← World is GodHis autobiography, book three

CHAPTER V

Germany

Frankfurt

AT the airport we were received by our friend Mr. U. G. Exner who had visited our Ashram and stayed with us for some months shortly before the Second World War broke out. He was anxiously awaiting us. On seeing us he was thrilled. He spoke excitedly about his inability to take us to his place as he was under orders to go to Italy and Egypt. He was moved to tears when he was explaining the situation. We lodged in a hotel where Exner, acting as an interpreter, greatly helped us. We had no pre-arranged programme in Frankfurt.

One day we went with Exner to a distant garden surrounding a lake. It was a very charming spot. The flowers were of varied colours, extremely pleasing to the eye. We sat down for some time on a bench witnessing the fountain playing before us. Nature’s beauty is God’s own beauty. God’s varied manifestations impress upon us the truth that God is in all things and He chooses to reveal Himself in wonderful forms.

Exner left us on our way back to the hotel from the garden. God did not take time to make us get into contact with a new German friend, Dr. Gunter Zuhlsdorf who knew English. He came to see Ramdas at the hotel. He is a typical German who is devoted to God. He has high admiration for Sri Ramana Maharshi. By an inward contact with the sage he has derived immense spiritual light and solace. He said that he was the leader of a group called the Vedanta Circle and also edited a monthly spiritual magazine, Geistiges Leben in German. At the first contact itself he took a great liking for Ramdas. He proposed, at short notice, to arrange for a small meeting of devotees at his residence to hear Ramdas. He observed that he would have convened a larger gathering if our stay had been longer. Ramdas agreed to spend an hour at the meeting which was fixed for the evening of the next day. God manipulates things in His own way. He is inscrutable, and we have only to submit to Him and say, “Thy will be done!”

Dr. Gunter came to the hotel to see Ramdas again the following day. There was with Ramdas then a German lady who had come from a long distance to see him. She did not know English and Dr. Gunter acted as the interpreter. She came to find peace in Ramdas’ company. Ramdas told her through the interpreter that the peace which was locked up in her heart could be brought out on the plane of the mind, senses and body by the repetition of God’s glorious name. The lady left satisfied.

“You are on the Right Path”

Ramdas had received a letter from another German lady in Frankfurt that she was anxious to meet Ramdas, but owing to an attack of jaundice she could not do so and had to get herself admitted into a hospital for treatment. When Ramdas talked about this matter to Dr. Gunter, he volunteered to take Ramdas in his car to the hospital for meeting this lady. Accordingly, the same evening, we—Mataji, Ramdas and Satchidananda—went with him to the hospital. The lady was, indeed, very happy to see us. Ramdas had about fifteen minutes’ talk with her, Dr. Gunter being the interpreter. The lady put Ramdas some questions. She explained her spiritual experiences, such as seeing lights in her meditation and asked whether she was on the right path. Ramdas assured her that she was. She wanted Ramdas to chant for her the Ram-mantra, which Ramdas did and in which she also joined. Later on, she wished that Ramdas should write down the Mantra for her on a slip of paper. She was happy to have that slip. When we first saw her she was pale and worried, but before we left we found her lively and cheerful. She expressed her gratitude for our having come to see her. We then returned to the hotel.

The same evening we went to the meeting at Dr. Gunter’s residence where a dozen members of both sexes of his group had gathered. At their request Ramdas spoke on Vedanta, God’s name and the experience he had when he met Sri Ramana Maharshi. He also chanted the Ram-mantra. Then all sat together in silent meditation for a few minutes. The party, though small, consisted of devotees who had great hunger for God. The atmosphere was pure and holy.

Among the questions and answers at this meeting Ramdas is giving below two significant ones:

Q: People try to realize God, but they do not know that God is within their heart.

Ramdas: Yes, that is what is happening. You are He, but you do not know that. When you are awakened, at once you find out that you are He. There is a veil of ignorance separating you and God.

Q: What is the meaning of Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram?

Ramdas: Om = Impersonal Truth. Sri = Divine Power. Ram = God who is both Truth and Power. Jai Ram = Victory to God. Jai Jai Ram = Victory, victory to God.

