Paul Brunton visits the ashram - article

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FROM EARLY DAYS

 

 

This article was culled from Swami Omkar’s monthly

magazine PEACE, dated September 1931. It describes the

first visit of Paul Brunton to Sri Ramanasramam. His book,

A Search in Secret India, did more than anything else in

the early years to make Sri Bhagavan widely known. When

Paul Brunton first came to India he was using the name of

R. Rafael Hurst. Paul Brunton was his pen-name, which he

later permanently adopted because the book he wrote under

it brought him much recognition.

It is interesting to note that an event of a visit from a

foreign journalist to the Ashram was in those far-off days

something to be written about in the newspapers!

 

 

It was half past four in the afternoon and the disciples were

sitting before the Maharishi in the hall and were talking about

a notification that had appeared in the dailies to the effect that a

Mr. Hurst and a Buddhist bhikshu were intending to visit the

Ashram. The clock struck five and there entered the hall a man

in European costume bearing a plate of sweets, followed by a

Buddhist monk. The visitors offered the sweets to the Maharshi

and then, after making obeisance in the Eastern way, they both

squatted on the floor before him. These were the visitors of

whom the disciples had been talking. The man in English clothes

was R. Raphael Hurst, a London journalist who was then on a

visit to India. He was keenly interested in the spiritual teaching

of the East and thought that by an intelligent study and

appreciation of it the cause of cooperation between East and

West might be greatly promoted.

 

 

He came to Sri Ramanasramam after visiting many other

ashrams. The bhikshu who came with him is also an Englishman

by birth. He was formerly a military officer, but is now known

as Swami Prajnanananda. He is the founder of the English

Ashram at Rangoon. Both visitors sat spellbound before

Maharshi and there was pin-drop silence.

 

The silence was broken by the person who had brought

the visitors asking them if they would like to ask any questions.

They were, however, not in a mood to do so, and thus an

hour and a half passed. Mr. Hurst then stated the purpose of

his visit. In a voice of intense earnestness, he said that he had

come to India for spiritual enlightenment. “Not only myself,”

he added, “but many others also in the West are longing for

the light from the East.” The Maharshi sat completely indrawn

and paid no attention. One of those who were sitting there

asked them if they had come to the East for a study of

comparative religions. “No,” the bhikshu replied, “we could

get that better in Europe. We want to find Truth; we want the

light. Can we know the truth? Is it possible to get

Enlightenment?” The Maharshi still remained silent and

indrawn, and as the visitors wanted to take a walk the

conversation ended and all dispersed.

 

Early next morning the visitors entered the hall and put

some questions to the Maharshi with great earnestness. The

conversation reproduced below is from rough notes taken while

it was going on.

 

Bhikshu: We have travelled far and wide in search of

Enlightenment. How can we get it?

 

Maharshi: Through deep enquiry and constant meditation.

 

Hurst: Many people do meditate in the West, but show no

signs of progress.

 

Maharshi: How do you know that they don’t make

progress. Spiritual progress is not easily discernible.

 

Hurst: A few years ago I got some glimpses of the Bliss,

but in the years that followed I lost it again. Then last year I

again got it. Why is that?

 

Maharshi: You lost it because your meditation had not

become natural (sahaja). When you become habitually

inturned the enjoyment of spiritual beatitude becomes a

normal experience.

 

Hurst: Might it be due to the lack of a Guru?

 

Maharshi: Yes, but the Guru is within. That Guru who is

within is identical with your Self.

 

Hurst: What is the way to God-realization?

 

Maharshi: Vichara, asking yourself ‘Who am I?’, enquiry

into the nature of your Self.

 

Bhikshu: The world is in a state of degeneration. It is getting

constantly worse, spiritually, morally, intellectually and in every

way. Will a spiritual teacher come to save it from chaos?

 

Maharshi: Inevitably. When goodness declines and wrong

prevails He comes to reinstate goodness. The world is neither

too good nor too bad: it is a mixture of (both) the two. Unmixed

happiness and unmixed sorrow are not found in the world.

The world always needs God and God always comes.

 

Bhikshu: Will He be born in the East or in the West?

 

The Maharshi laughed at the question but did not

answer it.

 

Hurst: Does the Maharshi know whether an avatara already

exists in the physical body?

 

Maharshi: He might.

 

Hurst: What is the best way to attain Godhood?

 

Maharshi: Self-enquiry leads to Self-Realization.

 

Hurst: Is a Guru necessary for spiritual progress?

 

Maharshi: Yes.

 

Hurst: Is it possible for the Guru to help the disciple forward

on the path?

 

Maharshi: Yes.

 

Hurst: What are the conditions for discipleship?

 

Maharshi: Intense desire for Self-realization, earnestness

and purity of mind.

 

Hurst: Does a Guru want to take control of the disciple’s

worldly affairs also?

 

Maharshi: Yes, everything.

 

Hurst: Can he give the disciple the spiritual spark that he

needs?

 

Maharshi: He can give him all that he needs, this can be

seen from experience.

 

Hurst: Is it necessary to be in physical contact with the

Guru, and if so for how long?

 

Maharshi: It depends on the maturity of the disciple.

Gunpowder catches fire in an instant, while it takes time to

ignite coal.

 

Hurst: Is it possible to develop along the path of the Spirit

while leading a life of work?

 

Maharshi: There is no conflict between work and wisdom.

On the contrary, selfless work paves the way to Self-knowledge.

 

Hurst: If a person is engaged in work it will leave him

little time for meditation.

 

Maharshi: It is only spiritual novices who need to set

aside a special time for meditation. A more advanced person

always enjoys the beatitude whether he is engaged in work or

not. While his hands are in society he can keep his head cool

in solitude.

 

Bhikshu: Have you heard of Meher Baba?

 

Maharshi: Yes.

 

Bhikshu: He says that he will become an avatara in a few

years.

 

Maharshi: Every one is an avatara of God: “The kingdom

of heaven is within you.” Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Krishna,

all are in you. One who knows the Truth sees every one else as a

manifestation of God.

 

Bhikshu: Will the Maharshi make a statement about

Meher Baba?

 

Maharshi: What statement? That (the existence of an outer

avatara) is a question which seekers of Truth need not consider.

 

Bhikshu: Will the world be rejuvenated?

 

Maharshi: There is One who governs the world and it is

His business to look after it. He who has created the world

knows how to guide it also.

 

Bhikshu: Does the world progress now?

 

Maharshi: If we progress the world progresses. As you are

so is the world. Without understanding the Self what is the use

of understanding the world? Without Self-knowledge,

knowledge of the world is of no use. Dive inwards and find the

treasure hidden there. Open your heart and see the world through

the eyes of the true Self. Tear aside the veils and see the Divine

Majesty of your own Self.

 

 

- from Surpassing Love & Grace