Where is Ramanar ? - Part II

[Guest guest]

By this time Bhagavan had gone into the kitchen in his usual walk

back to view the happenings there. Our traveller eventually came back

into the kitchen but he saw four or five people standing there

inside. Poor man, didn't know who Bhagavan was among them. He was not

sure if he can ask them. Hesitantly, he came a little closer to them,

watched each of them carefully and chose one person whose face seemed

friendly enough and good natured.

 

No wonder it was Bhagavan himself who was that person. So the new

visitor approached Bhagavan and asked him 'where is Ramanar?'.

 

Pat came the reply from a smiling Bhagavan: 'Here is Ramanar' as He

pointed to a large utensil in the kitchen. The others around

Bhagavan also broke into a laughter.

 

Bhagavan, in His great compassion, slowly explained the real import

of His reply: "Even this vessel has the name 'Ramana' inscribed on

it because everything belonging to the Asramam are identified. But

this (poining to His body) doesn't have even that inscription'. With

this hint, the visitor realized that it was Bhagavan to whom he put

the question and feeling embarrased about the mistake, fell to

Bhagavan's feet with all humility. Wasn't he fortunate that a great

boon of Bhagavan's valuable teaching was bestowed on him right in

the first meeting!

 

The essense of Bhagavan's teaching is contained in this simple

incident. It is Bhagavan's direct experience that He is not the body

or the form. He used to often caution the devotees around Him that

if they continue to take the form to be 'Ramanar', a day will come

when they will all be very disappointed*. Such a direct and

pertinent teaching was given with love to this devotee right in the

first meeting.

 

*

"........

eyppinidai vaippaa veLivantha veenkatanai'th

thappalaRu sachchithaa nanthasiva thaththuvanai

ippadiyin maanidanaa eNNiyeLLi eemaaRaathu

apparamaRkku aatseythu niiraadi yappayanum........" -- Shri. RamaNa

sannidhi muRai - 1467

 

-------- from Shri. Ramana Vazhi Part IV by Shri. Saadhu Om