Time and Distance (Ramana)

[Guest guest]

Harsha: Selected portion of A Devotee's remembrance. Shantammal speaks of

Ramana Maharshi.

 

One of the visitors was leaving the Ashram. He stood before Bhagavan with

folded hands and prayed: "I am going far away. I do not know when I shall be

coming back, and if at all I shall be allowed to see your holy face again in

this life. I am so much less fortunate than those who have the benefit of

your constant presence. How can you help me, a sinner in a distant corner of

the world, unless you think of me? I implore you, give me a place in your

mind."

 

Bhagavan replied: "A Jnani has no mind. How can one without a mind remember

or even think? This man goes somewhere and I have to go there and look after

him? Can I keep on remembering all these prayers? Well, I shall transmit

your prayer to the Lord of the Universe. He will look after you. It is His

business."

 

After the devotee departed, Bhagavan turned towards us and said: "People

imagine that the devotees crowding around a Jnani get special favors from

him. If a guru shows partiality, how can he be a Jnani? Is he so foolish as

to be flattered by people's attendance on him and the service they do? Does

distance matter? The guru is pleased with him only who gives himself up

entirely, who abandons his ego forever. Such a man is taken care of wherever

he may be. He need not pray. God looks after him unasked. The frog lives by

the side of the fragrant lotus, but it is the bee who gets the honey."