AS I SAW HIM G.V.SUBBARAMAYYA

May 3, 2008

January / February 1992

Vol. 2 - No. 1

Produced & Edited by

Dennis Hartel

Dr. Anil K. Sharma

AS I SAW HIM - 6

From Sri Ramana Reminiscences

by G. V. Subbaramayya

Asked " How does a grihastha (householder) fare in the scheme of Moksha

(liberation)? " the Maharshi said, " The obstacle is the mind. It must be got over

whether at home or in the forest. Renunciation is always in the mind, not in

going to the forest or solitary places, or giving up one's duties. The main

thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but inward. "

G. V. Subbaramayya, a professor and poet, approached the Maharshi with childlike

faith and spontaneous devotion - like an innocent child to his loving father. He

laid bare, without reserve, his sorrows, joys, devotion and defects, and the

Maharshi reciprocated, keeping a close and gracious eye on all his affairs. What

follows is but a small, yet telling sample from his Sri Ramana Reminiscences.

MY FIRST PILGRIMAGE to Sri Ramanasramam was on June 8th, 1933. I travelled alone

to Tiruvannamalai. I was at that time in great sorrow, having suffered my first

bereavement the previous December, when my two-year-old son died suddenly. For

over two years I had been reading the works of Sri Bhagavan and other Ashrama

literature. My main interest had been literary rather than philosophical. I had

been struck with wonder at the style of the Telugu Upadesa Saram which, in its

simplicity, felicity and classic finish, could equal that of the greatest Telugu

poet Tikkana. I had felt convinced that a Tamilian who could compose such Telugu

verse must be divinely inspired, and I had wanted to see him. But my immediate

quest at the time was for peace and solace.

In the morning I had darshan of Sri Bhagavan in the old Hall. As our eyes met,

there was a miraculous effect upon my mind. I felt as if I had plunged into a

pool of peace, and with eyes shut, sat in a state of ecstasy for nearly an hour.

When I came to normal consciousness, I found someone spraying the Hall to keep

off insects, and Sri Bhagavan mildly objecting with a silent shake of his head.

As I now heard Sri Bhagavan saying something, I made bold to ask him a question.

" The Bhagavad Gita says that mortals cast off their worn-out bodies, just as one

casts away the worn-out clothes and wears new garments. How does this apply to

the deaths of infants whose bodies are new and fresh? " I asked. Sri Bhagavan

promptly replied: " How do you know that the body of the dead child is not

worn-out? It may not be apparent; but unless it is worn-out it will not die.

That is the law of Nature. "

Immediately after lunch, I left the Ashrama even without taking leave of Sri

Bhagavan. I came and went incognito, as an utter stranger.

After nearly three years, I again visited the Ashrama in the spring of 1936,

this time with a note of introduction. Sri Bhagavan, even before going through

it, gave me a knowing nod and gracious smile and said, " Why the introduction ?

You have come before; you are not new. " To add to my wonder I now felt as though

my dead father had come back alive; the resemblance was so striking. My approach

to Sri Ramana has ever since been that of a child to its parent, quite fearless

free and familiar.

Some years ago I had been initiated into two mantras and was enjoined to repeat

them a minimum number of times every day. I had been doing it punctiliously, but

now after entering the Ashrama, I had no mind to the mantras or do any kind of

formal worship. After a few days I was seized with the fear of incurring sin by

failing to observe the instructions on my initiation. So I put it to Sri

Bhagavan himself, making a clean breast of my default. Sri Bhagavan smiled and

said, " Just because you have done so much of japa, its merit has brought you

here. Why should you now fear while enjoying the fruit of the japa? "

I had also at this time a more serious trouble. I had been practising breath

control (pranayama) as taught by Swami Ramtirtha in his works. There came a

stage when I felt a terrible sensation as though my head would crack and break

into pieces. Then I stopped doing it, but every day the sensation was recurring

at the time of practice and the fear was growing that disaster was imminent. So,

at dead of night, when Bhagavan was alone, I approached him with my tale. He

said laughing, " What! Again you are seized with fear! These are the usual

experiences of people who do yogic exercises without the immediate guidance of a

Guru, but having come to me, why should you fear? " Then Sri Bhagavan added in an

undertone: " Next time you get that sensation, you think of me and you will be

all right. " From that moment to this I have never felt it again.

