Remembrances of Dennis

om namo bhagavate śrī ramaṇāya

I had shared some thoughts about Dennis in the video that Akhila in California had created earlier this year, titled "Dennis Hartel, An Inspiration".

I've added a few more memories, specifically around his guidance on the practice of Bhagavan's teachings. And I'm happy to share the content with all of you today.

I am fully convinced that it is Bhagavan who sent Dennis Hartel into my life. I met Dennis for the first time in in 2005 when Swaminathan invited him to Sri Bhagavan's celebration in California. We exchanged a few words and as we parted he said, "The only thing that keeps me going is meeting young people like you, who aspire sincerely for the higher life." For the 15 years since that first meeting, I have benefited so much from Dennis' friendship, guidance and above all, his silent presence.

I was inspired to memorize Aksharamanamalai after listening to him chant the 108 verses with such deep devotion. He encouraged me to visit Sri Ramanasramam in Tiruvannamalai and requested me to send a detailed report of my visit. I did that in August 2005.

I feel fortunate to have been part of his morning schedule whenever he visited California. Rising early, listening to the Vedas, followed by coffee, reading, chanting of Sri Lalita Sahasranamami and ending with silent meditation.

He needs very little sleep and would be awake, even at night, sitting on a chair meditating. When I asked him about it, he quoted Bhagavan saying "when the mind merges in the Heart, there is no need for sleep.

He often said, "it's our purva janma samskaras and pakva, that determine how well we grasp Bhagavan's teachings." For householders like myself in California, he recommended practicing atma-vichara when the mind is strong. At other times when the mind is preoccupied and hard to control, he recommended chanting and praying for a strong mind.

When I once asked him about how we could recognize that it was time to give up karma, he said the answer has to come from within; just like a ripe fruit falls off the tree automatically, when the time is right karma will drop off naturally.

As we all know, he speaks very little, but everytime I asked him a question, he had the perfect quote from Bhagavan as his response - internalizing the teaching completely, and speaking from the experience of the Self. He never asked us for anything, and like our rishis of yore, effectively lived the life of a parivrajaka even while amidst all of us.

Over the years, Dennis has been a great guide, gently bringing me back to Bhagavan's path of self-enquiry every time I wandered away. As an example, I once shared with him a method I learned at a Vedanta class to overcome attachment. The method was to strip an object into its basic elements and thus overcome attachment to the object itself. I thought it was a cool tool to keep the mind in check. Dennis listened to me patiently, and then very firmly said "Bhagavan has taught us to ask, 'Who is it that is being attracted' - that's all - How can it be easier than that ! and you, of all people, should know better." I will never forget his voice when he said that. Stern by Dennis' standards, to this day it serves as a reminder to never swerve from Bhagavan's direct path of self-enquiry.

He always said shraddha, vairagya and abhyasa were the main requirements for success on the path. He encouraged me to not be content with a theoretical understanding of the knowledge but to strive to reach the inner recess of the Heart-center - the seat of Arunachala Ramana.

I treasure his Maharshi newsletters that have nourished my soul throughout.

I am also very greatful to Dennis, for never letting me lean on him. While he inspired and encouraged me in numerous ways, he always cautioned me to repose my faith in Bhagavan and in noone else, including himself. "Only Bhagavan looks after us", he would often say.

Dennis' is a life consumed by Bhagavan and his teachings. I have only met Kanakammal once. When I shared with her that I knew Dennis, she said (in Tamil) "“Antha Dennis ku Bhagavan, Arunachala va thavira, vera onnum theriyaadu” – Dennis knows nothing, other than Bhagavan and Arunachala"

In chapter 7 of the Bhagavadgita, Lord Krishna says, "Amoungst thousands of persons, hardly one strives for perfection. And amongst those that have achieved perfection, hardly one knows me in truth." Dennis is one of those rare few, who actually knows the truth.

I have never seen him get angry about anything or with anyone. He said anger was a vasana he never had, even as a child. His purity, gentleness, tranquility and complete surrender are permanently imprinted in my inner mind. Knowing him has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.