Darshan is the Sanskrit word that literally means sight. However, this sight is not the physical eyes, seeing. Rather it is the touch of Grace, bestowed upon the devotee. This touch is one of the highest offerings of the Divine. Although the greatest poets might try, no name can touch the boundlessness of Darshan. Gratefully, Silence is infinitely eloquent. Sri Ramana Maharshi refers to this Silence as: “ever-speaking; it is the perennial flow of ‘language’. It is interrupted by speaking; for words obstruct this mute ‘language’. Lectures may entertain individuals for hours without improving them. Silence, on the other hand, is permanent and benefits the whole of humanity.”

When this pure and perfect opening in sight actuates spontaneously, it reveals the true nature of the devotee, who need only be ripe, ready and willing. It is undoubtedly a blessed moment when the Grace of Guru/Self imparts Darshan. Now, everything is exposed in the light of Self-knowledge, shining away the illusion of all misperception. Moreover, the instant that the eyes of the Guru/Self gaze into the eyes of the devotee, spoken words are no longer necessary. As Sri Ramana Maharshi continues: “Mouna [silence] is the best and the most potent diksha [blessing]. Silent initiation changes the hearts of all.”

Truly, the gift of Darshan unwinds the knots of the egoic mind, opens the windows of the soul, and leaves the devotee in a space of liberation, free from the ego’s story of ‘me’ and ‘mine’. Often, the devotee rides waves of bliss. Still, the most essential transformation is the recognition that there is no duality, no physical body, and no mind left to contain the ego. Nothing is ever quite the same thereafter, for even if a thin veil of the egoic mind remains, thoughts are never taken seriously again as the devotee realizes that he/she is one with the Guru/Self. Forever, the fire of Self-knowledge burns from within, and all is seen in the light of impenetrable Love … for God’s face is everywhere.

May all beings experience Darshan and be free … from the Heart ~ Cathy Ginter

Photoart by Cathy Ginter

The transcription of this talk by Sri V. Ganesan was sent to me by Sri Alan Jacobs who is the President of Ramana Maharshi Foundation in UK.

Harsh K. Luthar

________________________

SRI GANESAN’S TALK

” ‘DIRECT PECEPTION’ IS ‘INSIGHT’ “Today, each one of us is directly going to dive within into oneself — into the “Inner Silence” — the “I AM”.

To understand and attain God, Truth, Liberation, Self-Realisation, Mukti, through outward sources, through external knowledge, seekers after Truth have already wasted 3,000 years. Yet, we remain ignorant — still not knowing what Truth is. At the same time, we have raised enormous Churches, Temples, Mosques and various religions, with their own scriptures.

If one truly takes notice of this tremendous contradiction between humanity’s great capabilities to achieve things outwardly and hopeless inabilities to attain inner Wisdom, one instantly recognises the lacuna in us. Realising this folly of ours is the beginning of dawning of Wisdom!

So, let us take the next saving step of listening to the sacred words of GURU RAMANA, who commands us to turn our outward-turned attention inwards, by diving within and be the Truth. He thus urges us not to waste any more time searching outside of oneself to find TRUTH.

Sri Bhagavan never asked anyone of himself about what mode of spiritual practice one was doing. Even if a visitor put questions to Sri Bhagavan about the modes of sadhana, he would reply:

“Who is the one who raises these questions? Find it out first. Then, you can enquire about them. You are there. You exist. That is certain. Admit your existence. If you come to know who you really are, you will realise that you are the birthless and deathless “I AM”, which is eternal, incomparable “WHOLE” – the “ONE”, transcending time, space, body and world.”

By diving within, one is blessed with the “Direct Perception” of Truth, which is the “Insight” of “I AM” — beyond all limitations as `time’, `space’, `body’ and `world’.

In the process of diving within, “three principles” are directly involved :

(1) Total Focus on the person who dives within : “YOU”
(2) Apply the act of diving within “DAILY” – the sadhana of Self-Enquiry constantly done, all alone, by oneself. That is, staying unmoved on “Reality” as the “NOW”, while rejecting the `unreality’ of `body’ and `mind’ which project `past’ and `future’.
(3) “OWN IT” Process – what all one has already understood, experienced and gained should become one’s own.

