Ramana Maharshi questions why few immature minds associate with Sadhus

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*Why do these people of immature mind, who are melting and weeping with the

longing to obtain easily the five sense-pleasures, come and associate with

Sadhus, who always live the aim of conquering and completely destroying the

five sense-pleasures?*

 

*Sadhu Om and Michael James: *Do not people who, even though they may hold

degrees or high and powerful positions in society,are immature, approach

Sadhus with worldly offerings and wait in their holy presence for the

fulfilment of their desires? This is not only foolish, but also improper.

Since such worldly people are mad after the five sense-pleasures, whereas

Sadhus are totally destroying the desire for the five sense-pleasures by the

power of their tapas, they have no business with Sadhus. The following

incident will throw more light on this point:

 

One evening at 4 pm during Sri Bhagavan’s stay at Virupaksha Cave, an old

brahmin came there with his daughter and offered a big plateful of costly

sweets. Sri Bhagavan accepted a little of it, and the rest was distributed

to all the devotees present,who were immensely happy since in those days

they were not getting even enough ordinary food to satisfy their needs. The

devotees were very happy, but Sri Bhagavan did not seem to be so pleased. On

the third day when she came with her usual plate,though all the devotees

were very happy, Sri Bhagavan told her with a look of displeasure, “What is

this? Why do you bring today also? I did not mind when you brought it once

or twice, but why do you daily bring such costly things? If there is any

expectation behind these offerings, it is wrong. This is not the place for

the ful-filment of worldly desires. If you have any such desire, do not

bring these offerings from tomorrow onwards”.

 

Next day, to the great disappointment of many of the devotees,she did not

come. One of the devotees afterwards enquired from her father and came to

know that, in spite of having passed the normal age, the girl had not yet

attained maturity for her marriage,and that someone had advised her father

that if such offerings were made to Sri Bhagavan, their desire would be

fulfilled.

 

*Source:* GURU VACHAKA KOVAI The Light of Supreme Truth or THE COLLECTION OF

GURU’S SAYINGS translated from original Tamil By Sadhu Om and Michael James

 

Guru Vachaka Kovai is the biggest collection of Bhagavan’s spoken teachings

that was thoroughly checked and revised by him during his lifetime. As such

it has a unique place in the Ramana literature.

 

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Om namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram