Sadhus Reminiscences of Raman Maharshi

Author(s): Arunachal Sadhu
Publisher: Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai

Page 10

4. A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi the body. The material body dies, but the spirit transcending it cannot be touched by death. I am therefore the deathless spirit'. All this was not a mere intellectual process, but flashed before me vividly as living truth, something which I perceived immediately, without any argument almost. I was something real, the only real thing in that state, and all the conscious activity that was connected with my body was centred on that. Then I or my ‘self' was holding the focus of attention by a powerful fascination from that time forwards. Fear of death had vanished once and for ever. Absorption in the Self has continued from that moment right up to this time. Other thoughts may come and go like the various notes of a musician, but the l' continues like the basic or fundamental Sruti note (drone) which accompanies and blends with all other notes. Whether the body was engaged in talking, reading or anything else, I was still centred on I'. Previous to that crisis I had no clear perception of myself and was not consciously attracted to it. I had felt no direct perceptible interest in it, much less any permanent disposition to dwell upon it. The consequences of this new habit were soon noticed in my life.”
(Self- Realization, Ch. 5.
by B.V. Narasimhaswamy.) After this, as far as the family was concerned, nothing went well. He lost what little interest he had in his lessons and was more inclined to sit about when he was supposed to be preparing his lessons, gazing into space rather than studying.