It would become easier to grasp the significance of these three principles, by recollecting the reminiscences of the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan. I will thus share with you three instances in the life of my teacher –T.K. SUNDARESA IYER — to elucidate the three principles. I am sure each one of you also is interested in listening to “stories” ! Are we all not a child still in our Heart?

[ I ] TOTAL FOCUS ON THE ONE WHO DIVES WITHIN = “YOU”!

In the later half of 1910s, when Sri Bhagavan was living at Skandashram up on the Mountain ARUNACHALA, T.K. Sundaresa Iyer { T.K.S. }, who was a youth living at the town, was daily going up the Hill and spending time with Sri Bhagavan.
On all such occasions, without fail he used to take with him a small quantity of raisins or sugar candy or something to eat, purchased from the market, as offering to Sri Bhagavan. T.K.S. was a poor teacher. One day, he had no money. He stood before Bhagavan with a dejected face and said, “Bhagavan ! This poor man has brought nothing….!” Bhagavan looked at him enquiringly and remarked, “Why ? You brought the main thing. All else is unimportant ! ”
T.K.S. looked up in wonder, not knowing what he had brought !
“Don’t you understand ? You brought yourself !”
Sri Bhagavan laughed heartily !

******************
Yes ! Brothers and Sisters ! The most precious thing in the world is “YOU” — the `You’ in everyone of us ! Are we each not the `Truth’ ! What can be more important than the `Truth’ ! Sri Bhagagan, the Great Master says, “You are the main thing. All else is unimportant !” In the book : “WHO AM I ?”, our Master’s injunction is, “Abide by the words of the Master.” So, let us obey him. First thing first !

In another place, Sri Bhagavan emphatically said, “You are ever the fulcrum !” Hence, give total recognition of importance to “YOU” in the scheme of Spiritual Perfection. “YOU” ever are the “main thing”, while everything else is the “unimportant” !

Therefore, reverse your approach to understanding true spirituality by shifting your attention from `unimportant things’ to the `main thing’. By looking out for gaining Truth, we wasted 3,000 years. Today, let us listen afresh to Moses declaration as coming from God : ” I AM THAT I AM “. The “I AM” within “You” is the “main thing”, all else are “unimportant things”, as emphasised by Bhagavan Ramana.

Now, let us dive within to be the “I AM”, the true nature of God. Sri Bhagavan, as ever, helps us. The “I AM” in God and the “I AM” in “You” are the same. In “Upadesa Saram” (verse 24), Sri Bhagavan declares : “In essence, God and Man are one and the same.” This “essence” is the “I AM”.

What is “I AM” ? To be simple, let us define “I AM” as the “Subject” and all else around it, including one’s body, as the “objects”. Imminently, look at the “Subject” which sees all forms of “objects”.

How do we know we have wasted 3,000 years ? Very simple ! By our paying great attention to the aspect of “time”. Now, let us take a “right-about-turn” as Sri Bhagavan puts it, a 180-degree turn as the British would put it and a “U” turn as the Americans would put it. That is, ignore the very aspect of “time”, totally, completely. What happens ? Is this not a very bold and dangerous challenge ? Yet, by accepting the challenge, true clarity sets in, since the burden of “time” is lifted off our shoulders, making us feel free to look at Truth afresh !

The seeing “Subject” – the “I AM” – is true, as it ever exists; but, the seen “objects” – time, space, body and world – are untrue, since they all appear and disappear. They do not have permanency due to this limitation. “I AM” is limitless. If we take ourselves to be the “body”, we will be limiting ourselves to `time’, and `space’. We are the birthless and deathless “I AM” — the eternal, incomparable “WHOLE” – the “ONE” which transcends `time and `space’.

To pay total attention to “I AM” and to ignore `time and `space’, is a big challenge. Will we be able to do it ? Yes ! Sri Bhagavan is helping us to meet the challenge and also for our solving it !
In one of the `Stray Verses ‘ that Sri Bhagavan wrote, he describes as how to deny `time’ and also, thus, overcome it.

“If there is no “I AM”, `time’ is not. But, we don’t investigate the “I” and take the body to be the “I”. So, `time’ eats us up. Are we the body ? We are ever there, for, having eaten up `time’, we are ever the One Self – in the past, present and future.”

In the following recording in “TALKS “, Sri Bhagavan emphasises that one should go beyond `time’ and `space’ :–
“Dr. Radhakamal Mukherjee, a well-known Professor, asked Bhagavan to extend His Grace to him, although he would soon be a thousand miles away from Him.

