← Meetings with Sages and Saints

[ Lighthouses Guiding Seeker’s Journey Within ]

Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

MEETINGS WITH SAGES AND SAINTS

[ Lighthouses Guiding Seeker’s Journey Within ]

INTRODUCTION

Sages and Saints have been all over the World and through all periods of human history. Like us, they are born with the same faculties of ‘body’, ‘mind’ and ‘five senses’. They live in the same world of ‘attractions’ and ‘distractions’. Like us, they are also involved in varied activities. Then, what is so special about them ? Who is a ‘Sage’ and who is a ‘Saint’ ?

The dictionary gives us the following definitions : “A ‘Sage’ is a profoundly wise man”. “A ‘Saint’ is a very virtuous person, a person of great sacredness”. We may safely describe the ‘Sage’ or the ‘Saint’ as a completely natural human being possessing the qualities of ‘simplicity’, ‘humility’, ‘spontaneity’, ‘wisdom’ and ‘compassion’. A sacred person is one in whose presence, ‘Silence’ and ‘Stillness’ are unmistakably experienced – in spite of one’s limited and turbulent ‘mind’ !

Although the Truth is heard and also understood, at times, it is forgotten; and, mistakes are committed when facts face a person. Ignorance takes over Knowledge resulting in confusion. In such dire situations, the Sage or the Saint alone can give us the right push back to our ‘Source’. Hence, it is very essential that one has satsang – association with the wise – as often as possible.

‘…..devotees in the Presence of Sri Bhagavan…..’

So many hundreds of devotees who came to the presence of Sri Bhagavan, got their overactive minds quietened, instantly. Some who had written down on sheets of paper their many doubts to be expressed to the Maharshi, got them all dissolved by merely sitting in his presence -- being in his proximity -- without the need to raise them, at all !

I have interviewed more than four hundred devotees who had come to Sri Bhagavan. I had a mental questionnaire prepared with specific questions. While their answers differed to all other questions, everyone’s answer to my second question : “When Sri Bhagavan looked at you, how did you feel” was the same : “I experienced a Peace that I have never experienced before ! ”

Sri Bhagavan was often asked, “How can we remain in that state of Peace which we experience in your presence, even after we go away from Arunachala”. His reply would be : “Enquire, who feels the absence of Peace. Turn inwards and seek the Source. Then and there, the same Peace is available to all, as one’s own ‘Inner Silence’.”

To the extent one turns within and experiences the Quietude, to that extent one is not distracted by the World. This is your experience, undeniably, isn’t it ? Such steady and repeated experiences of Inner Quietude, puts one in the state of Satsang.

Bhagavan Ramana, while going through ancient Hindu texts brought to him for his elucidation, selected five verses extolling the virtue and indispensable worth of the greatness of the Sages and Saints. I quote them

The first two verses are :

“In the company of Sages, attachment vanishes; and with attachment, illusion. Freed from illusion, one attains stability and thence Liberation while yet alive. Therefore, seek the company of sages.”

“Not by listening to preachers, nor by study of books, not by meritorious deeds nor by any other means can one attain that Supreme State, which is attainable only through the association with the Sages and the clear quest of Self.”

Sri Bhagavan to support it, narrated the following story :

“Vitthal [ the name of Lord Krishna at Pandarpur temple ] found His devotee Namdev had not realized the Supreme Truth and wanted to teach him. The Saints of Maharashtra had gone on a pilgrimage in a group and had returned to Pandarpur. Gora Kumbhar was one among them and invited them all to his residence and offered a feast. At the feast, Saint Jnaneshwar, in collusion with Gora, told Gora publicly, “You are a potter, daily engaged in making pots and testing them to see which are properly baked and which are not. These pots before you ( i.e., the Saints) are the pots of Brahma. See which of these are sound and which are not.” Thereupon, Gora said, ‘Yes Swami, I shall do so,’ and took up the stick with which he used to tap his pots to test their soundness; and holding it aloft in his hand, he went to each of his guest and tapped each on the head as he usually did to his pots. Each guest humbly submitted to such tapping.

