SRI RAMANA’S LESSON TO A DEVOTEE

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram

 

SRI RAMANA'S LESSON TO A DEVOTEE

A European devotee who preferred to remain anonymous has recorded as

follows:

 

Sri Bhagavan is unique, peerless. One gracious and understanding look

from him and a few sympathetic words from him had always meant oceans

to the earnest seeker, to the aspiring pilgrim. And which sincere

voyager has gone to him and returned empty-handed?

The intellectual quibbler might have got a short shrift from him. The

dry philosopher might have found in him a steel wall. The eternal

doubter would have returned from him not any better. But those who

have unreservedly surrendered themselves to the pursuit of truth have

never failed to find in him a great guide. Sometimes the sought-for

guidance would come through an answer given to somebody's question.

Sometimes it would be provided through a direct monosyllabic answer.

And sometimes it would come through an actual experience. These

experiences are intimate and are provided only for the personal

spiritual advancement of the particular aspirant. It is, therefore,

not usually considered necessary to take the world into confidence

regarding such an experience. But since I have been invited to write

on how Sri Bhagavan has been helping the aspirants, I venture to

refer to just one experience of mine.

Once I was going on the eastern side of the hill in full belief and

confidence that I had unreservedly surrendered myself to Sri

Bhagavan. Suddenly, I saw a leper woman walking towards me. Her

face was terribly disfigured by the disease. Her nose had been

completely eaten away and in its place were found two holes. The

fingers on her hands had all gone. She advanced towards me, and

extending the stumps of her hands asked me to give something to

eat. The sight of her disgusted me, frightened me. My whole frame

shuddered with terror that she might touch me. Overcome with

repulsion, I hastened to move away from her.

Suddenly, I heard the voice of Sri Bhagavan coming clear and ringing

from across the mountain. It said, " To surrender to me is to

surrender to every one, for the Self is in every one. " Hearing this,

I regained my poise and offered the leper woman the plantains that I

had in my bag.

 

 

In a few minutes, I saw myself standing before not the

disfigured woman but before a tall old man with white long hair and

beard. The man looked like a rishi and was smiling. When the thought

of prostrating before he rishi entered my mind, I saw before me the

old leper woman again. I bowed, happy at heart though somewhat

confused in mind and then resumed my walk up the hill. I have cited

this as just one of the ways through which Sri Bhagavan teaches,

guides and helps. (Source: Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi, the

Kendram's publication.)