Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

(35) DISEASE

Prev Next 2nd February, 1946
Two years back, when our elder brother came to the
Ashram, Mr. Manne Venkataramayya, retired Judge, was
here. It seems he was sick some time back and got cured,
but not completely. After listening to the details of the sickness
from early morning till 8-30 p.m., Bhagavan said, “Yes,
indeed! The body itself is a disease. If the body gets a disease,
it means that the original disease has got another disease. If
you really want this new disease not to trouble you, you must
first take the required medicine for the original disease so
that the later disease — that is, the disease of the disease —
does not affect you. What is the use of worrying about the
secondary disease instead of trying to find out a method of
getting rid of the primary disease? Therefore allow this new
disease to go its own way, and think of a medicine for the
original disease.”
As an illustration of this, an incident happened recently.

Being requested and encouraged by the devotees,
Viswanatha Brahmachari translated into Tamil prose
Trisulapura Mahatmyam from Sanskrit. By the time he finished
translating it, Bhagavan was slightly ill and so, being afraid
that Bhagavan might strain himself unduly by going through
the book with a view to correcting it, the fact that the book
was ready for printing was kept from him. Before he
recovered completely, Bhagavan happened to see Viswanath
one day and asked him, “How far have you got on with
translating Mahatmyam?” Unwilling to tell a lie to Bhagavan,
he said he had completed it. “Why did you not bring it then?”
asked Bhagavan. Viswanath replied that he did not do so
because of Bhagavan’s indisposition. “Oh, I see! If my body
is not well, what does it matter to me? Let it have its troubles.

I don’t bother about it. I am free. Bring it, and I will go
through it. If this body required any services, all these people
will attend to that. Bring the book,” said Bhagavan. As he
had no other alternative, Viswanath brought the book and
gave it, and Bhagavan went through it immediately, even
working at nights with the aid of a table lamp. His bodily
ailment did not interfere with the work.

Prev Next TOC 34. Books 35. Disease 36. Kowpinavantah Khalu Bhagyavant 37. Moksha with the Body 38. Chiranjeevis (Immortal Beings) 39. Uma 40. Asthi, Bhathi and Priyam (Existence, Consciousne 41. The True Nature of Pradakshina 42. Abhayam Sarva Bhuthebhyaha (Compassion Towards All) 43. That Which Is, is Only One 44. The Black Cow 45. Paratpara Rupam (Form of the Supreme Being)