Re: [HarshaSatsangh - Ramana Guru] The Grace of the Guru

10-24-2004, 12:46 PM

Dear Harshaji:

I really do love this story too. I happened upon it months ago,
and was struck by it for a number of reasons. People often
say that bhakti is the "easy" way. However, for some true and
complete surrender is probably one of the most difficult things
to grasp and then release, at least for me. And yes, I know that
there is no one to surrender, etc etc. Yet, there is a mind floating
around somewhere which must grasp all of this in order to cross
the river to the other side, so to speak. To relinquish all concepts
of everything that you think you are, good and bad, requires
incredible faith and trust. There is nothing easy about that,
as illustrated by the unknown visitor to the ashram:-)

Another thing about the story which really struck me were the words
Sri Ramana used. There was a time when I was really feeling
disconnected and severely depressed. One day I was kneeling
at my altar and crying. I do not even remember now what I was crying
about, as I cried about almost everything during that time period. As
I looked to my image of Bhagavan, to make it better, his words to me...
"Give your tears to me." This only made me cry even more as I did
just what he asked!!! But there was something cleansing about it
and his words remained and still remain with me. I do not seek fancy
explanations or esoteric theories and concepts to muddy up what
is really so clear...from the Gita as posted on the Advaitin list by
Sunderji:

sarvadharmaanparityajya maamekaM sharaNaM vraja |
ahaM tvaaM sarvapaapebhyo mokShyayishhyaami maa shuchaH || 18 : 66 ||

Abandoning all DHARMAS, (of the body, mind, and intellect) ,
take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not.

Love,

Joyce

----- Original Message -----
From: "Harsha"
To: ; "HarshaSatsangh"

Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 7:39 PM
Subject: [HarshaSatsangh - Ramana Guru] The Grace of the Guru

>
> Sri Ramana said that the devotee who has received the Grace of the Guru is
> never forsaken.
>
> Here is one of my favorite stories from the Newsletters on the official
Sri
> Ramana site.
>
>
> "All My Hopes For Salvation Are Gone"
>
>
> Conversations with Ramana Maharshi were typically public and watched by
> other devotees. The following dialogue between Sri Ramana and an unknown
> visitor occurred at the Ashram and is recalled by a devotee. The man was
in
> depth of despair and at first Bhagwan seemed quite unsympathetic. The
> visitor's conversation with the sage is quite remarkable and worth
reading.
>
>
> Selected portions presented from the Maharshi newsletters.
>
>
> -Harsha
>
>
>
> "The man started moaning and crying even more, as if his heart were
> breaking.
>
>
> "All my hopes of salvation are gone. You were my last refuge and you say
you
> have nothing to do with me! To whom shall I turn now? What am I to do? To
> whom am I to go?"
>
>
> Bhagavan watched him for some time and said, "Am I your guru that I should
> be responsible for your salvation? Have I ever said that I am your
master?"
>
>
> "If you are not my master, then who is? And who are you, if not my master?
> You are my guru, you are my guardian angel, you will pity me and release
me
> from my sins!" He started sobbing and crying again.
>
>
> We all sat silent, overcome with pity. Only Bhagavan looked alert and
> matter-of-fact.
>
>
> Bh: "If I am your guru, what are my fees? Surely you should pay me for my
> services."
>
>
> D: "But you won't take anything," cried the visitor. "What can I give
you?"
>
>
> Bh: "Did I ever say that I don't take anything? And did you ever ask me
what
> you can give me?"
>
>
> D: "If you would take, then ask me. There is nothing I would not give
you."
>
>
> Bh: "All right. Now I am asking. Give me. What will you give me ?"
>
>
> D: "Take anything, all is yours."
>
>
> Bh: "Then give me all the good you have done in this world."
>
>
> D: "What good could I have done? I have not a single virtue to my credit"
>
>
> Bh: "You have promised to give. Now give. Don't talk of your credit. Just
> give away all the good you have done in your past."
>
>
> D: "Yes, I shall give. But how does one give? Tell me how the giving is
done
> and I shall give."
>
>
> Bh: "Say like this: 'All the good I have done in the past I am giving away
> entirely to my guru. Henceforth I have no merit from it nor have I any
> concern with it.' Say it with your whole heart."
>
>
> D: "All right, Swami, I am giving away to you all the good I have done so
> far, if I have done any, and all its good effects. I am giving it to you
> gladly, for you are my master and you are asking me to give it all away to
> you."
>
>
> Bh: "But this is not enough," said Bhagavan sternly.
>
>
> D: "I gave you all I have and all you asked me to give. I have nothing
more
> to give."
>
>
> Bh: "No, you have. Give me all your sins."
>
>
> D: The man looked wildly at Bhagavan, terror stricken. "You do not know,
> Swami, what you are asking for. If you knew, you would not ask me. If you
> take over my sins, your body will rot and burn. You do not know me, you do
> not know my sins. Please do not ask me for my sins." And he wept bitterly.
>
>
> Bh: "I shall look after myself, don't you worry about me," said Bhagavan.
> "All I want from you is your sins."
>
>
> For a long time the bargain would not go through. The man refused to part
> with his sins. But Bhagavan was adamant.
>
>
> Bh: "Either give me your sins along with your merits, or keep both and
don't
> think of me as your master."
>
>
> In the end the visitor's scruples broke down and he declared: "Whatever
sins
> I have done, they are no longer mine. All of them and their results, too,
> belong to Ramana."
>
>
> Bhagavan seemed to be satisfied. "From now on there is no good nor bad in
> you. You are just pure. Go and do nothing, neither good nor bad. Remain
> yourself, remain what you are."
>
>
> A great peace fell over the man and over us all. No one knows what
happened
> to the fortunate visitor; he was never seen in the Ashrama again. He might
> have been in no further need of coming."
>
>
>
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarshaSatsangh/join
>
> HarshaSatsangh Magazine and Website is at
>
> http://www.harshasatsangh.com
>
> "Love itself is the actual form of God."
>
> Sri Ramana
>
> In "Letters from Sri Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

