Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda First Meeting

When Vivekananda came to Ramakrishna his name was still Narendranath -- later on Ramakrishna named him Vivekananda. When he came to Ramakrishna he was extremely argumentative, an atheist, a rationalist. He wanted proof for everything.

There are some things that have no proof -- it cannot be helped. There is no proof for godliness: it is, and yet there is no proof. There is no proof for love. It is, and yet there is no proof. There is no proof for beauty. It is, and yet there is no proof.

If I say, "Look how beautiful these ironwood trees are," and you say, "I don't see any beauty -- Trees are just trees. Prove it!," it will be difficult. How can one prove they are beautiful? To be beautiful you need a sense of beauty -- there is no other way. You need eyes -- there is no other way. It is reported that Majnu said, "To know Laila you will need the eyes of Majnu." It is true; to see Laila there is no other way. The king of his area called Majnu and said. "You are mad! I know your Laila -- an ordinary girl, jet black -- nothing special.

I feel sorry for you, so here are twelve girls from my palace -- they are the most beautiful women of the country. You can chose any one you like. Seeing you cry, my heart also cries. " Majnu looked at them and said, "There is no Laila among them. They cannot even be compared to Laila, they are not even worth the dust of her feet." The king said, "Majnu, you are mad...!" Majnu said, "That may be so, but I must tell you one thing: to see Laila you will need the eyes of Majnu." Majnu is right. To see the beauty of trees you need an eye for art -- there is no other proof.

If one wants to know love, one will need the heart of a lover -- there is no other proof. And godliness is the collective name of all the beauty, all the love and all the truth of this universe. For it an unwavering consciousness is needed, a witnessing is needed... where no word remains, no thought remains, no wave arises... where no mental dust remains and the mirror of consciousness is perfectly pure. What proof? Vivekananda told Ramakrishna, "I want proof. If God exists then prove it!"

Ramakrishna looked at Vivekananda. This youth had great promise, great potential; much was ready to happen within him. There was a great treasure with which Vivekananda was unacquainted. Ramakrishna looked into, peered into, the past lives of this youth. Vivekananda had come carrying a great treasure, a great treasure of integrity, but it was suppressed under his logic.

Seeing this, a cry of anguish and compassion must have risen from Ramakrishna's heart. He said, "Forget all this. We'll talk about proof and such things later on. I have become a little old, I have difficulty reading; you are young, you eyes are still strong -- read from the book lying there."

It was the Ashtavakra Gita. "Read a little out loud to me." It is said that Vivekananda saw nothing wrong in this, this fellow was not requesting anything special. He read three or four sutras and every cell began trembling. He started to panic and he said, "I cannot read on." Ramakrishna insisted, " Go ahead and read. What harm can there be in it? How can this book hurt you? You are young, your eyes are still fresh, and I am old, it is hard for me to read. I must hear this book -- read it out to me."

It is said that Vivekananda kept on reading aloud from the book -- and disappeared in meditation. Ramakrishna had seen great potential in this youth, a very promising potential, like that of a bodhisattva who one day or other is destined to become a buddha. Sooner or later, no matter how much he wanders, he is approaching buddhahood. When Vivekananda came to Ramakrishna his name was still Narendranath -- later on Ramakrishna named him Vivekananda. When he came to Ramakrishna he was extremely argumentative, an atheist, a rationalist.

Swami Vivekananda Searching Job

There is a small memoir in the life of Vivekananda. When Vivekananda’s father died, there was so much poverty in his home that often there was not enough food for both mother and son. So, Vivekananda would tell his mother, ”Today I am invited to a friend’s house, I will go there.” In fact there was no invitation, no nothing, he would just roam around on the roads and later return home. Otherwise the food was so little that his mother would feed him and would remain hungry herself.

So, he would return home with an empty stomach but happy and laughing saying loudly, ”It was a wonderful meal! Such delicious food dishes were cooked!” He would enter the house talking of those food stuffs that were nowhere cooked for him, that he had not eaten anywhere.

When Ramakrishna came to know of this, he said, ”How mad you are! Why don’t you ask God and all will be taken care of.” Vivekananda said that it will be too ordinary a thing to talk about eating and drinking with God. Still Ramakrishna asked him to ask at least once and see. He sent Vivekananda inside the temple. One hour passed, one and a half hours passed, Vivekananda came out from the temple and was very blissful and estatic. He came out dancing. Ramakrishna asked, ”Did you get it? Did you ask for it?” Vivekananda said, ”Get what?” Ramakrishna said, ”I had told you to put forward your demand. What makes you return so blissful?”

Vivekananda said, ”I forgot that completely ” This happened several times. Ramakrishna would send him in and when Vivekananda came out of the temple, he would inquire about it. Then Vivekananda would remember what he had been sent in for. Ramakrishna said, ”Are you mad or something? Because while going inside, you promised me that you will ask.”