God, who is at once impersonal Truth and Divine Power, Victory to Thee—Victory, victory to Thee.

When God is victorious in our heart, what happens is all darkness in it disappears—the ego-sense is conquered.

We also went to see a famous international fair. Here the products of the art and skill of several countries of the world were lavishly displayed. The whole show was a feast to the eyes of those who thirst for worldly pleasure. It looked like an enchanting palace of a fairy Queen.

From the windows of the hotel we could witness the scenes in the streets of Frankfurt. We found the Germans extremely industrious. They are a strong and well-built race, intelligent and talented to a high degree. We know how in scientific and industrial researches and inventions they stand in the front rank. In precision and skill in producing mechanical things they are unparalleled. Although they have seen terrible days, by their dogged determination for reconstructing their devastated cities, they have done miraculous feats. In the place of the destroyed buildings and structures new ones have risen up in an incredibly short time through their indefatigable labour. God is fulfilling Himself in various ways. God, who caused widespread destruction during the war, seemed to be busy now in the restoration of normal life!

An Initiation with Jesus’ Name

We decided to go to Reutlingen and Munich before we left Germany. An invitation had come to us from our friend Mr. K. O. Schmidt at Reutlingen. We prepared ourselves to leave the hotel on a morning. When we were in the lobby, waiting for the taxi which was to take us to the railway station, a friend hurriedly came to us and said that he wanted urgently to meet Ramdas. He was in a state of excitement. After he was told who Ramdas was, he directly asked Ramdas to initiate him with God’s name. Ramdas took him to a vacant room in the lobby. Ramdas sat on a chair while this friend kept standing. He told Ramdas that he was coming from Switzerland where he had met some devotees of Lausanne who had attended the meetings at Geneva. On hearing from them about Ramdas, he was anxious to meet him and get initiated with the Divine Name. Ramdas asked him what Name he wanted. He said that he would like to get the name of Jesus. Ramdas agreed. That instant he knelt down and Ramdas whispered to him thrice the Name ‘Jesus’. As he was repeating the Name himself, he was trembling, thrilled with a strange rapture. His eyes were moist and face flushed, which were the signs of the inner welling up of the pure emotions of love and devotion. He did not stay long. Having got what he wanted he took leave of us and departed.

Reutlingen

The train from Frankfurt took us to Reutlingen. The journey was a pleasant one, all the passengers in our compartment being kind and good to us. So we felt quite at home as if we were travelling in India. We reached Reutlingen in due time. At the railway station we were welcomed by Mr. Schmidt and Miss Kothen. Ramdas had known Mr. Schmidt through correspondence for several years. He is the editor of a German monthly called Neugeist (White Flag). He is also the District President of the International New Thought Alliance besides being the Chairman of the German New Thought Move-ment, which aims at producing an atmosphere of peace and goodwill in the world and banishing war. He is an energetic and enthusiastic worker who has been doing great service in the spiritual field for the last twenty years. He stands for universal religion, for the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man. His magazine publishes translations of articles of all spiritual leaders of the world, ancient and modern.

Rani Lalita Devi and Sagarlal Gupta did not accompany us on this trip. From the railway station we walked up to the hotel nearby, where rooms had been previously arranged for us by Mr. Schmidt. Soon after, we were taken to the publishing house “Baum Verlag”, from which the magazine Neugeist issued. Here Mr. Schmidt and his colleague Miss Kothen treated us with all kindness and affection. Schmidt put Ramdas a number of questions, one of which was: “What do you think about Germany, what is your impression?”

Ramdas replied: “They are a great people. Ramdas asserts that when God becomes your friend, the whole world is friendly to you. Ramdas meets only friends everywhere because God has become his friend. All of you are his friends. Wherever he goes, whether it is in Switzerland, Germany or any other country, he sees his own Beloved. You are all his Beloved. If you love the whole world, the whole world loves you. If you see God within you, you see Him everywhere.”

