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A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi
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would never actually tell you to go or not to go. I once proved this to be quite wrong. If you definitely waited for a reply and refused to be satisfied otherwise, Bhagavan would tell you what to do.
My servant's father was ill in Malabar and the man wanted to go and see him. As it would have been awkward for me to remain in the Ashram without him I told him I too would go and visit a sick friend at the same time if he could get me Bhagavan's permission. We had a gate at the back of my hut which led into Palakottu, the garden at the side of the Ashram, this gate was usually kept locked. Occasionally we succeeded in getting Bhagavan to come back that way and visit my room when he returned from his midday stroll in that direction. My man went that way to meet Bhagavan and explained everything to him and asked leave for us both to go. This Bhagavan granted. But the man said that was not enough, for unless he came and told me himself I would never go. So he managed to entice Bhagavan through the gate to my room. Bhagavan told me, “Raman wants to go and see his father.” “Yes,” I replied, but made no comment. Just as he was leaving he turned to me and said, “Yes, go to Varkala, it will be cooler there."
On another occasion he gave me a direct order. Chinna Swamy, the Ashram Manager, brother of Bhagavan, had an old police gun. By this he laid great store, he was convinced that the mere possession of it would be enough to scare away all thieves and dacoits of whom he was mortally afraid. To get a license for this gun he had used
