Prev Next 16th May, 1947
Like the young man of yesterday, a North Indian
gentleman handed over to Bhagavan a letter full of
questions, chief amongst them being why Bhagavan does
not try to improve the welfare of the world. After reading
it Bhagavan said, looking at those near, “Yesterday also we
had the same type of question. It is enough if all these people
who preach about working for the welfare of the world,
first work for their own welfare. Unable to enquire who they
are and know that, they think of reforming the world. They
must first find out who it is that is thinking thus. They don’t
do that. And they say, they will reform the world. It is just
like the story of the lame man.”
That questioner said, “Swami, how can Jnanis like you
sit quiet without moving? When there is strife and turmoil
in the world, should they not help in establishing peace?”
Bhagavan replied, “Yes, they should, but how do you know
that Jnanis are not rendering any help? Their remaining
where they are is itself a help to the world. To all outward
appearances they seem to be doing nothing. Supposing
there is a wealthy man. In his dream he goes about begging,
works as a coolly and sweeps the streets. When he wakes
up, he realises that he is not that sort of person and remains
dignified in the thought that he is a wealthy man. In the
same manner, a Jnani may do anything according to his
prarabdha (fate) but he remains unattached and maintains
a dignified aloofness. His shakti works in many ways but he
does not feel happy or unhappy over the success or failure
of his efforts. That is because he sees the world as full of
Brahman and so nothing appears to him to be happy or
unhappy. How can he have feelings of gratification or
sorrow when he does not feel that he is in this body, that he
is in this man or that this is the world? Accordingly it is
said: ‘dristim jnanamayeem kritva pasyeth Brahmamayam jagath’,
when a person gains the outlook of a Jnani that very moment
everything appears to be full of Brahman. Where then is
room for the feeling ‘I am doing?’ They will then realise
that everything is going on through the force of some shakti.
That is all,” said Bhagavan.
Another person said, “Jnanis are said to be capable of
cursing and giving boons. You are saying that they have
nothing to do. How is that?” Bhagavan replied, “Yes. Who
said they are not capable? But they do not have the feeling
that they are one thing and the shakti or Ishwara is another.
The force, that is, is only one. They realise that they are
moving because of that shakti and keep themselves from the
feeling that they are the doers. Their presence itself is of use
to the world. They do whatever acts they have to in accordance
with their prarabdha. That is all.”
(c) Sri Ramanasramam, Tiruvannamalai