Vivekananda would say, ”When I go in, there remains not even a faint memory that I have to ask God for something. On the contrary, a feeling of giving arises in me, that I should give myself to Him. And when I give myself, there is such bliss, so much of it that there is neither hunger, nor thirst, nor the need to ask”

Vivekananda could not ask. It was not possible for him. Until now no truly religious person has asked for anything from God. And those who have asked, it ought to be understood well that they have nothing to do with religion. The religious man has only given.

Source: "Ramakrishna Paramhansa & Swami Vivekananda First Meeting" from book "the mahageeta vol1" By Osho

http://formlesspath-sunthosh.blogspot.com/2010/05/ramakrishna-paramhansa-and-swami.html

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My Experience Of Ramana Maharshi By Rao Saheb Sri K. K. Nambiar

It was in the year 1933 that a friend of mine spoke to me about Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and suggested that I should meet him.

On reaching Sri Ramanasramam,I went direct to where Sri Bhagavan was seated, prostrated myself before him and sat down on the floor at some distance.

One or two incidents during this period may be recounted here, miracles to the faithful, but casual coincidences to the sceptics.

One evening in the year 1936 when I visited the Ashram I decided to ask an important question of Sri Bhagavan concerning certain spiritual practices. But amidst the solemn hours of Veda Parayana in the evening and during meditation that followed I could not make up my mind to ask the question,and returned home somewhat disappointed.

Early next morning, when I was lying half awake, Sri Bhagavan appeared before me in a dream and answered the very question which I had failed to put to him the previous evening. And before he vanished he also told me that he wanted a note-book. I said I had only one readily available and that it was of the octavo pocket-size. He said it was enough. I woke up with a pleasant thrill.

The dream or vision, whatever one may call it, made such a deep impression on my mind that I could not delay carrying out the behest, however strange it might seem. After early bath and ablutions I traced out the pocket note-book and hurried to the Ashram. Prostrating myself before Sri Bhagavan as usual, I handed over the note-book to him. He received it smiling, and asked me why I took it to him, when I related to him, in a whisper, all about my dream.

Immediately he called his personal attendant, the late Madhavaswami, and remarked to him “Did I not ask you last evening to fetch a good notebook to write down a Malayalam translation of the Sanskrit text of Sri Ramana Gita? You didn’t bring one. Here is Nambiar who has brought it for me. It seems he had a dream in which I asked him for the book, and he has brought it.” This incident aroused a great deal of interest among the devotees.

On another occasion in the same year I dreamt of Maharshi as seated on his couch as usual, surrounded by a number of devotees seated on the floor and engaged in meditation. Among them I recognised a young devotee from Goa, seated in padmasana performing pranayama. I think he was known by the name, Sridhar. While he was doing pranayama, I saw, in the dream, sparks of fire rising from the base of his vertebral column up to his head. Bhagavan,who was watching this practicant, interjected “There is no need for all this gymnastics with breath-control. It is easier and safer to follow the method of Self-enquiry as enunciated by me.” That is the sum and substance of the dream I had.Next day, when I went to the Ashram, I sought out this young Goanese Swami. I had no previous acquaintance with him and no occasion even to speak to him before. I gave him a full description of the dream I had. He was visibly moved and, somewhat to my embarrassment, embraced me with delight in the North Indian fashion.

He said “Brother, I was all the while waiting for an opportunity to ask Bhagavan whether I should continue or give up this practice of pranayama which I have been steadily carrying on for the past several years. Indeed, last night while sitting in the presence of Sri Bhagavan I eagerly awaited an opportunity to put him the question but I couldn’t find a suitable occasion for the purpose. Now, there is no need for me to ask him about it. Bhagavan answered it through you.”

When I was in England last year, I went to see a venerable, old lady, by name Mrs. Victoria Doe. She must be nearing 80 and lives in a quiet house at 17. St. Martin’s Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, with her only daughter, Miss. Leena Doe. She has never come to India, never seen Bhagavan Sri Ramana in flesh and blood. Yet, I was deeply moved by her devotion to him. She had read about him, prayed to him,meditated on him, and lives in him day in and day out.

She showed me sheaves of letters she took from a corner of a shelf, and kissed them with great reverence before handing them to me. All the letters were from the Ashram and were meticulously preserved for the past several years. She had also with her all the English publications of Sri Ramanasramam. She opened one of the books and, running her shaky finger along the writing on the first page “With Gracious Blessings from Sri Bhagavan” burst into tears of joy and devotion. She said “Mr. Nambiar,how lucky you are to have been able to be with him, to see him and hear him speak. Here, we treasure these books and letters as representing him. Now he has sent you here. I feel that he is with us now.” Such love, such devotion to the Sage, so tenderly expressed to me, a total stranger to her till the other day, moved me to the depths of my being.

