Letters from Sri Ramanasramam 8

[Guest guest]

28th November, 1945

 

SERVICE OF ATMA SWARUPA IS ATMA SEVA

 

 

During the last two or three months, Bhagavan's

 

personal attendants have been massaging his legs with some

 

medicated oil to relieve the rheumatic pain. Some of the

 

devotees, zealous in attention to Bhagavan's body, also began

 

massaging by turn every half an hour, and this resulted in

 

upsetting the usual Ashram routine.

 

Would Bhagavan tolerate all this? He was always

 

considerate even to his personal attendants and would never

 

say emphatically 'No' to anything; so he said in a casual

 

way, 'All of you please wait for a while, I will also massage

 

these legs a little. Should I too not have some of the punyam

 

(merit)?' So saying, he removed their hands and began

 

massaging his own legs. Not only was I very much amused

 

at this but what little desire might have still been lurking in

 

me to touch Sri Bhagavan's lotus feet and thus perform

 

pranam (salutation) was completely obliterated. Bhagavan's

 

words have a peculiar charm of their own! Look! He too

 

wants a little of the punyam! What a delicate hint to those

 

who have the intelligence to take it!

 

 

 

It was about that time that a retired judge of ripe old

 

age said, " Swamiji, I should also be given my share of service

 

to the feet of the Guru. " To this Bhagavan replied. " Oh,

 

really? Atma-vai guruhu! (Service to Self is service to Guru.)

 

You are now 70 years of age. You to do service to me? Enough

 

of that! At least from now onwards, serve yourself. It is more

 

than enough if you remain quiet. "

 

When one comes to think about it, what greater upadesa

 

(teaching) is there than this? Bhagavan says it is enough if

 

one can remain quiet. It is natural for him to do so, but are

 

we capable of it? However much we try we do not attain that

 

state. What else can we do than depend upon Sri Bhagavan's

 

Grace?