Sadhus Reminiscences of Raman Maharshi

Author(s): Arunachal Sadhu
Publisher: Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai

Page 32

26 A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi permission, but the way this was done was usually a farce. They would come into the Hall, prostrate and say, “I am going to Madras,” or wherever it was they intended to go. Bhagavan would just say, “Yes” or sometimes just keep quiet. Then the devotee would cheerfully leave, saying he had taken Bhagavan's permission. If you made a positive statement to Bhagavan he would accept it as such. If you said, “I am going to eat some meat,” Bhagavan would just nod, he accepted your statement, had heard what you said and understood. But it did not in any way mean that he approved. But if, instead, you positively asked permission, that was a different thing; he might give permission or keep quiet. If he kept quiet, surely it could not be interpreted as permission.
One evening I asked permission to go to Pondicherry. Bhagavan asked, “Why?". I replied that I was having trouble with one of my teeth and wanted to consult the dentist. As he kept quiet I did nothing. A few days later he said to me, “I thought you were going to Pondicherry and you're still here.” “But you never gave me leave,” I replied. Bhagavan kept quiet. It turned out that my trouble righted itself, something had jammed against the gum, this came loose and there was no longer any need for a dentist. A few months later I again had trouble, this time with another tooth. On asking permission and telling Bhagavan the reason why I wanted to go, he immediately said, “Yes, go!” This time the journey did prove necessary.
Again people used to say, probably to excuse themselves for the way they took leave, that Bhagavan