Saint Namdev offering worship to Lord Vitthal

“But, when Gora approached Namdev, the latter indignantly called out : ‘You potter, what do you mean by coming to tap me with that stick ?’ Gora thereupon told Jnaneshwar, ‘Swami, all the other pots have been properly baked. This one, ( i.e., Namdev) is not yet properly baked’. All the assembled guests burst into laughter. Namdev felt greatly humiliated and ran up to the temple to Vitthal with whom he was on the most intimate terms -- playing with him, eating with him, sleeping with him and so on. Namdev complained to Vitthal of the humiliation he had been subjected to -- one who is the closest friend and companion of God Himself. Vitthal (who of course knew all this) pretended to sympathise with him, asked for all the details of the happenings at Gora’s house. After hearing everything, Vitthal said, ‘Why should you not have kept quiet and submitted to the tapping, as all others did ? That is why all this trouble has come.’ Thereupon Namdev cried all the more and said, ‘You also want to join the others and humiliate me. Why should I have submitted like the others ? Am I not your closest friend, your child ?’ Vitthal said, ‘You have not properly understood the Truth. And, you won’t understand if I tell you. But, go to the Saint who is in a ruined temple in the forest. He will be able to give you Enlightenment.’

“Namdev accordingly went there and found an old, unassuming man sleeping in a corner of the temple with his feet on a Siva Linga [ idol, ‘Linga’, is the symbol for Lord Siva]. Namdev could hardly believe this was the man from whom he – the companion of God Vitthal – was to gain Enlightenment. However, as there was none else there, Namdev went near the old man and clapped his hands. The old man woke up with a start and seeing Namdev, said, ‘Oh, you are Namdev whom Vitthal has sent here. Come, come !’ Namdev was dumb-founded and began to think, ‘This must be a great man’. Still, he thought it was revolting that any man, however great, should be resting his feet on a Siva Linga. He asked the old man, ‘You seem to be a great personage. But, is it proper for you to have your feet on a Siva Linga ?’ The old man replied, ‘Oh, are my feet on a Siva Linga ? Where is it ? Please remove my feet elsewhere.’ Namdev removed the feet and put them in various places. Wherever they were put, there was a Siva Linga. Finally, he took them on his lap and he himself became a Siva Linga. Then, he realized the Truth. The Saint said, ‘Now, you can go back.’ ”

Sri Bhagavan added : “ It is to be noted that only when he surrendered himself, and touched the feet of his Guru, Enlightenment came.”

After his final Enlightenment, Namdev returned to his house and for some days did not go to Vitthal’s temple, though it had been his habit to visit Vitthal at the temple every day, and spend most of his time with Him. So, after a few days, Vitthal himself went to Namdev’s house and like a guileless soul enquired how it was that Namdev has forgotten him and never visited him. Namdev replied, ‘No more of your fooling me, Oh, Lord! I know now. Where is the place you are not ?’

Then, Vitthal said, ‘So, you now understand the Truth. That is why you had to be sent for this final lesson from a Sage !’

Sri Bhagavan particularly picked up this story only to point out that even if one is a friend of God, one has to be enlightened in the satsang of a Sage only.

Verse No. 3 :

“When one has learned to love the company of Sages, where is the need for all these rules of disciplines ? When a pleasant, cool southern breeze is blowing, what need is there for a hand fan ? ”

Sri Bhagavan said : “When I was up the hill, along with her school-mates of the same age, Chellamma (daughter of Echamma) used to come. Sometimes, they used to bring their dolls and perform the dolls’ marriages. At other times, they used to bring rice, dhall, etc., cook and eat and give me also from their preparation.

“Echamma used to fast every now and then. Her daughter Chellamma too started to fast with Echamma. But then Chellamma was very young and used to suffer a lot in consequence. Echamma sent food for me through her. One day, Chellamma brought me food even though she was fasting that day. How could I eat when she was not taking any food ? I told her that she should not indulge in such fasts being young, and somehow prevailed upon her to eat. Next day, while she was coming up the hill with food, she found a piece of paper. It appeared to contain some Sanskrit sloka and so she brought it with her to show it to me. When I saw that, I found it contained this sloka. I said, ‘Look. It contains the same thing I told you about yesterday.’ She asked me what its meaning was and so, I translated it into a verse in Tamil and explained its meaning to her. Thereafter, she gave up her fast. She had great faith in me.”

Virupaksha Cave (an early photo)

Sri Bhagavan at Skandasramam - Ganesan with his father and T.P.Ramachandra Iyer - (standing behind )

The Sacred Son and the Holy Mother.

Pavalakunru (back view): "...The best course, therefore, is to remain silent" — a portion of His written upadesa to His Mother.

Mango Tree Cave: Sri Bhagavan’s summer residence.

Mulaippal Thirtham — “for centuries the only source of water for sadhus living up on the Hill”

Virupaksha Cave — the Maharshi’s abode for 17 years, where blossoming of his jnana granthas and bhakti granthas began.

