Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

The parents of the person that was actually dead, were happy
in the thought that their son would come back after some
time while the parents of the person whose son was alive but
was reported to be dead, were in great grief. In fact, neither
of them saw their son but they were experiencing happiness
or grief according to the reports received. That is all. It is
only when they go to that country they will know the truth.

We too are similarly situated. We believe all sorts of things
that the mind tells us and get deluded into thinking that
what exists does not exist and that what does not exist, exists.

If we do not believe the mind but enter the heart and see
the son that is inside, there is no need to see the children
outside.”
About a year back, a Rani from Bombay Presidency
came here. She was a good lady and a mother of several
children. Her husband was staying in foreign countries.

However courageous she might be, would she not feel his
absence? We all thought she came here hoping to get peace
of mind by Bhagavan’s darshan. Accordingly, you know what
happened? Having heard that Muruganar had written
several songs and verses in Tamil about Bhagavan, she
requested Bhagavan through a friend, to get some of the
good ones translated into English.

Though Bhagavan said in an indifferent manner, “What
do I know? Better ask Muruganar himself,” by the time
I went there at 2-30 p.m. he was turning over the pages of
the book, leaving book-marks here and there and showing
them to Sundaresa Iyer. I sat down, surprised at that
kindness. Looking at me, Bhagavan said, “That Rani
requested me to select some songs from Muruganar’s book
and get them translated into English. In his book Sannidhi
Murai there is a portion called ‘Bringasandesam’. I put some
marks in that portion. The bhava is that of a nayika (heroine)
and of a nayaka (hero). The mind is nayika. Ramana is nayaka.

The bee (the unwavering buddhi) is the maid. The gist of the
songs marked is: the heroine says to her maid, ‘My Ramana
has disappeared. Search and bring him’. The maid says, ‘Oh,
mistress! When your Ramana is in your own self, where can
I search for him? If at any time, the food given is hot, you
say, ‘Oh! my Ramana, my lord, is in my heart; will he not get
burnt with this heat? Now where do you want me to search?
When your Lord is within yourself, where can I search for
him? Give up this delusion. Join the Lord that is within
yourself and be peaceful’. This is the gist of those songs.

I marked them as they may be of use to her. Poor lady! There
is no knowing where her husband is. The mind is troubled.

So, we shall have to tell her to adapt her mental attitude.

I felt that these verses would be appropriate.”
Meanwhile, the Rani came, Lokamma was made to
sing those songs and Sundaresa Iyer to give the meaning
in English. She was satisfied. We thought that Bhagavan,
by this opportunity, taught us that one should not grieve
over people residing in foreign countries but should turn
the mind inward so that the atma swarupa (the Lord in the
self) will be close to us at all times.