Ranga Iyer

THE GURU IS EASWARA

Bhagavan's childhood friend Vilacheri Ranga iyer once wrote to Bhagavan to say that he was
going to Kumbakonam with his family, to participate in the Mahamaham ritual (a holy dip in the
sacred tank which is done once every twelve years.) 

Ranga iyer went to Kumbakonam as
planned, but on the day of the festival, he suddenly decided to come to Skandasram. Seeing him
and his family, Bhagavan exclaimed, "What is this, Ranga! You said you are going to
Kumabakonam, but you are here! Why did you change your plans?"
Rangaiyer replied, "This place is more sacred to me than Kumbakonam. I feel that the Lord who
is here is even greater than the Lord in Kumbakonam." 

Bhagavan did not say anything.
On the day of his departure, Ranga iyer came to take leave of Bhagavan. He stood in front of
Bhagavan with tears in his eyes, unable to tear himself away from his beloved Master. Bhagavan
looked at him and, in the gentlest, most compassionate tone, he said, "Ranga, it seems to you that
you came to Skandasram from Kumbakonam and now you are leaving Skandasram to go back to
Madurai. In reality, you did not come from anywhere, and you are not going anywhere. You are
always in the same place. You can neither arrive nor depart. All this apparent travelling from one
place to the other is only in your imagination.
If you understand what I am saying, you will realize that you are always with me. There is no
question of a separation between us. You can never leave me, nor will I ever leave you."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Madhavi Ammal, Saranagathi

"There's No Use of having Devotion, Respect, Love for Me Alone Without Having It for Others As Well" -------------------------------------------------------------- In 1944, I stayed in the Ashram for one week. One Monday at lunch time I heard the attendant telling Bhagavan, "Tonight we are all having puri". (a dish deep fried from wheat flour)  Bhagavan said calmly,  "Okay, but there should only be rice on my leaf ". We all sat for dinner at 7.30pm. I sat next to Bhagavan. There's a rule in the ashram. Bhagavan should be served only after all are served. That day Bhagavan was uncommonly serious. After serving everyone the server came to Bhagavan.  Bhagavan said in a loud voice  "put rice".  The server was standing there trembling. Chinnaswamy was standing far away with a pained countenance. "Doesn't Bhagavan eat puri?", I asked. "Um, the doctor said wheat is not good for this body", he said.  "Doctor Nambiar u
Read more

ANNAMALAI SWAMI REMEMBERED

Building works, part 14 As the cowshed was nearing completion (Chinnaswami) came up to me and said, 'This building will be a success because of Bhagavan's plan. It is only because of his grace that we have been able to finance it. Now I believe you.'  Bhagavan often came to the cowshed to give instructions and to see what progress had been made. He even used to visit the site during the night.  Once, as we were supervising the work together, Bhagavan told me, 'If you build this cowshed for Lakshmi, we will get all the necessary punya [merit accumulated from performing virtuous acts] to build a bookstore, a dining room, and a shrine for the Mother. All this will happen in due course. This area will eventually become a town.'  Lakshmi herself often came to see how we were progressing with her new home. If Bhagavan were there he would often pat her on the head and say, 'You must wait for a few more days. The work isn't finished yet.'  In those days Lakshmi
Read more

Paul Brunton's experience

Image
Finally it happens. Thought is extinguished like a snuffed candle. The intellect withdraws into its real ground, that is, consciousness working unhindered by thoughts. I remain perfectly calm and fully aware of who I am and what is occurring. Yet my sense of awareness has been drawn out of the narrow confines of the separate personality; it has turned into something sublimely all-embracing. Self still exists, but it is a changed, radiant self. For something that is far superior to the unimportant personality which was I, some deeper, diviner being rises into consciousness and becomes me. I, the new I, rest in the lap of holy bliss. My heart is remoulded in rapture. ~ Paul Brunton speaking about his direct experience from Sri Ramana Maharshi's gaze. 
Read more