My Trip Alone To Ramanashram-Part II

Om Namo Bhagavate Shri Ramanaya

When the mind is worn out and weary,

When it needs to be revived,

To drink of your glory,

The elixir of life

Arunachala, the Mount of Grace,      

May the mind rest in your eternal embrace.

The turbulent mind

This time I rushed to the Master’s presence with a turbulent mind. On 7^th October, peace seemed to be something very distant. I went round Bhagavan’s Samadhi over and over again for thoughts to slow down, which of course did. However the storm did not subside. Meditation was rather difficult as there was a counter thought, a worry, ‘the hankering for peace’.

On 8^th morning the mind was totally worn out. It suddenly became averse to be engaged in any activity, be it to go round the master or to meditate in the meditation hall. It just dropped its movements. All of a sudden peace descended as I simply sat in the hall in front of the Mother’s shrine, where a black statue of Bhagavan is. Meditation later became fruitful.

The Tamil parayanam is what I really enjoy which devotees sing dripping with devotion in the presence of the Master in the evenings. It was as blissful as ever, singing along with them, especially ‘Ramana Satguru Raayanae’. In the later part of the evening, post dinner, I happened to speak to one of the devotees of Bhagavan Ramana, ripe in age as well as experience in the Master’s teachings. After our customary enquiries of each other’s wellbeing, when the topic of our talk as usual turned towards Bhagavan, He said, “Suffering cannot be avoided. It can of course be transcended. You will have to transcend it by understanding it!”

I felt that these words of wisdom came straight from Bhagavan to bring in the right understanding of issues in me.

On 9^th morning, the storm in the mind had considerably subsided and I started my journey back to Bangalore.

Dropping of the mind

 In Bangalore, I happened to tell Saradha akka, the president of the’ Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning,’ of my visit to the ashram alone. I recounted the account of my wonderful stay, despite not being able to do Giripradikshana or going up the hill to the caves as the asharm always warned women against doing them alone.

Saradha akka quickly said (in Tamil), “Bhagavan unnai summa irukka sollitaar!” (Bhagavan asked you to stay quiet or ‘just be!’)

The right cord was struck! Is He not the greatest musician who fine tunes the mind to the central note that runs through each piece of music?  Possessing nothing, is He not the greatest possessor who possessively reclaims the minds of His folks?  The words of Shri Nochur Venkataraman, a great devotee of Bhagavan who gives sessions on the Master’s teachings with a touch of experience and emotion popped up in my mind.  He had once said, “Bhagavan’s central teaching is to ‘Just be!’ Self-enquiry was suggested because it was difficult for one to drop the mind that is accustomed to perpetual wandering at one go and just be.

Furthermore I remembered reading in one of the books, of the function of the mind that thoughts existed only in the light of one’s attention. When one withdraws one’s attention, they simply drop off.  I experienced for the very first time, to let go of tormenting thoughts. Of course the experience is fleeting and the mind is bound to presume its vagabond ways, however I strongly believe that His enveloping Grace is sure to lead the mind to anchor at His Feet someday.

Om Namo Bhagavate Shri Ramanaya.