Sadhus Reminiscences of Raman Maharshi

Author(s): Arunachal Sadhu
Publisher: Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai

Page 36

30 A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi chanted publicly, (the rule is no longer observed in most cases) so if a record is made this can afterwards be played to all and sundry so breaking the rule.
At length after a lot of negotiation the Brahmins said that on one condition alone would they chant for him, and that was that the record should be taken in the presence of Bhagavan. Full of delight the Dutchman went to the Ashram Manager and asked his permission, without troubling to consider the consequences the Manager agreed. Then the van was brought as near to the Hall as possible and microphones were set up in the Hall. Bhagavan wanted to know what this was all about. When everything was explained to him his only comment was, “Take it away,” and that was final.
The Dutchman was furious. He had been thwarted when just within sight of success. He came bitterly complaining to me. Bhagavan did not know how important the work he was doing was. In fact it was all far more important in his eyes than was Bhagavan himself. It was useless to try and explain to him that Bhagavan could not be used as an excuse to break some rule. Let the Brahmins give him a record anywhere they liked and Bhagavan would not think of interfering, but for them to say afterwards, “We did it with the permission of Bhagavan,” which is what they obviously intended, could not be allowed for one moment.
People often complained that caste was observed in the Ashram dining-room, and why did Bhagavan permit it when he himself was beyond caste?