About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
Once devotees were singing songs in praise of Ramana with great devotion. While they were singing the following song in Tamil: “Ramana Sadguru Ramana Sadguru Ramana Sadguru Rayane,” Sri Bhagavan also joined and began to sing with them. The devotees were taken aback when they found Ramana himself was praying to Ramana. They were so surprised that they could not but question, ‘Why Sri Ramana was singing that song?’ Sri Ramana replied that Ramana Sadguru refers to the unlimited, All Pervasive Paramatma, who illuminates the hearts of all beings and not to the limited body. Bhagavan thus focused the attention of the devotees on Sri Ramana, the Real, the Imperishable and the Eternal.
About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
I reached Tiruvannamalai on a hot summer day in the month of May, 1927, and after a bath and meals repaired to the Ashram. Sri Ramana was seated on a cot in a thatched shed and in front of him some devotees were seated. I prostrated before the sage and handed over a packet of sweets. He distributed it to every one present including a dog.
About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
My claim to writing about the Maharshi is that of one who saw him, not daring to say ‘I know him’. Twice had I and my wife the beatific privilege of the Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi’s darshan at an interval of a decade between each. Of the deep and abiding impressions made upon me then, I am writing now again a decade after the last one.
About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
“If anyone wants to understand the inner meaning of the Gita, he must come to your town and meet the Maharshi”. In 1948-49, when I was in the United States lecturing on Vedanta, many friends asked me if there was anyone living in India answering to the truth of the Vedanta. My reply invariably used to be ‘Ramana’.
About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
It was in 1934 that I had the privilege of meeting the great sage of Tiruvannamalai. It was a long cherished desire of mine to have a look at Sri Ramana Maharshi and study a jivanmukta – for such was the descriptive term with which he was referred to by the general public.
About Ramana Maharshi, Surpassing Love and Grace
Sri Bhagavan called and asked me, “Did you get a piece for yourself?” In reply I smiled and sat on the floor some distance away. He then said, “I know that you do not keep anything for yourself. So, I have kept a piece for you from my share. Come here and take it.” I went up to him, took the piece of fruit and ate it. That prasad was really sweet and valuable. To get this concession it took nearly three years! I often asked myself if that was one of the methods to round off our angularities. It was a test perhaps from his point of view, and a real schooling from my point of view.
