Guest guest Posted June 19, 2004 Report Share Posted June 19, 2004 TURN EASTWARDS by Pascaline Mallet In the second edition of Self-Realization, B. V. Narasimha Swami included a short excerpt from a book entitled Turn Eastwards by Pascaline Mallet who visited the ashram in 1937. For reasons unknown this excerpt was deleted from the subsequent editions. We have included here the majority of the chapter on Bhagavan and the ashram. ............................... [ This is only a shorter excerpt from the chapter mentioned above and published in The Mountain Path.] .......................... Perfect freedom, we found, is also maintained at the ashram. All are allowed to come and go at any time and do whatever they feel like doing. The only strict rule we noticed is that of non-smoking in the hall. There is never the slightest feeling of compulsion and no attempt is made to impose on the visitors any special religious belief. Those who wish to read Maharshi's books are welcome to do so, but there is no obligation. Some people ask questions, and Maharshi always answers in the most illuminating fashion, sometimes by questioning the questioner. Others prefer to meditate and keep silent, often finding that their mental doubts and personal problems have been solved without the help of spoken words. "Know thyself" is the fundamental note of the Maharshi's teaching, and the quest of Self is continually stressed and described as the one essential prerequisite to spiritual attainment. All religious are but various ways leading ultimately to this one point, when inner personal experience and first hand knowledge begin to replace blind faith in religious or ethical precepts. And what indeed are books, however sacred and beautiful, when under our very eyes we can look upon one who has realized in himself the highest spiritual state? Undoubtedly, merely to live in his presence is the greatest help that one could possibly receive. It is a fact that no one who comes to the ashram, wether for consolation, spiritual enlightenment, or even out of mere curiosity, goes away empty handed. Each receives to his utmost capacity, be that capacity great or small, and many people get inner experinces which have changed their whole lives. ....................... The Mountain Path , Jayanti Issue 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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