Spiritual Stories by Ramana

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Dear Devotees in TBP,

 

Love and Love alone....

 

Today onwards, I am posting a Spiritual Story a day narranted by

Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi to His devotees. This book was sent to

me by my friend Sri Abbaraju Venkataramana, New Delhi. Many thanks

to him. I am sure, you will all enjoy reading and be blessed by

inculcating and imbibing the gist of each story.

 

Love and Love alone...

 

P. Gopi Krishna

 

SPIRITUAL STORIES AS TOLD BY RAMANA MAHARSHI

SRI RAMANASRAMAM, TIRUVANNAMALAI, 2001

 

PREFACE

 

The mind seeks to define the infinite. In doing so it has used its

own resources to bring down Supreme Truth in a simple and yet potent

language. Scattered throughout the religious scriptures of India,

parables and stories abound, weaving a colourful thread around the

most profound spiritual truths of mankind. Handed down from parent

to child these religious treasures of India remain a relevant force

today.

 

Sivaprakasam Pillai, one of the earliest devotees to recognise the

spiritual greatness of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, commented " Sri

Ramana Bhagavan has attained the state of Brahman without knowing

the word Brahman. " For it was not until years later, that books were

brought to Sri Bhagavan by devotees, describing the very state he

himself had intuitively experienced. With his pure and retentive

memory, he retained the essence of all these books at a glance, and

brought forth at a moment's notice, the perfect story or parable

suitable to the occasion. In Sri Ramana's own words the beauty and

wisdom contained in such stories are made ever more beautiful and the

essence made even clearer.

 

Sri Bhagavan would not only tell the story but would act out the

part to the delight of his devotees. If the story was particularly

moving, tears would flow freely from his eyes. " Such was the

attraction of these stories " , Kunju Swami related, " that when we

heard Sri Bhagavan beginning a story, even if we had heard it

numerous times before, we would literally stop whatever we were

doing and run to his side to hear it again! " S. S. Cohen in Guru

Ramana relates, " Bhagavan was reciting from memory a poem of a

Vaishnava Saint, in which occurred the words, `Fold me in Thy

embrace, O Lord', whereupon the arms of Bhagavan joined in a circle

round the vacant air in front of him, while his eyes shone with

devotional fervour and his voice shook with stifled sobs which did

not escape our notice. It was fascinating to see him acting the

parts he related, and being in such exhilarated moods as these. " On

another occasion while Bhagavan was reading and explaining a story

about Tara Vilasam his eyes became full of tears and his voice

became tremulous. It looked as if the whole drama was being enacted

in his presence. Noticing this Suri Nagamma remarked, " Bhagavan

appears to have been transformed into Tara herself. " Pulling himself

together the master said with a smile, " What to do? I identify

myself with whosoever is before me, I have no separate identity.

I am universal. "

 

At the suggestion of Mrs. Lucia Osborne, we have included the

incidents which inspired Sri Bhagavan to relate the story. A few new

stories have been added, along with a glossary of Sanskrit and Tamil

words. Special thanks must be made to Sri S.Tyagarajan who with

great care went over the entire manuscript with Sri Kunju Swamigal.

Sri Kunju Swamigal's unfailing enthusiasm and keen interest helped

us greatly. With deepest salutations this little work is offered to

Sri Bhagavan, whose guidance, grace and love has prompted this

collection of stories. We pray for the grace and blessings of

Bhagavan Sri Ramana. May his words inspire us to turn within.

 

Joan Greenblatt

Sri Ramanasramam

August 5, 1984