Sri Dinu Patel's

om namo bhagavate śrī aruṇāchalayaramaṇāya

Namaskar to everyone

I know i'm supposed to say 'uṇakkē, uṇakkē, namaskaram' but there will be alot of ...(ha) I was asked to say a few things about how I came to Maharshi. I did NOT come to the Maharshi, he got me.

You know how we often go to a show [or] the movies, whether it's the Kennedy Center, Wolf?crest or RadioCity Music Hall. We come out, we applaud; we applaud the actors, the musicians, the people who did all the costumes. We forget who is behind the scenes pulling the strings. Who is it that made the whole thing happen? The same thing happened in my case. I thought I was doing everything, but that is just not true. I wasn't doing anything, As Subbaji explained, I worked in Manassas. IBM decides to close the whole opperation, so we were all scattered over. I didn't want to go to Vermont or New York and all of a sudden got a call from Raleigh, NC; IBM had a plant and there was this small semiconductor center and I was asked to come and manage that center. So that suited me fine. That was 1979. I had graduated from NC State, in Ralegh, so I had alot of friends. One of my friends in the faculty invited my family for dinner. After dinner, sitting on a couch, my eyes fell on a book and when it comes to books, I am very nosy. So if you have alot of books in your house, don't invite me. The book was Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge. I look, who is this Ramana Maharshi? Who wrote this book? Arthur Osborne is a prolific writer, so smooth, so nice. An englishman who lived in the Ashrama. Bhagavan protected him alot in the world war; he was fighting for the british. Excellent, excellent writer, so I told my host "May I borrow the book?" He says, "Well, you can borrow it; make sure you take good care of it." because he had borrowed it from a doctor in Winston/Salem in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. So I said, "Ok, I'll take the book." I could not put it away; I had to read the book.

After reading the book, I cried profusely for 2 reasons, one is Maharshi is no more in the physical form; 2nd thing - I was cursing myself. Born & raised in India; where I got my college education; "How come I had never heard of Ramana Maharshi!?!" I had heard of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maharshi Aurobindo and Shirdi Sai Baba. By the way Arthur Osborne has written a very nice book about 'The Incredible Sai Baba' and also Buddha; you know "For those with little Dust". So I was cursing myself - in Gujarat, how come we don't know about [how to] change and I was wrong, it had changed. But anyway, I go to work, go to my boss, and say "I need time off. I need to go to India." Per that resolve, I must go to Ramana's. My boos? "no problem! Take your time, Go!; We will manage your department, help you out."

So of course, I booked passage - Raleigh through Kennedy airport to Mumbai and of course family couldn't join bcs of school (children's school). So I am standing in the line for Ahmedabad; my home town is near Ahmedabad. I see some Tamil speaking people who have come from Madras at that time. I said "I want to go to Tiruvannamalai. How would I go?" He says "O, no problem. You're going to Ahmedabad?" I say, "Yes." There is a person called K.Shivaraj; he is a govt officer. He will guide you. So I go to my parents house and mention it to my father. "Oh, I know this Shivaraj. bcs my father is associated with the governmenit; he was a deputy collector here, and collector there and now he a Secretary of one of the departments. It's fine. I asked my father-in-law, if he knew Shivaraj because of the municipal connection.

So I called Sri Sivaraj. He was so happy to see someone coming from America. and asking for Tiruvannamalai. There's a train going to Madras, at that time there was no Chennai; O!, but the train leaves tonight and it's a 30 hours journey. But once you are in Madras, there will be plenty of buses going to Tiruvannamalai. Again, like I said, I thought I took a piece of paper and was planning my trip; [47m26s] No he was doing everything.

So my father dashes into the district collector's office, my son wants to got Madras. The train leaves today, find the passage. Sure enough, I didn't realize they had VIP tickets or whatever and he got me a sleeping berth in the Navjivan express that leaves Ahmedabad & goes to Chennai. ... half hour before, go to the train station, see Mr.Kapal?Iyer who is one of the staff from the district collector's office gave me the ticket; so maybe that was nice berth, sleeping berth carriage. In the next berth there was a Marwari business man. He was traveling to Madras, and he befriended me. A little younger than I am, but at every station, he would come, ask me "you need water?, you need food? You haven't eaten!"

