VASANAS

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VASANAS

 

From Padamalai- a superb book containing the advanced teaching of Sri Bhagavan

for mature Sadhaks by Muruganar. Muruganar was a great Tamil Poet. He became

Self realised through Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi. He usually sat near Bhagavan

when Ramana gave Darshan to Ashram Devotees and answered their questions. He

noted down all Bhagavan's utterances and then wrote them in poetic aphoristic

form in a major work called Padamalai, which means 'A Garland For Padam'. Padam

lierally means 'the foot' and is intentended to mean 'the feet of the Guru' or

Bhagavan himself. This book which many regard as to be of scriptural status was

edited by David Godman and translated by the Tamil scholars Robert Butler and

Dr.T.V.Venkatasubramanian. Up to now it cannot be downloaded from the web, but

can be ordered from Ramanasramam Book Depot or it is available from Amazon USA

and UK.

 

This reading is from the Chapter entitled Advice on Sadhana, under the sub

heading Vasanas. P.246-7

 

Vasanas

 

82 The nature of thoughts that arise in the mind will be in accordance with the

old vasanas.

 

Bhagavan: " Vasanas themselves are the mind.

If there are no vasanas there is no mind.

That which is, is sat. Sat is Brahman. That is self-luminous. That is Atman, and

that is the Self. " (Letters from Ramanasramam 19 DEc. 1946)

 

83

 

The disturbing agitation of mind that occurs when one attempts to get firmly

established in sadhana is a normal occurrence that is prompted by the rising of

vasanas.

 

85

 

If at that time you hold tightly to the power of the grace of the parasakti that

has possessed you, the vasana that agitates your mind and distresses you will be

completely destroyed.

 

'The power of the grace of the parasakti that has possessed you' is a reference

to the inner feeling of 'I am' since this feeling is often referred to in

Muruganar's writings as tiruval, the divine grace that will lead one to the

Self.' D.G.