Sadhus Reminiscences of Raman Maharshi

Author(s): Arunachal Sadhu
Publisher: Ramanasramam Tiruvannamalai

Page 61

A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi 55 be re-born? “Search and find out if you are born now," he would instruct us. However, for such as believed in the actuality of the ego he did concede re-incarnation.
One night in the Hall there was some talk about reincarnation. Just as Bhagavan was getting up from his couch to go for his evening meal, I, as a joke, said, “But Alan Chadwick has not been born before.” “What, what did he say?" asked Bhagavan sharply. “He said that he had never been born before,” someone wrongly interpreted. Of course I had not said that at all. I had meant that whatever form the ego took formerly it had never had the name and form Alan Chadwick, but had been some entirely different person. But Bhagavan replying to the wrong interpretation quickly replied, “Oh, yes he had been, for what has brought us all together here again?”
He never asked us what had brought us to him, but what had brought us again to Arunachala. He had so completely identified himself with the Mountain. This answer, though caused by a mistake, was very gratifying to me, as Bhagavan admitted the old connection between us. So must I always be with him until Self-realization, after which there will be no more he and I. I used to say that I must attain Self-realization in this life or Bhagavan would have to be born again so that I might be with him. So for his own good he must see that I gain my end in this life. Bhagavan would just smile. Though this was only said as a joke, there was a fundamental truth behind it.
Bhagavan was deeply interested in the construction of the Shrine built over his Mother's tomb. He attended