I do not profess competence to interpret Sri Bhagavan’s philosophy and teachings. The first publication I remember to have read on his teachings is the booklet entitled “Who am I?”. Having read it, I felt no need to read other books propounding some different approach to the realisation of the Eternal Truth. I am convinced that the method of Selfenquiry suggested in that great little book is all that is needed
for the highest achievement in life, namely, Self-realisation.

Source: Golden Jubilee Souvenir

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Hanuman Chalisa - Verse 12 And 13

Verse 12

Bhima roop dhari asur sanghare
Ramachandra ke kaj sanvare

Verse 12 Meaning

With over-whelming might you destroyed the Asuras (demons) and performed all tasks assigned to you by Shri Ram with great skill.

Verse 13

Laye Sanjivan Lakhan Jiyaye
Shri Raghuvir Harashi ur laye

Verse 13 Meaning

You brought Sanjivan (A herb that revives life) and restored Lakshman back to life, Shri Raghuvir (Shri Ram) cheerfully embraced you with his heart full of joy.


Commentary By Prasanth Jalasutram

In Verse 12 tulasidas tells that lord hanuman performs with great skill/zest all tasks assigned by Lord Shri Rama.

God-Guru's grace is much required if we are to progress in this spiritual life and to eradicate ignorance in us.

As known with ramakrishna paramahamsa's grace narendra has become swami vivekananda and has revived hinduism and can easily say that he is one of the most influential hindu saints in 20th century.

When he asked his master ramakrishna whether he as seen god,master said in return "Is there anyone who has not seen god?" which impressed vivekananda and be became a great disciple of bhagavan ramakrishna.

As guru ramana says,

As a lion seen in a dream by an elephant, awakens him; so the Guru, who is a sage, awakens the disciple from the dream of ignorance.The cause of all miseries is the impure vasana, the belief that holds the body to be ‘I’.

The grace of the Guru is like an ocean. If you come with a cup, you will only receive a cupful.It is no use complaining of the niggardliness of the ocean; the bigger the vessel, the more you will be able to carry.It is entirely upto you.

In Verse 13 tulasidas describes that Lord Hanuman has brought Sanjivan (A herb that revives life) and restored Lakshman back to life which made Lord Rama happy.

Miracles do happen with guru's grace and we have seen many incidents in past regarding miracles.

In Mahabharata war lord krishna saved arjuna and other pandavas manytimes with his miracles else pandavas would have lost the war.

Sources:

1. http://www.hanuman.com/cha.html

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The Secret of Eternal Youth From the Spiritual Discourses of Param Pujya Sant Shri Asaramji Bapu

First of all, let us understand the meaning of Brahmacharya.

'Yajnavalkya Samhita' states:

"Brahmacharya is abstaining from all kinds of Maithuna or sexual enjoyment forever, in all places and in all conditions- physically, mentally and verbally."

The great sage Vyasa said:

'To abandon the pleasure gained through the sexual organs by restraint is defined as celibacy."

Lord Siva said to Goddess Parvati,

"O Parvati! What is there on this earth which cannot be accomplished if one has control over his sexual fluid?" That is, all powers reside at the divine feet of the Enlightened Urdhvareta (one who is able to sublimate his sexual energy through the practice of yoga). In fact, Siddhis (divine powers) become his facile servants. Such a Sadhaka can attain Self-Realisation within a short span of time. Even the gods (deities) have attained immortality through Brahmacharya".

"The gods have conquered death by Brahmacharya and penance. Indra, the King of gods, has attained a still higher status, through the self-discipline of Brahmacharya." (Atharva veda: 1. 5. 19)


Preservation of semen gives life

Semen is found in a subtle state in all the cells of the body. Just as the buttermilk is thinned after the butter is removed, so also, semen is thinned by its wastage. The more the wastage of semen, the more the body deteriorates and weakens. The preservation of semen is the secret of good health and longevity, and of all success in the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual planes. He who has even a little bit of Brahmacharya will tide over a crisis of any disease very easily. One who follows Brahmacharya strictly is usually not afflicted by any disease. That is why, in scriptures, it is said:

"Death is hastened by letting out semen from the body. Life is saved and prolonged by preserving it. Semen is the real vitality in men. It is the hidden treasure in man."

"There is no doubt that people die prematurely by letting the semen out of the body; knowing this, the Yogi should always preserve semen and lead a life of strict celibacy." - Siva Samhita

How is semen formed?

According to Ayurveda, from the digested food chyle is formed. Out of chyle comes blood. Out of blood comes flesh. Out of flesh comes fat. Out of fat comes bone. Out of bone comes marrow. Out of marrow comes semen. Conversion of Dhatu at every step takes a period of five days. Thus semen is the last Dhatu that is formed out of food. It takes approximately 30 days and 4 hours to complete this cycle. Scientists believe that an intake of 32 kgs. Of food produces 800 Gms. of blood, which in turn forms only 20 Gms. of semen. Now, you can see how precious the semen is!

