Spiritual Stories by Ramana

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YOGI'S PENANCE

 

Bhagavan narrated the following story to illustrate the distinction

between manolaya (stillness of mind) and manonasa (destruction of

mind).

 

A YOGI WAS doing penance (tapas) for a number of years on the banks

of the Ganges. When he had attained a high degree of concentration,

he believed that to remain in that state for prolonged periods

constituted salvation and therefore continued practising it. One day,

before going into samadhi (a state of deep concentration), he felt

thirsty and asked his disciple to bring some water for drinking from

the Ganges; but before the disciple could return with the water, he

had gone into samadhi, and he remained in that state for countless

years. When he woke up from this experience, the first thing he did

was to say, " water! water! " ; but there was neither his disciple nor

the Ganges in sight.

 

The first thing which he asked for was water because, before going

into deep concentration, the topmost thought in his mind was about

water; by concentration, however deep and prolonged it might have

been, he had only been able to lull his thoughts temporarily;

therefore when he revived consciousness this topmost thought flew up

with all the speed and force of a flood breaking through the dykes.

 

If this was the case with regard to a thought which took shape

immediately before he sat for meditation, there is no doubt that

other thoughts which had taken deeper root earlier would still remain

unannihilated. If annihilation of thoughts is salvation, can he be

said to have attained salvation?

 

The moral is that one should not be taken away by the spell of

temporary stillness but pursue the enquiry till the last vasana is

eradicated.