Maharshi sent him to cater me on the way to Chennai. A 30 hours journey is not a small thing. In Madras, I didn't want to stay in any hotel because I had a bad experience in Madras and in Bengaluru; but I knew [49:22] Gujarati Samaj

I had stayed there before; So I go to the Gujarati Samaj again; you know, very nice after a 30 hr train journey; nice sleep; nice gujarati food. Get up in the morning, go to the front desk, say "I want to go to tiruvannamalai, but Idon't know where to start, how to get there?"

"O, no problem! See this street here", "yes", "at the end of the street is the ... bus station. It will take you there." "O Swami! great!"; so I go there, - I'm not kidding, no exaggeration, exactly what happened - there was a dispatcher standing there. He says "Sir, where do you want to go?" I said, "I want to got to Tiruvannamalai." Before the words finished from the lips, a bus pulls in, #22 - Tiruvannamalai !!. I didn't plan for it. I didn't ask for it... and the dispatcher says "Sir, make yourself comfortable." Great... empty bus; choose your own seat. Sit down, pulled out a 10 ruppee bill, The conductor came in, gave me the ticket. I was happy. As the bus progressed to the city, more and more people came; The conductor kept coming back to me; and saying something in Tamil - I don't understand Tamil. He didn't understand anything else; nobody in the entire bus knew anything other than Tamil. So I gathered, maybe he wanted more money; so I pulled out more. He siad "nooo", he wouldn't take the money. but he kept coming back to me, saying something. ... that drama continued. Maharshi was having fun with me. Then Tindivanam city came - a main junction or something. Most of the people got off and more people come in. and the conductor comes in; and he throws a whole bunch of change in my hand. Then it occurred to me, he was aking for exact change. so that he doesn't have to do what he did. Anyway, the bus continues towards Tiruvannamalai. It was a rough bus ride; you know how the roads are... At that time I was told the previous govt would plan to mend the road, then the new govt would come in and stop the work. Anyway, as we came closer, I can see the profile of Arunachala Hill. As it came closer and closer, I can see more. My breathing slowed down. I felt so cool, so nice, OK come to Tiruvannamalai bus station and of course I'm a confused Guja, don't know the language and I was conerned, what would I do? Maharshi... throws me a lifeline. There was a little boy. Skanda has grown a little bit now, a little shorter than Skanda talked to me in english ! "Sir, where do you want to go?" I was so pleased - somebody talking to me in english, asking me where to go. I said, "I want to go to Ramanasramam. "O, come with me, I'll take you there." "O! [pranams] this is fine."

He puls in a little bullock cart. And the bullock wasn't any bigger than him! The cart smelled. At first I was recluctant, "?I'm going to have this thing carry me? to the ashrama!" but then it occurred to me my father had bought an exact replica of that bullock cart for my grandfather, so he can go around in town in his retirement. So I said, fine - I'll do it. So little Skanda takes me in that bullock cart to a huge gopuram. I can't even look up without straining my neck. He says, "Sir, go in" I said [Dinu shakes his head] "This is not Ramanasramam!?!" He said, "no, no, no, this is the Arunachala temple" I said, "well, if it's a temple, I'll go to it later on; after going to the Ashrama."

Now!, you must go now!" It was a divine command! [smiles] from little Skanda. [ hah!] Sir don't worry (I didn't have any luggage, just a change of clothes). So I go in, So impressive, Subramanyan shrine, and the ?kirtan? and the thousand-pillars hall. I go to the Sivalinga. Immediately [pointing to his head] Arthur Osborne comes to my mind; Maharshi's words and the Maharshi's catholicity... "Father, you called me; I have come in search of Thee", please take care of me, so that was good. I come out and Skanda was still waiting for mwe "Thank you!" and he took me to Ramanasramam. Again I am telling you as I felt - no exaggeration, or anything - as the the cart entered the ashram gate, I lost all awareness of where I was, what I was - completely dropped. I felt envious of the Illupai tree that stayed in the presence of Bhagavan and his devotees. I felt Bhagawan welcoming me to the Ashram. Ganesan was helping his father, T.N.Venkataraman - was president - he was around but mostly Ganesan helped. He gave me accommodation behind Maharshi's nirvana room and showed me the washrooom, kitchen - all great - and the meditation hall, the shrines - excellent, excellent. It was only a one-day trip. Next morning, Mr.Ganesan sent the weatchman to the town to get me a return ticket to Madras. So... service ! the watchman comes back, says "here's you ticket, by the way you don't have to go to town, the bus will pick you up right at the gate." [pranams] again, thanks!

