Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 A Posting from Sri Ganesan to share with all .regards, Alan > > Namaskaram. > > S.S.Cohen writes: "It was about 8 p.m. Sri Bhagavan had returned from the short stroll which > usually followed his night meal and had reclined on his couch, when the lady devotees who worked > in the kitchen came in to prostrate before going to the town for the night. They first made a > brief report of the day's work and the morrow's cooking programme, then turned to the subject of > a certain citrus fruit. Major Chadwick and myself, the only two non-Tamil knowing persons then > present, wondered what that fruit could be, since its Tamil name was mentioned. Major C. > suggested a name, and I another, but Sri Bhagavan suddenly came out with a third - 'grapefruit' > - which puzzled me all the more, as in my mind I connected the word 'grape' with grapes. Then > Sri Bhagavan remarked that the seaon for the grapefuits would commence in two or three months > time. The subject was closed when the other devotees started talking on spiritual matters. > > It was then my custom to make the eight-mile circuit of the hill (giri pradakshina) > every alternate day on foot, starting at about 8 a.m. and be back at about 11 o'clock, which was > lunch time. The day which followed the above conversation was a giri pradakshina day for me. > While walking and thinking of Bhagavan and of the previous night's talk, a thought suddenly > struck me that I should not be surprised if some devotee would bring the particular fruit as > offering, one of these days. I finished the circuit, had my lunch and hardly settled down for > rest, when from my room I saw Sri Bhagavan approaching for his usual after-lunch walk by my hut > (at Palakothu), looking enquiringly in my direction. I felt he had something to tell me, and so > I hesitatingly came out on the veranda, when, to my great astonishment, the Master turned to the > attendant behind him, took a large sweet lime from him and stretched it out towards me, saying: > "This is grapefruit," and added, "A visitor came in the morning with only three fruits -- one > for Chadwick, one for me (that is, for Bhagavan and for distribution among the devotees as > prasad) and this is for you." I was deeply touched by his compassionate remembrance of me, but > more than touched, I was very surprised at the number of coincidences which occurred so soon > after the talk -- coincidence of time, coincidence of number, just the three of us who had > discussed the subject, and coincidence of the almost prophetic anticipation I had made in my > mind of it during pradakshina, probably at the very moment when the offering was made, not to > speak of the "miracle" of the off-season of that fruit. > > Taking gratefully the fruit from Bhagavan's hand, I related to him the premonition I had > had of the offering in the morning. He was not at all surprised but answered in a > matter-of-fact tone: "These things happen," and strolled off in his characteristic leisurely > slow strides. > > Had I enquired of Sri Bhagavan whether that was a miracle or not, I might have probably > got the same answer as did Prof.G.V. Subbaramayya, namely, that it was "the Chintamani of > Prajna", that is Pure Chit - the mind free from Vasanas, which was responsible for it. But > having never been a miracle-monger, I did not care to know. I was satisfied with his company > and the upadesa, a veritable spiritual feast which constantly flowed from his mouth. " *** > > *** > This is the anecdote from Prof.G.V. Subbaramayya's A Ramana Reminiscences (pp.13 & > 14) : > > " One night in the dining hall, Sri Bhagavan enquired whether there was > country-orange pickle. The Sarvadhikari was > annoyed to find that there was none. The next afternoon the outgoing Ashram mail > that was as usual submitted for > Sri Bhagavan's perusal by G.L. Narasimha Rao, contained a letter by the Sarvadhikari > to a Madurai devotee asking for > a basket of country oranges. Sri Bhagavan flared up on reading it, and remarked, > "To these people Salvation seems > to lie in country oranges ! Otherwise why should we write to some one for them ? > Would they not come of their own accord > if they are destined to come ? Well, do as you please." So saying he threw that > letter at Narasimha Rao; and, just as the latter was withdrawing in trepidation, a > Railway contractor entered the Hall with two sealed basket-parcels, for which > no R.R. (railway receipt) had been received. In those days it was the invariable > practice to show first to Sri Bhagavan > anything that came to the Ashram before it was taken inside. Now Sri Bhagavan > laughingly observed : "What ! Are > these parcels country-oranges ? Open and see." When they were opened, lo ! they > both were basketfuls of > country-oranges ! At once they were taken into the kitchen for being cut and > pickled. Again, Sri Bhagavan said : > "Perhaps, one basket has sour oranges and the other basket sweet oranges," and sent > some one to make sure before > mixing them up. It turned out to be exactly as Sri Bhagavan said. The sweet > oranges were peeled off first and > their slices were distributed among all the devotees, then and there. Seized with > wonder, I enquired whether we should > consider the incident as a miracle or as a mere chance-coincidence. In reply, Sri > Bhagavan quoted a verse from > Yoga Vasishtha which says : " This prajna which is treasured up in the heart of the > wise is Chintamani (the mystic > precious stone). Like Kalpalata (the celestial creeper) it fulfils instantly > whatever is thought of. " He also cited > Adi Sankara's definition of prajna in Vivekachudamani as "thought that is Pure > Consciousness devoid of Vasanas > (fluctuating tendencies)." Later, Sri Bhagavan, out of His Grace, gave both the > quotations to me, in His own writing. " > > > ********************************************************************************\ **************************************************************** > > You > remember Sri Bhagavan often quoting Kaivalya Navaneeta, wherein an injuction is given to serious > seekers : " Adhai Ninaitthum, Adhai Uraitthum " ( Constantly one > should 'think' of It and 'pronounce' It, too = meaning, "sharing" ) ! > > Love, > Ganesan. ===== Life is a pure flame,and we live by an invisible Sun within us. __________ Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now http://uk.messenger./download/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2004 Report Share Posted April 21, 2004 Dear Sri Ganesan , Thank you for the most educative posting which I will share with all . What are your dates of travel ? We need to know in case we wish to be in touch . All love, in His Grace, and best wishes for a truly auspicious journey , Alan Namaskaram. ===== Life is a pure flame,and we live by an invisible Sun within us. __________ Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now http://uk.messenger./download/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.