" Be still and know that I am God "

During the Christmas of 1936, I attended Sri Bhagavan's Jayanti celebration for

the first time. Many Western visitors had come. One of them, Mr. Maurice

Frydman, a Polish Jew of subtle intellect, plied Sri Bhagavan with ingenious

pleas for practical guidance for Self-realisaton. Sri Bhagavan followed his

arguments with keen interest but kept silent all the time. When pressed to say

something, Sri Bhagavan only quoted from the Bible, " Be still and know that I am

God, " and added " The Lord said 'know' and not, 'think' that I am God. " We

understood Sri Bhagavan as meaning that all these arguments were spun by the

intellect, the stilling of which was the only way to Realisation.

Another visitor, Mr. Duncan Greenless, said, " Bhagavan, while we are in your

presence, a certain halo of purity and peace seems to surround us. It continues

for some time after we leave. Then it disappears and the old stupidities return.

Why is it so? " Sri Bhagavan replied, " It is all the work of the mind. Like the

battery it wears out and has to be recharged. But when mind control is perfect,

there will be no further trouble. "

Availing myself of a short holiday in February 1937, I again went to the Ashrama

to submit my translation of Sri Kavyakantha's Gitamala in person. As I entered

the Hall and was prostrating, to my consternation, my five year old daughter,

Lalita, went very near to Sri Bhagavan and asked him, " What is your name, Sir? "

Sri Bhagavan replied with a counter-query, " What is your name? " " My name is

Lalita, " said she, and repeated her question, " What is yours, please? " Now Sri

Bhagavan pointing to himself with His right hand on the right side of his chest

said, " What! don't you know ME? " She at once answered, " Oh yes! I simply asked

for fun. " At this Sri Bhagavan burst into laughter.

Lalita's leave-taking was a most moving scene. As she knelt down, Sri Bhagavan

who was then squatting after his breakfast, tapped her on the back with his

stick saying, " This is to keep you in mind lest you should forget. " Then he

lifted her and hugged her to his breast. He told the people then present, " The

speciality of this child is this: she has no sense of newness or strangeness,

all beings and all things she takes as her own. "

One day, having just read a biography of the late Ammani Ammal, sister of the

late Dr. T. M. Nair, Sri Bhagavan spoke highly of her learning, philanthropy and

devotion. In her last illness, she wired to Sri Bhagavan praying for a peaceful

end. Just when Sri Bhagavan was perusing her letter, she expired in her home. As

Sri Bhagavan was narrating this incident, he was so moved that he shed tears.

My long stay this time made the departure a wrench for me, and my feeling found

vent in some Telugu verses which I composed on the way and posted to the

Ashrama. In the opening verse I wrote, " Leaving Thy feet and going to my place,

alas! I feel like the new daughter-in-law leaving her mother's home and starting

to go and settle in her mother-in-law's place. " The Ashrama reply stated, " Your

letter with the 'padyam' full of your feelings was perused by Sri Bhagavan. " The

very next time I returned to the Ashrama, Sri Bhagavan greeted me saying, " Lo!

the new daughter-in-law has come back to her mother's home! You people treat her

as becomes her. " I have realised that these gracious words were not mere fun,

but truly described Sri Bhagavan's attitude towards me at all times. It was

pure, parental love.