Skandashram — “a peace-suffused atmosphere”

Verses No. 4 and 5 :

“Heat is overcome by the cool light of the Moon; want by the wish-fulfilling tree; and, sin by the holy river Ganges. Those three – heat, want and sin – flee at the august sight of the peerless Sage.”

“Holy rivers, which are only water; and idol of Gods which are made of stones and metals, are not as mighty as the Sages are. For, while they make one pure in the course of a long time, the Sage’s eyes by a mere glance, purify at once.”

I again quote Sri Bhagavan who once said : One day, I was going out from Skandashram. That day, Chellamma had some bit of a newspaper in her hand and was learning by heart a song from ‘Yoga Vasishta’, in praise of the benefits of satsanga :

“By the association with holy men, the imperfect will become perfect, danger good luck and the inauspicious auspicious. For those who have bathed in the Ganges of fellowship with such realized souls, homa, yagna, penance, alms--giving, bathing in sacred rivers, are all unnecessary. Seek, therefore, by all means, the company of the wise, which is a boat to carry one across the ocean of birth and death.”

* * * * *

A devotee asked the Maharshi : “My profession requires that I cannot remain in the vicinity of Sages and Saints. Can I have Realisation even in the absence of satsang ?”

Sri Bhagavan assured him : “ ‘SAT” is ‘aham pratyaya saram’ = meaning, “the SELF of selves”. The Saint is that SELF of selves. He is immanent in all. Can any one remain without the SELF ? No. So, no one is away from ‘satsang’.”

“The man is always the SELF and yet, he does not know it. He confounds it with the non-self, viz., the body, etc. Such confusion is due to ‘ignorance’. If the ignorance be wiped out, the confusion will cease to exist and the true Knowledge will be unfolded. By remaining in contact with Realised Sages, the man gradually loses the ‘ignorance’ until its removal is complete. The eternal SELF is thus revealed.”

“ ‘Satsanga’ means ‘sanga’ (association) with ‘SAT’. ‘SAT’ is only the SELF. Since the SELF is not now understood to be ‘Sat’, the company of the Sage who has thus understood is sought. That is ‘Sat-sanga’. Introversion results. Then, ‘SAT’ is revealed.” [ “Talks” Nos.482, 350, 283 ]

Just as even the strongest man, like Hercules, cannot lift the stool on which he is seated, we can never transcend the ‘illusion’ cast on us by our own ‘mind’, and get re-established in the Reality which is our true state of Being. It is true that God created every being equal in all respects ! Yet, if one mistakes oneself to be a separate individual -- away and apart from the single, solid Reality which every one of us truly IS -- one has to seek a source which will help us release ourselves from the ‘illusion’ of separateness.

While one’s ‘mind’ can readily accept the concept of ‘superior beings’ -- like, God, Messiahs, Incarnations, Avatars – it refuses to accept that it itself is the very same ‘Superior Being’. One needs enormous help to lift oneself up to realize that one is ever the Reality only. Sages and Saints who have already trodden the path and transcended the ‘limitations’, are the ‘Milestones’, the ‘Lighthouses’ on the path of the aspirant’s ‘Journey Within’ ! Therefore, seeking the Sages and Saints, being in their presence and imbibing their spiritual instructions is the safest, surest and quickest ‘way’ !

‘TRUTH’ is ever ‘there’ shining powerfully ; and, the spiritual aspirant is ever ‘here’, ignorant of the ever-existing ‘TRUTH’. Bhagavan Ramana refers to ‘TRUTH’ as the “Higher Power”. The “Higher Power” is the common property of all – no exceptions, no partiality, at all ! Yet, the ignorant aspirant feels the duality of ‘there’ and ‘here’. This is the ignorance that should go, that should get wiped out. The Maharshi pointedly referred to this ‘ignorance’ as the fault of ‘identifying oneself with one’s body and mind’ and thereby ignoring the truth that one is ever the “Higher Power”. He guided the aspirants to shift one’s attention from non-truth to the ‘TRUTH’ ” .

The act of shifting one’s attention from the non-real ‘body’ and ‘mind’ to the ever-existent Reality of one’s own Pure Being is generally termed as ‘spiritual sadhana’. One needs guidance to do spiritual sadhana ! The Buddhist analogy – ‘finger pointing to the Moon’ – is a good example. Likewise, the Sage, the Saint does not create the Reality, but only removes one’s ignorance, so that one can locate and see the Reality ! Unlike in the analogy where the wayfarer enables one to see the Moon ‘outside’ of oneself, the Sage enables one to recognise the Reality ‘within’ oneself as one’s own ever-existent TRUTH !

