Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 The most favored of all the animal devotees was a cow named Lakshmi. She was brought along with her mother as a gift to Bhagavan. He felt he could not properly care for the cows and so they were taken to farm in a neighboring village. After Lakshmi had been with the farmer for a year or more he went one evening to Ramanas ashram for prayers bringing Lakshmi and her mother with him for a visit. Lakshmi was irresistibly attracted to Ramana and must have noted carefully the way to the ashram. The next day she appeared on her own and from then on came every day returning, by herself the farm in the evening. At some point along the way she became a permanent member of the ashram. During her life at the ashram, Lakshme bore several calves at least three of them on Bhagavan's birthday.. She was extremely devoted to Bhagavan and he showed her the utmost Grace and kindness. On June 17, 1948 Lakshmi became very ill and it was clear that her time had come to an end. Bhagavan went to her and said: "Amma (Mother), do you want me near you?" He sat down beside her and cradled her head in his lap putting one hand on her head and one over her heart just as he had done when his own human mother lay dying. He gazed into her eyes for a long time and lay his cheek against hers stroking her gently. She focused all of her attention on Bhagavan and was conscious up to the end, her eyes bright and clear. On June 18th at 11:30 am she left her body peacefully. She was buried in the Ashram compound and given full funeral rights. Her grave was beside that of a deer, crow and dog which Bhagavan had also buried there. A stone was placed over her grave with her likeness carved into it. On the stone was also engraved the epitaph he had written for her stating that she had attained (Mukti) final liberation. The word mukti is used in two different ways. Generally when it is said that someone has attained mukti it means that they have died. The more spiritual term Mukti means that the soul (usually a very advanced soul) has attained final liberation from this realm of existence. When Bhagavan was questioned as to which definition he was referring to when speaking of Lakshmi, did he mean that she had died or that she had attained liberation, he said Mukti - final liberation! from anaflia page dear Harsha Ji, does the Neo-Adbaitins consider the animals enlightened ? ERa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 2005 Report Share Posted August 25, 2005 > > dear Harsha Ji, does the Neo-Adbaitins consider the > animals enlightened? > > > Dear Eraji: > > > > I don't know who you refer to as neo advaitins. thank you for your answer, I don't know who are the neo-advaitins either.. I was thinking of Wayne Liquirman http://advaita.org and also of Ramesh Balsekar.. he stesses that there is 'no-free will' and both say, that there is nothing to attain because "we are already it" pondering in these notions, I was wondering if all animals are also a part of the Brahman, Ramana's non-divided "Self" just as much as we humans are..so they also could be all enlightened.. or is the intellect the part of the Consciousness what gets enlightened ? do you have any further thoughts on this you care to share with us ? love and regards, Era > According to traditional Hinduism, Jainism, and > Buddhism, one has to attain a human birth in order to > be enlightened. Sri Ramana, although born as a Hindu, > was not bound by any tradition. Bhagavan was especially > kind to animals and did not like the devotees chasing > them away. He stated explicitly that Lakshmi the cow > had attained Mukti (liberation). He did not make such > comments about all animals. He had made a similar > comment regarding his mother as well when she passed > away. A few times Bhagavan remarked that sometimes > Siddhas (perfected yogis) roam in the area in the guise > of animals and come to visit him. > > > > Have you heard of the story of Yudishthira refusing to > enter heaven without his dog? When Sri Krishna died, > the Pandavas lost all interest in life and left for the > Himalayas. On the way, all of them died one by one and > only Yudishthira and his dog were left. When they > reached heaven Yudishthira was told that he could come > in but not the dog as the animals were not allowed in > Heaven. Yudishthira refused to enter without his loyal > dog. The story is symbolic. > > > > Love to all > > Harsha > > > > > _____ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 26, 2005 Report Share Posted August 26, 2005 > > > > dear Harsha Ji, does the Neo-Adbaitins consider the > > animals enlightened? > > > > > > Dear Eraji: > > > > > > > > I don't know who you refer to as neo advaitins. > > > thank you for your answer, > > I don't know who are the neo-advaitins either.. I was thinking of Wayne Liquirman http://advaita.org and also of Ramesh Balsekar.. he stesses that there is 'no-free will' > > and both say, that there is nothing to attain because "we are already it" > > pondering in these notions, I was wondering if all animals are also a part of the Brahman, Ramana's non-divided "Self" just as much as we humans are..so they also could be all enlightened.. or is the intellect the part of the Consciousness what gets enlightened ? I just remembered, that Nisargadatta Maharaj used the term "Awareness" instead of god.. well, my dog is sure aware... and is part of this timeless boundless Awareness.. and when he wants to eat he lets me know it too > > do you have any further thoughts on this you care to share with us ? > > > love and regards, Era > > > > > > > > According to traditional Hinduism, Jainism, and > > Buddhism, one has to attain a human birth in order to > > be enlightened. Sri Ramana, although born as a Hindu, > > was not bound by any tradition. Bhagavan was especially > > kind to animals and did not like the devotees chasing > > them away. He stated explicitly that Lakshmi the cow > > had attained Mukti (liberation). He did not make such > > comments about all animals. He had made a similar > > comment regarding his mother as well when she passed > > away. A few times Bhagavan remarked that sometimes > > Siddhas (perfected yogis) roam in the area in the guise > > of animals and come to visit him. > > > > > > > > Have you heard of the story of Yudishthira refusing to > > enter heaven without his dog? When Sri Krishna died, > > the Pandavas lost all interest in life and left for the > > Himalayas. On the way, all of them died one by one and > > only Yudishthira and his dog were left. When they > > reached heaven Yudishthira was told that he could come > > in but not the dog as the animals were not allowed in > > Heaven. Yudishthira refused to enter without his loyal > > dog. The story is symbolic. > > > > > > > > Love to all > > > > Harsha > > > > > > > > > > _____ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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