Living In The Presence Of Ramana

By Staff

Monday, September 14, 2009, 12:29

Ramana is the indweller in all hearts. Therefore he is everywhere, at all times. He is the very pulse of life. Even so one seldom feels intensely related to his live presence unlike some old devotees who were so related. Prof.K.Swaminathan in the last of his reminiscent articles, 'In His Presence' asserts "Sri Bhagavan was a constant observer, encourager, sustainer and enjoyer in my many meetings and dealings with fellow-devotees". He also refers to a couplet composed for him by Muruganar which brings out the "infinite inner and outer dimension of Sri Bhagavan".

If we sometimes yearn to feel Ramana's presence intimately but often fail even to establish contact with him one has to find out and eliminate the obstructions to such an awareness. The first obstacle is perhaps the belief that since Ramana is the Self, essentially bodiless, it would not be right to relate to his physical form. This is not really so. The disciples like Muruganar are examples of how there is no contradiction between regarding Ramana as the bodiless Self while at the same being enamoured of his comely form.

To those who are familiar with Muruganar's poetry, particularly his masterpieces 'Ramana Sannidhi Murai' and 'Ramana Anubhuti', it will be evident that Ramana had bestowed on Muruganar his own state of inherent happiness, of 'sahaja samadhi'. Yet Muruganar would never let Ramana out of his sight and would always bask in Ramana's presence. Though he had overcome the delusion of identifying his body with the Self he enjoyed the radiant form of Ramana no end. Immediately after Ramana's Maha Nirvana he rolled on the ground and cried inconsolably.

The reason for this is twofold. So long as one is identified with the body the guru too is his bodily form. Even more important is the fact that though Ramana is the Self, he is also the deathless form in which he walked on earth. For the body of the enlightened one is the house of God. If only one looks at Ramana's bewitching form and falls head over heels in love with it over and over again, it would do one a world of good. Call it devotion or whatever. It certainly helps immensely in being related to that constant presence.

It does not need much arguing to drive home the point that since the mind is the past, with its directional pulls and false notions, initially one does not have the requisite mental maturity, a strong spirit of enquiry and dispassion. This develops only gradually as one gets more and more in touch with the Self. At this stage one has to be true to oneself and recognise that unaided by the divine force outwardly seen as Sadguru Ramana, one cannot but return empty handed. One must invoke this force through prayer and an attitude of surrender.

To be continued

About the author

A.R.Natarajan

Sri A.R.Natarajan has had the opportunity of a long association of over 50 years with the Ramanashram. He was the editor of "Mountain Path" for two years. He was the secretary of Ramana Kendra, New Delhi for ten years. He founded the Ramana Maharshi centre for learning, a non profit institution. He has authored more than thirty six books and eleven pocket books on the life and teachings of Bhagavan Ramana.