7-1-46 Morning

Mr. Mahatani asked Bhagavan, "It is said in Advaita
Bodha Deepika, that the Supreme Self identifying itself with the mind appears changeful. How can the mind coming from maya which itself comes from the Self be able to alter or change the changeless Self?" Bhagavan answered, "There is in reality no change, no creation. But for those who ask, `How has this creation come about?' the above explanation is given."

Afternoon

Mr. Ramachandra Rao of Bangalore read before Bhagavan
his Canarese work just being prepared called The Ramana I have known. After he had finished reading, I asked him when he first came to Bhagavan and he said, `1918'. I then asked him if he was narrating all his experiences since then and if he was doing so with the help of any notes or memoranda. He replied he was writing of all that had happened since 1918, and that only from memory. I was wondering at such memory. Bhagavan said, "Nayana (Kavyakantha Ganapathi Muni) would remember and give you the hour and date for every incident at which he was present."

Night

Mr. G.L. Sarma seems to have prepared a manuscript on
Gita Saram. Bhagavan asked Mr. Balaram Reddi to read it out.

Page 99
As it was said in that, "Only when there is complete devotion, the Lord will respond and take complete charge of the devotee," Mr. P. Bannerji (who has recently come after a stay at Aurobindo's) asked Bhagavan, "Is it a condition precedent for the Lord showing grace that one must be completely devoted? Would not the Lord naturally in his grace be kind towards all his children whether they are devoted or not?"

Bhagavan: How can one help being devoted? Everyone
loves himself. That is experience. If the Self were not his dearest object, would one love it? The Self or Lord is not somewhere else but is inside each of us and in loving oneself, one loves only the Self.

The visitor could not understand how this was an answer
to his question. I explained, "Bhagavan has told us more than once, `The Lord's grace is always flowing. There is no time at which it is not flowing, and no person towards whom it is not flowing. But only those can receive it who have developed the capacity. Devotion is a condition precedent, not for the flowing of grace from the Lord, but for your being able to receive and assimilate the grace which is there always flowing'."

In this connection Dr. Syed quoted the verse in Bhagavad
Gita which says that the Lord is the friend of all, the sinner and the saint alike, but that he is specially in the heart of those who cherish him and that such people are dear to Him.