Sri Bhagavan said that `time’ and `space’ are only concepts of the mind. But “Swarupa” – the Real Self – lies beyond `time’ and `space’. Distance (space) does not count in the Self.” – “TALKS “, No.68 [ 21st July, 1935 ].

Let us abide as “I AM”, totally ignoring `time’ and `space’. Thus, we not only meet the challenge, but solve it, too. `You’ definitely can do it, if you apply yourself, daily, to `sadhana ‘.

( 2 ) DAILY `SADHANA’ OF `DIVING WITHIN’

Again, I want to take “You” to my teacher, T.K.S., for elucidation.

“Sri Bhagavan was at Skandashram and daily T.K.S. would spend time with him, without fail ! One day, T.K.S. felt, “Why was I visiting Sri Bhagavan, at all ? What was the use ? There seemed to be no inner advancement. Going up the Hill was meaningless. I did not go to Sri Bhagavan for 100 days. But, on the 101st day, I could not suffer the separation from Sri Bhagavan and hence I ran up !”
At the entrance itself Sri Bhagavan was waiting. T.K.S. fell at Bhagavan’s feet and cried. Sri Bhagavan lifted him up and said, “It is over three months since I saw you. Where were you ?”
T.K.S. told Sri Bhagavan how he thought that meeting him was of no use.
“All right,” Sri Bhagavan said, “maybe it is of no use, so what ? You felt the loss, did you not ?”
T.K.S. said that instantly he realised, we did not go to Sri Bhagavan for gaining something, but because away from him, there was no life for us.”
**************************************

Apply the “visiting Sri Bhagavan up on the Hill” to the need for our pursuing the daily “spiritual sadhana ” ! We may not palpably notice any advancement, daily, in our sadhana ; but, without applying ourselves to spiritual sadhana there is no “essence” — there is no “joy” in our daily living !

Hence, applying oneself daily to the act of diving within and remaining in the “Inner Silence” through Self-Enquiry is absolutely essential. It is imperative. That is, staying unmoved as “Reality” in the “NOW” while rejecting the unreality of `body’ and `mind’ which project the `past’ and the `future’, is absolutely important – daily, too !

The “I AM” in “YOU” is the Truth and it is ever “HERE ” and “NOW “. The book, “TALKS ” contains 650 pages and in it, Sri Bhagavan gives emphasis to this truth of “HERE ” and “NOW ” in 35 different places and on different contexts ! One, thus, has necessarily to wake up to the importance of the truth of “HERE” , ” NOW ” , ” ALWAYS ” and “I AM “.

Yet, seekers may raise a doubt of why then they are not visibly noticed or palpably felt. Sri Bhagavan clears this valid doubt.

**************************************************
TALKS, No.197 [ May 9, 1936 ]

Devotee : If “I AM” is always `here’ and `now’, why do I not feel so ?

SRI BHAGAVAN : That is it ! Who says it is not felt ? Does the real `I’ say it or the false `I’. Examine it. You will find it is the wrong `I’. The wrong `I’ is the obstruction. It has to be removed in order that the true `I’ may not be hidden. The feeling that I have not realised, is the obstruction to Realisation. In fact, it is already realised – there is nothing more to be realised.
Otherwise, the realisation will be new; that it has not existed so far and that it must take place hereafter. What is born anew will also die. If Realisation be not eternal, it is not worth having.
Therefore, what we seek is not that which must happen afresh. It is only that which is eternal but not now known due to obstructions – it is that we seek
All that we need do is to remove the obstruction. That which is eternal is not known to be so because of ignorance. Ignorance is the obstruction. Get over this ignorance and all will be well.
The ignorance is identical with the `I’-thought. Find its source and it will vanish.
The `I’-thought is like a ghost, which although not palpable, rises up simultaneously with the body, flourishes and disappears with it. The body-consciousness is the wrong `I’. Give up this body-consciousness. It is done by seeking the source of `I’. The body does not say `I AM’. It is you who say, `I am the body’ !
Find out who this `I’ is. Seeking its source it will vanish !
* * * * * * *

TALKS, No.96 [ Nov.13, 1935 ]