May 4, 2008

Hi Michael,

" These are the usual experiences of people who do yogic exercises without

the immediate guidance of a Guru, but having come to me, why should you

fear? " Then Sri Bhagavan added in an undertone: " Next time you get that

sensation, you think of me and you will be all right. " From that moment to

this I have never felt it again. "

Fantastic reminder, I feel. Felt like thanking this group for reminding the

tips from bhagawan.As if bhagawan is reminding us!

vijay

_____

Michael Bindel [michael.bindel]

Sunday, May 04, 2008 12:48 AM

AS I SAW HIM G.V.SUBBARAMAYYA

January / February 1992

Vol. 2 - No. 1

Produced & Edited by

Dennis Hartel

Dr. Anil K. Sharma

AS I SAW HIM - 6

From Sri Ramana Reminiscences

by G. V. Subbaramayya

Asked " How does a grihastha (householder) fare in the scheme of Moksha

(liberation)? " the Maharshi said, " The obstacle is the mind. It must be got

over whether at home or in the forest. Renunciation is always in the mind,

not in going to the forest or solitary places, or giving up one's duties.

The main thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but inward. "

G. V. Subbaramayya, a professor and poet, approached the Maharshi with

childlike faith and spontaneous devotion - like an innocent child to his

loving father. He laid bare, without reserve, his sorrows, joys, devotion

and defects, and the Maharshi reciprocated, keeping a close and gracious eye

on all his affairs. What follows is but a small, yet telling sample from his

Sri Ramana Reminiscences.

MY FIRST PILGRIMAGE to Sri Ramanasramam was on June 8th, 1933. I travelled

alone to Tiruvannamalai. I was at that time in great sorrow, having suffered

my first bereavement the previous December, when my two-year-old son died

suddenly. For over two years I had been reading the works of Sri Bhagavan

and other Ashrama literature. My main interest had been literary rather than

philosophical. I had been struck with wonder at the style of the Telugu

Upadesa Saram which, in its simplicity, felicity and classic finish, could

equal that of the greatest Telugu poet Tikkana. I had felt convinced that a

Tamilian who could compose such Telugu verse must be divinely inspired, and

I had wanted to see him. But my immediate quest at the time was for peace

and solace.

In the morning I had darshan of Sri Bhagavan in the old Hall. As our eyes

met, there was a miraculous effect upon my mind. I felt as if I had plunged

into a pool of peace, and with eyes shut, sat in a state of ecstasy for

nearly an hour. When I came to normal consciousness, I found someone

spraying the Hall to keep off insects, and Sri Bhagavan mildly objecting

with a silent shake of his head.

As I now heard Sri Bhagavan saying something, I made bold to ask him a

question. " The Bhagavad Gita says that mortals cast off their worn-out

bodies, just as one casts away the worn-out clothes and wears new garments.

How does this apply to the deaths of infants whose bodies are new and

fresh? " I asked. Sri Bhagavan promptly replied: " How do you know that the

body of the dead child is not worn-out? It may not be apparent; but unless

it is worn-out it will not die. That is the law of Nature. "

Immediately after lunch, I left the Ashrama even without taking leave of Sri

Bhagavan. I came and went incognito, as an utter stranger.

After nearly three years, I again visited the Ashrama in the spring of 1936,

this time with a note of introduction. Sri Bhagavan, even before going

through it, gave me a knowing nod and gracious smile and said, " Why the

introduction ? You have come before; you are not new. " To add to my wonder I

now felt as though my dead father had come back alive; the resemblance was

so striking. My approach to Sri Ramana has ever since been that of a child

to its parent, quite fearless free and familiar.

Some years ago I had been initiated into two mantras and was enjoined to

repeat them a minimum number of times every day. I had been doing it

punctiliously, but now after entering the Ashrama, I had no mind to the

mantras or do any kind of formal worship. After a few days I was seized with

the fear of incurring sin by failing to observe the instructions on my

initiation. So I put it to Sri Bhagavan himself, making a clean breast of my

default. Sri Bhagavan smiled and said, " Just because you have done so much

of japa, its merit has brought you here. Why should you now fear while

enjoying the fruit of the japa? "

I had also at this time a more serious trouble. I had been practising breath

control (pranayama) as taught by Swami Ramtirtha in his works. There came a

stage when I felt a terrible sensation as though my head would crack and

break into pieces. Then I stopped doing it, but every day the sensation was

recurring at the time of practice and the fear was growing that disaster was

imminent. So, at dead of night, when Bhagavan was alone, I approached him

with my tale. He said laughing, " What! Again you are seized with fear! These

are the usual experiences of people who do yogic exercises without the

immediate guidance of a Guru, but having come to me, why should you fear? "

Then Sri Bhagavan added in an undertone: " Next time you get that sensation,

you think of me and you will be all right. " From that moment to this I have

never felt it again.