If a man leads a life of celibacy even in householder's life and has copulation for the sake of progeny only, he can bring forth healthy, intelligent, strong, beautiful and self-sacrificing children. Higher forms of animals do have the sex impulse, but it becomes active only during the mating season; and thus they maintain health. Man, with his boasted intellect, has to learn lessons from birds and animals. Even animals have more self-control than men. It is only the so-called man who has degraded himself much by indulgence. At the heat of sexual excitement, he repeats the same ignoble act again and again. Man only violates the laws of nature and consequently suffers from innumerable diseases. He has degenerated to a level far lower than that of animals in this respect.

Lack of self-control gives rise to diseases. The western world has suffered moral and ethical degradation by following the Freudian psychology. It is clearly observed in statistical data. Population of India is three times that of U.S.A. Yet, consumption of drugs in U.S.A. is 10 times that in India. In New York City, a ten-year study, Mental Health in metropolis, claimed that approximately 80 per cent of adults showed some symptoms of Mental illness, with one in four actually impaired.

(Srole, Leo, Langer, Thomas, et al, Mental health in Metropolis, The midtown Manhatton Study.)

Freudian psychoanalysts failed to give any solution to the problem of suppressing desires. So the people alarmed of getting mental disorders, continued to satisfy their desires even by illegal means. This in turn increased the incidence of crimes.

On an average one case of rape is recorded per six seconds and about 2 million cases of pre-marietal pregnancy are recorded every year in U.S.A. Teenage pregnancy is a burning problem of U.S.A. Pre-marital sex is common in U.S. because they advocate free sex. As a result of that they compare the sexual gratification after marriage with the previous pre-marital experiences and when they find it less, they ask for divorce.

About 65% of marriages result in divorce. As they have violated the nature's law of self-control, they suffer from sexually transmitted diseases. The most horrible is AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which is spreading like an epidemic. The family life is disturbed by internal conflicts, dissatisfaction and rage. The social life is full of chaos, terror, insecurity and arrogance. This is not caused by poverty or lack of materials.

The U.S. has 4 % of the world's population. They have made provisions for 40 % of the global material productions (like cars, TVs etc.). Yet the criminal tendency is so high that one case of burglary is recorded per ten seconds. There are 425 prisoners per one lakh population whereas there are only 23 prisoners per one lakh population in Indian jails. In U.S.A. 14 million cases of crime were recorded by the police department during the year 1992. This is because the people under the influence of Freudian psychology try to satisfy all desires (not only sexual). The social life is degraded. Unchecked criminal tendencies lead to chaos, terror and insecurity.

In the present-day world, unfortunately, many people read pornographic literature, view sexy films on television and in theatres, view blue films in privacy, as a result we see all around us, the number of physical, mental and moral wrecks increasing every day. Many a times such people indulge in unnatural sex. Masturbation or homosexual tendency lead them to wastage of seminal energy many times a weak. They may discharge seminal energy in bad dreams or wet dreams. Due to excessive loss of semen, enlargement of testes and sometimes pain in the testes develops. The evil after-effects that follow the loss of seminal energy are dangerous. Persons are physically, mentally and morally debilitated.

The body and the mind refuse to work energetically, because the semen is not used up in the body to form Ojas that give vibrant health, strong will power and sound mind. Later on, such people develop impotency for the testices cannot produce semen with normal sperm count. Life for him loses all zest, zeal and charm. He becomes a victim of a number of diseases like anaemia, loss of memory, gloominess, palpitation of heart, pain in the back, loins, head and joints, weak kidneys, fickle mindedness, enlargement of testes, pain in the testes, debility, nervous breakdown, restlessness of mind, lack of thinking power, etc. He goes through hellish suffering. The scripture declares emphatically,

'Atharva Veda' declares:

"I have abandoned the lust that wastes my seminal energy. I throw away those sexual desires forever as they destroy my strength, intelligence and health. I will never become a victim of sexual desires' "

But what happens to one who does not lead the life of celibacy. 'Atharva Veda' says,

"The lust is the cause of diseases, dire diseases. It is the cause of death, fatal death. It makes one walk with tottering steps. It causes mental debility and retardation. It destroys health, vitality and physical well being. It burns all the Dhaatus (viz.chyle, blood, flesh, fat, bone, marrow and semen). It pollutes the purity of mind."

Alcoholic drinks (liquor), tobacco (chewing), cigarettes stimulate passion.

In Quran Sherifs Allaah Pak Trikol Roshal's Sipard, it is written:"O believers, this wine and gambling, and these arrows you use for divination, are all acts of Satan, so keep away from them. You may haply prosper.

