Western Seekers on Sri Ramana Maharshi

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Pascalline Mallet came to Ramana in 1938, with no prior knowledge of his glorious state of Self-abidance. Here is an extract from what she writes. "I took in silently the strange unforgettable scene, my whole attention was fixed on the perfect poise which seem to fill the whole place with unutterable peace. To look into his eyes shining like stars, was perhaps for the first time to know the meaning of Eternity and to be caught up in the bliss that passed understanding". She takes us literally, the highlights of the life in Ashram and the privileged position, which Lakshmi, the cow had in receiving the abundance of Ramana's blessings.

For Mercedes D'Costa, being with Ramana was a life transformation experience. " I feel it is presumptuous to say that he changed my life. My life was presumptuous to say that he changed my life. My life was not differently after being in his presence, a presence, which by merely Being was sufficient nourishment for a life-time." Her account also relates to an underplayed aspect of Ramana's Power to perform miracles. While returning from India, en route to Egypt, she made a foolhardy trip up a pyramid.

She somehow managed to reach the top. This climb completely exhausted her of the last ounce of energy in her. She just did not have the strength to climb down. In her moment of anguish and intense fear of death, she prayed to Ramana in all the intensity, of a person who wants to live when death is starring his in the face. Rescue, he did as would be seen from her narration of how miraculously it happened.

Suzanne was a volatile person, with a very spiritual background, Theosophy, Buddhism, to mention a few. She was in search of a guru, who could initiate her. Hers was a ten years stay from 1935-1945 in Tiruvannamalai. For, she had found her guru in Ramana. Her first impression reads, "The splendour of his Realisation radiates like a sun. Robed in ether, His yogic powers are unique, settled and rare. He lifts you above the world". Being a volatile person, on the first day, she rebelled against the Ashram rules, which did not permit the stay of women in the Ashram after nightfall. She decides to spend the first night on the hill itself. Ramana's motherly concern was there. He sent Cohen with a few other devotees to locate her and fetch her back to safety.

Suzanne was ready to accept Ramana as a guru. However, she wanted an outer symbol of his acceptance for she had come to believe that initiation by a guru to a disciple is a must. In this, she was disappointed for Ramana would never fail to emphasise the constant inner presence of the guru; a teaching, which she could understand but was impossible for her to accept. Hence her reluctant departure after much heart- search. But while leaving, she had the consolation of a vision in which she felt was an assurance by Ramana that he was the indweller, the Self in her heart.

Back of the Book

This book is a run through of the timeless presence of Ramana. It begins in 1935 and continues in the post-nirvana period, till date. Its fascination springs from the fact that the narrations are direct communications of one's feeling, when one is overwhelmed by Ramana's massive silence and love. It is a one to one relationship, which recalls for the reader, those memorable scenes and their ecstatic joy.

The writers are from varied backgrounds and their writings are spread over fifty years. These 'Writings' therefore, bring home to its reader's the "Continuous Presence" of Ramana.

Why the title " Fresh Discoveries"? Accessibility of " Writings" has been the criteria. But for this publication, these writings might not be available now or in the future.