" Be still and know that I am God "

During the Christmas of 1936, I attended Sri Bhagavan's Jayanti celebration

for the first time. Many Western visitors had come. One of them, Mr. Maurice

Frydman, a Polish Jew of subtle intellect, plied Sri Bhagavan with ingenious

pleas for practical guidance for Self-realisaton. Sri Bhagavan followed his

arguments with keen interest but kept silent all the time. When pressed to

say something, Sri Bhagavan only quoted from the Bible, " Be still and know

that I am God, " and added " The Lord said 'know' and not, 'think' that I am

God. " We understood Sri Bhagavan as meaning that all these arguments were

spun by the intellect, the stilling of which was the only way to

Realisation.

Another visitor, Mr. Duncan Greenless, said, " Bhagavan, while we are in your

presence, a certain halo of purity and peace seems to surround us. It

continues for some time after we leave. Then it disappears and the old

stupidities return. Why is it so? " Sri Bhagavan replied, " It is all the work

of the mind. Like the battery it wears out and has to be recharged. But when

mind control is perfect, there will be no further trouble. "

Availing myself of a short holiday in February 1937, I again went to the

Ashrama to submit my translation of Sri Kavyakantha's Gitamala in person. As

I entered the Hall and was prostrating, to my consternation, my five year

old daughter, Lalita, went very near to Sri Bhagavan and asked him, " What is

your name, Sir? " Sri Bhagavan replied with a counter-query, " What is your

name? " " My name is Lalita, " said she, and repeated her question, " What is

yours, please? " Now Sri Bhagavan pointing to himself with His right hand on

the right side of his chest said, " What! don't you know ME? " She at once

answered, " Oh yes! I simply asked for fun. " At this Sri Bhagavan burst into

laughter.

Lalita's leave-taking was a most moving scene. As she knelt down, Sri

Bhagavan who was then squatting after his breakfast, tapped her on the back

with his stick saying, " This is to keep you in mind lest you should forget. "

Then he lifted her and hugged her to his breast. He told the people then

present, " The speciality of this child is this: she has no sense of newness

or strangeness, all beings and all things she takes as her own. "

One day, having just read a biography of the late Ammani Ammal, sister of

the late Dr. T. M. Nair, Sri Bhagavan spoke highly of her learning,

philanthropy and devotion. In her last illness, she wired to Sri Bhagavan

praying for a peaceful end. Just when Sri Bhagavan was perusing her letter,

she expired in her home. As Sri Bhagavan was narrating this incident, he was

so moved that he shed tears.

My long stay this time made the departure a wrench for me, and my feeling

found vent in some Telugu verses which I composed on the way and posted to

the Ashrama. In the opening verse I wrote, " Leaving Thy feet and going to my

place, alas! I feel like the new daughter-in-law leaving her mother's home

and starting to go and settle in her mother-in-law's place. " The Ashrama

reply stated, " Your letter with the 'padyam' full of your feelings was

perused by Sri Bhagavan. " The very next time I returned to the Ashrama, Sri

Bhagavan greeted me saying, " Lo! the new daughter-in-law has come back to

her mother's home! You people treat her as becomes her. " I have realised

that these gracious words were not mere fun, but truly described Sri

Bhagavan's attitude towards me at all times. It was pure, parental love.

May 4, 2008

Dear Michael,

Thanks for this instructive posting.

