Sai Prema - December 1975

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2 BHAGWAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI P. S. V. Aiyer BHAGWAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI, whose birthday occurs on December 20th this year, is one of the world teachers of our time. As Arthur Osborne observes, Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Shirdi Sai Baba and Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi who were contemporaries, worked from East India, Western India and the southern country to supply the demand for spiritual guidance, according to current trends, namely, to make a universal and unconventional approach to spiritual life. All the three stood for communal harmony and universal brotherhood. While their influence on current life is, generally speaking, for our betterment, it cannot be held that everyone that came to them benefited to the same degree. As the Gita says: "barely one in a thousand understands the Master". Everyone cannot make a Vivekananda, Shivananda, Abeda-nanda, or Upasani Maharaj, Abdulla Bhai, Mahalsapaty, Das Ganu and Nana Saheb Chandorkar, or F. H. Humphreys, Muruganar, Arthur Osbourne. Several remain unchanged even after visiting Sri Ramanasram hundred times. Ramana's teachings should be lived and not discussed. Ordinary people glibly talk of Bhagwan's teachings as very simple "Ask yourself "Who am I?". That is all". These false prophets feel touchy if they are slighted in a gathering, they are upset if there is less sugar in coffee or less salt in the food, and they react violently to any disrespect or injury. They insult the Mahavakyas by quoting them. They remain smug and comfortable in their ivory tower, and justify

3 their selfishness by saying that Bhagwan does not encourage social service. Here it is necessary to explain what Bhagwan says. F. H. Humphreys asked Bhagwan if he could help the world. Bhagwan replied that Humphreys himself was the world and by helping himself, Humphreys could help the world. One who realises the SELF realises also the oneness of all life. It is said that the entire universe shared with the compassionate Buddha in the bliss which he enjoyed when he attained illumination under the bodh tree in Gaya. Ramana Maharshi showed the same kindness to Karuppan, the dog, Lakshmi, the cow, the birds which dined of the plate which he held before them, the squirrel and the monkey and the pariahs, as he showed the men and women, big and small, who came to him. The visitors shared in his presence the ineffable peace and bliss which the Maharshi was enjoying in every moment of his existence, because he had realised his oneness with one and all of them. If a man can share in the satisfaction of the begger who eats on the road, if he can enjoy the taste and flavour of the tea in his mouth when his neighbour is sipping the drink, if he feels hurt when he sees another hurt, then he can say "Social work is unnecessary for me". The mother feels happy when her baby is dining, because she has the power and the HEART to give the child of herself in the milk at her breast. But her love and sacrifice are confined to her child only. These are to be gathered and carried to the highest plane of consciousness, and then it is possible to share with the universe what help, what bliss and peace one gets for oneself.

4 Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi realised his SELF and he perceived Brahman in himself and in all around him Narasimhaswamy, who publsihed the first ever biography of the Maharshi, entitled his book "SELF REALISATION". Be it noted it is realisation done unaided by oneself for oneself. Everyman must do this for himself. The Master shows the way. The aspirant must enquire within and discover. This discovery is essentially individual and personal and the experience cannot be shared with another. To Ramana Maharshi there is no yesterday, to-day or tomorrow. It is "eternal now", nor to him is here or there. When his devotees were weeping around him in the last moments of his earthly life and asked him "Are you going to leave us"? he replied by asking "Where am I going?" To one who is everywhere there is no question of going from one place to another. He is all pervading. Evolution, which is understood as growing into something big from remaining small, is so far as Maharshi is concerned, an illusion born of ignorance. One remains already Perfect and it is upto one only to realise this truth. There can, therefore, be no question of evolving from a leasser to a greater state of being. It is not be coming, it is being already and realising one's state of being Brahman. Now arises the question: how to realise this? It is by meditating on the SELF, by enquiring within. The spiritual discipline starts by setting apart some time in the small hours of the morning every day to meditate. Sitting alone and remaining in the same posture is necessary during meditation. Satvic diet, celebacy and silence, at least for some minutes or hours, are essential. Breathing comes effortlessly under control. Calm and cheerful temperament follow.

5 Speech should be reduced to minimum avoiding gossip, Humphreys got these teachings from the Master. The Master lays emphasis on Guru bhakti. Just as a deer which comes in the sight of a leapord cannot escape, says Bhagwan, so a devotee who comes into personal contact with the Master cannot get away without being saved. On this point there is complete agreement between the teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba and Ramana Maharshi. Devotees who visited the Maharshi have experienced his piercing and searching glance into them. Nothing can be hidden from him. But he is Grace personified. Talking of meditation, one might have noticed the extraordinary feat of the Maharshi preserving double consciousness. He was talking to people and attending to worldly duties and at the same time, he was perpetually in samadhi. The Master wanted this practice which he called "sahaja nishta" to be cultivated by his devotees. The Maharshi was in samadhi as he walked slowly round the slopes (eight miles long) of the Arunachala hills, at whose foot is situated his hermitage. May our thoughts turn in devotion to Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi on his Jayanti and in prayer for his Grace. QUOTES Self-realisation is the aim of Mysticism- but the means to the end must be suited to the needs of the individual. Baba in the flesh was, to his devotees, the embodiment of the Supreme Spirit lighting the Sadhakas' path by his every word and action. The mortal body has passed away but, the "Baba" once in it now lives in the Spirit Eternal helping in the silent way he often did in the flesh, the myriads of his devotees who seek solace in him.

6 Justice M. B. Rege These men do never die. They become the Praised Ones. They shed mercy on the world with myriad hands. They help the helpless. They aid the depressed. They leave not those that follow them when the time of danger comes. They are men, only in name. In reality, they are God Himself. These solitary ones are marvellous. Bedii, the Sufi of Sina., NEWS & NOTES On Sunday the 23rd November, 75, the Birth Day of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was observed at the Samaj with Special Puja and Prasadam and by organising a Special Bhajan programme very ably conducted by Sri C. S. Krishna Aiyer, Sri M. K. N. lyenger and Group. The Birth Day - of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi coming this year on the 20th December, will be celebrated at the Samaj on that date at 5-00 in the evening with Devotional Hymns & Songs, Discourses & Readings Etc. All are cordially welcome. On the 1st January, 1976, the New Year Day will start with Special Early Morning Bhajan at the Samaj from 5-00 A.M. South India Bhajan Samaj taking the leading part. All are cordially invited to attend. AN ANECDOTE (From Baba's Charters & Sayings) Chidambar Keshav Gadgil was told by a Sadhu living at Bhima Sankar temple at Poona to go and see the Saint at Shirdi.

7 Gadgil came to Shirdi for the first time. Gadgil to School master Shama: Is there a saint here? Shama: There is none. You see that mad muslim fakir seated in the mosque. That is the only man we have here. Anyhow Gadgil and his freinds walked the few steps to the mosque. Baba (showering a lot of foul abuse): Don't get up the the mosque, l am a moslem. Go and fall at the foot of the Sadhu at Bhima Sankar Temple. Gadgii discovered at once the Antarjnan of Baba and became his staunch devotee.