SELF REALIZATION
Ramana Maharshi often used to tell people to change themselves and when the self changes deep inside, society will also change. Or in other words, conflicts will disappear. Academic Pundits will certainly mock call for self realization or self knowledge (aatma bodham or aatma jnanam) which is heard throughout human history.
Mother Theresa has stated that “we think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” When Usha Preman, who started medical information bureau in Kerala, met Mother Theresa and offered her services, Mother Theresa told her that "you don’t have to come to me to serve the poor. Just look around. You can find plenty living in poverty." Later Usha Preman said in an interview that she realised Mother Theresa was perfectly right.
In William Dalrymple book Nine Lives, there is a portrayal of one blind Baul singer in West Bengal. When Dalrymple asks him whether he regrets his life as he is not having a roof over his head and no material property, the Baul singer replies that this is the best life. Lot of people come to the blind singer and he solves their problems. When Dalrymple asks how, the blind singer tells that we sing for universal love - unconditional love and tolerance. “Most of the world’s problems are due to selfishness, greed and intolerance. When we sing praising universal love - unconditional love and tolerance, people’s problems wither away. After all we all are products of that unconditional love.” Those who can’t follow the blind Baul singer can say that he is talking absolute rubbish.
Similarly there is also a story of one Jain nun. Though she was born in an extremely rich family, she decided to become a nun. She tells William Dalrymple that wearing white saree and stepping out into the outer world with nothing other than a coconut shell in hand is a great feeling which ordinary people can never understand. When William Dalrymple visited her, she was on the Jain path of ‘Sallekhana’, Jain way of fasting unto death. She was giving up each food item for some time. Dalrymple asked her, “you are only 38, you are young and you are beautiful also. Why you are taking this extreme step?” Then she told Dalrymple that she has already witnessed 40 Sallekhans. “ I am in tremendous joy. But then you will never understand that”. Understanding such acts of courage needs a radical shift in thinking from our current material and individual values. In this fast and competitive materialistic and consumerist world, we are rushing for making money for ourselves and for our next generations. Consuming maximum and attaining high positions through hook or crook is seen as true way of success. But the way of life which Dalrymple describes regarding the Jain nun means leaving all dear ones, all worldly pleasures, leading a life in its simplest form but not far away from the material world. The Jain nun is part of the material world but she is not allowing jealousy, hatred, greed and anger to be part of her personality. God can reflect in the peace full mind only free from negative thoughts and actions.
When famous British journalist Paul Brunton visited Ramana Maharshi, at first he was wondering why people are gathered around a person wearing nothing other than a loin cloth. Sage Ramana used to utter very few words in a day. Paul Brunton says that the words Ramana utter, one could count on the fingers. But as he stayed for several days in the Ashram, he also realized the serenity and the peacefulness Raman was exuding. Later Paul Brunton was to record Ramana Maharshi as the most magnificent person he has ever met in his life. In his book 'Journey in Secret India', he pays glowing tributes to sage Ramana. The stories of Baul singer and Jain nun written by one of the best known authors of our time has been well received by the readers. Similarly though Paul Brunton has travelled around the world, he found more greatness in a simple man wearing none other than a loin cloth.
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