Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

(165) SELF–ENQUIRY: ESSENTIAL IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE

Prev Next 7th December, 1947
Recently some people in responsible positions in Madras
came here and stayed for some days. On one of the days,
they went to the Gurumurtham and Pavalagiri caves on the
hill, where Bhagavan had lived long ago, and returned in
time for the evening Veda Parayana. After the parayana, when
Bhagavan was telling us about his life at the Pavalakkunru
Temple, and enquiring whether they had seen this or that
there, one of the party said to him, “Bhagavan tells us most
interestingly about those places we have just seen, but by the
time we reached the Pavalakkunru Temple and went into
the room there, we were thoroughly exhausted. Bhagavan
stayed there for a long time and we now realize how
completely Bhagavan must have felt that the body was not
his. Swami, how can people like us be saved from our
materialistic outlook? If we ask, you will surely say, ‘It is
enough if you go on with Self-enquiry — Who am I?’ How is
that possible for us who are family people and are doing our
respective jobs? If the mind goes on with worldly affairs,
how can we get peace of mind?” Bhagavan simply remained
silent, listening to them quietly.

This morning when I got to the Ashram, one of the
Asramites was speaking freely with Bhagavan and was saying,
“Yesterday evening, the people who came from Madras asked
you some questions, but you did not answer. Why was that?
In the past when Sivaprakasam Pillai wrote a verse beginning
‘Udalinai veruthum’ I am told that you were also silent. Why,
Bhagavan? Does it mean that no one can become a Realized
Soul, a Jnani, unless he lives in a lonely place like that?”
“Who said that?” Bhagavan replied. “The nature of the
mind is determined by its former actions, its samskaras. People
are able to continue to do all their work and yet pursue their
Self-enquiry and ultimately become Realized Souls. Janaka,
Vasishta, Rama, Krishna and others like them, are examples
of this. Again, for some it would appear impossible to do this
and they have to go to solitary places to become Realized
Souls through Self-enquiry. Of these, Sanaka, Sanandana,
Suka, Vamadeva, are amongst the examples. Self-enquiry is
essential for whomever it may be. It is called ‘human effort
(purushakara)’. The course of the body follows according to
our fate (prarabhdha). What more can we say about it?” added
Bhagavan.

Prev Next TOC 164. Greatness of Non-–Attachment 165. Self–Enquiry: Essential in all Walks of Life 166. Vritti Janya Jnanam (Awareness of the Self Generated by Action) 167. The Passing Away of Mahatma Gandhi 168. Equality 169. Nihilists and Advaitins 170. Bhagavan’s First Manuscript 171. Kailasa 172. Educated People 173. Salutations 174. The Sacredness of the Feet of the Guru 175. What is Deliverance (Mukti)?