Memories and Notes on Guru Ramana
Visitor: I have read all the Western philosophers from Descartes to Bertrand Russell – they are all useless. But our Rishis differ among themselves. Shankara says, “Go on repeating ‘I am Brahman’ and you become Brahman.” Madhvacharya says that the Soul is ever separated from Brahman. You say “Enquire ‘who am I’ and you will arrive.” Many other teachers gave many other solutions. Is this not puzzling? Which of you is right? Swami, which way am I to go?
Bhagavan: (with a gentle wave of the hand) Go the way you came.
Memories and Notes on Guru Ramana
In the first year of my stay I was a keen and close questioner, mainly on the technique of meditation. Bhagavan’s answers to these questions I recorded particularly carefully. Some of them appear here under my own initial C., or Mr. C. as that of the questioner. I have classified most of the notes according to subject and, as far as possible, in chronological order, beginning with the light ones, for the convenience of the reader.
Memories and Notes on Guru Ramana
After I finished, he remained pensive for a few seconds and, then, in the same language but with considerable deliberation, said: ‘Yes, you are right; all preconceptions must go. Practice alone will show you where the truth lies. Stick to only one form of sadhana.’
“That was a clear pointer. But apart from the words he uttered, I was suddenly gripped by an overwhelming urge to surrender unreservedly to him to guide me in my spiritual hunger, abandoning all the methods I had previously followed and all the beliefs on which I had built my hopes. My fate and all that I was, passed from that moment into the sacred hands of Sri Bhagavan for ever.”
Memories and Notes on Guru Ramana
“Bhagavan,” I said on a day then near my hut, “I feel a strong urge to go on a yatra (pilgrimage) to the South – Chidambaram, Srirangam, Rameshwaram …,” but lo! a look on Bhagavan’s face struck me forcibly with the thought “Yatra! what for? Are you still in doubt?” I instantly remembered his words of long ago: “Where is the room for doubt?” and, as if in reply to a verbal question from him,
Memories and Notes on Guru Ramana
“So much lies in your power, the rest must be left entirely to the Guru, who is the ocean of Grace and Mercy seated in the heart, as the seeker’s own Self.”
Memories and Notes on Guru Ramana
Days melted into weeks, and weeks into months and the foreigner impatiently awaited the Great Experience: each day was the day, and each moment the moment. The Indian is never in a hurry: he knows his work well, and, looking wistfully ahead, continues his practice, full of unshakeable confidence. But the foreigner, being used to work on a timetable, fixes hour and date, as if for an interview.