Message to Germans

Mr. Schmidt also asked for a message to be published in his magazine. Ramdas gave him one which ran as follows:

Ramdas’ word to the readers of the Neugeist (White Flag) is that the magazine is doing very good work in bringing about unity and harmony among all the religions of the world. It holds that the great Teachers of the world came with the same purpose of liberating mankind from the clutches of lust, greed and wrath which are responsible for discord, disunion and war besides many other evils. Ramdas fully approves of the ideals of the Neugeist. His message to all Germans is to get thoroughly awakened to the consciousness of the Truth within them and thereby not only unite among themselves, but also realize their spiritual kinship with all peoples of the world by transcending the distinctions of race, creed and nationality.

Later during the conversation Schmidt described to us how he and his associates underwent severe persecution from Hitler’s party when the Fuhrer was Germany’s dictator. They had to stop the magazine and all religious activities. They were also imprisoned and had to bear great sufferings. During the regime of Hitler, a religion that preached world brotherhood was tabooed. On hearing about this sad story of repression Ramdas was reminded how frantic efforts have been made from time to time by power-mad men, drunk with the ambition for material supremacy, authority and wealth, to trample down religion. History presents innumerable cases of this nature. But it also shows how inevitably Truth or God triumphs in the end and the tyrants who strove against Him miserably perish. This is God’s Lila. We see similar instances in the Puranic stories of India. India had her Hiranyakasipus and Ravanas who waged war against God and ultimately kissed the dust.

While leaving the place, Schmidt suggested that we might drive up a hill to see an ancient castle. The scenery all along the route was beautiful. The cold was severe. On reaching the castle we found that the front gate was locked and so it was not possible for us to get inside. We were told that in days of old some aristocratic gentry of the princely order used to live in this castle. During the last war it was converted into a prison. Now a part of it was occupied by some members of the aristocracy. We walked from the castle up to a point from where we had a charming view of the vast valley before us. By this time it was dark and so we returned to the hotel.

Solace to a Lady in Distress

After we reached our rooms we had a visit from a young lady. She was deeply agitated over some domestic trouble. She knelt before Ramdas and said, “I am coming from Munich. I heard that you were at Frankfurt and therefore went there to meet you. But before I reached there, you had come here. I want your guidance badly. I am in great difficulty. I am married and have two sons.”

Ramdas: Yes, it is good.

The Lady: No, not very good when we have many things to face and people are against us. I am told by my husband that I should not speak to my children about God.

Ramdas: Don’t worry. Everything is for good. As your heart becomes pure, automatically everything will be solved. You can continue your devotional practices silently. It is not necessary that you should repeat the name of Jesus aloud. Do it silently. When your heart becomes pure, you will see a miraculous change in your condition. There was another case in Geneva like yours. A lady had the same complaint; her husband was against her spiritual practices. Ramdas asked her to bring him to see Ramdas one day. Somehow he came. The first day he was not very much impressed. But the next day he came, heard Ramdas and told him he had completely changed. His wife was naturally very happy. So also you need have no anxiety about yourself. Everything will be set right. What you have to do is only to make your heart pure.

The Lady: I was told by somebody that we should not repeat the name of Jesus more than a fixed number of times everyday. The number may be increased but it should never be less. What do you advise me about my invocation?

Ramdas: What type of invocation do you do?

The Lady: My invocation is ‘Jesus Christ, son of God, have pity on me.’

Ramdas: You can repeat this any number of times.

The Lady: May I have the blessings, and may I touch the feet of Ramdas?

Ramdas: Yes, you have the blessings.

When Ramdas spoke these words, her face lit up with a blissful light. They must evidently have given her great solace. Thanking Ramdas with all her heart she left the room.

Next morning our Reutlingen friends took us for seeing some important sights. We visited a library, “Spendhaus”, containing some century-old books and handwritten copies of the Bible on stiff paper and on donkey skin. These books were written by some priests as a labour of love. The paper and skin have endured the wear and tear of time. The writing on them was clear and beautiful like print. The books were very large in size. The man in charge of the library himself belonged to a religious order and he showed us these books with great reverence for them and for the writers.

After seeing the library we were taken to a museum where we found some relics dating back to thousands of years, carefully preserved. There were rare pieces of pottery, stones, inscriptions, bones of extinct animals, which have been excavated from the earth, belonging to an age which was calculated to be ranging from one thousand to three thousand years ago. There were also weapons, dresses, etc., used by Germans in olden days. They bore evidence to the state of culture and civilization prevalent in those ancient times.

