Letters from Sri Ramanasramam 9

[Guest guest]

29th November, 1945

 

EQUALITY WITH ALL

 

I believe it was about a year back. You know Ramachandra

 

Rao, an Ayurvedic physician? For preparing a medicine that

 

would give strength to Bhagavan's body, he made out a

 

long list of the necessary herbs and ingredients and showed

 

it to Sri Bhagavan. Like a good boy, who would readily

 

obey instructions, Bhagavan went through the whole list,

 

praised the efficacy of the various drugs and finally said,

 

" For whom is this medicine, my dear man? " He said quietly,

 

" For Sri Bhagavan himself. " On hearing that, Bhagavan

 

said, " No doubt, you have given me a long list, but where

 

am I to get the money for it? It may cost Rs. 10/-, and

 

whom am I to approach for it? "

 

Someone quietly said, looking around at the Ashram

 

property, " Whose is all this, Swamiji? "

 

" Yes, but what have I? If I want a quarter anna, I must

 

go and ask the Sarvadhikari. How should I go and ask him?

 

He gives me a little food, if I go there as soon as the bell rings.

 

I also eat along with the others and then come back, and I

 

might be refused food if I was late. Even in being served food,

 

I come last, " said Bhagavan. The poor physician trembled

 

with fear and, with folded hands, said, " Swamiji, I just showed

 

you the list and I myself will get the required drugs. " Upon

 

 

 

this Bhagavan said, " Oh yes? You will get them? But if that

 

medicine is good for me, it must necessarily be good for all

 

the others here. Can you give it to them also as well as to me? "

 

When some people said, " Why do we want it, Swamiji? "

 

Bhagavan replied, " If people who do physical work don't need

 

a body-building tonic, how do I who merely sits here and

 

eats? No, no, that can't be! "

 

Once before, Dr. Srinivasa Rao told Bhagavan about an

 

Allopathic medicine which gives strength and said that it

 

would be good for Bhagavan if he took it. Bhagavan said,

 

" Yes, that is all right, you are rich and can take anything; but

 

what about me? I am a mendicant. How can I have such a

 

costly medicine? " Then the doctor said, " Bhagavan always

 

declines everything that is offered, but if he agrees to take

 

something, won't it be forthcoming? Or if not medicines,

 

why not take some nutritious food such as milk, fruit and

 

almonds? "

 

Bhagavan replied: " All right; but I am a daridranarayana

 

(God in the form of the poor and the destitute). How can I

 

afford it? Besides, am I a single individual? Mine is a large

 

family. How can all of them have fruits, milk, almonds, etc.? "

 

Bhagavan dislikes anything special for himself. He

 

has often told us that if anybody brings eatables and

 

distributes them amongst all he will not mind even if he is

 

left out, but he will feel hurt if the eatables are given to

 

him only and not distributed to others along with him. If

 

he is walking along a path, and some people are coming

 

in the opposite direction, he does not like them to step

 

aside for him but instead he will himself step aside and

 

allow them to pass and, until they do, he will not go a step

 

farther. We should consider ourselves fortunate if we can

 

imbibe even a thousandth part of this spirit of equality

 

and renunciation.

 

 

 

If dull-witted people like me who do not know his ideas

 

give him preferential treatment in matters of food, etc., he

 

excuses a great deal since forbearance is his nature, but when

 

it goes too far he gets disgusted and says, " What am I to do?

 

They have the upper hand, they are the people who serve, I

 

am the one who eats. I must listen to what they say, and eat

 

when they want me to. You see, this is swamitvam (life of a

 

Swami). Do you understand? " What more admonition can

 

one want than this?