18-10-45 Morning

A visitor from the Punjab asked Bhagavan, "When I
meditate I feel a certain bliss at times. On such occasions, should I ask myself `Who is it that experiences this bliss'?"

Bhagavan: If it is the real bliss of the Self that is
experienced, i.e., if the mind has merged really in the Self, such a doubt will not arise at all. The question itself shows real bliss was not reached.

All doubts will cease only when the doubter and his source
have been found. There is no use removing doubts. If we clear one doubt, another doubt will arise and there will be no end of doubts. But if the doubter is found to be really non-existent, by seeking for the source of the doubter, then all doubts will cease.

Visitor: Sometimes I hear internal sounds. What should
I do when such things happen?

Bhagavan: Whatever may happen, keep up the enquiry
into the Self, asking `Who hears these sounds?' till the reality is reached.

A second edition of Sri Ramana, the Sage of Arunagiri by
Aksharajna has recently come out. Sampling it here and there, I came across the passage that Bhagavan blesses his disciples in various ways, the mild by sight, the middling by thought and the advanced by touch. Once when I was reading Kaivalyam in Tamil I asked Bhagavan, "Many books speak of Gurus blessing disciples or giving diksha ^[?] by touching the head of the disciple with their hands or feet. How is it then Bhagavan never does any such thing?" Bhagavan then told me, "It is true the books mention the three ways of diksha ^[?], viz., by sight, touch and thought. But diksha ^[?] by thought is really the best." So I asked Bhagavan today about the above passage in Aksharajna's book, saying, "He also knew Bhagavan well. He must have had some reason for saying so." Bhagavan said, "I don't know," and added, "I might have touched some by accident or for other reasons, not with the intention of
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giving diksha ^[?]." In this connection, I may record on the authority of Mr. G.V. Subbaramayya (who was present when the incident occurred) that some years ago, an old, venerable and distinguished-looking ascetic from North India was staying in the Asramam for about a month, that he used to repeat the entire Bhagavad Gita and that on the day of his departure Bhagavan touched him in the following circumstances:

Bhagavan returned to the hall after his morning stroll and
sat on the couch. While his feet were still touching the ground, the above ascetic fell at Bhagavan's feet, his head almost touching Bhagavan's feet and prayed that Bhagavan should bless him with diksha ^[?] by touch, adding he would not get up till Bhagavan did so. Bhagavan thereupon was pleased to put one of his hands on the old man's head and lifted him with the other hand.

While all this talk was going on, Dr. Srinivasa Rao was
massaging Bhagavan's feet which had some rheumatic trouble. Bhagavan humorously remarked, "Doctor is now giving diksha ^[?] to me by touch." About 15 days ago, when the Doctor was massaging Bhagavan's feet, Bhagavan asked him to stop, saying, "What you have done is enough. You may go and sit down. I shall do some massaging myself and get some punya ^[?]. Why should you alone have all the punya ^[?]?" and began massaging himself. (punya ^[?] is spiritual merit earned, for example, by service to a Master).