A Place where devotees gather to share inspiration.
"Holy Mother" painted by Swami Tadatmananda
Used courtesy of the Vedanta Society of Southern California
Wanted to share a part of the experience of Paul Brunton's meeting with "M". It is found in "A Search in Secret India". It is too much to type here, so I I have chosen some of the more vivid remarks to enter here. The dots...indicate editing out a phrase or paragraph.
..."And so I am now in Calcutta itself, searching for the house of the Master Mahasaya, the aged disciple
of Ramakrishna.
Passing through an open courtyard which adjoins the street, I reach a steep flight of steps leading into a large, rambling old house. I climb up a dark stairway and pass throught a low door on the top storey. ..
...When at last--for he moves with extreme slowness--he enters the room, I need no one to announce his name. A venerable patriarch has stepped from the pages of the Bible, and a figure from Mosaic times has turned to flesh. This man with bald head, long white beard, and white moustache, grave countenance, and large, reflective eyes; this man whose shoulders are slightly bent with the burden of nearly eighty years of mundane existence, can be none other than the master Mahasaya...
...(M)'You are welcome here'...
...'It is a highter power which has stirred you to come to India, and which is bringing you in contact with the holy men of our land. There is a real purpose behind that, and the future will surely reveal it. Await it patiently.
(P). 'Will you tell me something about your master Ramakrishna?'.
(M) 'Ah, now you raise a subject about which I love best to talk. It is nearly half a century since he left us, but his blessed memeory can never leave me; always it remains fresh and fragrant in my heart. I was twenty-seven when I met him...'
(P) 'I wonder what Ramakrishna would say to a man who cannot live by faith alone, who must satisfy reason and intellect?'
(M) 'He would tell the man to pray. Prayer is a tremendous force.'...
(There is more as Mr Brunton continues to visit "M", then the last evening comes)
... The moon is at its full. Mahasaya points up towards its round face and then passes into silent prayer for a brief while. I wait patiently at his side until he finishes. He turns, raises his hand in benediction and lightly touches my head...
..(M) 'My task has almost come to an end. This body has nearly finished what God sent it here to do. Accept my blessing before I go.'
He has strangely stirred me. I banish the thought of sleep and wander through many streets. When, at length, I reach a great mosque and hear the solemn chant, "God is most great!" break forth upon the midnight stillness,...
(As a footnote Brunton writes...)
"Before long I was apprised of his death."
Location: North Carolina
Excellent story. Thanks for sharing.
We may see a photo of "M" and read a brief
biography HERE
I forgot to introduce Mr Brunton as a well known English journalist/author who travelled to India in the 1940's as a spiritual seeker. He met many of the Holy Men of the time in Raj India including Ramana Maharshi, Meher Baba, Mahasaya (the scribe of "The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna"), and the Shankara (sp). He wrote in detail of these meetings in his book.
This meeting with "M" has always stayed with me in a very feeling way. As a Westerner by birth, I seem to see with the eyes and ears of Mr Brunton and I feel as if I were there also receiving direction and blessing from "M".
Mr. Brunton also told of how the Master told "M" that he could tell by his face and eyes that he was a yogi, but he was meant to live in the world. "M" tells Mr. Brunton that many times he would go to the streets of Calcutta to sleep with the homeless to know the feeling of being without possessions.
Best wishes to all
Location: North Carolina
RE: "I forgot to introduce Mr Brunton as a well known English journalist/author who travelled to India in the 1940's as a spiritual seeker"
Comment: To quote Swami Nikhilananda in the 'Srima Darshan':
"M. whose life was completely given to Sri Ramakrishna entered maha-samadhi on June 4, 1932 A. D. Saturday, at the end of the Phalaharani Kali worship, on the last day of the Dark Fortnight in the Rohini Nakshatra"
So, I guess that Mr. Brunton must have travelled to India in the 1930's, rather than the forties.
Incidentally, "M" also accompanied Holy Mother
on her pilgrimage to Kashi in 1912.
"In the early 1930s, Paul Brunton embarked on a voyage to India, which would bring him into contact with such luminaries as Sri Shankaracharya of Kancheepuram and Sri Ramana Maharshi. In fact, Paul Brunton has been credited with introducing Ramana Maharshi to the West through his books "A Search in Secret India" and "The Secret Path"."
from Wikipedia
Sorry, Web Admin, I'm not great with details. Glad you're listening. (I am pretty good with content though)
RE: Pretty good with content
Yes, that cannot be denied.
Did you read about the situation which developed
between Mr. Brunton and some senior members of
Ramana Maharshi's Ashrama?
"Be as it may, Brunton's influence was not always viewed so favorably by everyone. One day in 1939, Brunton was sitting taking notes in the meditation hall and told in English by a high ranking ashram dignitary that he was no longer permitted to take notes while sitting before the Maharshi. Brunton asked, "Is this also Bhagavan's view?" The Maharshi, who was easily within earshot, continued sitting quietly and didn't say a word. A few tense moments passed. Then Brunton got up and left. That was the last time Brunton took notes in the hall and also when he began distancing himself from the ashram.
In later years, because of that incident and a misinterpretation of a shift in his philosopical outlook, Brunton was no longer welcome at the Ramana Ashram, mainly because of the attitude of certain high level disciples.
n the end however, Brunton's long-standing conflict with the ashram dissipated, with him actually being invited to spend his final years there, which he was not able to do for a variety of practical reasons."
FROM:
http://www.angelfire.com/realm/bodhisattva/paul_brunton.html
Additional Comment:
In some ways, I can understand, that the 'taking of notes' during Ramana Maharshi's discourses, would be distracting to those present. For instance, "M" never took notes of Sri Ramakrishna's talks; but rather would keep a diary at home; based upon his own excellent memory of the day's events.
Best wishes,
Nahabat Web Admin
Very interesting to me, Web Admin. I had not heard that information. I will investigate that further when the time is right...
The reason that Brunton's meeting with M is important...to me...is that it is somehow comforting...to hear of his welcome (an English mind)..and to also picture the blessing that was bestowed upon this Western seeker that evening on the rooftop. This mental picture has made an impression on my mind.
Also, the "picture" of M, the description of his physicality, and also finding that he remained completely true and devoted to Sri Ramakrishna, this is also a comfort to me.
Location: North Carolina