10-24-2004, 03:46 PM

Dear Harshaji:

I really do love this story too. I happened upon it months ago,
and was struck by it for a number of reasons. People often
say that bhakti is the "easy" way. However, for some true and
complete surrender is probably one of the most difficult things
to grasp and then release, at least for me. And yes, I know that
there is no one to surrender, etc etc. Yet, there is a mind floating
around somewhere which must grasp all of this in order to cross
the river to the other side, so to speak. To relinquish all concepts
of everything that you think you are, good and bad, requires
incredible faith and trust. There is nothing easy about that,
as illustrated by the unknown visitor to the ashram:-)

Another thing about the story which really struck me were the words
Sri Ramana used. There was a time when I was really feeling
disconnected and severely depressed. One day I was kneeling
at my altar and crying. I do not even remember now what I was crying
about, as I cried about almost everything during that time period. As
I looked to my image of Bhagavan, to make it better, his words to me...
"Give your tears to me." This only made me cry even more as I did
just what he asked!!! But there was something cleansing about it
and his words remained and still remain with me. I do not seek fancy
explanations or esoteric theories and concepts to muddy up what
is really so clear...from the Gita as posted on the Advaitin list by
Sunderji:

sarvadharmaanparityajya maamekaM sharaNaM vraja |
ahaM tvaaM sarvapaapebhyo mokShyayishhyaami maa shuchaH || 18 : 66 ||

Abandoning all DHARMAS, (of the body, mind, and intellect) ,
take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not.

Love,

Joyce

----- Original Message -----
From: "Harsha"
To: ; "HarshaSatsangh"

Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 7:39 PM
Subject: [HarshaSatsangh - Ramana Guru] The Grace of the Guru

