IN DAYS OF GREAT PEACE By Mouni Sadhu CONTENTS 1 Association with the Sages 2 The First Meeting 3 Life in Maharshi's Ashram 4 Tears 5 The Glory of the Lord is Manifested in His Saints 6 The Man Sri Maharshi 7 A Wish Fulfilled 8 Love 9 My Path to Maharshi 10 As by mixture with water 11 Within the Ashram 12 Teachings of Maharshi 13 The Direct Path 14 The Technique of Vichara 15 Martha, Martha, thou art careful 16 The Last Photographs of the Master 17 One Operation More 18 Visiting Caves 19 Arunachala by Day 1 20 The I Current 21 The Tomb of the Muslim Saint 22 In Sri Aurobindo's Ashram 23 The Darshan Resumed 24 Initiations 25 A Musical Performance in the Temple Hall no 26 Apart from the Mind 27 Stray Leaves 28 The Eyes of Maharshi 29 Asperges me hyssopo 30 Amnachala by Night 31 God 32 Some Remembrances 33 Power in Us 34 Correspondence 35 I and You 36 Requiem 37 The Last Days 38 My New Conception of Life 39 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God 40 What is Meditation 41 Techniques of Meditation 42 Departure 43 Farewell 44 Colombo 45 On the Ocean 2 46 The Light is Shining 47 Samadhi 48 The Last Message 49 Epilogue 50 Appendix—Matter for Meditation 3 Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi 4 CHAPTER I Association with the Sages Association with the Sages who have realized the Truth removes material attachments; on these attachments being removed the attachments of the mind are quite destroyed. Those for whom attachments of the mind are thus destroyed, become one with That which is motionless. They attain Liberation while yet alive. Cherish (therefore) the association with such Sages. From Maharshi's Truth Revealed Another version: Association with the Sages who have realized the Truth cuts off material attachments, on these being dropped, the mental pre- dispositions—due to past Karma and present delusionare dispelled. Peace in which the unattached ones remain is that which is ever in hanging and immovable, it is Jivan Mukti or Liberation here and now. Seek therefore the association with such liberated Beings'. Ramana Maharshi left this world six months after my departure from India. These words were almost his last: ' They say I am dying. But I shall be here more alive than ever. Where else would I go several of his disciples, residing thousands of miles away from the Ashram, knew of his death on the very same day. Comparing the hour with the time when this news was mystically communicated to them, one would say that it was 'broadcast' several hours before Maharshi's body breathed its last. Letters took a week or more to come from India and elsewhere and they showed that no true disciple of the Master experienced any grief or despair. The same spiritual atmosphere of a lucid wave of peace and light was felt in the hearts of the pupils, whether abroad or in the Ashram of the Saint. 'The world with its physical phenomena is for our Real Self like a dream for the waking man, or like a shadow. Is he concerned with the passing dreams of last night, or with the shadow cast by his body?' From Maharshi's Sayings 5 Not one of the Religions of the world has succeeded in spiritualizing and giving happiness to Humanity. Yet each one has given Liberation in common language to many individual. From the sayings of the famous Indian philosopher Sri Aurobindo. The spiritual power of every saint and sage is most vividly and directly felt by his contemporaries. With the passing of time what was a revelation becomes only a dead dogma. And when people canonize the saint and build temples to him, they enclose him in their narrow walls, wherein his spirit is suffocated and ceases to be a vivifying and inspiring force. The followers of successive generations quarrel about each and every word ascribed to the Master. They fight for the 'authenticity of texts'. They do all but the one important thing which was taught by the Great One, namely—'to become like unto Him". Yet not all the seeds fall on stony ground. Some give a rich harvest. Therein lies hope for the future of erring mankind. The lives of men like Maharshi are the very proofs of this truth. They are like meteors which in their course brighten the darkest night. Those who are able to perceive the path in this flash of light will thenceforward know where it leads. 6 CHAPTER II The First Meeting When I arrived at the abode of Maharshi, called 'Ramanashram' and jumped out from the two-wheeled cart just in front of the temple, in spite of the late hour, but in accordance with the custom of the place, I was taken straight into the presence of the Sage. He was sitting in a large hall, near one of its walls, apparently at the end of his meal. There were a number of people—all Indians—sitting in rows on the floor between the pillars. I was led to within three or four yards of Maharshi, and my companion said a few words to him of which the name of the country from which I came was the only one I understood. The Saint lifted up his head, looked at me, and made a gesture with his hand as if inviting me to come a little nearer. I was struck by the softness and serenity of this movement, so simple and dignified that I immediately felt I was facing a great man. His attitude was so natural that the newcomer did not feel any wonder or shyness. All his critical faculty of thought and his curiosity dropped away. So I was unable to make observations or comparisons, although subconsciously I may have had this intention when previously imagining this first meeting. The image of the Sage was in this very first moment vividly en- graved on my mind, without any qualifications, like a picture cast on a sensitive photo-plate. But as nothing can be conveyed with-out words, I will try to describe his appearance. Maharshi, as I saw him, was a thin, white-haired, very gracious old man; his skin had the colour of old ivory; his movements were easy, calm and soft; his countenance breathed a natural state of inner concentration without the slightest effort of will. Or may I say that he had reached that stage when will-power no longer needs to be used for overcoming any hindrance, or for achieving any purpose» For the simple reason that everything has already been achieved. It was the first manifestation of the invisible radiance which I witnessed every day during subsequent months. Just now as I am writing these words, I wonder how it is that I have never forgotten even the smallest detail concerning Maharshi; it can be evoked in my brain like a picture on a hidden sensitive plate of whose very existence I was unaware. 7 A modest Indian supper was served—a little rice, vegetables and fruit on a banana leaf. By the time I had finished Maharshi had gone. As soon as I found myself in the small one-room cottage prepared for me in the Ashram's compound, I immediately fell asleep, being very tired after my whole day's journey. 8 CHAPTER III Life in Maharshi's Ashram The next day was occupied in getting acquainted with the routine of the Ashram; the hours of meditation in the presence of the Sage; the time of meals in the dining-hall, and so on. I had to protect some foodstuffs, which I had brought with me, against the ants. They quickly found their way to my sugar and biscuits and gathered round my tins of honey, although these were hermetically sealed. I had also to arrange for drinking-water to be brought from the nearby tap. The simple way of life in the Ashram helps one to concentrate and dive deep into oneself; the very atmosphere charged with the thoughts of so many people seeking their real Self, according to the teachings of the Master, turns the mind inwards and is favourable to introspection. The invisible yet powerful influence of the sacred hill of Arunachala also has its part in creating this peculiar atmosphere, but of that I will speak later. At 7 a.m. there was the loud sound of a gong calling us to break- fast. When I reached the dining-hall, Maharshi was just mounting the few steps leading to it. He was accompanied by several Indians, his permanent attendants. Here, in full daylight, I noticed for the first time, that the physical state of Maharshi was really precarious. He walked with difficulty, as his joints and knees were affected by acute rheumatism. His left arm and elbow were bandaged because of a malignant tumour, which had begun its growth about six months earlier and, in spite of two operations, had continued to spread its devastating work, causing Maharshi's death one year later. Sometimes his head shook slightly and this increased the impression of serious ill-health; the whole frame, once tall and powerful, was now bent and weak. After reaching the hall, Maharshi took his place near the wall, opposite the entrance. He sat alone, while facing him plantain leaves were spread on the floor for the rest of the residents. I occupied a place on his right, about three yards away, and that spot remained mine during the whole period of my stay.