Hence, the Maharshi emphasized : “Seek the company of Sages” !

* * * * *

Having defined the true significance and the importance of spiritual sadhana and satsang ( the company of Sages and Saints), I feel, it would be helpful if I shared with you as to how I was guided throughout my spiritual life. Sri Bhagavan said: "The efforts made by the aspirant and the pouring in of Guru's Grace on him, are synonymous and simultaneous. They are not two different things, but one and the same process of spiritual fulfillment." The importance of this sharing is to focus attention on and emphasize how the ‘Higher Power’ guides a seeker. Please merge with the content of the spiritual stories. It will help you in your own spiritual sadhana.

I had the good fortune of being brought up in Sri Ramanasramam by the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan who knew Sri Bhagavan as ‘God’. Until I was fourteen, I only saw Sri Bhagavan as my granduncle and an extraordinarily compassionate old man! I obtained a degree in Economics in 1956. For the next two years, viz., up to 1958, I made fervent efforts to get a job and help support my father financially. To begin with, I stayed at the Ashram and started helping my father with the Ashram work. Then, neither did I have any inclination towards spiritual life nor to stay on in the Ashram on a permanent basis. But, all my efforts to get employed outside, failed!

Dr.T.M.P.Mahadevan

At that time, the Professor of Philosophy at the University of Madras, Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan, used to often visit the Ashram. I was drawn to him, his erudition and his calm nature. In 1958, he guided me to join the University for a Master’s Course in Philosophy, as it was also the same year that Sri Bhagavan's unique teaching of Self-Enquiry was being included in the syllabus. For the next two years I studied in the University of Madras and obtained a Master's degree in Philosophy. I thus learnt both eastern and western philosophy as academic subjects. While Dr. T.M.P. Mahadevan and other three professors taught eastern philosophy, western philosophy was taught exclusively by a genius, Dr. C.T.K. Chari. His elucidations on Berkeley, Hegel, Immanuel Kant and Henri Bergson captivated my heart.

Dr.C.T.K.Chari

When I once expressed to Dr. Chari my wonder and elation in listening to his exposition on the philosophy of Henri Bergson, he said: "Though other philosophers did not agree with his theory on ‘Élan Vital’ [vital impetus], Henri Bergson is the Western philosopher besides Spinoza, who came very close to the Vedanta philosophy of the Hindus." He added: “All the western philosophies, in spite of their brilliant analysis, could at the most arrive only at 'Karmam Jadam’ [ ‘Actions are insentient ’ ]. For Bhagavan Ramana, it is the beginning of his exposition on Truth. The very first verse in his ‘Thirty Verses of Instruction', commences with this statement. Then, he goes on building up to his conclusion that one's own being is the Final Truth. How true it is ! Western philosophies could not progress further, as their dependence is totally based on the brain’s understanding and never based on intuitive experience. Bhagavan Ramana, however, gives an acceptable blend between logical conclusions and intuitive confirmations through his practical method of the 'Who Am I?' enquiry. Through Self-Enquiry each one can directly experience the Truth in oneself!"

On the completion of my Master’s in Philosophy, Dr. Mahadevan advised me to take up the three year Ph.D. course. He said that I could bring out a systematic research paper on the greatness and necessity of Bhagavan Ramana's Self-Enquiry and get a Doctorate in Philosophy. Another professor suggested that I bring out a paper synthesizing Bhagavan Ramana's Self-Enquiry with the essence of all existing religions. Both professors were very fond of me and interested in my welfare. Somehow, I was not fully convinced.

I went to Dr. Chari and told him about my plight. He listened attentively and then asked me, "Do you want to get a Doctorate in Philosophy, like all of us? What are you going to do after you obtain the Doctorate? Become a Professor of Philosophy in some University? And lecture on philosophy all your life? Look at us. We talk on philosophy, every day; but, what is our spiritual achievement? Nil." I was overwhelmed by the force of conviction and candour with which he drove home his point!

He got up, came near me and putting his hands on my shoulders, said in a melting voice, "Ganesan! Do you want to live a true spiritual life, like your granduncle or give courses on the theories of philosophies, all your life, like us Professors ?"

