Ramana Maharshi Disciple S.S Cohen Recollects A Incident Related To Guru Ramana And A Lady Squirrel

“On the 24th. instant at 10-30 a.m. the Master was dozing. A female squirrel leapt on his couch and bit his thumb which he quickly pulled back and stroked, remarking,‘I’ll not feed her.’

Other squirrels crowded on his couch and for half an hour he continued to feed them with cashew nuts,one nut at a time to each. Then he turned to us and, pointing
to one of them, said: ‘This She-squirrel has been trying to fool me, thinking I do not recognise her, and so shall feed her.

Once she comes from this side, once from the other,once from under the couch and once from above it. But I recognise her very well. She shall not have anything,’ and laughed. At that the following vague thought crossed my mind: ‘Where is the Christ’s injunction that if a man slaps you on one cheek offer him the other?’

“Today a squirrel jumped from the window to the couch.The Master looked at it intently. He gave it a nut, then another and addressed it: ‘Now go. Have you come to bite me again?’

I quickly guessed that that was the guilty squirrel of four days ago and wondered how Sri Bhagavan recognised it and relented.Nevertheless, I asked him if my guess was right, and he confirmed it.After a while the same squirrel came back for more nuts. Usually the Master continues to feed the animals till of their own accord they cease to come.

But to this one he refused to give again and, seeing it persisting, he lifted his fan
in threat, which made it disappear at once. Then he sat with pensive look and a faint smile on his face.

Source: GURU RAMANA MEMORIES AND NOTES By S. S. COHEN