The Human Side Of Ramana-II

Ramana Maharshi

oi-Staff

By Staff

Monday, May 18, 2009, 17:59

Apart from that the guru is a friend at all times including of course in the hour of dire need. One's greatest obligation is to one's own mother. For she has nurtured the body in her own womb and has given birth to it. In this context, human birth is significant because it is an opportunity to become Self-realised. Therefore we find Ramana referring to his mother as 'sweet mother'. We find him requesting Arunachala to ward off death till such time as mother's body becomes a temple of God by her attaining Inana as a result of its grace.

One finds this unlimited love of Ramana in all other relationships as well. Whenever he referred to his father Sundaram Iyer, he would recall his humility, his handsomeness and his generosity. When his classmate Rangan came to him for help to save his family at the time of its economic impoverishment, Ramana readily put him at ease and blessed his efforts to get a suitable job. When a devotee N.N. Rajan's wife fell sick with small pox, Ramana not only made daily enquiries about her health, but also advised as to how her pain and suffering could be alleviated. Whenever any devotee came to offer his respects to him
Ramana would first send him to the kitchen insisting that he should have a proper meal.

Ramana's love is best seen in his role as Sadguru. For those who are steadfastly practising self-enquiry his guidance is available at every twist and turn of one's spiritual practice. In his mother's case, on the day of her illumination, in May 1922, Ramana was physically present with her for twelve hours. He was guiding her mind back to the source by keeping his left hand on her head (the mind's centre) and his right hand on her heart (the source of the divine current in each one). This was done to ensure that his mother's mind merged into her heart in order that her body may truly be a temple of God.

What Ramana does in his love for his devotees is best described in Muruganar's words.

A rare, unlooked-for guest he came;

Right in he came, of his own accord,

This Venkata, Lord of my own self,

And ate up the whole of my fond mind

As if it were encloying nectar.

Seen and unseen he does his job of guiding his disciples mind back to the source through his massive silence and his radiant, spear like look. The beauty of this is that he does not reserve his grace only for the fit and chosen. For everyone who is spiritually hungry, for everyone who is ready to surrender to his guidance, he is on call all the twenty-four hours of a day.

The spiritual face of one who has turned to him will be growing in its radiance, in the flowering of a way of life which is steeped in solid silence, in overwhelming bliss.

To Be Continued About the author

A.R.Natarajan

Sri A.R.Natarajan has had the opportunity of a long association of over 50 years with the Ramanashram. He was the editor of "Mountain Path" for two years. He was the secretary of Ramana Kendra, New Delhi for ten years. He founded the Ramana Maharshi centre for learning, a non profit institution. He has authored more than thirty six books and eleven pocket books on the life and teachings of Bhagavan Ramana.

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