In the Cave

NOW, at the prompting of Ram, Ramdas, desiring to remain in solitude for some time, placed the matter before the Sadhuram. The Sadhuram was ever ready to fulfil his wishes. Losing no time, he took Ramdas up the mountain behind the great temple. Climbing high up, he showed him many caves. Of these, one small cave was selected for Ramdas which he occupied the next day. In this cave he lived for nearly a month in deep meditation of Ram. This was the first time he was taken by Ram into solitude for His Bhajan. Now, he felt most blissful sensations since he could here hold undisturbed communion with Ram. He was actually rolling in a sea of indescribable happiness. To fix the mind on that fountain of bliss – Ram, means to experience pure joy!

Once, during the day, when he was lost in the madness of Ram’s meditation, he came out of the cave and found a man standing a little away from the mouth of the cave. Unconsciously, he ran up to him and locked him up in a fast embrace. This action on the part of Ramdas thoroughly frightened the friend who thought that it was a mad man who was behaving in this manner and so was afraid of harm from him. It was true, he was mad – yes, he was mad of Ram, but it was a harmless madness which fact the visitor realised later. The irresistible attraction felt by him towards this friend was due to the perception of Ram in him. “O Ram, Thou art come, Thou art come!” – with this thought Ramdas had run up to him. At times, he would feel driven to clasp in his arms the very trees and plants growing in the vicinity of the cave. Ram was attracting him from all directions. Oh, the mad and loving attraction of Ram! O Ram, Thou art Love, Light and Bliss. Thus passed his days in that cave.

For food, he would come down in the morning, and going into the city, beg from door to door and receive from the kind mothers of the place, handfuls of rice in his small Lota. When the Lota was a little over half-full, he would return to the cave. Collecting some dry twigs, he would light a fire over which he would boil the rice in the same Lota. Water was at hand. A small stream of pure, crystal water was flowing down the hill just in front of the cave, and in this stream it was also most refreshing to take the daily bath. This boiled rice was taken to appease hunger, without salt, or anything else, and only once a day. To share with him in this simple fare, a number of squirrels would visit the cave. Fearlessly, at times, they would eat from his hands. Their fellowship was also a source of great joy to Ramdas. Everyday, he would wander over the hills amidst the shrubs, trees and rocks – a careless, thoughtless child of Ram! It was altogether a simple and happy life that he led in that mountain retreat. The kind-hearted Sadhuram would meet him everyday – either up the hill or in the city, when he came down for Bhiksha. A day came when he received Ram’s command to leave the place – whereto, Ram alone knew.