SRI BHAGAVAN : That which has a beginning MUST ALSO END. Only when the ever-present Consciousness is realised will it be permanent. Consciousness is indeed always with us. Everyone knows `I AM’ ! No one can deny his own being. The man in deep slumber is not aware ; while awake, he seems to be aware. But, it is the same person. There is no change in the one who slept and the one who is now awake. In deep sleep, he was not aware of his body ; there was no body-consciousness. In the wakeful state he is aware of his body ; there is body-consciousness. Therefore, the difference lies in the emergence of body-consciousness and not in any change in the Real Consciousness. The body and body-consciousness arise together and sink together. All this amounts to saying that there are no limitations in deep sleep, whereas there are limitations in the waking state. These limitations are the bondage ; the feeling : “the body is `I’ ” is the error. The false sense of `I’ must go. The real `I’ is always there. It is `here’ and `now’ .

It never appears anew and disappears again. That which is must also persist for ever. That which appears anew will also be lost. Compare deep sleep and waking. The body appears in one state, but not in the other. Therefore, the body will be lost. The Consciousness was pre-existent and will survive the body.

In fact, there is no one who does not say `I AM’. The wrong knowledge of `I-am-the-body’ is the cause of all the mischief. This wrong knowledge must go. That is Realisation. Self-Realisation is not acquisition of anything new nor it is a new faculty. It is only removal of all forms of camouflage.

The ultimate Truth is simple. It is nothing more than being in the pristine state. This is all that need be said. Still, it is a wonder that to teach this simple Truth, there should come into being so many religions, creeds, methods and disputes among them and so on !
Oh the pity ! Oh the pity !

( 3 ) ” OWN IT ” PROCESS
Once, Sri Bhagavan said that a true seeker should put into practice TWO PROCESSES :
“DESERVE the Truth” PROCESS and “OWN the Truth” PROCESS.
We already have dealt with the first `two principles’, which gave us a clear grasp of the `theory’ and `practice’ of Truth and the enormous significance of applying both of them in the daily living of a spiritual seeker. For convenience sake, we may call them both together as the “DESERVE the Truth” Process.
NOW, we will look into the third and final PROCESS, which is equally very important. It is the “OWN the Truth” PROCESS.
May we turn again to T.K.S. and listen to his own words?
“Once, I got a job offer in another town which carried a good salary. I intimated my consent and received an appointment order by telegram. I showed the telegram to Sri Bhagavan. “All right, go,” he said.
But, even before I left the Hall and his Presence, I felt gloom settling over me and I started shivering and complained in my grief : “Forty years I have been with Sri Bhagavan and now I am going away.What shall I do away from Sri Bhagavan ?”
“How long have you been with Bhagavan ?” Sri Bhagavan asked.
“Forty years,” I replied.
Then, Sri Bhagavan turning to the devotees, said : “Here is someone who has been listening to my teaching for forty years and now says he is going somewhere away from Bhagavan !”
{ Nonetheless, due to Sri Bhagavan’s Grace, the job fell through ! }

- – - – - – - -

Let us ponder over the above dialogue, awhile ! Why such a feeling of pandemonium for such a staunch follower of Sri Bhagavan’s teaching ? Is it not clear that if one pays attention to `time’ and `space’, instead of steadily rooted in the “I AM”, the gloom is an unavoidable, necessary `evil’ a seeker has to face ? Only the Master’s Grace is capable of warding off such set in gloom ! Thus, one has to turn within to the “Guru” who is none other than one’s own ever existing “Inner Silence” – the “I AM” !

Once, an University Professor of Philosophy, very much enamoured after listening to the explanation that Sri Bhagavan gave to a verse in “Forty Verses on Reality” — ULLDAU NARPADU , in all emotion, said : “Bhagavan ! You are the Greatest Teacher ! Your teaching is the Greatest Teaching !” Sri Bhagavan gave a compassionate look at him and said : “Teacher and Teaching, for whom ?”

Yes, Sir ! The Greatest Teacher is there and the Greatest Teaching is also there – it is undeniable ! But, yet there is a “missing link” in this Golden Spiritual Chain ! The missing link is “YOU” ! “Teacher –Teaching –YOU” – this is the `Golden Spiritual Chain’ !

