Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam
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Letters from Sri Ramanasramam VOLUMES I, II & Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam By SURI NAGAMMA Translated by D. S. SASTRI Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai 2006 © Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai First Combined Edition : 1970 Second Edition : 1973 Third Edition : 1985 Fourth Edition : 1995 Fifth Revised Edition : 2006 — 2000 copies (Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam included) CC No. 1024 ISBN: 81-88018-10-4 Price: Rs. 175 Published by V.S. Ramanan President Sri Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai 606 603 Tamil Nadu INDIA Email: [email protected] Website: www.ramana-maharshi.org Typeset at Sri Ramanasramam Printed by Sri Venkatesa Printing House Chennai 600 026 email: [email protected] PUBLISHER’S NOTE During the closing years of Sri Ramana Maharshi’s bodily existence, his silent radiance and incomparable teachings attracted thousand of seekers to his Ashram in South India. Suri Nagamma was the chosen instrument to cast the immortal sayings of this illumined, divine personality onto paper and to paint an exquisite picture of a Rishi’s life in modern times. She did this in the form of 273 letters to her brother, Sri D. S. Sastri, who translated them from Telugu for the benefit of the English-reading public. They cover the last five years of the Master’s earthly life, and are of particular relevance because they were shown to Bhagavan prior to being mailed. There is no other book from this period that captures so well the enlightened personality and profound sayings of the Master. These recordings will certainly guide seekers for countless generations. One hundred and thirty-five letters were translated into English and first published as Volume I in 1962. Another 106 letters were added to this and published in 1970. In this 2006 edition of Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, we have included an additional thirty-one letters that were published by the Ashram in 1978, under the title, Letters from and Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam. The twenty-eight ‘Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam’ from this book have NOTE: Volume II was published in 1969. Both the volumes were combined and published as a single volume for the first time in 1970. In this edition, Letters From and Recollections of Sri Ramansramam have been added. iv also been added at the end of this volume, providing a complete collection of Suri Nagamma’s remarkable description of the days she spent at the feet of the Master. Another book written by Suri Nagamma and published by the Ashram as My Life at Sri Ramanasramam is mostly autobiographical and will certainly be of interest to the sincere reader. INTRODUCTION (TO VOLUME I) SRI RAMANASRAMAM is a unique institution. Its inmates are not given specific instructions as to what they should do or should not do; they are left to fend for themselves and to absorb whatever they can from the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the Ashram. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi preached silence by observing it himself. At sunrise and at sunset every day, Vedic hymns were recited in his presence ending with “Nakarmana naprajaya dhanena thyagenaike amrutatvamanasuh,” which means that moksha (deliverance) is attained, not by karma (action) or praja (family) or dhana (wealth), but by renouncing every one of them. Ashramites aspiring for spiritual advancement were thus taught to learn and practice Self-enquiry and renunciation. They sat in silence at the holy feet of Bhagavan, imbibing the lessons of silence. Bhagavan spoke occasionally to the Ashramites and also to casual visitors on spiritual matters. On such occasions, a few devotees recorded whatever he spoke; and amongst them, Nagamma was one. Nagamma had no school education worth mention and does not know any language other than her mother tongue, Telugu. During her early years, owing to domestic calamities and consequent enforced solitude, she studied books of ancient lore and thereby acquired some literary knowledge which resulted in her writing a few books in prose and poetry. When, however, she became an Ashramite, she renounced everything including her literary activities. Sitting at the feet vi of the Master, day in and day out, she felt an irresistible urge to record the discussions devotees were having with Bhagavan and, as she began recording them, found that that work was a sort of sadhana for herself. She began writing them in the shape of letters in Telugu to her brother in Madras. 273 letters were thus written. Amongst them, the Ashram published the first seventy-five letters during the lifetime of Bhagavan and they were read out in his presence (Sri Ramanasrama Lekhalu in Telugu). The remaining 198 letters were published subsequently in four different volumes. I read these letters over and over again on different occasions but never did I realise the depth of wisdom and knowledge contained in the cryptic sayings of Bhagavan until I had to sit up and translate them. I have also found throughout the letters the great trials and tribulations Nagamma had undergone in trying to live up to the high ideals of the Ashram. The letters are a veritable mine of information presented in a simple and easily understandable manner and are well worth a careful study, not only by the spiritual aspirant but also by the lay reader. Some years back, at the suggestion of Mr. Arthur Osborne, an ashramite, and with his active help, I began translating these letters into English, but could not complete the work for want of time. When recently, the Ashramam Manager-President urged me to finish the work, I did so and am glad they are now being published. ‘RAMANA NILAYAM’, 10, Vijayaraghavachari Road, D. S. SASTRI Madras-17. 1st June 1962. CONTENTS Page Publisher’s Note ............................................................ iii Introduction to Letters from Sri Ramanasramam — Volume I........................................................................ v (1) The Son is Beholden to the Father................................. 1 (2) Aham Sphurana ............................................................. 2 (3) Quarrel Between Uma and Maheswara .......................... 4 (4) Marriages ....................................................................... 5 (5) On to Skandasramam ..................................................... 7 (6) In Service of the Sage ..................................................... 8 (7) The Nikshepam (Treasure) .......................................... 12 (8) Service of Atma Swarupa is Atma Seva ......................... 14 (9) Samatvam (Equality with All) ...................................... 15 (10) Worldly Troubles ......................................................... 17 (11) What is Meant by Samsara?.......................................... 18 (12) “Go the Way You Came” .............................................. 20 (13) Ahetuka Bhakti (Motiveless Devotion) ......................... 21 (14) Conventional Respect ................................................... 23 (15) Echamma’s Demise ...................................................... 25 (16) The First Bhiksha ........................................................ 29 (17) How Do You Know That You Do Not Know Anything?30 (18) Leopards and Snakes ................................................... 31 (19) Won’t You Please Hear My Speechless Appeal? ............ 33 (20) A Squirrel .................................................................... 34 (21) Dharma is Different From Dharma–Sukshma .............. 36 (22) Moksha ........................................................................ 38 (23) Worship of the Cow ..................................................... 39 (24) A Pair of Pigeons .......................................................... 42 (25) Baby Cheetahs ............................................................. 44 (26) Medication without Treatment .................................... 46 viii Page (27) Bhakti’s Taste ............................................................... 48 (28) Brahmasthram (Divine Weapon) ................................. 49 (29) That is Play, This is Verse ............................................. 51 (30) Anger ........................................................................... 53 (31) Decorations to Amba (Goddess) ................................... 54 (32) Avvaiyar’s Song ............................................................ 55 (33) Astral Paths — Higher Worlds ..................................... 57 (34) Books ........................................................................... 58 (35) Disease ......................................................................... 61 (36) Kowpinavantah Khalu Bhagyavantah (Fortunate are Those with a Mere Loincloth) .............. 62 (37) Moksha with the Body ................................................. 64 (38) Chiranjeevis (Immortal Beings) ................................... 65 (39) Uma ............................................................................. 66 (40) Asthi, Bhathi and Priyam (Existence, Consciousness and Bliss) ..................................................................... 68 (41) The True Nature of Pradakshina .................................. 69 (42) Abhayam Sarva Bhuthebhyaha (Compassion Towards All) ............................................ 73 (43) That Which Is, is Only One ......................................... 75 (44) The Black Cow............................................................. 76 (45) Paratpara Rupam (Form of the Supreme Being) .......... 77 (46) The Ethics of Social Existence