Jackie the dog

[Guest guest]

posted by David Godman to RamanaMaharshi

 

Jackie the dog, who was eventually buried alongside the deer and the

crow, wasbrought to the ashram when he was very young. He never mixed

with other dogs,nor did he play much. Instead, he lived the life of a

sadhu. He would sit infront of Bhagavan on an orange cloth that had

been provided by a devotee andstare intently at Bhagavan’s eyes.

Because Bhagavan had a lot of love for him,and because he always

behaved in such an exemplary fashion, he was always verywell looked

after. Ramaswami Pillai in particular took good care of him. Everyday

he would wash Jackie with soap and water and remove any insects that

hadattached themselves to his body. Whenever prasad was distributed,

Jackie wouldnot eat until Bhagavan began to eat his own portion. On

such occasions he wouldwatch Bhagavan’s face intently. As soon as

Bhagavan put a morsel into his mouth,Jackie would start to eat his

own portion.

I remember one incident concerning Jackie that occurred while Bhagavan

wassitting by the well, surrounded by devotees. Jackie was sitting

with thedevotees, looking intently at Bhagavan, when a stray dog

entered the ashramthrough the back gate. Jackie, distracted by the

newcomer, began to bark.Bhagavan gently chided him by saying, ‘You

just close your eyes. You justclose your eyes. You just close your

eyes. If you do this you will not be ableto see the dog.’Jackie

obeyed at once but some of the rest of us continued to look at

thestray dog.When I saw what was happening I laughed and remarked,

This is a goodteaching. It is not only for Jackie, it is for

everyone.’Jackie lived in the ashram for many years but I cannot

remember how hefinally passed away. It must have happened sometime in

the 1930s while I wassupervising the building works because I remember

constructing, at Bhagavan’srequest, the small samadhi shrine that is

over his body.I found the following account of Jackie’s death in an

unpublished account byNarasimha Rao:‘In the early days of our going

to the ashram [early 1930s] there was a dogby name Jack. It was then

very sick. Bhagavan arranged a soft bed for it and wasattending it

very affectionately, attending to his wants. After a few days itgrew

more weak, and was emitting a bad smell. It made no difference

toBhagavan’s attention to it. He used to take it in his arms, and

holding it tohimself, caress it lovingly. Finally it expired in his

hands. It was buried inthe ashram precincts with a monument over it.

The dog did not show any sign ofsuffering and bore it bravely.’From

“Living by the Words of Bhagavan”