"The Guru does not bring about self realization. He simply removes the obstacles to it. The Self is always realized."
Who better can say it in so simple a manner than Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi? He goes to the level and capacity to grasp of a sincerely seeking Bhakth.
Pranams to Maha Guru on this eve of Guru Poornima.
Recall the first time I stepped into the Ashram. It's about two decades ago. My first time ever to Tiruvannamalai itself. Except for knowing the name of this holy temple town, I didn't know more about it. Nor did I know of Ramanashram. Girivalam, though it might have been there for long time, it wasn't as popular as it has been since about past 15 years.
The first shrine is Mathrubhutheswar temple. It's prathishta sthan where Bhagavan's mother Mata Alagammal attained Almighty's lotus feet. The inside of shrine is divided into two portions. As you enter the first of it, you have Bhagavan's idol on your right. You have got to cross Bhagavan to be before Sanctum Sanctorum of Mathrubhutheswar.
You will see even today. The Ashram kept a big cloth screen on outside wall of Mathrubhutheswar shrine portion. They have printed on it in detail, in English, - for, the Ashram is visited by just not the Tamil devotees but also by Bhakthas from other parts of the globe - the experience of how Bhagavan felt He was none other than the Self itself.
Bhagavan was all hale and hearty. All of a sudden a fear of death gripped. He didn't hasten to anybody and express His fear. But He decided to face it head on. The atma vichara started. He enquired what is it that was dying. Is it the body? When the body dies have I died once and for all? Am I my body? As He tried to experiment what it would be like to die, He felt a force beyond motionless, breathless physical body. That's how we have His popular series of questions that goes with an apt title, "Who am I? "
Venue where He did this experiment :
Chockkappa Naiacker Street, a small lane just opposite to Southern Tower of Goddess Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai. At His uncle's house. This house is now turned into a kshetra for devotees to visit and meditate.
Year: July 1896.
Though I read the lengthy piece word by word, I didn't get it at first shot as the same was beyond comprehension to me.
It required repeated reading of Bhagavan's experience of Self. During my Girivalam trips, trust with Bhagavan's blessings, hope I could get to know of it.
To a sincere seeker,
Bhagavan's guide is direct path, viz., atma vichara - in English to enquire oneself 'who am I? ".
THE THOUGHT,
'WHO AM I?'
WILL DESTROY ALL OTHER
THOUGHTS, AND LIKE THE STICK
USED FOR STIRRING THE BURNING PYRE,
IT WILL ITSELF
IN THE END GET DESTROYED.
THEN THERE WILL ARISE
SELF-REALISATION.
- Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi.
Pranams to Bhagavan.