Love,

Alan

--- Michael Bindel <michael.bindel wrote:

> January / February 1992

> Vol. 2 - No. 1

>

> Produced & Edited by

> Dennis Hartel

> Dr. Anil K. Sharma

>

> AS I SAW HIM - 6

> From Sri Ramana Reminiscences

> by G. V. Subbaramayya

>

> Asked " How does a grihastha (householder) fare in the scheme of Moksha

> (liberation)? " the Maharshi said, " The obstacle is the mind. It must be

> got over whether at home or in the forest. Renunciation is always in the

> mind, not in going to the forest or solitary places, or giving up one's

> duties. The main thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but

> inward. "

> G. V. Subbaramayya, a professor and poet, approached the Maharshi with

> childlike faith and spontaneous devotion - like an innocent child to his

> loving father. He laid bare, without reserve, his sorrows, joys,

> devotion and defects, and the Maharshi reciprocated, keeping a close and

> gracious eye on all his affairs. What follows is but a small, yet

> telling sample from his Sri Ramana Reminiscences.

> MY FIRST PILGRIMAGE to Sri Ramanasramam was on June 8th, 1933. I

> travelled alone to Tiruvannamalai. I was at that time in great sorrow,

> having suffered my first bereavement the previous December, when my

> two-year-old son died suddenly. For over two years I had been reading

> the works of Sri Bhagavan and other Ashrama literature. My main interest

> had been literary rather than philosophical. I had been struck with

> wonder at the style of the Telugu Upadesa Saram which, in its

> simplicity, felicity and classic finish, could equal that of the

> greatest Telugu poet Tikkana. I had felt convinced that a Tamilian who

> could compose such Telugu verse must be divinely inspired, and I had

> wanted to see him. But my immediate quest at the time was for peace and

> solace.

> In the morning I had darshan of Sri Bhagavan in the old Hall. As our

> eyes met, there was a miraculous effect upon my mind. I felt as if I had

> plunged into a pool of peace, and with eyes shut, sat in a state of

> ecstasy for nearly an hour. When I came to normal consciousness, I found

> someone spraying the Hall to keep off insects, and Sri Bhagavan mildly

> objecting with a silent shake of his head.

> As I now heard Sri Bhagavan saying something, I made bold to ask him a

> question. " The Bhagavad Gita says that mortals cast off their worn-out

> bodies, just as one casts away the worn-out clothes and wears new

> garments. How does this apply to the deaths of infants whose bodies are

> new and fresh? " I asked. Sri Bhagavan promptly replied: " How do you know

> that the body of the dead child is not worn-out? It may not be apparent;

> but unless it is worn-out it will not die. That is the law of Nature. "

> Immediately after lunch, I left the Ashrama even without taking leave of

> Sri Bhagavan. I came and went incognito, as an utter stranger.

> After nearly three years, I again visited the Ashrama in the spring of

> 1936, this time with a note of introduction. Sri Bhagavan, even before

> going through it, gave me a knowing nod and gracious smile and said,

> " Why the introduction ? You have come before; you are not new. " To add

> to my wonder I now felt as though my dead father had come back alive;

> the resemblance was so striking. My approach to Sri Ramana has ever

> since been that of a child to its parent, quite fearless free and

> familiar.

> Some years ago I had been initiated into two mantras and was enjoined to

> repeat them a minimum number of times every day. I had been doing it

> punctiliously, but now after entering the Ashrama, I had no mind to the

> mantras or do any kind of formal worship. After a few days I was seized

> with the fear of incurring sin by failing to observe the instructions on

> my initiation. So I put it to Sri Bhagavan himself, making a clean

> breast of my default. Sri Bhagavan smiled and said, " Just because you

> have done so much of japa, its merit has brought you here. Why should

> you now fear while enjoying the fruit of the japa? "

> I had also at this time a more serious trouble. I had been practising

> breath control (pranayama) as taught by Swami Ramtirtha in his works.

> There came a stage when I felt a terrible sensation as though my head

> would crack and break into pieces. Then I stopped doing it, but every

> day the sensation was recurring at the time of practice and the fear was

> growing that disaster was imminent. So, at dead of night, when Bhagavan

> was alone, I approached him with my tale. He said laughing, " What! Again

> you are seized with fear! These are the usual experiences of people who

> do yogic exercises without the immediate guidance of a Guru, but having

> come to me, why should you fear? " Then Sri Bhagavan added in an

> undertone: " Next time you get that sensation, you think of me and you

> will be all right. " From that moment to this I have never felt it again.

