Bhagavan "Chee, Asatte" (stupid fellow"

[Guest guest]

We have an interesting happening at the asram in 1948, recorded by a devotee

Narayanan, illustrating the sense of equality which prevailed. Not finding

Ramana at his usual place, he and his friend were wandering round the asram when

they heard a childlike voice "Chee, Asatte" (stupid fellow). Looking in the

direction from which the sound emanated in the kitchen garden they saw a small

goat, a little monkey, a squirrel and Bhagavan Ramana. "Bhagavan was sitting on

his haunches with his legs folded unto his breast. The goat rested between his

knees, the monkey had its head resting on the right knee and a squirrel perched

on his left knee. Holding a packet of paper in his left palm, Bhagavan picked up

groundnut from it from his right hand fingers, one by one, and fed the goat,

monkey, the squirrel and himself by turns. His remarks seemed to have been

addressed to the monkey which had tried to snatch a nut as he was about to place

it in the squirrel's mouth. As we watched, the four companions went on enjoying

the eating. All the four seemed equally happy; the way they looked at each other

and kept close together was quite touching. The goat, monkey, the squirrel and

Bhagavan, had obviously forgotten the differences in their species! We too,

looking on, saw all the four only as good friends despite their differences in

forms. No words could describe the feeling which passed through my being at the

sight. The vision of the transcendent appeared as a flash of lightning revealing

to me the essence of being, as awareness bliss."

 

The nuts were over, Bhagavan threw the packet away, and said 'Pongada' (go away,

you fellows) just as an old man talking to his grandchildren. The goat, monkey

and the squirrel left. Bhagavan got up. "Parthasarathi and I hurried away,

feeling guilty of trespass into the divine, but not sorry."

 

Timeless in Time...Nataranjan