Sri Ramana Dhyanam
Introduction
Not everybody can live permanently with the Maharshi at His Ashram, nor is everybody even in a position to visit Him, but everybody can carry Him with him in his heart. The world is His Hall. His teaching is universal; it is not for one place or clime. And the more and more we study it the closer shall we find that He draws to us. He is there within us all the while. But with all our interests and distractions we are apt to forget it. We need a constant jog at the elbow to bring back our attention and remind us that the world that is fussing us and causing us so much trouble is quite unimportant when compared with Him.
And in this little book you will find just that reminder that is so necessary. You can carry it always about with you, there can be no excuse that it is inconvenient. Slip it into your purse or pocket and during those many moments of leisure and inactivity during the day just take a glance at it and let Him inspire you. For here Nataraja Iyer has made Him live for us in a small compass so small that it would almost seem that we could slip the book itself inside the Heart without much inconvenience. How inspiring we will find these five minutes’ reference to the booklet! Every stage of His life fills us with wonder and sometimes almost despair.
How can we ever be like Him? We ask ourselves. But with His inspiration all things are possible and it is just that necessary inspiration which we shall find here.
There is never any need to despair or worry. When black fits attack us let us turn back to the source itself. He is there ever ready to smooth our troubled brow and give a word of encouragement: “What I have done is surely possible for all,” He tells us. “You are the Self now and can never be anything else. Throw your worries to the wind, turn within and find peace. You and I are the same.”
And so with this message of hope I leave the reader to drink the nectar of immortality himself in the inspiring story written here. And may it be a source of consolation to many.
(Major A.W.Chadwick)
Om Sri Ramana Paramatmane Namaha
Dedication
Salutations to Sri Ramana, the Universal Master, the dispeller of misery from the world, the One who chases away the darkness of his devotees and displays himself as the Eternal Consciousness inhering in the heart, blazing both within and without, bereft of the least trace of ignorance, the one who shines as the transcendental Truth underlying the world and beyond.
om namo bhagavate śrī ramaṇāya
Sri Ramana Dhyanam
(A Lad’s Prayer to Sri Ramana)
1. I humbly offer my heartfelt salutations to that TIRUCHUZHI RAMANA the remover of distress, who, having descended from the celestial Mount Kailas, born as the blessed son of Alagammal and Sundaramiyer, made their hearts happy, by the precious qualities of His life, and attain heavenly Bliss, by virtue of their having given birth to such an incarnate child.
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24. People first study books, then listen to the spiritual instruction of the Guru, attain Self-Knowledge gradually and realise the Self by his look of grace, but the case of Ramana was different. I offer my salutations to one who is devoid of the three Gunas inherent in all manifestation, the ATMA-RAMANA (Self-Ramana), who contrary to the method described above, spontaneously attained the supreme state of Self-realization without any external aid and clearly described the Truth, not in empty words but by living words born of his own genuine experience as “Self-Knowlege is very easy”, the easiest thing on earth, and encouraged his devotees on the Path and further before he cast off his physical body assured his devotees “where can I go? I am here” and is fulfilling his promise by his uninterrupted Presence in the hearts of his devotees and at His Shrine of Grace at Sri Ramanasramam.
Om Tat Sat
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Concluding Prayer
Oh Bhagavan Ramana! while godliness is dwindling and false civilisation is advancing in an ever-increasing degree, resulting in chaos and confusion in the present day world, born as the son of Alagammal and Sundaramier, You incarnated as the Saviour of the world, with the object of protecting the sadhus and redeeming the sinners; You shine as the presiding deity of Arunachala in the guise of a human form. For us who are in distress where else is the real refuge? Oh All-pervading and All-powerful Ramana! without feeling any disappointment in not attaining liberation in the previous birth itself, I feel more content and highly rejoice in my being gifted to be brought face to face with such a soul who is Bliss itself ever sporting in the Self and ever Silent. You are worshipped as the most distinguished one. I surrender myself to You and pray for Thy compassion, Thy name is the infallible remedy for all the afflictions of the world. When I stand in Your mighty presence copious tears roll down my cheeks and the outside world appears to me a void; I see only Thy radiant form. Oh auspicious one and granter of prosperity, Your radiant form captivates my mind and curbs its evil propensities.
Prostrating myself in adoration of Thee, I crave Your pardon; forgive me my Lord, whatever faults of omission or commission I might have committed in my ignorance. I know no words to praise Thee sufficiently; there may not be a sinner like me; but it is an indisputable fact that there is no better destroyer of sins than Thee. Let my monkey-mind be tamed and subdued by Thy mystic power and let me live in peace to attain salvation. Oh Bhagavan! the teacher of Knowlege of Brahman through silence, let this short prayer be ever on my lips and allow me a soft corner in Thy heart of hearts. Do Thou abide in my heart for ever and bless. Blessed indeed are those who are ever drinking the nectar of Thy sweet name “RAMANA”. Glory be unto Thee! Oh Ramana! Glory unto us! Oh Ramana!