Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

(225) WHAT DOES BHAGAVAN LIKE MOST?

Prev Next 16th February, 1949
Several people that come to Bhagavan’s presence
become interested in Self-enquiry and do sadhana. Other
people are not satisfied with mere looking around. They
begin to say, “We will repair this,” or “We will improve that.”
If they asked Bhagavan, he would say, “Yes, yes. That is good
no doubt, but discuss the matter with the Office.” If the office
staff and those people agree and place the matter before
Bhagavan, he would merely nod his head in approval, but if
they did not agree and sought his opinion, he would say, “I
do not know. Do as you think best.” And as soon as they left,
he would tell devotees, “Look. Without minding the purpose
for which they come to the Ashram, they begin thinking of
reforming the Ashram. It is enough if they reform
themselves. Instead of that, they say, ‘We will do this and we
will do that.’ What then? If all of them agree, then there is
no trouble. But if what they say, the office staff do not like
and what the office say, they do not like, in between, what is
it I can do? Added to that, they enquire what it is that Swami
would like to be done. Do I want all these things?”
As an instance, one interesting thing happened here
recently. A devotee came here and offered to supply a
Kavacham (outer cover) for the Meru Prasthara
Sri Chakram* made of copper with a silver plating over it.

The Ashram authorities, however, wanted the cover to be
made of pure silver. As they could not agree on this issue,
they decided to refer it to Bhagavan and so came to the
Hall. On behalf of the Ashram authorities, one of them
approached Bhagavan and asked him with great reverence,
“They say that they will make the outer cover for the Sri
Chakra of copper plated with silver while we all feel it would
be better for it to be made of pure silver. What is Bhagavan’s
advice in the matter?”
Bhagavan: “What have I to do with it? It is all right in
whatever way it is done. Both of you come to an unanimous
decision and do that which you have decided to be the best.”
Enquirer: “Swami, we wish to know what Bhagavan
would like us to do.”
Bhagavan: “That is exactly what I am saying. That which
you all agree to do in mutual consultation will be to my liking.

If both of you give different opinions, what can I do?”
Enquirer: “As we hold two different opinions, we are
enquiring in order to find out what Bhagavan would like best.”
Bhagavan: “Oh, I see. You want to know what Bhagavan
would like best! What Bhagavan likes best is to remain silent
without doing anything. If people with different opinions give
up their mouna (silence) which is the embodiment of love,
and come to me and say, ‘We will do this,’ and ‘We will do
that,’ and enquire of me what I like better of the two, what
* A wheel representing the universe.

can I say? If you all agree upon a course of action and then
ask me for my opinion, I would then say it is all right. But
when you are of two opinions, why do you come to me and
ask me which I like the better? What I like is, to know who I
am and to remain as I am with the knowledge that what is to
happen will happen and what is not to happen will not
happen. Is that not right? Do you now understand what
Bhagavan likes best?” So saying Bhagavan assumed silence.

Prev Next TOC 224. Tiger’s Skin 225. What Does Bhagavan Like Most? 226. Rented House 227. All Tamasic Articles are Forbidden 228. Solitude 229. Dosais 230. Golden–Armed 231. Avatar (Incarnation) 232. Inauguration of Mother’s Temple 233. Arrangements for Kumbhabhishekam 234. Worship of the Sandals 235. The Story of the Ten Brahmins