Day 1, Talk 1, Part 2

Since most of us are here in the single thought, we all have a common goal, practically a common goal, may be small variations here and there in our goal. The atmosphere also becomes charged with that focus. Very often in life, even though we are together as a family, even though we were together in school, even though we are together in work atmosphere with people, each one’s goal will be different, each one’s attitude will be different, the longings will be different, the directions will be different and that’s why lot of conflicts comes about in life and goals are also not achieved so easily because if you take even a bullock cart driven by even two bullocks, if each one is going in a different direction, imagine what happens to the cart? Can it reach its destination? And if you have a carriage, a chariot driven by five horses and then five go in different directions, then imagine the plight of that chariot. And what happens in terms of what we say is the world, what we say is a work place, what we say is the family is actually, Bhagavan says nothing but an enlargement , an enlarged projection of what is happening within ourselves, what is happening in our own minds. In our own minds, it so happens that for these two days, we are able to focus on a single goal. But when we get back “into our so called worldly life, each one into our different circumstances, then we too seem to be driven by many goals”. So its wonderful that Bhagavan has brought us here and given us the clarity as to why we are here to some extent , it is his wonderful blessing. But the next question will always be why we are here in the larger sense? That is why we are here today also because we are not here today unrelated to the entirety of our own life. In our own lives, we have certain goals, certain longings, certain perception of the purpose of life which has brought us here. It is not just today I happen to walk in and then I decided that I need to know about Bhagavan. So it is lead to the purpose of why we are here in life itself. Why I am here today in the shrine is linked to why I am here on Earth. Supposing, each one of us has what is called a wish list in Life, we would like many things to happen. Supposing we were to have, we were given a choice. Supposing Bhagavan appears before us as we say in film language, just appears before us and says, You can have one wish in life, one wish you can have and that will certainly come true. About others there is no guarantee and if you were to wish many even this may not come true. So you can have only one wish. Make your choice.

Cow Lakshmi's Mukti day

Namo Ramana
Today is Cow Lakshmi's Liberation day. June 18th, 1948, at 11.30 a.m. Lakshmi got Mukti from Bhagavan's own hands. Bhagavan Ramana wrote a poem and it has been engraved on the stone which was kept on her samadhi. There is a statue of Lakshmi on the samadhi.
Cow Lakshmi came to Bhagavan when she was vary small. Once she was brought to Bhagavan along with her mother from the town. From then she found her way to the asram and would come to see Bhagavan everyday not missing even a day. When Lakshmi grew old and she was carrying, she requested Bhagavan that she would stay with him and it was difficult for her to go and come everyday. Bhagavan fullilled her request and bulit a Ghoshala for her. And Lakshmi showed her gratitude to Bhagavan by gifting a calf on every Jayanthi of Bhagavan.
We learn surrender from Lakshmi. She was such a gem that she would never care for anybody in the hall. She would simply run into the hall and sit beside Bhagavan.
And Bhagavan loved her so much that he would feed her plantains or idli or dosa. He not only fed all these to her but he also fed the Jnana just like he did to Mother Azhagammal. When Bhagavan came to Lakshmi and sat next to her, her breathing became steady and tears began to trickle from her eyes. Ramana's eyes too overflowed as he looked at her with great love. He kept his hand on his head and heart as though giving her Deeksha. She became calm and peaceful and breathed her last breadth.
After Lakshmi's liberation, Bhagavan came to the Ghoshala and himself said that - 'Oh Lakshmi! Lakshmi!', Then controling his tears, he said, 'Because of her our family has grown to this extent'.

Akhandam of Aksharamanamalai

Namo Ramana
Bhagavan Sri Ramana has composed many poems in various languages. But the gem of all is the Arunachala Aksharamanamalai composed by Bhagavan himself. It is a 108 verse poem in which the verses run in alphabetical order.
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi wrote this on request by the devotees. Those days sadhus used to beg for alms and have food. Since many of them were begging for alms, the devotees of Ramana requested him to write a song for them to sing while begging for alms. So Bhagavan once said that Arunachala Aksharamanamalai is feeding us when a devotee brought food and said by singing Aksharamanamalai he got it.
Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning organised chanting of Aksharamanamalai from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The staff of the Centre joined in the Chanting.
"It was really like a Yagna said the President of the Centre, Dr. Sarada".
The same was felt by the staff also. The day was filled with thought of Ramana.
Thanks to Bhagavan who gave us the opportunity to sing his composition - Aksaharamanamalai
:-)

Bhagavan Sri Ramana

Namo Ramana

Let me tell you something about Ramana before we talk about our activities. It is that Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi came on to this Earth to wake all of us and remind us of our true nature. He taught us to know ourselves. How ironicale isn't it?

It was celebration time when the second boy baby was born to the couple Azhagammal and Sundaram Iyer. It was a happy occasion for them no doubt but the whole world, universe was celebrating it. Why?

It was December 30th 1879. Chritians celebrated Christmas, Muslims celebrate Ramzan, Hindus celebrate the month of Margazhi, favorite to Lord Krishna and Ardhra Darshan - when Siva showed himself to all as the dancing Lord, Nataraja.

He was born as the light itself. A blind lady who was assisting in the delivery saw light everywhere when the child was born. He was named as Venkataraman by the parents.

When he was sixteen years, he faced death and got enlightened. According to the father's command, he left home and went to Tiruvannamalai. He was named as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi by Ganapathi Muni and Bhagavan ramana stayed in Tiruvannamali till his last breath pouring love to everybody who came to him. He is the only enlightened person, after Buddha who lived for 50 years in the body after enlightenment.