ETERNAL GURU - 9

[Guest guest]

Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya !

 

I was approached by some of the staunch Ramana Devotees from

Tuticorin to entrust an assignment of welcoming Bhagavan's Ratham

(in June 2004) at my area and take care of the devotees accompanying

the Ratham.

 

I was immensly pleased at the grace of Bhagavan and grabbed the

opportunity. With so much of enthusiasm, I started preparing the

ladies and children to practice Akshara Mana Maalai, arranged lunch

for the devotees and the like.

 

Everything went on well with the grace of Bhagavan. I felt as if I

am personally blessed by Bhagavan when Shri Chandramouli (of

Ramanashram) told me "Thirunelvelike Halwa va..nu solra maathiri..

Annamalaike Annadhanama" (Tirunelveli is famous for Halwa, so he

said "Like one giving Halwa to Tirunelveli, now even for Annamalai,

which feeds lakhs of people, you are giving Anna Dhanam". My joy

knew no bounds and at the same time the ugly and uncouth face of my

ego got exposed.

 

I harshly treated a lady who approached the Ratham with an intention

to touch the idol of Bhagavan in the Ratham. She became sad and went

away with a long face. I thought I had every right to do so as it

was my job. Baba would say, to hurt one's mind is the most heinous

crime.

 

The same evening I was reading a book on Ramana Guru. One incident

quoted in that book virtually shocked me as if Bhagavan talking to me

directly in that tone. The incident is this:-

 

Bhagavan was suffering from a boil in one of His fingers. Unmindful

of it, He was doing grinding work in the kitchen, in spite of protest

from some. Kunju Swamigal also went to Bhagavan to tell Him (rather

warm Him) not to do grinding work considering the boil on the

finger. Bhagavan did not heed to the protests but finished the job.

 

Instead, Bhaghavan started asking people around Him "Can I go for a

stroll nowCan I go for the lunchCan I take some water".

Perplexed and pained by such questions asking "permission" from the

people around Him, they prostrated at the Feet of Bhagavan and prayed

not to hurt them with such questions.

 

Bhagavan replied "No, you people only protecting Bhagavan, as if

Bhagavan is owned by you all and not by any one else". This is the

thing - people who are in close proximity of Bhagavan slowly start

thinking that they have every right over Bhagavan, that Bhagavan

knows nothing". He also many a time warned volunteers who prevented

devotees from having dharshan of Bhagavan. On one such occasion, He

even came out of His room and got seated outside to teach a lesson to

such volunteers who pose themselves as very strict.

 

It is not hence uncommon with the persons who are at the helm of

affairs hurting others - may be unwittingly. After all many feel

happy to share their spiritual knowledge and experience with others

and one should basically know this very fact. If hurt and

humiliated, they will simply accept them in the name of their Guru

and remain calm or happily go away. To a true Ramana Devotee,

everything is predistined and preordined.

 

Ramanaarpanam.

 

Ganesh Ramachandran