Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

After answering the usual enquiries about his welfare he
went away to his compound, named “Mahasthan”.

After he left, Bhagavan examined the pencils closely,
wrote with them, appreciated their good quality, and handed
them to Krishnaswami, saying, “Please keep these carefully.

Our own pencil must be somewhere. Please see where it is
and let me have it.” Krishnaswami carefully put away those
pencils, opened a wooden box which was on the table nearby,
and, after searching for a while, found a pencil and gave it
to Bhagavan.

Turning it this way and that, and examining it,
Bhagavan said, “Why this one? This is from Devaraja
Mudaliar. Our own pencil must be there. Give it to me and
keep this one also safely somewhere.” Krishnaswamy
searched everywhere but could not find it. “See if it is in the
hall,” said Bhagavan. Someone went there and came back
saying it was not there. “Oh! What a great pity! That is our
own pencil, you see. Search properly and find it,” said
Bhagavan. Devaraja Mudaliar, who was there, said, “Why
worry, Bhagavan? Are not all these pencils your own?”
Bhagavan said with a smile, “That is not it. You gave this
one; Bose brought the other ones. If we are not sufficiently
careful, somebody may take them away. You know, Swami is
the common property of all people. If your pencil was lost
you might feel aggrieved, for you bought it, spending a good
amount of money, and gave it to me. If it is our own pencil it
does not matter where it is kept. It costs half-an-anna and
even that was not purchased. Some one brought it and gave
it, saying it had been found somewhere. So, it is our own. As
regards the others, we are answerable to the donors. No one
will question us about this one and that is why I am asking
for it. The others are for the use of important people. Why
do we want such pencils? Have we to pass any examination
or have we to work in an office? For our writing work, that
pencil is enough.” So saying, he had a search made for it
and ultimately got it.

Sometime back, a similar incident happened. Some rich
people brought a silver cup, saucer and spoon and placing
them reverentially before him, said, “Bhagavan, please use
these when you take any liquid food.” Bhagavan examined
the things and passed them on to his attendants. As the
attendants were placing them in the bureau in the hall, he
objected and said, “Why there? Let them be kept in the
office itself.” “They were given for Bhagavan’s use, were
they not?” said a devotee. “Yes,” replied Bhagavan, “but
those are things used by rich people. What use can they be
to us? If required, we have our own cups and spoons. We
can use them — why these?” So saying, Bhagavan told his
attendant, “Look, from tomorrow we will use our own cups.

Take them out.” A devotee asked, “What are those cups,
Bhagavan?” “Oh! Those cups are made of coconut shells,
smoothed and preserved. They are our cups and spoons.

They are our own. If we use them the purpose is served.

Please keep the silver articles carefully elsewhere,” said
Bhagavan. “Are not those silver articles Bhagavan’s own?”
asked the devotee. Bhagavan said with a laugh, “Yes, they
are. But tell me, why all this ostentation for us? They are
costly. Should we be careless, some one might steal them.

So they must be guarded. Is that the job for Swami? Not
only that. Somebody might think, ‘after all, he is a sannyasi
and so will he not give them away if asked?’ and then ask
for them. It is not possible to say ‘No’. Yet, if they are given
away, those who presented them might resent it, as they
gave the articles for Swami’s use only. Why all that trouble?
If we use our own cups it does not matter how we use them
or what we do with them.” So saying, he sent away the
silver articles, had his own cups taken out and shown to all
present.

About the same time, a devotee brought a nice walking
stick with a silver handle, and presented it to Bhagavan.

Turning it this side and that, and examining it, Bhagavan
remarked to the devotee, “Good. It is very nice. Please use
it carefully.” “But it is not for my use,” he said. “I have
brought it thinking that Bhagavan would use it.” “What an
idea!” exclaimed Bhagavan. “A nice walking stick with a
silver handle should be used only by officials like you. Why
for me? Look, I have my own walking stick. That is enough,”
concluded Bhagavan.

“When that one is worn out, you could use this one,
couldn’t you?” asked another devotee. “Why these costly
things for me? If a bit of wood were chiselled, a walking stick
could be made out of it in an instant. While I was on the hill,
I used to chisel a lot of wood into walking sticks, smooth
them and preserve them. Not even a paisa was spent on that
account. Several people took away those walking sticks. They
were our own. Why all this ostentation for us? Those cheap
walking sticks will do for us.” So saying, Bhagavan gave the
stick back to the devotee.

As a rule, Bhagavan does not use costly things. He likes
things which do not cost even a paisa.