>
> Sri Ramana said that the devotee who has received the Grace of the Guru is
> never forsaken.
>
> Here is one of my favorite stories from the Newsletters on the official
Sri
> Ramana site.
>
>
> "All My Hopes For Salvation Are Gone"
>
>
> Conversations with Ramana Maharshi were typically public and watched by
> other devotees. The following dialogue between Sri Ramana and an unknown
> visitor occurred at the Ashram and is recalled by a devotee. The man was
in
> depth of despair and at first Bhagwan seemed quite unsympathetic. The
> visitor's conversation with the sage is quite remarkable and worth
reading.
>
>
> Selected portions presented from the Maharshi newsletters.
>
>
> -Harsha
>
>
>
> "The man started moaning and crying even more, as if his heart were
> breaking.
>
>
> "All my hopes of salvation are gone. You were my last refuge and you say
you
> have nothing to do with me! To whom shall I turn now? What am I to do? To
> whom am I to go?"
>
>
> Bhagavan watched him for some time and said, "Am I your guru that I should
> be responsible for your salvation? Have I ever said that I am your
master?"
>
>
> "If you are not my master, then who is? And who are you, if not my master?
> You are my guru, you are my guardian angel, you will pity me and release
me
> from my sins!" He started sobbing and crying again.
>
>
> We all sat silent, overcome with pity. Only Bhagavan looked alert and
> matter-of-fact.
>
>
> Bh: "If I am your guru, what are my fees? Surely you should pay me for my
> services."
>
>
> D: "But you won't take anything," cried the visitor. "What can I give
you?"
>
>
> Bh: "Did I ever say that I don't take anything? And did you ever ask me
what
> you can give me?"
>
>
> D: "If you would take, then ask me. There is nothing I would not give
you."
>
>
> Bh: "All right. Now I am asking. Give me. What will you give me ?"
>
>
> D: "Take anything, all is yours."
>
>
> Bh: "Then give me all the good you have done in this world."
>
>
> D: "What good could I have done? I have not a single virtue to my credit"
>
>
> Bh: "You have promised to give. Now give. Don't talk of your credit. Just
> give away all the good you have done in your past."
>
>
> D: "Yes, I shall give. But how does one give? Tell me how the giving is
done
> and I shall give."
>
>
> Bh: "Say like this: 'All the good I have done in the past I am giving away
> entirely to my guru. Henceforth I have no merit from it nor have I any
> concern with it.' Say it with your whole heart."
>
>
> D: "All right, Swami, I am giving away to you all the good I have done so
> far, if I have done any, and all its good effects. I am giving it to you
> gladly, for you are my master and you are asking me to give it all away to
> you."
>
>
> Bh: "But this is not enough," said Bhagavan sternly.
>
>
> D: "I gave you all I have and all you asked me to give. I have nothing
more
> to give."
>
>
> Bh: "No, you have. Give me all your sins."
>
>
> D: The man looked wildly at Bhagavan, terror stricken. "You do not know,
> Swami, what you are asking for. If you knew, you would not ask me. If you
> take over my sins, your body will rot and burn. You do not know me, you do
> not know my sins. Please do not ask me for my sins." And he wept bitterly.
>
>
> Bh: "I shall look after myself, don't you worry about me," said Bhagavan.
> "All I want from you is your sins."
>
>
> For a long time the bargain would not go through. The man refused to part
> with his sins. But Bhagavan was adamant.
>
>
> Bh: "Either give me your sins along with your merits, or keep both and
don't
> think of me as your master."
>
>
> In the end the visitor's scruples broke down and he declared: "Whatever
sins
> I have done, they are no longer mine. All of them and their results, too,
> belong to Ramana."
>
>
> Bhagavan seemed to be satisfied. "From now on there is no good nor bad in
> you. You are just pure. Go and do nothing, neither good nor bad. Remain
> yourself, remain what you are."
>
>
> A great peace fell over the man and over us all. No one knows what
happened
> to the fortunate visitor; he was never seen in the Ashrama again. He might
> have been in no further need of coming."
>
>
>
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarshaSatsangh/join
>
> HarshaSatsangh Magazine and Website is at
>
> http://www.harshasatsangh.com
>
> "Love itself is the actual form of God."
>
> Sri Ramana
>
> In "Letters from Sri Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

10-24-2004, 10:22 PM

OM NAMO BHAGAVATE SRI RAMANAYA

Dear Harsha

let me thank you so much for sharing this wonderful moving story you sent
recently.
What a Grace to have read it - it is so moving such a great help for
struggling souls......

