Guest guest Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 *Feb 19 1949 > ** > *A young man from Bangalore came here this morning for the > * > *first time and appeared anxious to ask something, but > could not* > *get an opportunity. At last at about 3 o'clock in the > afternoon* > *he approached Bhagavan and said, " Swami ! Which is > better* > *for meditation -- meditating with eyes closed or with eyes > open ? " * > ** > *Bhagavan (with a smile): " Is that your doubt ? Do it > in whichever* > *way it appears easier for you. " * > ** > *Questioner: " If I keep my eyes open, all the outside > things force* > *themselves on my attention. " * > ** > *Bhagavan: " Will they not appear even if you close > your eyes ?* > *We are sitting here. The mind sees ever so many things. > It wanders* > *to many places. " * > ** > *Questioner: " Yes, Swami. That is true. You should > therefore* > *show us a way by which we could avoid seeing all those > places, " * > ** > *Bhagavan: " Everything comes out of ourselves. If we > know our * > *own SELF and remain still as we are, there is nothing > else.* > *Only if we are fickle-minded, everything comes upon > us. " * > ** > * The young man could not understand the significance of* > *Bhagavan's words and so sat there absorbed in his own > thoughts,* > *downcast. Bhagavan's Heart melted on seeing him and * > *addressing a devotee seated nearby, said, " Look ! If > we are* > *not existent, what is there outside to see ? The scenery > that * > *is shown in a cinema is within the reel of the film. It > is wound* > *round and round within the reel wherein it is merged. It > can be seen* > *only if and when a hall is hired, a curtain is erected, a > light is* > *projected across the reel and the reel is unwound. If > all* > *that paraphernalia is removed and the reel is again wound > up,* > *the scenery on the screen ceases to exist. The picture > and* > *the scenery are all from the reel only. The world also is > like that.* > *This body is like a rented house. The Jiva (individual > soul) gets* > *into it and enacts a drama. The breath of life is like a > watchman* > *at the gate. During sleep, the Jiva goes to his > original place* > *and, on the body waking, comes back. Meanwhile, so long > as* > *the watchman -- known as the breath of life -- is there, > no one* > *else can get inside the body. Usually when dogs or > thieves* > *find that there is a watchman, they run away saying there > is* > *someone at the gate. Otherwise they get in and do all > sorts * > *of damage. The house known as the body is also like > that.* > *Even if the Jiva is away, leaving the breath of life, > all living* > *beings first come close to see if there is breath of life > in* > *the body. If there is breath in the body, they say the > owner* > *is in and go away. If there is no inhaling and exhaling > of breath,* > *they get in and do whatever they please. When the Jiva > * > *does not like the house, he leaves it and he takes away* > *with him the watchman also. He wanders from one house* > *to another saying, this is no good and that is no good,* > *until at last he feels disgusted and gives up houses and * > *the life connected with them. He then realises that * > *his own SELF is the best of all and, with an intensity of* > *feeling, enquires about his own SELF, realises the Truth* > *and stays within the SELF. When that happens,* > *who is the seer ? " said Bhagavan.* > ** > ** > * ************************************************ > ** > ** > * On behalf of the Ashram authorities, a senior devotee * > *approached Bhagavan and asked him with great reverence:* > * " They say that they will make the outer cover for > the* > * " Sri Chakra " of copper plate with silver > coating, while* > *we all feel it would be better for it to be made of * > *pure silver. What is Bhagavan's advice in the matter > ? " * > > *Bhagavan: " What have I to do with it ? It is all > right in * > *whatever way it is done. Both of you come to an > unanimous* > *decision and do that which you have decided as the > best. " * > > *Enquirer: " Swami ! We wish to know what Bhagavan* > *would like us to do. " * > > *Bhagavan: " That is exactly what I am saying. That > which* > *you all agree to do in mutual consultation will be to my > liking.* > *If both of you give different opinions, what can I do ? > " * > > *Enquirer: " As we hold two different opinions, we are > * > *enquiring in order to find out what Bhagavan would* > *like** best. " * > ** > *Bhagavan: " Oh ! I see. You want to know what > Bhagavan* > *would like best ! What Bhagavan likes best is to remain > silent* > *without doing anything. If people with different > opinions* > *give up their Mouna (Silence) which is the Embodiment* > *of Love, and come to me and say, 'We will do > this,' and* > *'We will do that' , and enquire of me what I like > better of the* > *two, what can I say ? If you all agree upon a course of > action* > *and then ask me for my opinion, I would then say it is* > *all right. But, when you are of two opinions, why do you* > *come to me and ask me which I like the better ?* > ** > * What I like is, to know who I am and to remain as I > am,* > *with the knowledge that what is to happen will happen and* > *what is not to happen will not happen. Is that not right > ?* > *Do you now understand what Bhagavan likes best ? " * > ** > * So saying, Bhagavan assumed silence.* > ** > *--- " LETTERS FROM SRI RAMANASRAMAM " , > pp.385-6, 384* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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