Sri Bhagavan is helping the “YOU” in every one of us to wake up and complete the precious “Eternal Chain” ! And, thus make full use of it, in our daily life. There is no alternative left for us except applying ourselves studiously to sadhana. Sri Bhagavan royally commands us to wake up to Spiritual Perfection !
Let us all abide by the Master’s “Words of Wisdom” !
To conclude, I want to read two passages from “TALKS “. The first one, is making the Teaching absolutely clear, that we have to apply it “NOW”. The second one, is Sri Bhagavan’s confirmed assurance to each one of us, that “He is always with `YOU’ “, supporting you and helping you through and though !
What more do we need !

***********************

“TALKS “, No.367 [ Feb.221, 1937 ]

A Maharashtrian lady – a casual visitor – then taking leave of Sri Bhagavan, was almost on the point of bursting into tears ; and, asked : “I know that `Mukti ` (Liberation) is impossible in one life. Still, may I not have peace of mind, in this life ?”
The Master looked at her very compassionately and said smiling softly : “Life and all else are in `Brahman ` alone. `Brahman ` (`Truth’) is here and now. Investigate.”
The lady said : “I am practising meditation for a number of years. Yet, my mind is not steady and cannot be brought to bear on meditation.”
The Master again looked steadily at her and said : “Do it NOW. All will be all right !”

*****************

“TALKS “, No.68 [ June 21, 1935 ]
The lady accompanying Dr.Radhakamal Mukherjee, was most reluctant to leave the Master and go back to home.
The Master said : “Think that you are always in my presence. That will make you feel all right !”

**************************

Let us dive within “NOW” and let us all be blessed with the “Direct Perception” of Truth –- which is the “Insight” of “I AM” – beyond all limitations of `time’, `space’, `body’ and `world’ !

May Sri Bhagavan bless us all!

“You are not helping anybody else, but only yourself.” Sri Ramana

Sri Ramana says, “Till you reach the state of jnana and thus wake out of this maya, you must do social service by relieving suffering whenever you see it. But even then you must do it, as we are told, without ahamkara, i.e., without the sense “I am the doer,” but feeling, “I am the Lord’s tool.”

Sri Ramana continues, “Similarly one must not be conceited, “I am helping a man below me. He needs help. I am in a position to help. I am superior and he inferior.” But you must help the man as a means of worshipping God in that man. All such service too is for the Self, not for anybody else. You are not helping anybody else, but only yourself.”

Source: Day by Day with Bhagavan (5-1-46).

Comment: This is one of my favourite quotes as  it emphasizes the need for humility when we are serving others and to not give into spiritual pride and vanity. According to the ancient doctrine of karma, all we do for others is, in fact, what we are doing for ourselves. By helping others we only help ourselves.

Harsh K. Luthar

“You know that you know nothing. Find out that knowledge. That is liberation” (Sri Ramana Maharshi)

Source is Talk 12 in “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi”.

Comment: I love this quote because Bhagavan Ramana is pointing out that all that is “known” to us is transient and always changing. There is no stability or any type of permanence in our experiences or perceptions. Hence our so called “knowledge” has no substance.

We don’t know where we were before we were born, and we don’t know where we will go after death. All we have is the present and the only thing that is self-evident to us is that of our existence.  if we reflect carefully, we see that the most fundamental mystery of life in terms of who we really are announces itself only as this vast unknown.

Sri Ramana is thus saying that we should understand that we do not really know anything and look deeply into this “unknowing.” That leads to liberation.

To me, this is stunning in both its beauty and simplicity.

Harsh K. Luthar

On the evening of July 16^th, I stepped out of Gandhi International Airport into muggy New Delhi, and my glasses became foggy instantly as sweat began to bead on my freckled forehead.  My vision was impaired, but my sense of smell was certainly intact. Coming from a family of several generations of brick manufacturers, I knew immediately what Delhi felt and smelled like to me: a brick kiln, which was firing clay [and perhaps the contents of a dumpster]. As I used my trembling finger to swipe my lenses clean, I was immediately overwhelmed by the swarms of people coming, going, and simply being.

I shyly watched as my luggage (a backpack…from the 1970s) was slung onto the top of a taxi and tethered with rope like a teabag being wrung out. Without speaking a word, I crawled into the air-conditioned cab and hoped that I hadn’t made a huge mistake. Jet lagged and sweaty, my body fell limp against the glass of the window as I observed rickshaws, pedestrians, cows, and motorcycles  share Delhi’s chaotic roadways.

