Spiritual Stories by Ramana

[Guest guest]

SILENCE IS THE TRUE UPADESA

 

Once a devotee came and said that the great sages of the past had

travelled extensively preaching the Truth and thus had served the

world at large. Similarly, if Bhagavan were to travel thus it would

be beneficial to many. Smilingly Bhagavan replied that his being

settled in one place was also beneficial and narrated the following

story.

 

BRAHMA, THE LORD of Creation, once lost interest in the work of

creation and thought of taking to a life of tapas. So, out of his

mind he created Sanaka, Sanatkumara, Sanandana and Sanatsujata, with

the intention to hand over to them his job in the course of time.

They grew up and mastered all the branches of study. Brahma then

decided to hand over to them his job and to retire. Sage Narada came

to know of his father's intention. Since Narada knew that his

brothers were full of dispassion and fit to be initiated into the

path of Self-knowledge, he decided to warn them beforehand of

Brahma's intention. On hearing this the four brothers, who had no

intention to follow the path of action, left home in search of a guru

without informing their father. They all proceeded to Vaikunta, the

abode of Vishnu. There they saw Lakshmi sitting on Vishnu's couch

massaging His Feet. On seeing this they thought, " How can this family

man bound by the intimate glance of his consort render us any help in

learning adhyatma vidya. Look at the splendour of this palace and

this city! This is enough. Let us seek the help of Lord Siva. "

 

Lord Siva, who was in Kailas with His family, knew beforehand about

their coming and understood their plight. He was sure that they would

be disappointed on seeing Him with a family, so taking pity on them

He decided to impart spiritual knowledge to them. The kind-hearted

Lord left Mount Kailas and taking the youthful form of Dakshinamurti

seated Himself with Chinmudra under a banyan tree on the Northern

side of Lake Manasarovar, on the way by which these disappointed

devotees were returning to their homes. When they came and sat before

Him, He went into samadhi. He was in Perfect Repose. Silence

prevailed. They saw Him. The effect was immediate. They fell into

samadhi and their doubts were cleared.

 

Silence is the true upadesa. It is the perfect upadesa. It is suited

only for the most advanced. Others are unable to draw full

inspiration from it. Therefore they require words to explain the

Truth. But Truth is beyond words. It does not admit of explanation.

All that is possible to do is only to indicate it.