Ramakrishna Param Hamsa said, "Whenever you see a beautiful woman, and if evil thoughts crop up in your mind, visualise the 'World Mother' (Jagadamba) in her. She is a manifestation of 'World Mother'. That is why she is so beautiful. She is Divine mother blessing me with her Darshana. Entertain this Bhava (attitude), evil thoughts will die.

When Governor of Kalyana, Bahlol Khan was defeated by Major General of Shivaji's army, the latter presented a beautiful Begum to Shivaji. Strict celibate Shivaji looked at her with reverence, and said, "If I have to become beautiful, I will take birth through your womb, mother." Saying this he scolded his Major and ordered him to send her with full honour to her husband.Shivaji was a strict celibate because he was a disciple of a mighty saint Samartha Ramadasa.

For protecting the semen, it is essential to wear always a strip of cloth (Langoti or Kaupin or loin cloth) over the private part, for there will be no night emission and growth of inflammation or any other disease of the testicles. This will help you in keeping up Brahmacharya.

Immoral songs produce a bad, deep impression in the mind.Aspirants should run away from places where vicious songs, poems, vulgar film songs, pop music or disco songs are sung or played on radio, transistor or cassette player.

Our great martyrs Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh and Vir Savarkar were inspired by patriotic literature to dedicate and sacrifice their lives for the liberation of India. Therefore, the glory of good literature is beyond words. There are so many great inspiring spiritual books reflecting the glory of Indian civilization viz, 'Yoga-Vagistha Maha Ramayan', 'Shrimad Bhdgavadgita', 'Upanishads', 'Daas Bodh', 'Vivek Chudamani', 'Sukhmani', publications of Shri Ramakrishna mission, books by Swami Ramatirtha, etc etc.

Make study of such literatures an indispensable part of your daily routine. Books that deal with love stories exciting passion and pornographic literatures should be either thrown into dustbin or reduced to ashes. You should strictly avoid these and give them not to others for reading. Reading of spiritual literature is of immense value in observing Brahmacharya.

Always read a spiritual book in the morning after taking bath (and before going to job) and at night just before retiring to bed. The pure, sublime-elevating thoughts of the book will displace the evil (passionate) thoughts of your mind and you will not become a victim of sexual thoughts and fantasies.

"Semen is brightness, strength and (Self) Atma." -(Satapath brahman).

Grandsire Bhishma and the great Abhimanyu

There were two great battles, which took place during the war of Mahabharat. One is of grandsire Bhisma and the other of Abhimanyu.

Bhisma was a Naisthika Brahmachari, i.e. life long celibate. Therefore he was a man of boundless power. Lord Krishna had taken a vow that during the war he would not wield any weapon. However, he was compelled to break his vow in the face of the allconquering and irresistible attack that Bhisma mounted on the army of Pandavas. Even Arjuna armed with celestial weapons could not combat Bhisma's onslaught and Lord Krishna was forced to take up a wheel of a chariot to protect Arjuna from the arrows showered by Bhisma. It was through the power of Brahmacharya (alone), that Bhisma could conquer death. When he was pierced by sharp arrows all over the body, his survival was impossible. Yet (god of) death could not snatch his life. Lying on the bed of arrows, he gave wonderful discourses on political, philosophical, religious, social and moral subjects to Yudhisthira. Bhisma waited for the beginning of auspicious Uttarayana. Then he willingly left his body.

The second battle was that of a charming and brilliant hero Abhimanyu. Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu fought single handed against the terrific strategy of Kauravas called Chakravyuha. Bhima, the chief of Pandava army, was left behind. Abhimanyu fought with commendable valour wielding a wheel of a chariot all alone amidst great warriors of Kauravas. But in the end he was killed because Abhimanyu sowed the seed of Pandava dynasty before proceeding to his last battle. He had passed the night before the great battle in the amorous company of his wife Uttara. Due to this act of infringement of Brahmacharya, he could not conquer death, unlike grandsire Bhisma.

An experiment done in U.S.A.

A scientific experiment was carried out in an American school of science. 30 students were given no food for a fixed period of time. It was observed that their libido subsided. But when they were given food, libido increased. This shows that fasting gives only a temporary benefit in observation of celibacy.

Techniques for Conservation of Seminal Energy

Tulsi (Basil) cures many diseases. Moreover, it helps in conservation of seminal energy. It improves power of memory. Leaf of Tulsi is an excellent herbal medicine. It restores imbalance of wind, bile and phelgm and thereby helps in cure of many ailments caused due to their imbalance. It is very useful in cases of blood disorders, cough, worm- infestation etc. It is good for cardiac disorders also."

Herbal aid to celibacy: One can make this Ayurvedic Churna, without much cost at home. Take dried Amalas (goose berries) the fruits of a tree Emblica Officinalis and grind them into powder. Ready-made Amala powder is available in the market also. Mix two parts of the Amala powder with one part of powdered rock-sugar. You may get this ready-made mixture from ashram also.