The next morning, when I awoke, I received the most boisterous and exciting welcome that one could have. When I stepped outside, there was a large crowd of people dancing and singing. (I would find out later that these people were on the Buddha Amarnath pilgrimage.) My first glimpse of Delhi in the daylight was a total senses overload, and after standing for a minute in shock and awe, something came over me. I’m not sure if it was Jetlag, my anti-malarial medication, or a spontaneous loss of body restraint, but I joined these strangers in a celebratory dance and immediately lost all feeling of anxiety.

That moment (my first taste of India, really) would be the one that set the tone for my attitude for my semester of study in India: go with the flow, let loose, and be enveloped by this colorful and chaotic culture.

Here I am saying goodbye to my hometown: Boston, MA

Many of us worry about getting enough protein if we switch to vegetarian food, also that everything will be tasteless. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Vegetarians get lots of protein in legumes, grains and so on. The quality of the protein is more important than the quantity alone. Dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds provide the vegetarian with an adequate supply of protein.

There is a cycle in nature known as the “food cycle” or “food chain”. The Sun is the source of energy for all life on our planet; it nourishes the plants (the top of the food chain) which are then eaten by animals (vegetarian), which are then eaten by other animals (carnivores). The food at the top of the food chain, being directly nourished by the Sun, has the greatest life promoting properties. The food value of animal flesh is termed as “second-hand” source of nutrition, and is inferior in nature. All natural foods (fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and grains) have, in varying quantities, different proportions of these essential nutrients. As source of protein, these are easily assimilated by the body. However, second-hand sources are often more difficult to digest and are of less value to the body’s metabolism.

Yoga has been always connected with Ayurveda (the Science of Life). Central to Ayurveda is the concept of different body types, each of which thrives on different kinds of foods. Vata types, for example, need grounding foods like oils and grains. Pitta types are supported by cooling foods, such as salads and sweet fruits. Kapha types benefit from heating and invigorating foods. Just a few people are strictly one type, and most in fact are a combination of at least two types. Each individual must therefore find a personal balance of foods to fit his or her own unique constitution.

Sattvic foods are considered to be the most pure form of food and are the center of yoga diet. Fruits, vegetables, grains etc. are considered to be sattvic foods as they are easily digested and provide proper nutrition to the body. pure, simple, natural foods which are easily digested and promote health. Processing, refining and overcooking destroy much food value. An alkaline diet also helps to calm the mind and create equilibrium between mind and body. It is a diet that emphasizes, to a varying degree, fresh fruit, vegetables, roots and tubers, nuts, and legumes. Almost all foods that we eat, after being digested, absorbed, and metabolized, release either an acid or an alkaline base (bicarbonate) into blood. Fish, meat, poultry, shellfish, cheese, milk, and salt all produce acid. Consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables decreased.

Alkaline diet helps the body weight control. As soon as the acidic environment is eliminated, there will be no need for new fat cells to form, and the remaining fat in your body is no longer needed to store acid wastes, and therefore simply melts away.

Though overeating can sabotage your practice by making you groggy and too full to go deeply into the postures, fasting and underrating can have a more debilitating effect. For vata or pitta types, skipping a meal can cause not only low blood sugar and dizziness, but may lead to further health complications such as constipation, poor digestion, and insomnia.

It’s a matter of being mindful and intelligent to discovering your personal path to balance and growth. Balance is the key, both in your overall personal diet, and in designing each meal. You must take into consideration a number of factors: the balance of ingredients in the dish, your available time to prepare the meal, the season of the year, and how you’re feeling today.

A few months ago we were shown a group of sadhus who were old and disabled. Many are blind. Some live in a government-built shelter originally intended as a resting place for those walking Pradakshina around Arunachala. Others stay in a house made of palm-leaf thatch behind the government building.  It is easy to miss these sadhus when walking or driving past this point, since they mostly are unable to come out and be seen.

When I found out about these sadhus, I told our friends at Quality of Life Trust, who are already helping aged homeless elders in a nearby village adjacent to Tiruvannamalai. When I told Dhakshinamoorthy, who runs the Trust, he immediately wanted to help, even through he has no funds for this. He investigated and found out that there are 20 sadhus housed in these two buildings. They have only sporadic food, and little if any medical help. He was also told, when he investigated, that if he is able to start providing food, that it is vital that this help keep going. They have had some attempts to help before that started then stopped, and this was very bad for the old sadhus.

