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A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi 63 public property and thought that all and everybody had the right to inconvenience him as much as they liked. When some old woman was pestering him one day, a man near me was very indignant that she was repeatedly stopped. “Why shouldn't she if she wants to?” he asked. Bhagavan's own convenience was not even considered.
There are three ways of giving initiation: placing the hands on the person, usually upon his head; giving a mantra which is whispered in the ear; and through the eyes. It was usually recognised that Bhagavan did it through the eyes alone, though he never said that he initiated anybody, it was all done without trappings. He always refused to place his hands on a person's head though very many besought him to do so. However, I do know of one exception.
An old sannyasin came from Mysore State, he was an ex-station-master. Bhagavan seemed from the first very sympathetic towards him and unusually* kind. When he was leaving the Ashram, with a friend to act as interpreter, he entered the Hall which happened to be empty at the time. Bhagavan had just returned from a walk after his midday meal and was seated on his couch. The Sannyasin prayed to Bhagavan to place his hands on his head and knelt quite close to the couch, resting his head against it. Bhagavan turned towards him and placed both his hands on his head for a few minutes
* Though Bhagavan could be nothing but kind to one and all, he did not always appear so.
