Bhagavan-The door to God is open,

[Guest guest]

Two women came from Kumbakonam to meet Bhagavan.

One of them was a guru and the other her disciple.

They were leaving by train the same evening.

In the afternoon the disciple brought her guru

into the Hall and made an elaborate seat for

her in front of Bhagavan. Every now and then

the disciple would go up to Bhagavan's sofa

and whisper. "In everything, she is just like you,

Swami...she is in the same state as yourself....

Please let us have your blessings.... Will you

teach us briefly the path of salvation? What is

attachment? How to be free from Maya?"

She was going on like this for quite a long time.

Bhagavan never replied. Evening was nearing.

The disciple felt hurt. "Swami, please instruct us...

Swami, proceed with initiation quickly, it is getting late....

Be quick, Swami. You know we have to catch the train.

Hurry!" The poor lady was getting desperate. "At least

tell us something. They all speak of ignorance, what is

ignorance?" Bhagavan turned to Muruganar and, in his

mercy, said: "Ask her to inquire within. Who is ignorant?"

Muruganar told them: "Now you go, your initiation is over."

And they went away.

 

Bhagavan talked about it later: "Everything must be done in a hurry.

Everybody has some train to catch. They visit Swami in a rush and

want to carry away a parcel of liberation. They read something here

and there and think they are quite learned." (Whenever there was

a chance to snub our ego, Bhagavan would never miss it). He continued:

"Before the people come here, everyone has the most sincere desire

to work for his own liberation, but when they settle down, the ego goes

to their heads and they forget why they came. They imagine they are

doing me great service by feeding me and think altogether too much

of themselves. The feeling of self-importance that they have when they

serve their guru destroys their hope of enlightenment. Only humility

can destroy the ego. The ego keeps you far away from God. The door

to God is open, but the lintel is very low. To enter one has to bend.

Are you doing me greater service than the man who for years was

like my shadow? What was the good of it? The same man went to

court against me and got me cross-examined! Even if a trace of ego

is left in the mind it will rapidly increase and ruin you spiritually."

 

Shantammal

 

- from Ramana Smrti Souvenir

 

http://www.sentient.org/maharshi/janfeb99.htm