Starting in May 2012, with an emergency donation, the Quality of Life Trust started daily feeding of these sadhus. This post shows these sadhus and their living situation.

Here is the government building, on Pradakshina Road, about 2 km from Bangalore Road.

It is next to a popular temple, visited by many who come here. It contains a famous lingam, called Edirner Annamalai.

Between the two buildings is an area that can be walked through, and another small building set back from the road.

Face to the left after walking past the government building and you see a thatched hut.

Standing in front are Dhakshinamoorthy and the young man who will be bringing the food here each day. The man sitting on the cot closest to Dhakshinamoorthy is Ramesh, who assists in the running of Quality of Life Trust.

They wanted to make sure that I saw the roof. The only thing that keeps water out is a big piece of plastic, and even it leaks. In a few weeks, in June, the monsoon rains start. They badly need a new roof.

We walked inside a saw a few of the old sadhus who now live here.

This man is not able to sit up.

A barrier has been set up here to keep this sadhu from getting out of bed. Besides severe physical problems, I think he also has mental problems that often come with age. Before this hut was built, he just lived on the street (as was the case for most of the sadhus here).

Another sadhu lies in bed. From the emaciated look of his body, regular feedings will help him.

Another sadhu who cannot sit up.

This sadhu sits behind the building. Compared to the others, he is doing pretty well. He is blind, but he can sit up and move around some. He is alert. His arms and legs are very thin, though.

This man stays in the small building back from the road. They struggle to find spaces for everyone who needs it.

Next we went into the government building.

There were another six or eight sadhus here when we visited.

This man is mostly blind.

He just slept. They had brought food here a little earlier this morning, so he is sleeping after eating a good meal.

This old sadhu sits here. He has lost most of his teeth. He seems alert. An old woman sits behind him. I do not know if she is a sister, or what?

Another one lies on the hard floor, without even a mat underneath him. .

This sadhu shows good awareness and response to us. Even with hardships, I feel a presence of peace coming from him.

This younger sadhu made it a point to join this old one, to sit with him and hold his hand while the photo was being taken.

Outside, Dhakshinamoorthy talks with one of the healthy sadhus who stays near here. He has taken it upon himself to try to help these old sadhus, even though he has nothing himself. There is another sadhu who helps, too. He is not here today, because he has taken one of the old sadhus to a nearby hospital for emergency treatments.

Here is the ‘boy’ (young man) who will be bringing the food each day. He is without a mother and a father, and the small amount he is paid for this work makes it possible for him to eat each day.

Across from the sadhus is Arunachala, giving His grace upon all who can open their hearts to Him.

More help is urgently needed, and not just help today, but ongoing long-term support. We have taken on helping these sadhus because there is no one else willing to step in. Help, in the form of donations, is needed.

$200, or Rs 10,000, provides one meal each day for a month for all 20 sadhus. It would be great if we could provide at least two meals each day. There is only money now, even with the emergency donation we received, for one meal each day. Medical care is needed. It is impossible to know what this will entail, but $200, or Rs 10,000 each month, would probably go a long way towards meeting these care costs. A new roof is needed urgently. Probably this would cost $500, or Rs 25,000.

If you are moved by this situation in which these men, who have given everything to God, now find themselves, and can find a way to help, please let me know. Send an email to richard@infinitepie.net and I will let you know how you can donate. What is especially needed are one-time funds for the roof, and ongoing donations for the feeding and medical care. This is a way that you can show your love for Arunachala, by supporting these sadhus who live in His hands.

Bhagavan Ramana

Devotees of Bhagavan are aware only of his famous ‘Upadesa Saram’ and a few isolated verses as His contributions to Sanskrit, the ‘Language of the Gods’. So it is necessary to place on record His contribution to the famous ‘Uma Sahasram’ — thousand verses on Uma, the Divine Mother sung by His great disciple, the learned Sri Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni. This story shows the Maharshi as the joint author of this composition.

Sri Bhagavan was then living in the Pachaiamman Temple, the abode of Maragathambal, on the north eastern slopes of Sri Arunachalam. In those days the Maharshi would sit and sleep in a hammock slung between two stone pillars and be rocked as a darling child by His loving pupils.

