Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

(248) THE HAPPINESS OF AN INDEPENDENT LIFE

Prev Next 3rd June, 1949
Revolving in my mind the details relating to the function
held this morning for the construction of a statue, I went to the
Ashram this afternoon before 3 p.m. As Bhagavan had gone
out, I was standing in the hall awaiting his return. The silk-
cotton mattress that was spread on the couch was slippery
because it was new, though it was thick and firmly stitched. As a
big pillow was placed on one side for Bhagavan to keep his
arms, another behind to lean against and a third one at the
feet, the actual seating space got considerably reduced. As I
was wondering how Bhagavan would be able to sit there, he
came in. Sitting on the mattress and pressing it with his hand,
he said, looking at his attendants, “See how this mattress slips
from one side to another! People think that it will be comfortable
for Bhagavan if there is a costly mattress. It is, however, not
possible to sit on this restfully. Why this? It will be much more
comfortable if I sit on the stone seat itself. Truly, I do not find
even the slightest happiness on these mattresses and pillows,
compared with the happiness I had when I was sitting or
sleeping on the raised platform which I myself constructed of
stone and mud in Virupaksha Cave. As was told in the story
about the sadhu, people think that Swami is undergoing great
hardship when he lives in a thatched shed and lies on a stone
bench, and so they make a fuss. I do not find the slightest
happiness on these mattresses and pillows. It will perhaps be
better if, like that sadhu in the story, I gather some stones similar
to those I had in the Virupaksha Cave, take them to whichever
place I go, and spread them on a mattress like this. At that
place it was a stone platform. In the Jubilee Hall and even
here, it is a stone couch. The only obstacle between me and this
couch is this mattress. But one thing. The pillow under the
feet, the pillow on the side, and the broad pillow at the back, all
the three, are almost as hard as stones. So this is almost like the
story of the sadhu. Without bringing stones from elsewhere, my
bed of stones is already here.”
A devotee said, “What is that story of the sadhu, which
Bhagavan has now mentioned?” whereupon Bhagavan began
relating the story as follows:
“A great Mahatma was living as a sadhu under a tree in a
forest. He always used to keep with him three stones. While
sleeping, he used to keep one of them under the head,
another under the waist and the third under the legs and
cover himself with a sheet. When it rained, the body used to
be on the stones and so the water would flow underneath,
and the water that fell on the sheet too, would flow down. So
there was no disturbance to his sleep; he used to sleep
soundly. When sitting, he used to keep the three stones
together like a hearth and sit upon them comfortably. Hence
snakes and other reptiles did not trouble him nor did he
trouble them, for they used to crawl through the slits under
the stones. Somebody used to bring him food and he would
eat it. And so, there was nothing for him to worry about.

“A king, who came to that forest for hunting, saw this
sadhu and felt, ‘What a pity! How much must he be suffering
by having to adjust his body suitably to those stones and
sleep thereon. I must take him home and keep him with me
at least one or two days and make him feel comfortable.’ So
thinking, he went home and sent two of his soldiers with a
palanquin and its bearers, with instructions to invite the sadhu
respectfully and bring him to his palace. He also said that if
they did not succeed in bringing the sadhu, they would be
punished. They came and saw the sadhu and told him that
the king had ordered them to bring him to the palace and
that he should come. When he showed disinclination to go
with them, they said that they would be punished if they
returned without him. So they begged of him to come, if
only to save them from trouble. As he did not want them to
get into trouble on his account, he agreed to go with them.

What was there for him to pack up? A kaupeenam,* a sheet
and those three stones. He folded and kept the kaupeenam
in that sheet, kept those three stones also in the sheet and
tied them together. ‘What is this? This Swami is bringing
with him some stones when he is going to a Raja’s palace! Is
he mad or what?’ thought those soldiers. Anyway, he got
into the palanquin with his bundle and came to the king.

The Raja saw that bundle, thought it contained some
personal effects, took him into the palace with due respect,
feasted him properly, arranged a tape cot with a mattress of
silk cotton to sleep upon. The sadhu opened his bundle, took
out the three stones, spread them on the bed, covered
himself with the sheet and slept as usual.

“The next morning the king came, bowed to him with
respect and asked, ‘Swami, is it comfortable for you here?’
“Swami: Yes. What is there wanting here? I am always
happy.

“King: That is not it, Swami. You were experiencing
hardships in the forest by having to sleep on those stones.

Here this bed and this house must be giving you happiness.

That is why I am asking.

“Swami: The bed that was there is here also. The bed
that is here is there also. So I have the same happiness
everywhere. There is nothing wanting at any time, either in
regard to my sleep or to my happiness.

* Kaupeenam: A small piece of cloth, usually a small strip, worn
over the privities.

“The king was puzzled and looked at the cot. He saw
that the three stones were on it. Whereupon, the king
immediately prostrated before the sadhu and said, ‘Oh Holy
Man! Without knowing your greatness I brought you here
with the intention of making you happy. I did not know
that you are always in a state of happiness, and so I behaved
in this foolish manner. Please excuse me and bless me.’ After
making up for his mistake in this way, he allowed the sadhu
to go his way. This is the story of the sadhu.”
“So, in the eyes of Mahatmas, that free life is the real
happy life?” said that devotee. “What else? Life in big
buildings like this is like prison life. Only I may be an ‘A’
class prisoner. When I sit on mattresses like these, I feel
that I am sitting on prickly pears. Where is peace and
comfort?” said Bhagavan.

Next day that mattress was taken away and the usual
mattress was spread on the couch. Even so, several people
thought that it might be better to leave Bhagavan to a free
life like that of the sadhu. But Bhagavan had to stay there
alone, like a parrot in the cage of the devotees because the
devotees never leave him free.

Prev Next TOC 247. Residing in the Front Hall 248. The Happiness of an Independent Life 249. Fan 250. Desirelessness 251. The Importance of Yatra and Pradakshi 252. Sastras 253. Advaita Drishti 254. Jnana Yagnam 255. Pranayamam (Breath Control) 256. Sivam–Sundaram (Bliss and Beauty) 257. The Mudaliar Granny 258. Pilgrimage to Tiruchuli