Namaste

glad to be on your list and with you

michael

>----- Original Message ----- From: "Harsha" To:
>; "HarshaSatsangh"
> Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 7:39 PM
>Subject: [HarshaSatsangh - Ramana Guru] The Grace of the Guru
>
>
> > > Sri Ramana said that the devotee who has received the Grace of the
>Guru is > never forsaken. > > Here is one of my favorite stories from the
>Newsletters on the official Sri > Ramana site. > > > "All My Hopes For
>Salvation Are Gone" > > > Conversations with Ramana Maharshi were typically
>public and watched by > other devotees. The following dialogue between Sri
>Ramana and an unknown > visitor occurred at the Ashram and is recalled by a
>devotee. The man was in > depth of despair and at first Bhagwan seemed
>quite unsympathetic. The > visitor's conversation with the sage is quite
>remarkable and worth reading. > > > Selected portions presented from the
>Maharshi newsletters. > > > -Harsha > > > > "The man started moaning
and
>crying even more, as if his heart were > breaking. > > > "All my hopes of
>salvation are gone. You were my last refuge and you say you > have nothing
>to do with me! To whom shall I turn now? What am I to do? To > whom am I to
>go?" > > > Bhagavan watched him for some time and said, "Am I your guru
>that I should > be responsible for your salvation? Have I ever said that I
>am your master?" > > > "If you are not my master, then who is? And who are
>you, if not my master? > You are my guru, you are my guardian angel, you
>will pity me and release me > from my sins!" He started sobbing and crying
>again. > > > We all sat silent, overcome with pity. Only Bhagavan looked
>alert and > matter-of-fact. > > > Bh: "If I am your guru, what are my fees?
>Surely you should pay me for my > services." > > > D: "But you won't take
>anything," cried the visitor. "What can I give you?" > > > Bh: "Did I
ever
>say that I don't take anything? And did you ever ask me what > you can give
>me?" > > > D: "If you would take, then ask me. There is nothing I would not
>give you." > > > Bh: "All right. Now I am asking. Give me. What will you
>give me ?" > > > D: "Take anything, all is yours." > > > Bh: "Then
give me
>all the good you have done in this world." > > > D: "What good could I have
>done? I have not a single virtue to my credit" > > > Bh: "You have promised
>to give. Now give. Don't talk of your credit. Just > give away all the good
>you have done in your past." > > > D: "Yes, I shall give. But how does one
>give? Tell me how the giving is done > and I shall give." > > > Bh: "Say
>like this: 'All the good I have done in the past I am giving away >
>entirely to my guru. Henceforth I have no merit from it nor have I any >
>concern with it.' Say it with your whole heart." > > > D: "All right,
>Swami, I am giving away to you all the good I have done so > far, if I have
>done any, and all its good effects. I am giving it to you > gladly, for you
>are my master and you are asking me to give it all away to > you." > > >
>Bh: "But this is not enough," said Bhagavan sternly. > > > D: "I gave
you
>all I have and all you asked me to give. I have nothing more > to give." >
> > > Bh: "No, you have. Give me all your sins." > > > D: The man looked
>wildly at Bhagavan, terror stricken. "You do not know, > Swami, what you
>are asking for. If you knew, you would not ask me. If you > take over my
>sins, your body will rot and burn. You do not know me, you do > not know my
>sins. Please do not ask me for my sins." And he wept bitterly. > > > Bh: "I
>shall look after myself, don't you worry about me," said Bhagavan. > "All I
>want from you is your sins." > > > For a long time the bargain would not go
>through. The man refused to part > with his sins. But Bhagavan was adamant.
> > > > Bh: "Either give me your sins along with your merits, or keep both
>and don't > think of me as your master." > > > In the end the visitor's
>scruples broke down and he declared: "Whatever sins > I have done, they are
>no longer mine. All of them and their results, too, > belong to Ramana." >
> > > Bhagavan seemed to be satisfied. "From now on there is no good nor bad
>in > you. You are just pure. Go and do nothing, neither good nor bad.
>Remain > yourself, remain what you are." > > > A great peace fell over the
>man and over us all. No one knows what happened > to the fortunate visitor;
>he was never seen in the Ashrama again. He might > have been in no further
>need of coming." > > > > >
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarshaSatsangh/join > > HarshaSatsangh
>Magazine and Website is at > > http://www.harshasatsangh.com > > "Love
>itself is the actual form of God." > > Sri Ramana > > In "Letters from Sri
>Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >
>
>

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