Him for all time.

Within fifty-eight pages, the compiler has gathered all the salient

teachings of the Maharshi and set them forth in thirteen chapters.

A study of this small, precious book will equip the reader with the

full breadth and depth of all of Bhagavan's teachings. For example,

chapter three, "Mind"; chapter four, "Who Am I? Enquiry"; chapter

five, "Surrender"; and chapter nine, "Heart," serve to crystallise

the direct method to "Self Realisation," which is the title to

chapter eight.

An earnest aspirant will keep this book close at hand, for the

Maharshi's instructions on almost all subjects of sadhana are readily

and clearly presented. Truly, no other book is necessary to understand

the teachings and tread the path taught by the Master.

The compiler, A. Devaraja Mudaliar, was a lifelong devotee of

Bhagavan, resided with him for some years, and has several other

excellent books to his credit. But in this book he has performed a

yeoman service by providing us with a veritable wealth in the form of

numerous Gems From Bhagavan.

 

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