From the museum our friends directed our steps to St. Mary’s Church, which we were told was, in the beginning, a Catholic church and later on converted by Martin Luther into a Protestant church. It was a huge edifice, built in the ancient Gothic style, solid and imposing. We went inside and walked round the pews and after standing reverently before the Cross for a few minutes, came out. Then we passed through an ancient arch. The structure was anything but symmetrical. It was crudely built, but it was a specimen of the ancient style of architecture.

God’s purpose in bringing us to Reutlingen must have been to make us meet these two good friends, Mr. Schmidt and Miss Kothen, and see the museum, library and the church.

Munich

From Reutlingen we entrained to Munich. The young lady who had met us the previous evening in the hotel was a resident of Munich. She was travelling with us in the same train and was of great help to us when we had to change at a midway station. We reached Munich where Mr. Eduard Ullmann and other friends were—waiting to welcome us. We were immediately taken to a hotel where we comfortably settled down. In the evening Mr. Ullmann took us to a huge club building in which a meeting was arranged. After waiting in the passage for some time we were ushered into a big hall which was nearly full of people who were eager to see and hear Ramdas. An English-knowing German lady, Mrs. Gerda Walther, sat with Ramdas on the platform to interpret his speech in German. Ramdas talked on various topics, principally on the three Yogas taught in the Bhagavadgita. There were some questions also put to him which he answered. One member of the audience asked:

Q: Is it by merit that we get the grace of God?

Ramdas: His grace comes without our deserving it. We cannot get grace by virtue of our so-called merit. Worst sinners have received grace and become pure and glorious.

Q: Some western circles believe that we must defend our religion with weapons of war if necessary.

Ramdas: That is not a correct view. You cannot defend Christianity by killing others. That is not according to the teachings of Christ, who stood for non-violence. By going contrary to his teachings, his followers will only be betraying him and committing wrong.

Before the close of the function Ramdas asked the audience to sit still in silent meditation and prayer for world peace and harmony. When he came out of the hall, a large number of the friends who attended the meeting crowded round him for autographs and personal talks. This went on for some time. When Ramdas was waiting to be taken back to the hotel, a stout elderly lady came forward and, taking Ramdas by the hand, pulled him out of the crowd. She led - him directly to her old car in which she made him sit along with Satchidananda, and drove us with all joy to the hotel.

Next day there was only one function in the evening which was at Mr. Ullmann’s house. Mr. Ullmann is the leader of the Munich branch of the New Thought Alliance. He is a steady worker, deeply interested in the cause he has espoused. Although we could not talk to him owing to the language difficulty, he was all kindness and affability to us. We could feel in his presence that he was in sympathy with all efforts for establishing world peace. May God fulfil his mission!

During the day, visitors were coming to interview Ramdas. As there was none to interpret the talks we had to resort to signs and sounds and we were able, to a large extent, to make ourselves mutually understood. Among the visitors there were some who came to ask about their marriage problems and some others asked about their material affairs. But there was one among them who was a sincere aspirant. He was Mr. Heinrich Reblitz, a young man of a very tall stature. He had been practising some Yoga discipline which involved great strain on his nerves. He demonstrated before Ramdas the mode of his sadhana. Ramdas discouraged him from continuing it and told him to have only simple Asanas, meditation-and remembrance of God by repetition of His name. He liked Ramdas’ advice and agreed to follow it. He expressed also a desire to become a Sannyasi.

In the evening Mr. Ullmann took us to his rooms high up in a big building. In a small room there was quite a number of devotees awaiting us. They put Ramdas some questions, which he answered. One of them is as follows:

Q: Buddhism is founded absolutely on the law of Karma. Yesterday you talked about the grace of the Divine. How can there be divine grace when there is Karma to be worked out?

Ramdas: God makes the law of Karma and if God cannot set aside the law, then the law is greater than God. This cannot be. So He must have the power to suspend it. The king makes the law that a man who commits murder will be punished with death. The king has also the power to pardon him. The law that he makes cannot be greater than him. Generally God does not interfere. He allows the Karma to work out. He may in special cases go beyond His law and by His grace free the soul from the bondage of Karma.

