Surpassing Love and Grace (An Offering from His Devotees)

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In this collection of articles, devotees like Viswanatha Swami, A.W. Chadwick, Cohen and others who have spent their lifetime with Bhagavan share their impressions and experiences with the readers. This is what they say.

Unlike all the saints, sages and prophets, Sri Ramana Maharshi’s life and work tell quite a different tale and his way of serving mankind is in many ways unique and all his own.

And how often did he not say: “You think I am the body, this corpse that I have to bear about. That is where you are wrong. I am universal”. You see, universal, even before he apparently left the body.

But in the old days he spoke, gave verbal instructions. Now that can happen no more. But to how few did he actually ever speak? How many thousands just came and sat before him silently and went away without a word. How many came with their minds bursting with questions and in his presence found all the questions self-answered? All this is still possible.

We present in this volume the reminiscences and reflections on Ramana’s teaching by his devotees. These articles are taken from The Mountain Path and The Call Divine.

In this collection of articles those devotees who were blessed enough to sit at his feet share their experiences with the reader. Here one can find that there is an underlying unity of deep devotion and love for the Master.

What was the first impression on seeing him? From the moment Bhagavan’s eyes fell on a devotee, the latter’s heart went out to him in spontaneous love and reverence. The visit to Ramanasramam was a shattering experience for some of them. They literally fell in love with him. This love which had been awakened was the kind which totally transcended the physical and material and created an awareness of a different kind of consciousness which can only be described as a mindless rapture, pure joy.

What was their experience while they sat in his proximity? Sitting in his presence one was convinced for the time being that all troubles were ended and one was forced back on oneself in spite of all obstacles. And this was the wonder of his presence. They saw before their eyes the grand manifestation of that majestic light. They saw the grandeur of that spiritual light before them. If one could not see it, it was one’s. fault.

The most remarkable feature about Bhagavan’s form were his eyes, extremely penetrating and profoundly fascinating. Once you had come within the range of those eyes beaming with love and affection there was no need for any other sadhana.

Once those eyes had rested upon you there was no more fear or worry for you.

In a great many ways did he shower his love and grace on them. It is said that love was the force that created the universe. Perhaps it is. The force of such unselfish love as his, purifies our hearts, when all other methods prove futile. No other discipline can give the disciple the true peace which the Master gives. His affection was always there; and as fire melts ice so his affection made worries melt.

Sri Maharshi was a centre of love to his disciples. He left us his love and where else in the world could be found a purifying power such as this to bring peace to our hearts.

The devotees’s hearts were kindled to deep affection while he taught them byword and example, while he silently showered the nectar of grace upon them all.

What was the change in their life after coming to him? It is an unlocated, pervasive state of being sparked off by some kind of recognition and it stays with you and you are never the same again. We may not claim that the devotees’s life was transformed after seeing him.

No. Most of them got married, set up house, had children, started a career of their own. Their grihasthasramam became their main preoccupation. But their visits to Ramanasramam had done something to them. It had left a mark on their minds and hearts. Although some of their material circumstances underwent changes for the worse their inner life was tranquil, always, since the day they had his darshan; for invariably they experienced his grace, particularly when they were most dejected.

Whenever they felt that, that they wanted to go away some where, away from home, family, friends, books, mistakes, fears and sorrows, their mind automatically turned to Ramanasramam. And their body follows. They make the journey to Tiruvannmalai walk into the Ashram, enter the Hall, and they are ‘home’ totally at peace.

The picture of the Ashram and of the Maharshi are always in their minds like the background curtain of a stage. Whenever they found that “the world was too much with them” the wish to go to Ramanasramam possesses them like a hunger. Even during their busiest hour a sudden look at a picture of the Maharshi hanging on the wall would momentarily root them to the spot and the mind would suddenly go blank. Such was, such is and such ever will be the Maharshi’s influence upon those who approach with piety and devotion.

In the following pages they speak of him in awed tones and with overwhelming sensitivity and love. The reader is invited to participating in this spiritual feast.