Experiment With The Truth

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My search for spiritual truth began when I was about 10 years of age. My family went to see Annamalai Swami, an ascetic and a close disciple of Ramana Maharishi, the great enlightened Master who lived in my hometown, Tiruvannamalai, many years back. I went there to listen to Annamalai Swami giving a discourse, although secretly I was waiting for the candy that he would give at the end of the discourse.

Annamalai Swami was talking to a group of seekers. On that particular day, in his discourse, he was saying that we are not the body but something beyond it. He further explained that pain and suffering are beyond the body. They do not affect us. I forgot all about the candy. I was surprised to hear this theory. I immediately thought, 'When my mother slaps me, I feel the pain. Then, why is he saying otherwise?'

His words continued to ring in my ears. I had an intense urge to experiment and verify his words. I ran back home, took a knife and cut my thigh with it. It started to bleed and I was in terrible pain. My parents were livid. They rushed me to a hospital. I still have that scar on me. After a few days, I went back to meet the swami. I said, 'Swami, you told us that we are beyond the body, and pain and suffering does't exist. But, when I cut my thigh, it bled, and I had intense pain. Why?'The Swami was surprised to hear of my experiment. He was very compassionate. He consoled me and taught me a simple meditation technique. All I had to do was to search for the source of my thoughts or see where my thoughts began. Though I had never meditated before, I decided to try it out.

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