Destiny and Grace, 2: Face to face with Reality

12-27-2001, 07:28 AM

" Once in 1961 I was in samadhi at Bhagavan's shrine during Veda
Parayana. The time was about 17.35 hrs. Suddenly I felt that all my
limbs were forcibly controlled by a power and I could not even open
my eyes. I became helpless although I was conscious and could clearly
hear the recitation of Vedas. I felt myself increasing in size. I
could clearly see in me the Hill and sea. Simultaneously the sound
'I', 'I' arose overpowering everything. I was frightened. I could
feel the physical heart was beating very fast and the body
perspiring. I felt I was going to die. The sound 'I' continued to
sound with the same force. Caring for nobody I shouted 'Ramana',
'Ramana' loudly and made every effort to come out of the state. When
I finally opened my eyes the Arati was just over. I was expecting the
people standing around me to enquire why I was shouting so loudly, but
nobody asked me.
Externally nothing had happened. Major Chadwick and others were just
getting up to go. Immediately I prostrated before Bhagavan's shrine.
The world had an entirely different look at that time and I could see
the people moving about like figures on a screen. I could feel a
continous current flowing throughout the body, giving me eternal
peace and a blissful feeling.
The current lasted till 4.00 hrs next morning. I did not feel like
talking to anybody and wanted to go into samadhi again. Since I was
leaving the Ashram early the next morning, I wanted to discuss my
experience with some of the old devotees and find out its
significance. I spoke to some but received no satisfactory reply.
Then I thought that it must be an experience which old devotees must
have had in one form or another and that I had better keep quiet.
During my visits in the subsequent years I discovered to my surprise
that that was not an ordinary experience. It was something which
occured on account of the special grace of the Lord. I was actually
face to face with 'Reality'."

to be continued

(Major I.J. Taneja: Destiny and Grace, in: The Mountain Path, Jan. 1969)

06-12-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gabriele Ebert

" Once in 1961 I was in samadhi at Bhagavan's shrine during Veda
Parayana. The time was about 17.35 hrs. Suddenly I felt that all my
limbs were forcibly controlled by a power and I could not even open
my eyes. I became helpless although I was conscious and could clearly
hear the recitation of Vedas. I felt myself increasing in size. I
could clearly see in me the Hill and sea. Simultaneously the sound
'I', 'I' arose overpowering everything. I was frightened. I could
feel the physical heart was beating very fast and the body
perspiring. I felt I was going to die. The sound 'I' continued to
sound with the same force. Caring for nobody I shouted 'Ramana',
'Ramana' loudly and made every effort to come out of the state. When
I finally opened my eyes the Arati was just over. I was expecting the
people standing around me to enquire why I was shouting so loudly, but
nobody asked me.
Externally nothing had happened. Major Chadwick and others were just
getting up to go. Immediately I prostrated before Bhagavan's shrine.
The world had an entirely different look at that time and I could see
the people moving about like figures on a screen. I could feel a
continous current flowing throughout the body, giving me eternal
peace and a blissful feeling.
The current lasted till 4.00 hrs next morning. I did not feel like
talking to anybody and wanted to go into samadhi again. Since I was
leaving the Ashram early the next morning, I wanted to discuss my
experience with some of the old devotees and find out its
significance. I spoke to some but received no satisfactory reply.
Then I thought that it must be an experience which old devotees must
have had in one form or another and that I had better keep quiet.
During my visits in the subsequent years I discovered to my surprise
that that was not an ordinary experience. It was something which
occured on account of the special grace of the Lord. I was actually
face to face with 'Reality'."

to be continued

(Major I.J. Taneja: Destiny and Grace, in: The Mountain Path, Jan. 1969)