Some Stories from Bhagavan's Life

M.A. Piggot M.A. Piggot was the first English lady who visited Sri Ramana. Devotee Piggot writes her reminiscences: I had visited India before, but my first visit off the beaten track was in 1932-33. It was my wish to meet one of the holy men of India, but so far it had been a vain one.Then I was told of Ramana Maharshi. The friend who gave me the welcome news offered to take me to him, and so we arrived at Tiruvannamalai. He was seated on a divan in front of which sandalsticks were burning. About a dozen people were present in the hall. I sat crosslegged on the floor, though a chair had been thoughtfully provided for me. *Suddenly I became conscious that the* *Maharshi's eyes were fixed on me.* *They seemed literally like burning* *coals of fire piercing* *through me. Never before had I* *experienced anything so* *devastating – in that it was almost frightening.* What I went through in that terrible half hour, by way of self-condemnation and scorn for the pettiness of my own life,...

Rangan had a brother, who had also been Bhagavan Sri Ramana 's classmate. Though his name was Mani, he was nicknamed "Pokkiri" Mani ("Pokkiri" means "rogue" in Tamil). He was a tough, hefty man who intimidated people wherever he went. No one dared to pick a fight with him and gave in to his every whim. His mother was deeply devoted to Bhagavan Sri Ramana, even though she had seen him only as a child. When she saw Bhagavan Sri Ramana later at Virupaksha cave, she was totally transformed. Unfortunately, her son did not share her spiritual aspirations. Once, while travelling to Tirupati, the train passed through Tiruvannamalai. Mani's mother begged him, "Let us get down here and see our Venkataraman!" "I do not believe in all these fake sadhus. I won't come," he rasped. He took her to Tirupati, but on the way back she begged again, "I can't proceed further. I must see my Venkataraman!" Pokkiri Mani finally complie...

It is by God's Grace that you think of God. Ramana Maharshi 

All the activities that the body is to go through are determined when it first comes  into existence. It does not rest with you to accept or reject them. The only freedom you have is to turn your mind inward and renounce activities there... If you want to go to fundamentals , you must enquire who you are and find out who it is who has freedom of destiny. Who are you and why did you get this body that has these limitations? Day by Day with Bhagavan. June 1st,  1946 

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. 

CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNAMALAI SWAMI When the mind appears every morning don't jump to the usual conclusion, 'This is me; these thoughts are mine'. Instead, watch these thoughts come and go without identifying with them in any way. If you can resist the impulse to claim each and every thought as your own, you will come to a startling conclusion: you will discover that you are the consciousness in which the thoughts appear and disappear. You will discover that this thing called mind only exists when thoughts are allowed to run free. Like the snake which appears in the rope, you will discover that the mind is only an illusion that appears through ignorance or misperception. You want some experience which will convince you that what I am saying is true. You can have that experience if you give up your life-long habit of inventing an 'I' which claims all thoughts as mine'. Be conscious of yourself as consciousness alone, watch all the thoughts come and go. Come to the...