Remiscences - from The Silent Power

[Guest guest]

The author of this reminiscence is not known, but the

events took place in 1935. Maurice Frydman eventually

became a resident of Sri Ramanasramam for a period of nearly

three years and during the later stages of his stay, he compiled

“Maharshi’s Gospel”.

 

 

One morning in September, one Maurice Frydman, a

consulting and electrical engineer announced himself before

Sri Bhagavan. He entered the hall, hat in hand but with shoes

still on. The Maharshi ordered a stool for him upon which he

seated himself cross-legged for a short time and then he withdrew.

After a wash and light refreshments he came back without shoes

and squatted on the floor.

 

He stayed three days and was quite social and genial and

friendly to everyone who responded similarly towards him. He

tried to learn our ways and adapt himself to them. His clumsiness

often evoked the good humoured laughter of the Maharshi who

always put him right, as a father would a child.

 

He tried to learn from Maharshi something about realisation,

raised doubts and had them cleared. Once he asked why there

should be illusion if the individual soul is identical with the Supreme.

Bhagavan gave him the usual answer (the answer is not given in the

text) and then began to chew betel leaves. In the meantime,

Mr.Frydman was ruminating and with dramatic gestures wanted

to know why the ego should not be cut down at one stroke and

destroyed so as to gain supreme bliss. The Maharshi stopped chewing

his betel leaves long enough to smile, and then broke out into

laughter and asked the questioner to hold out his ego so that the

Maharshi could strike it down. Everyone in the hall laughed

including Mr. Frydman and at the conclusion of the laughter Mr.

Frydman addressed the Maharshi and said, “Yes, now I understand.”