This part is written by K.R.K.Murthy
It gives great pleasure to any devotee to think of the few precious moments he had the privilege of spending in the Holy presence of Sri Ramana Bhagavan. Recapitulation of the experiences at the feet of Bhagavan and the brief and nascent utterances of Sri Bhagavan, never fail to elevate one to higher planes.
Sri Bhagavan’s hall was always full of silent devotees. Practically every one used to be quite silent but not inactive. Every mouth used to take rest. The influence of the external world on the ear, eye, mind and other senses used to grow less and less. Every one was left to himself to think out calmly about his past, present and future states. Some with eyes open and some with eyes closed used to build castles in the air. Some used to repent for their omissions and commissions. Some used to think their highest thoughts and reach the peaks which they never dreamt of before. Some used to roam about in worlds other than ours, sitting still as statues, and some others used to get inexplicable and mystic experiences. In some, the emotions aroused used to reach enormous and excessive proportions within a few moments as can easily be seen from the rapidity of their inhalations and exhalations. Unable to withstand the huge and unexpected flood of emotions, they used to lose their balance and weep bitterly. Handkerchiefs or other clothes that used to reach their eyes and cheeks to dry the tears, used to return wet.
One day a prince entered the holy hall with a few friends, to have the darshan of Sri Bhagavan and took a seat beside us, as there was no distinction between the prince and peasant before Bhagavan. One of his friends wanted to ask a question, but was hesitating to do so as the organ of speech generally fails to cooperate in the awe-inspiring presence of Bhagavan. But to his surprise and amazement the same question was put to Bhagavan by someone immediately. Bhagavan too gave a very convincing reply and the joy of the visitor knew no bounds. The prince sat quietly for a time and who knows what happened, he began to pour forth streams of tears till he left the hall.
Sri Bhagavan was going through an English daily as usual. At one place he read aloud a sensational report regarding a new invention and smiled. After a pause he gently remarked: “One may acquire any number of powers. Without realising the Truth (Yathartha) one cannot acquire peace of mind (mano shanti).”
Someone questioned “What is Yathartha”?
Quick came the reply from Bhagavan, “That which exists always.” Again there was a pause. Sri Bhagavan noticed that some earnest devotees were anxious to grasp the full significance of his statement. So he graciously explained further as follows:-
” Peace is our Nature (Swabhava). Just like a person who keeps a number of things in a room and complains that there is no space in the room, we say there is no peace. Is not the space obtained automatically when the things are removed?”
As Sri Bhagavan was uttering these words the Ashram bell interrupted the talk, perhaps unconsciously, inviting all for food.