>

> " Be still and know that I am God "

>

> During the Christmas of 1936, I attended Sri Bhagavan's Jayanti

> celebration for the first time. Many Western visitors had come. One of

> them, Mr. Maurice Frydman, a Polish Jew of subtle intellect, plied Sri

> Bhagavan with ingenious pleas for practical guidance for

> Self-realisaton. Sri Bhagavan followed his arguments with keen interest

> but kept silent all the time. When pressed to say something, Sri

> Bhagavan only quoted from the Bible, " Be still and know that I am God, "

> and added " The Lord said 'know' and not, 'think' that I am God. " We

> understood Sri Bhagavan as meaning that all these arguments were spun by

> the intellect, the stilling of which was the only way to Realisation.

> Another visitor, Mr. Duncan Greenless, said, " Bhagavan, while we are in

> your presence, a certain halo of purity and peace seems to surround us.

> It continues for some time after we leave. Then it disappears and the

> old stupidities return. Why is it so? " Sri Bhagavan replied, " It is all

> the work of the mind. Like the battery it wears out and has to be

> recharged. But when mind control is perfect, there will be no further

> trouble. "

> Availing myself of a short holiday in February 1937, I again went to the

> Ashrama to submit my translation of Sri Kavyakantha's Gitamala in

> person. As I entered the Hall and was prostrating, to my consternation,

> my five year old daughter, Lalita, went very near to Sri Bhagavan and

> asked him, " What is your name, Sir? " Sri Bhagavan replied with a

> counter-query, " What is your name? " " My name is Lalita, " said she, and

> repeated her question, " What is yours, please? " Now Sri Bhagavan

> pointing to himself with His right hand on the right side of his chest

> said, " What! don't you know ME? " She at once answered, " Oh yes! I simply

> asked for fun. " At this Sri Bhagavan burst into laughter.

> Lalita's leave-taking was a most moving scene. As she knelt down, Sri

> Bhagavan who was then squatting after his breakfast, tapped her on the

> back with his stick saying, " This is to keep you in mind lest you should

> forget. " Then he lifted her and hugged her to his breast. He told the

> people then present, " The speciality of this child is this: she has no

> sense of newness or strangeness, all beings and all things she takes as

> her own. "

> One day, having just read a biography of the late Ammani Ammal, sister

> of the late Dr. T. M. Nair, Sri Bhagavan spoke highly of her learning,

> philanthropy and devotion. In her last illness, she wired to Sri

> Bhagavan praying for a peaceful end. Just when Sri Bhagavan was perusing

> her letter, she expired in her home. As Sri Bhagavan was narrating this

> incident, he was so moved that he shed tears.

> My long stay this time made the departure a wrench for me, and my

> feeling found vent in some Telugu verses which I composed on the way and

> posted to the Ashrama. In the opening verse I wrote, " Leaving Thy feet

> and going to my place, alas! I feel like the new daughter-in-law leaving

> her mother's home and starting to go and settle in her mother-in-law's

> place. " The Ashrama reply stated, " Your letter with the 'padyam' full of

> your feelings was perused by Sri Bhagavan. " The very next time I

> returned to the Ashrama, Sri Bhagavan greeted me saying, " Lo! the new

> daughter-in-law has come back to her mother's home! You people treat her

> as becomes her. " I have realised that these gracious words were not mere

> fun, but truly described Sri Bhagavan's attitude towards me at all

> times. It was pure, parental love.

>

May 4, 2008

Dear Michael,

We have the exact same taste in stories about Bhagavan! I enjoy reading and

rereading these and they always make my eyes moist. Thank you for sharing

and your efforts.

Namaste and love to all

Harsha

On Behalf Of Michael Bindel

Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:18 PM