Sri Kavyakanta Ganpati Muni had composed 700 stanzas on Uma in some thirty different meters, and had announced to his devotees in various parts of the country that this poem would be dedicated on a certain Friday in the Shrine of Sri Uma in the great Temple of Sri Arunachaleswara. Over a hundred persons gathered at the Pachaiamman Temple so as to be present on the occasion. Now these Sanskrit verses were not a mere intellectual display by Sri Kavyakanta, great as he was in Sanskrit composition.

Sri Kavyakanta Ganapathi Muni

Proof of Sri Kavyakanta’s great intellectual capacity may be had from the very fact that in the presence of the heads of the Udipi Maths he composed extempore in a single hour the hundred verses of the ‘Ghantaa sataka,’ giving the cream of the teaching of the three main schools of Hindu Philosophy.

However, Sri Kavyakanta’s ‘Uma Sahasram’ is different from other compositions in that it is pasyanti vak, i.e. revealed by the Divine Mother in Her own words to one who is adept in the Kundalini Yoga.

At about 8 p.m. on the evening before the dedication day, after supper, Sri Maharshi asked Sri Kavyakanta whether the dedication would have to be postponed to some other Friday, as 300 verses were still to be composed to complete the thousand. But Sri Kavyakanta assured Bhagavan that he would complete the poem immediately.

The scene that followed can hardly be believed by one who did not actually witness it. Sri Maharshi sat silent and in deep meditation like the silent Lord Dakshinamurthy. The eager disciples watched in tense admiration the sweet flow of divine music in Sanskrit verse as it came from the lips of the great and magnetic personality of Sri Kavyakanta. He stood there delivering the verses in an unbroken stream while disciples eagerly gathered the words and wrote them down. Oh, for the ecstasy of it all! Life is indeed blessed if only to experience those divine moments.

The ‘Sahasram’ was finished in several meters Madalekha, Pramanika, Upajati Aryagiti, etc. For a while the disciples present enjoyed the deep ecstasy of the silence of Bhagavan pervading the atmosphere, as Sri Kavyakanta concluded with the normal type of colophon.

Then Sri Bhagavan opened His eyes and asked, “Nayana (nickname for Sri Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni), has all that I said been taken down?” From Sri Ganapati Muni came the ready and grateful response, “Bhagavan, all that Bhagavan inspired in me has been taken down!”

It is thus clear that Sri Bhagavan inspired the final 300 verses of the ‘Uma Sahasram’ through the lips of Sri Kavyakanta, without speaking a word, as usually understood, or rather in the silence characteristic of the Silent Sage of Arunachala.

It is noteworthy that whereas Sri Kavyakanta revised the first 700 verses of this monumental work some six times, he did not revise any of the last 300. This being Sri Bhagavan’s own utterance, there was no need to “polish them.” These 300 verses are to be considered as Sri Bhagavan’s unique contribution to Sanskrit poetry.

Source: At the feet of Bhagavan by : BY T. K. Sunderesa Iyer

Bhagavan Ramana

_________________

This world is full of words

spewed out in excitement

creating noise and confusion.

It demands appreciation

and acknowledgement

of its existence.

The shouts

of pain and vanity

compete for your attention.

Yet your eyes remain aloof

and not a single utterance

ever passes your lips.

I love your silence.

______________

Editor’s note: This is an edited version of the submitted poem.

This is the main thrust of Bhagavan Ramana’s teaching. Bhagavan leaves to us to make intelligent use of our lives as we follow his teachings of self awareness and being a witness to all that is happening. Following his guidance and example, we discover the God or Guru within; the Inner Ruler, the Heart.

The journey to Self-Realization needs supporting methods or “recipes” to constantly refresh us. That is why being with Bhagavan devotees in satsang is most helpful. Bhagavan has said that those who have found the company of sages and devotees have found the best help.

Bhagavan also advocates that we enquire into our nature. Due to His grace, teachings of Bhagavan are widely available. Teachings in their utmost purity are found in Bhagavan’s works and also his conversations.

One of my personal favorites is Bhagavan’s masterly treatise Self Enquiry in which he gives a comprehensive account of how to pursue meditation and enquiry to Self-Realization.

In the picture below, I am in Satsang with Bhagavan devotees from Arunachala and we are eating some good South Indian food. We are looking so happy because we feel Bhagavan with us.