A Practical Lesson Against Sensual Desires

Friday, January 8, 2010, 17:37

Is not the master the one who pulls out the seeming weeds of desires on the vast expanse?

Annamalai Swami, a disciple of Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was tormented with sexual desires that he wanted to do away with. He was in charge of the construction jobs in Ramanashram. He often got sexually attracted to the women who were involved in the construction work. He even went to the extent of expelling all the female workers in order to curb his sexual fantasies. He also told Ramana once, that he did not care for Moksha but wanted to get rid of his sexual desire. In reply, the master laughed and pointed out that, that was indeed what all the saints were striving for. Hence he was assured that he was not the lone one combating the problem.

One afternoon, as Annamalai Swami was sitting in his room, he happened to see a beautiful woman go to meet Ramana. When she emerged out, he was captivated by her breath taking beauty and the flames of lust arose the customary way. Just then, Ramana came and asked Annamalai Swami out. He asked him to stand on a rock under the scorching sun and started a conversation.

As the conversation progressed, Annamalai Swami's feet could not encounter the heat of the rock any more, yet he did not have the nerve to move as it was the order of the Master. Suddenly he realised that his sexual desire was replaced by the pain. No sooner did this thought arose in him, Ramana ended the conversation then and there and asked him to step down.

Annamalai Swami was free of sensual desires for sometime. However they began to show up. It so happened once that he could neither eat nor sleep for three days. He voiced out his difficulty to the master and Ramana advised, “Why do you have to pay attention to evil thoughts? Why don't you enquire to whom this thought arose? If you could do that, the thought would leave you on its own accord. You are not the body nor the mind, you are the Self, Meditate on your self and all desires will leave you!"

To strike the root of desire is the Ramana Way!

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