So that was really really memorable. I was able to go to Skandasramam, Virupaksha cave and all that. I felt that was what I came for. That was my first visit.

Second time, I went from Bengaluru. The bus dropped me off at the gate. At that time Ganesan was also helpful. This time they gave me a room, on the side [beyond] the meditation hall towards the dispensary. Rooms on the left - fantastic - a nice room. Brush up, come out and I felt a weight on my shoulder. I look, there was a monkey cub [smiles] sitting on my shoulder so comfortably. He didn't mind, I didn't mind. Peacock comes in spreads the feathers and starts dancing. Squirrels thought the room that was given to me was theirs! They will go, run, in and out. And the dogs. These are the real inmates of the ashram. and what a welcome [smiles] to the Ashram. Again excellent bookstall, books, everything, lots of books. by the way, I forgot to mention, from the day one to Madras, go back to the Gujarati samaj and guess what, a ticket for me to return to Ahmedabad was ready - train to Mumbai, Mumbai to Ahmedabad; so I go to that, I go the station, the bus station, to go to my village. My bus waiting there, I came, climb into the bus; there was a person I knew - he was a bank mangaer - he wouldn't let me buy my ticket. [1:00:00] He has to buy my ticket. I had the heavy luggage of books and my mother had a domestic helper, who saw me, took the bags, she carried it to my house. Very heavy bag of books. So, that was my visit.

The third time also; this time it was a video coach from Bangalore dropped me off. This time Mani - Subramanian - Mani-uncle was helping the father. They gave me a room in the Morvi compound, across the road from the ashrama. Nice, nice room. The library was there and guess who was helping in the library - David Godman was there, helping in the library - very very helpful person. He helped me so much. I wanted to look at the Sanskrit Ramayana,he showed me. I wasn't satisfied. He gave me another Malik - another Ramayana; a different slokaq, but at least I got the word I wanted. In that Morvia compound - nice neighbors. I was able to d girpradakshina whic Mr.Shivaraj told me "you must do that." So Giripradakashina, solo, by myself, which is good. At that time, no cell phone, no.. nothingThere were little children walking to school, telling you [smiling] "good morning, good morning" A lot of temles, lots of shrines - I really enjoyed giripradakshina at that time. I wouldn't be able to do that now.

Next time I went, my wife was with me. This time, Sundaram, Dr.Anand's father was the president. They gave me a room I couldn't beleive - I don't know what happened to the Morvi compound, but it's gone. and instead, beutiful western-style accommodations, with a --- in the bathroom, nice - we really had a nice time. I thought only the Hilton give you upgrades or the airlines. but every time I went to Ramanasramam - upgrades! But, you know what! the Ashram is still the same. Maharshi's presence is there still. As I was growing up, I was always wondering - you know, you read in the scriptures, Rama went to Visishtha's ashram, Vishwamitra's ashram, Gautamrishi's ashram, Agastya's ashrama - all of them - we wonder what those were like. Or Lord Krishna! Madhu... ashram. Well, after coming to Ramanasramam, I saw the replica of that Vedic ashram. I know it's a 100 years, but even a thousand years from now - this ashrama will be the same.

I urge you to read the editorial in the October 2024 issue of 'iThe Mountain Path', in which Dr.Anand has beautifully described the Ashram. If you want hard copy, I have one, but you can get a soft-copy from Ramanasramam's web-site.

If you are all wondering, how this Gujarati man penetrated, I was called back Manassas; we are putting a new semiconductor factory; we want you to come and manage an organization here. I was reading in the local paper about the Ramana Maharshi Jayanti celebration at the Shivavishnu temple in Maryland. O, Great, so me and my wife go there. Who do we see welcoming us ....
That's how I penetrated the Tamil sangam — thank you, thank you.

Ever since, PS-ji has been kind enough to explain Tamil words, stanzas, prayers and Aksharamanamalai, every Thursday. Thank you PS-ji, I know I have a thick-skull but it is helping - very much.

om namo bhagavate śrī ramaṇāya

– transcribed from: DC Ramana Jayanthi; 38m 36s - 01h 06m