Ramana Maharshi says It is better we mind Our Own Business

December 22, 2009

One day, one of the devotees came to Bhagavan and said in an excited whisper, " Look, Bhagavan! Just look at that man! " Everyone turned to look. We saw a gentleman who was asleep, swaying back and forth. The gentleman who had approached Bhagavan complained, " I have been watching him for the past few days. He always sleeps in Bhagavan's presence. "

Bhagavan looked at the devotee and said, " That man is doing what he came here to do. But what about you? Did you come here just to check on people, and see who is awake and who is asleep? Why don't you mind your own business? "

Seeing the overzealous devotee rebuked like this, all the others burst out laughing.Bhagavan did not like it at all when people complained about others. He used to say that as long as a person concentrated on the work he was engaged in, he would not even notice what others were doing.Â One can find the time to criticize others only when one's attention wandered from the work at hand.

Source: From Cherished Memories by T.R. Kanakammal