Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

On the evening before leaving, he went to the bazaar to
buy raisins, dates etc. for offering to Bhagavan. On the 30th
we placed them all on a tray and took them to the Ashram in
time for breakfast. The kitchen people asked me to serve
them myself, and as I had no experience of serving in the
dining hall, I took them to Bhagavan first. In a tone showing
that he was not pleased, he asked me what it was. I told him
that my nephew had brought some fruit. Bhagavan nodded,
“All right. Give me one of each variety.” After serving
Bhagavan accordingly, I served the others likewise. But
towards the end, it was found that only a few bananas were
left and so one of the attendants cut them into small bits and
served them equally to the last ten people.

With an expression of disgust, Bhagavan said, “This is
what I don’t like. Why do you serve when you cannot give
the same quantity to all people?” And he began recounting
all other similar mistakes. The people all left quietly after
eating. As Bhagavan was about to get up, after massaging
his legs a little, Tilak and I went up to him, and prostrating
before him, I told him that Tilak was leaving. Bhagavan said,
“I see. When fruit was brought I thought he had passed his
exam. So he is going to his native place? Very good.” So
saying, and pointing me out to the people near him, he said,
“She served me first instead of serving all the others first.”
“I am sorry,” I said, “I was new and so made the mistake.”
“That is all right,” Bhagavan said, “that is why I am
telling you. If you serve Bhagavan after you serve all the
others, there will be equal distribution. If by chance nothing
remains, it does not matter if I don’t get anything. If all eat,
I am satisfied even if I do not get my share. Serving should
always be on that principle; it is a good principle. If all people
here eat, is it not tantamount to Bhagavan’s eating?”
I said, “That is so, I am sorry for the mistake.”
Bhagavan said, “All right, don’t worry, it does not matter.”
I do not know whether you have noticed that in the
Ashram three times a day, when the bell goes, a small portion
of all the dishes, including rice cakes (iddlies) are taken out
for feeding the cows, crows, dogs, monkeys and also any
poor people who happen to be in the Ashram at the time. If
that is not done first, Bhagavan will not come for food, nor
will he keep quiet unless they are fed. If squirrels and
peacocks come, groundnut kernels are given. If anyone shows
disinclination to serve like that, Bhagavan will not tolerate
it, and says, “All right. Go, if you like. They have come here
in the same way as we have all come, and they will get their
food as we all get it. You want to serve us with respect, saying
‘Swami, Swami’, but you serve them with curses. Did we
purchase them and bring them here? They have come just
as we did. Why this disrespect to them?”
Bhagavan said all this because I had forgotten the
principle and had made a mistake. One peculiar thing to
note in this connection is that Bhagavan had said, “When
the fruit was brought, I thought he had passed his
examination,” and on verification, we found that the results
were out in London on that very day. Brother sent a
telegram yesterday to say that the boy had passed his exam.

The voices of great souls do not go in vain, you see!