After a few moments, he continued: "Go and live at the Ashram. Practise your granduncle's supreme teaching of True Spirituality. His teaching of 'Who Am I?' Self-Enquiry is the pinnacle of all philosophies - the highest truth! Live that teaching, Ganesan! To quote Swami Vivekananda: ‘Any philosophy, especially Advaita, as theory, will be a windmill around one's neck, whereas its practice is Heaven on Earth'. I bless you!"

Dr. Chari was my first mentor and his blessing enabled me to come back to the Ashram in 1959 and stay put there. That guidance to stay at the Ashram by Dr. Chari was the harbinger of a plethora of guidances that were shared by the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan. It was one Old Devotee or the other who guided me -- literally took me -- to the Sages and Saints who in turn helped me gain spiritual maturity.

T.K.Sundaresa Iyer

In 1959 itself, Pundit T.K. Sundaresa Iyer revealed the greatness of the Siddha Purusha YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR and then, in 1960 sent me to SWAMI RAMDAS; Swami Ramdas guided me to MATAJI KRISHNA BAI; Munagala Venkataramiah, author of Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi made me experience the spiritual greatness of MOTHER RAMA DEVI; Balarama Reddiar took me to Madras and made me receive the blessings of MA ANANDAMAYEE MA; Framji and Dorab took me to J. KRISHNAMURTI and later, Framji's daughter Soona Nicholson took me to NISARGADATTA MAHARAJ.

The guidance of the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan continued in my life. I learnt that sadhana, guidance, Grace and spiritual progress are a continuum, similar to one getting onto a ‘conveyor belt’. The very momentum of one taking up the spiritual path and getting guidance from a Sage, will take the seeker smoothly and assuredly towards the destination of Self-Realisation!

Velpur ‘ Mouna’ Swami

You will be interested to know that as recently as this year [2016], Anuradha and I were taken by a devotee of Sri Bhagavan, to a Saint living at Velpur in Andhra Pradesh. He is addressed by all as ‘Mouna’ Swami, since he is in total silence from 1985 onwards. He is a true follower of our beloved Bhagavan. It can safely be said that he lives in principle and practice the instructions of Sri Bhagavan, in almost every way.

After reading ‘Ramana Periya Puranam’, Velpur ‘Mouna’ Swami instantly arranged for its translation into the local language, Telugu. Then, he got several thousand copies of it printed and had them distributed to the aspirants who flock to have his darshan. Coming across many references in that book to my having met many Saints and the spiritual benefits I gained through these meetings, he requested me to write them all down in a book. He said that just as ‘Ramana Periya Puranam’ had brought to light how the Old Devotees of Sri Bhagavan benefitted from their close association with Sri Bhagavan, this second book, ‘Meetings with Sages and Saints’, would help spiritual aspirants to seek the company of Sages and Saints and thereby get benefitted.

"While Bhagavan Ramana is the ‘Pole Star’ - the Satguru guiding us all - the Sages and Saints are like the ‘Lighthouses’ throwing light wherever and whenever the aspirants meet with dark patches of ignorance, doubts and wrong knowledge - ajnana, sandheha, vipareedha jnana - during their spiritual sadhana."

V.Ganesan, A.Ramana,Anuradha,Elizabeth MacDonald

I did not feel inspired to write it in seclusion; and, I kept procrastinating, postponing, until Anuradha reminded me how the founder of AHAM, A. Ramana and Elizabeth MacDonald wholeheartedly cooperated during the past by arranging 49 talks by me, each lasting an hour, and also put them up on their AHAM Website - you will be happy to know that already more than 300,000 downloads of this compact compendium have happened from this website. She said that we would request, likewise, the present Director of AHAM, Stanley Davis,Jr., to arrange for these talks on ‘Meetings with Sages and Saints’. He has extended a very hearty welcome to us both and here we are in front of you....!

I humbly request you to read this book, ‘Meetings with Sages and Saints’, with interest and attention as it will benefit you tremendously in your spiritual sadhana.

I have apportioned each article into three sections: ‘Life of the Sage’, ‘Teaching of the Sage’ and the ‘Sage and Me’. While the ‘Life’ and ‘Teaching’ are very important, the third part dealing with me, perhaps, might help you in understanding the ups and downs in your efforts to mature spiritually.

I assure you that in every such effort of yours, the Grace of Guru Ramana and the blessings of the Sages and Saints will empower you in your march towards the goal of Self-Realisation.

Sri Bhagavan is blessing us all :

"Very easy is 'Self-Realisation'. Truly very easy, indeed! "

* * * * *

Ramana-bhaktas of AHAM Center, Asheboro, USA who listened to the twelve talks on the ‘Meetings with Sages and Saints’