© Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai
First Combined Reprint in
1968 (3000)
Second Reprint
1977 (5000)
Third Reprint
1989 (3000)
Fourth Reprint
1995 (3000)
Fifth Reprint
2002 (3000)
ISBN: 81-88018-82-1
Price: Rs.
CC No: 1013
Published by
V.S. Ramanan
President, Board of Trustees
Sri Ramanasramam
Tiruvannamalai 606 603
Tamil Nadu
India
Tel: 91-4175-37292
Fax: 91-4175-37491
Email: ashram@ramana-maharshi.org
Website: http://www.ramana-maharshi.org
A word as to the origin of this work may not be out of
place. It was my great good fortune to live for more than four
years, from August 1942 till the end of 1946, at Sri
Ramanasramam and to have the inestimable benefit of daily
contact with our Bhagavan. After I had been there for some
months various people who visited the Asramam began to
suggest that it would be a good thing if I recorded Bhagavan's
utterances on spiritual topics, either in answer to questions
from visitors or in any other context. For a long time, however,
I was too lazy to make the effort. Nevertheless, whenever I
read the `Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa', as I used
to now and then, I felt how desirable it was that a similar
book should be compiled in the case of our Bhagavan. When
I had drifted on like this for some years, on the morning of
January 1st, 1945, within the space of about an hour, three
different persons — a lawyer's clerk, son of Sankara Ammal
doing service in the Asramam, a businessman of Madras by
name M.V.P. Sastri, whom I had known since his boyhood at
Chittoor, and O.P. Ramaswami Reddi, who later became Chief
Minister of Madras — all urged me to undertake the task as,
in their kind opinion, I was best fitted for it besides having
the necessary facility of constant close contact with Bhagavan.
The appeal coming from such widely different persons
on the first day of the year and all of them approaching me in
such quick succession and without any previous consultation
amongst themselves made such a deep impression on me that
I took it as a call really from Bhagavan. So, that very day I
started keeping an Asramam Diary. My idea was to preserve
for Bhagavan's devotees all that took place in the Asramam
that might be of interest or importance from one point of view
or another, and mainly Bhagavan's answers to questions
addressed to him by visitors from all quarters of the globe,
for many of whom I acted as a sort of official translator in
Bhagavan's Court.
I told Bhagavan of the circumstances under which I
started the work, thus asking for his blessing on it. Then I
obtained permission from the Sarvadhikari. Also, for the first
few days I read out to Bhagavan whatever I had recorded so
that he could correct me anywhere where I had gone wrong.
Even when I was interpreting Bhagavan to visitors, if I made
the slightest mistake Bhagavan would pull me up. Whenever
I myself was in doubt as to what Bhagavan meant I used to
ask for further clarification and Bhagavan willingly explained
things again for my benefit. After the first two or three days I
gave up reading my entries to Bhagavan daily, but on any day
when I was in doubt whether I had accurately recorded what
Bhagavan had said, I used to read out my entry for the day
and correct it wherever he indicated that it was necessary.
Only a part of these records of mine seems to be available
to the Asramam authorities for publication just now. I am glad
that at least so much is to be published by them immediately.
I believe they came into existence because Bhagavan willed
it and I believe it is his will that at least a part of them should
now appear in print. I hope and pray to Bhagavan that the
publication may prove not merely of interest but of great use
to those who read it and that he may bestow his grace on all
who go through it in earnestness and faith.
1st January 1952