Suri Nagamma - Equality

[Guest guest]

It is now fifteen days since our nephew Tilak had come

here from London. The results of his examination were not

yet out. His father, having written to him to come home

quickly, he decided to leave here on 30th of last month.

On the evening before leaving, he went to the bazaar to

buy raisins, dates etc. for offering to Bhagavan. On the 30th

we placed them all on a tray and took them to the Ashram in

time for breakfast. The kitchen people asked me to serve

them myself, and as I had no experience of serving in the

dining hall, I took them to Bhagavan first. In a tone showing

that he was not pleased, he asked me what it was. I told him

that my nephew had brought some fruit. Bhagavan nodded,

“All right. Give me one of each variety.” After serving

Bhagavan accordingly, I served the others likewise. But

towards the end, it was found that only a few bananas were

left and so one of the attendants cut them into small bits and

served them equally to the last ten people.

With an expression of disgust, Bhagavan said, “This is

what I don’t like. Why do you serve when you cannot give

the same quantity to all people?” And he began recounting

all other similar mistakes. The people all left quietly after

eating. As Bhagavan was about to get up, after massaging

his legs a little, Tilak and I went up to him, and prostrating

before him, I told him that Tilak was leaving. Bhagavan said,

“I see. When fruit was brought I thought he had passed his

exam. So he is going to his native place? Very good.” So

saying, and pointing me out to the people near him, he said,

“She served me first instead of serving all the others first.”

“I am sorry,” I said, “I was new and so made the mistake.”

“That is all right,” Bhagavan said, “that is why I am

telling you. If you serve Bhagavan after you serve all the

others, there will be equal distribution. If by chance nothing

remains, it does not matter if I don’t get anything. If all eat,

I am satisfied even if I do not get my share. Serving should

always be on that principle; it is a good principle. If all people

here eat, is it not tantamount to Bhagavan’s eating?”

I said, “That is so, I am sorry for the mistake.”

Bhagavan said, “All right, don’t worry, it does not matter.”

I do not know whether you have noticed that in the

Ashram three times a day, when the bell goes, a small portion

of all the dishes, including rice cakes (iddlies) are taken out

for feeding the cows, crows, dogs, monkeys and also any

poor people who happen to be in the Ashram at the time. If

that is not done first, Bhagavan will not come for food, nor

will he keep quiet unless they are fed. If squirrels and

peacocks come, groundnut kernels are given. If anyone shows

disinclination to serve like that, Bhagavan will not tolerate

it, and says, “All right. Go, if you like. They have come here

in the same way as we have all come, and they will get their

food as we all get it. You want to serve us with respect, saying

‘Swami, Swami’, but you serve them with curses. Did we

purchase them and bring them here? They have come just

as we did. Why this disrespect to them?”

Bhagavan said all this because I had forgotten the

principle and had made a mistake. One peculiar thing to

note in this connection is that Bhagavan had said, “When

the fruit was brought, I thought he had passed his

examination,” and on verification, we found that the results

were out in London on that very day. Brother sent a

telegram yesterday to say that the boy had passed his exam.

The voices of great souls do not go in vain, you see!

 

 

taken from

Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam

By SURI NAGAMMA

 

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Attention Romanian speaking readers: Christopher Quilkey's article "Arthur Osborne" translated in Romanian language has been uploaded at:

 

http://www.chemarea.net/Articole/A.Osborne.html

 

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