Overbearing Guilt

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone;

 

I was hoping for some guidance. I am helping a friend

who has the following questions.

 

What would Ramana say to a person who went to him and

asked:

 

I have done something wrong and because if that

someone else has become sick and is suffering severe

emotional pain.

 

The effect is permanent.

 

I can't handle my sense of guilt and impending doom.

 

I can't even accept myself anymore.

 

I also cannot do self inquiry as I get severly

depressed once I start the Inquiry.

 

Please help me?

 

"The Self is always realized. Look within and be still!

- Bhagavan Sri Ramana

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Zoya,

 

I don't think anyone of us can speculate on what Bhagavan would say to

your friend. Bhagavan was natural and sensed the spirit of each person

and their circumstances and his reactions were based on that.

 

People went to Sri Ramana sometimes in very desperate circumstances. I

don't know if Bhagavan had good answers or could do things or give

advice that could satisfy everyone (other than the devotees). It is hard

to say but that is how it seems. Because people have many different

needs, Bhagavan's words may not be suitable for all, at least in an

immediate way. Your friend might need to speak to a professional

therapist or a psychologist to understand the guilt and how something

constructive can be done with it. I will pass this on to HS in case

someone there has any suggestions.

 

On the other hand, for people who had complete and absolute faith in

Bhagavan's words, the words were healing and sometimes miracles did

happen. Here is a story from the archives of HS (from the Maharshi

Newsletters) to illustrate how Bhagavan dealt with the suffering and

guilt of one individual.

 

/archive/MagazineV2/harsha/suffering.html#hopes

 

Harsha

 

Zoya wrote:

 

> Hello everyone;

>

> I was hoping for some guidance. I am helping a friend

> who has the following questions.

>

> What would Ramana say to a person who went to him and

> asked:

>

> I have done something wrong and because if that

> someone else has become sick and is suffering severe

> emotional pain.

>

> The effect is permanent.

>

> I can't handle my sense of guilt and impending doom.

>

> I can't even accept myself anymore.

>

> I also cannot do self inquiry as I get severly

> depressed once I start the Inquiry.

>

> Please help me?

>

> "The Self is always realized. Look within and be still!

> - Bhagavan Sri Ramana

[Guest guest]

Om Namo Bhagavathe Sri Ramanaaya...

 

Thanks, Harsha. I’ve taken the liberty of posting the contents of the link you quoted.

 

It’s a very haunting passage, carried here in the Heart at all times.

 

anbudan

John

Siva—Siva

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"The man started moaning and crying even more, as if his heart were breaking.

"All my hopes of salvation are gone. You were my last refuge and you say you

have nothing to do with me! To whom shall I turn now? What am I to do? To whom

am I to go?"

Bhagavan watched him for some time and said, "Am I your guru that I should be

responsible for your salvation? Have I ever said that I am your master?"

"If you are not my master, then who is? And who are you, if not my master? You

are my guru, you are my guardian angel, you will pity me and release me from my

sins!" He started sobbing and crying again.

We all sat silent, overcome with pity. Only Bhagavan looked alert and matter-of-fact.

Bh: "If I am your guru, what are my fees? Surely you should pay me for my services."

D: "But you won't take anything," cried the visitor. "What can I give you?"

Bh: "Did I ever say that I don't take anything? And did you ever ask me what you can give me?"

D: "If you would take, then ask me. There is nothing I would not give you."

Bh: "All right. Now I am asking. Give me. What will you give me ?"

D: "Take anything, all is yours."

Bh: "Then give me all the good you have done in this world."

D: "What good could I have done? I have not a single virtue to my credit"

Bh: "You have promised to give. Now give. Don't talk of your credit. Just give

away all the good you have done in your past."

D: "Yes, I shall give. But how does one give? Tell me how the giving is done and I shall give."

Bh: "Say like this: 'All the good I have done in the past I am giving away

entirely to my guru. Henceforth I have no merit from it nor have I any concern

with it.' Say it with your whole heart."

D: "All right, Swami, I am giving away to you all the good I have done so far,

if I have done any, and all its good effects. I am giving it to you gladly, for

you are my master and you are asking me to give it all away to you."

Bh: "But this is not enough," said Bhagavan sternly.

D: "I gave you all I have and all you asked me to give. I have nothing more to give."

Bh: "No, you have. Give me all your sins."

D: The man looked wildly at Bhagavan, terror stricken. "You do not know, Swami,

what you are asking for. If you knew, you would not ask me. If you take over my

sins, your body will rot and burn. You do not know me, you do not know my sins.

Please do not ask me for my sins." And he wept bitterly.

Bh: "I shall look after myself, don't you worry about me," said Bhagavan. "All I

want from you is your sins."

For a long time the bargain would not go through. The man refused to part with

his sins. But Bhagavan was adamant.

Bh: "Either give me your sins along with your merits, or keep both and don't

think of me as your master."

In the end the visitor's scruples broke down and he declared: "Whatever sins I

have done, they are no longer mine. All of them and their results, too, belong

to Ramana."

Bhagavan seemed to be satisfied. "From now on there is no good nor bad in you.

You are just pure. Go and do nothing, neither good nor bad. Remain yourself,

remain what you are."

A great peace fell over the man and over us all. No one knows what happened to

the fortunate visitor; he was never seen in the Ashrama again. He might have

been in no further need of coming."

-

"Harsha" <harsha (AT) cox (DOT) net>

<RamanaMaharshi>; "" <>

Tuesday, May 03, 2005 3:41 AM

Re: [RamanaMaharshi] Overbearing Guilt

> Hi Zoya,> > I don't think anyone of us can speculate on what Bhagavan would

say to > your friend. Bhagavan was natural and sensed the spirit of each person

> and their circumstances and his reactions were based on that............> >

/archive/MagazineV2/harsha/suffering.html#hopes> >

Harsha> > Zoya wrote:> >> Hello everyone;>>>> I was hoping for some guidance. I

am helping a friend>> who has the following questions.>>>> What would Ramana

say to a person who went to him and>> asked:>>>> I have done something wrong

and because if that>> someone else has become sick and is suffering severe>>

emotional pain.>>>> The effect is permanent.>>>> I can't handle my sense of

guilt and impending doom.>>>> I can't even accept myself anymore.>>>> I also

cannot do self inquiry as I get severly>> depressed once I start the

Inquiry.>>>> Please help me?>>>> "The Self is always realized. Look within and

be still!>> - Bhagavan Sri Ramana>

 

 

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