Mere thinking of a woman with sexual feelings causes a Sadhaka's downfall. Therefore, beware! Try to know the heart of the scriptures and saints and take its benefits by following it.

"These sexual propensities, though they are at first like ripple, acquire the proportions of a sea on account of a bad company. Whenever the mental image of a woman crops up in your mind with evil thoughts, repeat mentally "Om Durgaa Devyai Namah " and do mental prostrations." - Swami Vivananda

"A wise man should avoid married life as if it were a burning pit of live coals. From the contact comes sensation, from sensation thirst, from thirst clinging, by ceasing from that, the soul is delivered from all sinful existence." - Lord Buddha

Source: http://hariomgroup.net/hariombooks/satsang/English/TheSecretOfEternalYouth.htm

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Ramana Maharshi Devotee Swami Iswarananda Recollects His Experiences

IT WAS IN 1934 that I had the privilege of meeting the great sage of Tiruvannamalai.

It was about ten o’clock in the morning when I entered the large hall in which the Maharshi was. The hall was full of devotees. I made my prostrations and stood up and found the Maharshi completely unconcerned.

An attendant once brought to him some newspapers which he went on reading. Another brought some proofs for correction and he sat up and returned them corrected. He again relapsed into a state of all-significant look, in a reclining posture. All
these went on silently till about 12 o’clock when the bell rang for lunch.

After we had all returned to the hall and the Maharshi got seated on his cot, some attendant introduced me to him as coming from the Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore.

The Maharshi asked me if I had any news of Swami Siddheswarananda who had gone to Paris to start a centre of the Ramakrishna Mission there. It so happened that I had a letter of his in my pocket which I handed over to him.

The Maharshi went through the letter and expressed his surprise at the fact that few Frenchmen living so near England knew English.

The Maharshi enjoyed the humorous episode mentioned in the letter which arose on account of this language difficulty.

Swami Siddheswaranandaji’s hosts did not know English. At meals when his hosts brought him wine, he said no. They asked him what he would take. He said milk. They brought him water and then soda. He again said that it was not what he wanted.They were puzzled. Then the Swami resorted to a gesture of imitation of milking the cow. The hosts immediately understood and the difficulty was got over. The Maharshi enjoyed this immensely and recited the incident in Tamil and Telugu to the audience in the hall with great glee.

Source: SURPASSING LOVE AND GRACE SRI RAMANASRAMAM By His devotees

My spiritual Friends Subramanian R garu and Uday Garu wants to add more information

Swami Siddeswarananda of SRK Math, was one of the greatest devotees of Bhagavan Ramana. He once discussed at length abput Einstein's theory of relativity with Bhagavan Ramana. Bhagavan heard him in all attention and then said, 'Even here where time and space are reduced to one component, there is an observer and the observed. In Advaita, there is only the Seer and there is no seen. So here even the time/space continuum becomes zero.

Swami S. had been responsible for spreading Ramana's teachings in Paris to the extent it was possible for him, amidst his schedule of managing the Math in Paris.

Udai Garu says,

Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna mission also met Ramana Maharshi.

Amongst other modern popular monks who got Ramana Darshanam are:
Swami Chinmayananda
Swami Yogananda Paramahamsa.
Swami Tapovan Maharaj [Guru of Swami Chinmayananda]

All of them were deeply influenced by Ramana Darshanam!

Ramana Darshanam is SAT Darshanam

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Ramana Maharshi Devotee Silentgreen Narrates A Spritual Story "Meeting With A Crocodile"

I met a crocodile lying on the banks of a river peacefully. Many birds and insects were pecking on its body but nothing seems to be disturbing its peace.

I asked him: "Hello crocodile, do you do self-enquiry?".

The crocodile replied: "What is that?"

I told the crocodile: "When any thoughts rise, ask yourself, 'To whom does the thoughts arise?' the thoughts will subside to your heart."

The crocodile laughed and said: "Generally no thoughts arise in me at all, except during food time. If I do self-enquiry and subside even that thought, how shall I eat? I will die."

[I thought: I always thought of self-enquiry in terms of subsiding existing thoughts. But this crocodile seems to have no useless thoughts at all; then what is self-enquiry for it?]

I said: "You will not understand all this. By doing spiritual practices, we rise to great spiritual heights. Our scriptures mention about 'Stitha-Pragna', a stage where a saint is not disturbed by anything; heat or cold; joy or sorrow etc. Do you understand?"

The crocodile laughed again and said: "You watch me for one year. In summer or winter, in rain or storm. I will lie peacefully like this. Those things do not affect me. You are saying about joy and sorrow. I find no difference between them. Those things normally do not arise in my mind at all."

[I thought: I always thought of 'Stitha-Pragna' (a man of steady wisdom) in terms of not getting affected by external conditions. How then is he different?]