The meeting ended after silent meditation for a few minutes. Everyone must have experienced a rare satisfaction as was evident from their bright and cheerful faces.

Reblitz becomes Brahmananda

Next morning Heinrich Reblitz, the young man who had come to see Ramdas the previous day, paid another visit to our room in the hotel. The following conversation took place.

Reblitz: Swamiji, Pranams. I feel very happy to say Pranams. That unites me with you.

Ramdas: Sit down, please.

Reblitz: I want to request you for one thing. I have already told you about my desire to become a Swami. I wish to become a Swami even before coming to India, here itself. I had written to Swami Omkar, but have not received a reply so far.

Ramdas: To become a Swami you have to get initiation from another Swami who will give you the Mantra, the ochre-cloth and the name. Some other formalities also have to be gone through. Ramdas suggests that you may request Swami Omkar to initiate you.

Reblitz: That will be possible only after going to India. Can Swami Ramdas not initiate me now?

Ramdas: Ramdas does not give formal Sannyas to anyone as he did not himself take it from anybody. Of course, he gives his permission to those who approach him, if he finds them fit for Sannyas. Then he gives them also the new name, and ochre-cloth with his blessings. That is all he does. Swami Satchidananda has taken it only this way from Ramdas.

Reblitz: Can Swami Ramdas not do the same thing for me also? I shall stop everything I have been doing as Sadhana, if required, and follow what you order me to do.

Ramdas: What are you going to do after taking up Sannyas, writing books?

Reblitz: I can work in the garden, in the fields or anywhere else, just to keep me going.

Ramdas: What will you be actually doing?

Reblitz: As you ask me to do.

Ramdas: Who will look after your mother, if you take up Sannyas? Does she agree to it?

Reblitz: Yes, she knows I will be a Swami. There are others to look after her.

Ramdas: What Ramdas wants you to do is that from now on, whatever work you do must be entirely for God and God alone. You should not do anything that might involve telling lies and resorting to crooked means. Your dealings must be absolutely honest. What is your profession?

Reblitz: I paint pictures and work in gardens or farms.

Ramdas: Whatever you do and whatever you earn must be for the service of the poor and suffering people around you. Serve your mother and serve others who are in distress. Repeat the Mantra that Ramdas is going to give you. “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.” This may be repeated silently or loudly, but it must be constant.

Reblitz: May I do the Asanas and meditation as I have so far been doing and about which I have told you?

Ramdas: You need not do all the Asanas. How many Asanas do you know?

Reblitz: About thirty.

Ramdas: You may do simple Asanas like Siddhasana, Padmasana, Sarvangasana and so on. Siddhasana and Padmasana are suitable for meditation. Don’t do Sirsasana.

Reblitz: If you ask me not to do that, surely I won’t.

Ramdas: About meditation, you have been doing it for the past eight years. You may stop it now and do as Ramdas instructs you. Repeat the Ram-mantra constantly, sitting in Siddhasana or Padmasana with Yoga Mudra. Yoga Mudra symbolises the union of the Jivatma with Paramatma when the Jiva discards the three Gunas. Close your eyes and repeat Ram-mantra mentally and think of God as seated in your heart. God is within you and without you, everywhere. You have first to realize Him within you, and then you will see Him everywhere about you. So you have to meditate on Him within you. Now repeat the Mantra as Ramdas does: ‘Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.’ What more do you want? Ramdas will give you a name also.

Reblitz: Take me away from this Samsara. I swear today, I will lead a celibate life all through and live entirely for God.

Ramdas: Ramdas is thinking what name he should give you. Have you any name to suggest that you may like?

Reblitz: I like the name Brahmananda.

Ramdas: Yes, let your name be Brahmananda. Ramdas will send you an ochre-cloth from Frankfurt. You should not think of coming to India now. Your work is here. Serve your mother and the people in Germany who are in distress.

Reblitz: I won’t think of coming to India if you ask me not to do so.

Ramdas: Blessings, blessings to you.

Since he got the initiation we could see on his face a light which was evidence of the deep peace and freedom he was feeling at heart. To adopt Sannyas was his long-cherished ambition and the fulfilment naturally gave him so much inward peace and joy.