I said: "Our saints meditated in places full of insects. Even ant-hills developed on them. Birds pecked on them and they were not aware of these things."

The crocodile laughed even further: "Insects. Anthills. Birds. You can fill my body with bees. I will not get disturbed. Birds peck me all the time. Another crocodile can lie on me criss-crossed. I will not get disturbed. You can keep bags on my back. I will not get disturbed. If you put bags on the back of your saints, will they still continue to meditate?"

I gulped.

[I thought: I always thought enduring harsh conditions during spiritual practice is a sign of spirituality. How then is it different?]

I said: "You do not understand all this. I have read of saints doing penance underwater."

The crocodile said: "I have never met such an ignorant person like you. Don't you know we can live underwater for hours? You can put half my body in water and half in land. You can put my tail-side in land and head-side under water. I will still remain peaceful. Have you come across any saint who meditated with trunk in land and head inside water."

I was overwhelmed by the audacity of the crocodile.

[But still I thought: I always thought that doing extraordinary penances is a mark of spiritual progress. How then is it different?]

But since I do spiritual practices and know that anger is bad I resisted my anger somehow.

The crocodile seem to have understood my state and to make me more angry deliberately asked: "Are you feeling angry?"

I turned by head to hide my red face. Then somehow controlling my anger said: "Anger comes from ego. We should not be angry."

The crocodile said: "What is this ego?"

I said: "The ego gives rise to anger, jealousy, hatred and makes a person bad. Jealousy makes one person hurt another for his own good."

The crocodile said: "We do not feel all those. Don't you see one crocodile lying on the back of another with perfect friendship."

I retorted: "How boastful! If I go near you, will you not eat me?"

The crocodile said: "That is because you are my food. Not because of hatred. After all we have to live. Supply me enough food. Then come near me. I will pat on your back with my tail."

Imagining the pat I shivered.

I said: "I do not require your pat. We chant God's name and get pats from God."

The crocodile said: "Chanting? Why?"

I said: "You will not understand all this. It gives lot of peace of mind."

The crocodile said: "Peace of mind? What disturbs you? Can't you see how peaceful we are?"

[I thought: That is correct, the crocodile has never chanted and seems to be so peaceful. How then are spiritual practices different?]

I said: "We are the Self. We always identify with our ego. We always identify with our bodies. That is our problem. We need to remove our ego. Then we will be free. We will get mukti. Do you understand all this?"

The crocodile said: "Just come near me. I will end your ego in a moment and along with it your body. And since you are already the Self, Self will remain as it is. I will give you mukti right now. I have also not tasted human flesh for long. So it is beneficial for both of us."

[I trembled at the proposition of the crocodile, but also thought: The crocodile surely has a point. If I die this moment, the ego and the body will end this moment and the Self remains as it is. So will it not mean liberation?]

Seeing me tremble, the crocodile rejoiced and said: "Don't worry. I will not harm you this time at least. Anyway you are quite far, so there is no need to fear."

I retorted back: "You are thick-headed. Like you are thick-skinned, so you are thick-headed too. Don't you know that ending life like that is suicide and suicide is bad?"

The crocodile said: "Then sleep like us. We sleep for hours without dreaming. The ego subsides and the Self remains as it is. You will have no more thoughts."

[I thought: The crocodile surely has a point. If a person sleeps dreamlessly throughout his life, then are not all the problems solved? There are no thoughts, no identifications, no control of the mind and the Self is as it is. Then what else is spirituality?]

I said: "You are lazy. You do not understand all these things. We are not lazy fellows like you. We go to office and work."

The crocodile said: "Is it. Does your saints also go to office and work?"

Once again I wondered at the audacity of the crocodile. I said: "You will not understand all this. Have you heard of Vedanta. We are all one, externally appearing different, but internally same. So you and me are essentially same.

The crocodile said: "Come near me and tell me that."

I shivered, but said: "Leave it, you will not understand all this. Do you know devotion? By surrendering to God, a devotee depends entirely on God. He eats when God gives food, otherwise not."

The crocodile said: "Who depends more on God. Humans or we? We do not get regular food. Sometimes I just keep my mouth open and lie down for hours. If fish enters my mouth I eat, else not. Is this not a greater display of dependency on God? Can you depend on God like this?"

[I thought: The crocodile surely has a point. Its life depends more on God than us. How then are human beings superior?]

I said: "You are part. You need to become whole. You need to lose your me."

The crocodile said: "By becoming whole, do we lose our separate memories and enter a common big memory? Or do we have the ability to read other's thoughts?"

I said: "Not exactly that."

The crocodile said: "Then why are you calling it whole when separation still remains? If I am able to read other's thoughts, I am interested. We need to find the thoughts of human beings beforehand to protect ourselves."

[I thought: The crocodile surely has a point. By becoming whole, still saints retain their own memories. Then what is this wholeness?]

The crocodile said: "You seem to be doing spiritual practices for long. What have you gained? Are you more peaceful than me? Can you do the penances I do? Are you more free from hatred and jealousy than me? Do you depend on God for food more than me?"

I did not know what to say. I said hurriedly: "I am getting late. I need to go now. Thank you for your time."

The crocodile roared in laughter: "Time? Except for food and procreation time, you can meet me anytime. I am free always. Are your saints as free as I am?"

I said: "You will not understand all this. In meditation we lose sense of time and remain still for hours?"

The crocodile said: "Is it? I often keep my mouth open and remain still for hours. Can you do like that?"

[I thought: The crocodile definitely has a point. I thought by remaining still for hours and hours is a sign of great spiritual progress. Then how is it different?]

I said: "You do not know manners. You should have bade me a goodbye."

The crocodile said: "Let me do that in our style."

Saying this the crocodile splashed its tail in the water and threw a splash of mud water over my face".

Then seeing my condition the crocodile said: "Sorry for that. I did not expect this much. We are not without manners.". Then with its tail it threw a big leaf towards me and said: "Wipe your face with this."

I felt helpless. I took the leaf and wiped my face, still trying to get acquainted with the new custom.

Then seeing my camera the crocodile said: "You can take as many photographs of me as you like. I do not charge. I keep no money. Money and clay are same to me. I do not have any possessions."

[I thought: "The crocodile surely has thrown a new light. I thought if a person has no greed of money in his heart that is a sign of great spiritual progress. But here the crocodile does not care for money at all."]

Inspite of my helpless condition I could not stop praising the crocodile for its final words: "Yes, you are like our saints in this respect. They renounce everything."

The crocodile said: "We are born renunciates. We were never bound by possessions. We do not have any encrumbrances. We are always free. We remain naked and sleep under the sky. Anyway thank you for your time."

[I thought: The crocodile has surely thrown a new light. I thought that when a person does not bother about any possessions and are free from encrumbrances, that is a sign of great spiritual progress. But here the crocodile also does not have any possessions. What then is the true sign of spirituality?]

I left the place but with lot of questions.

What then is true spirituality? The crocodile seems to show all the external characteristics and many internal too.

I ran to a temple, and standing before the deity said: "Lord, what is all this? I thought human beings are superior than animals. Now I find a crocodile superior to me?"

Then looking at the deity it seemed that God Himself is laughing after viewing the whole crocodile episode. Seeing the Lord laugh, all my concerns also vanished and joy filled my heart.

Source: http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/forum/index.php?topic=5292.msg14649#new

Readers are requested to read below note and articles also

As guru ramana says,we need to learn much from animals.

He even says tapas is very well known to monkeys and great intelligence is behind them.

Also we need to remember that Advaita should be in bhava and not in action.

So surely humans,animals way of living will be different but finally we should have inner feeling that every creature is BRAHMAN only.

Example: For ant one particle of sugar will be sufficient but not the same for humans.

http://prashantaboutindia.blogspot.com/2009/08/ramana-maharshi-says-it-is-not-true.html

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Ramana Maharshi Clarifies To Sadhu Arunachala (A. W. Chadwick) About Dream And Waking States

Bhagavan refused to see the least difference between the two states, and in this he agreed with all the great Advaitic Seers.Some have questioned if Sankara did not draw a line of difference between these two states, but Bhagavan has persistently denied it. Sankara did it apparently only for the purpose of clearer exposition, he would explain.

Go beyond both states, all three states including deep sleep,and study them from that point of view. You now study one limitation from the point of view of another limitation. Could anything be more absurd? Go beyond all limitation, then come
here with the problem.”

But in spite of this, doubt still remained.

I somehow felt at the time of dreaming there was something unreal in it, not always of course. But just glimpses now and then. “Doesn’t that ever happen to you in your waking state too?”

Bhagavan queried. “Don’t you sometimes feel that the world you live in and the thing that is happening is unreal?”

Still in spite of all this, doubt persisted.

But one morning I went to Bhagavan and much to his amusement handed him a paper on which the following was written:

“Bhagavan remembers that I expressed some doubts about the resemblance between dreams and waking experience. Early in the morning most of these doubts were cleared by the
following dream, which seemed particularly objective and real:

“I was arguing philosophy with someone. I pointed out that all experience was only subjective, that there was nothing outside the mind.

“The other person demurred, pointing out how solid everything was and how real experience seemed. It could not be just personal imagination.

“ I replied, ‘No, it is nothing but a dream. Dream and waking experience are exactly the same.’

“‘You say that now’, he replied, ‘but you would never say a thing like that in your dream.’”

And then I woke up.

Source: SURPASSING LOVE AND GRACE SRI RAMANASRAMAM By His devotees

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