[an opinion from the editor of Acalayoga Blog]Blandness appears to have overcome sections of the Ramana community - a blandness bordering on indifference. In the past few weeks I have had the proverb "live and let live" thrown at me from various quarters. While this is undoubtedly an admirable way to go through life [and one that I agree with wholeheartedly] - i.e. to tolerate the opinions of others and for them to tolerate your opinions - it does not mean that one should not point out simple errors in understanding, especially if such simple errors can be referenced. It seems that the traditional use of pramANa (proof) has been abandoned in favour of indiscriminate eclecticism. Without adhering to tradition, and the Sishtas who transmit it, there is a danger of ‘falling’ (apabhramSa) into an ego-oriented invention which is then set up as spiritual truth. Surrendering to the word of those great seers who have gone before limits the ego’s potential for doing harm.
There are numerous groups growing up around the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Groups which, while happy to use the name of the sage, are unwilling [whether through ignorance or obstinacy] to explore his teaching accurately. Groups which, while happy to announce allegiance to Bhagavan, are not happy to correct their members, nor even encourage helpful dialogue, when ideas, devoid of pramANa, or flying in the face of it, obliterate the essence of the teaching.
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba states that inner enemies must be controlled, but he also allows that "...you can (and must) use them, ... within limits. e.g., Kama (love, passion) for one's partner, krodha (anger) against unrighteousness, Lobha (greed) for Hari Nama, uttering God’s name, Moha (fondness) for Mukti (salvation), Matsar (hatred) for evil action; and have no mada (pride)." (Sai Baba's Charters and Sayings)
[note: the number of ripus (enemies) mentioned can vary dependent on stress/interpretation of any given Sage. Here, Sai Baba mentions all six enemies (shadripu). Sri Ramakrishna often laid stressed on kAma and lobha [the others left unsaid but understood]. The core ripus (shadripu) - kAma (desire, longing, passion), krodha (anger), lobha (greed, covetousness, confusion), moha (attachment, delusion of mind), mada (pride), matsara (jealousy and/or hatred). Although kAma (passion) is sometimes presented as enemy number one, in truth, without moha (delusion of mind), even passion would remain forever latent.]
These ripus should be controlled by means of discrimination (viveka). Viveka also reveals when it might be appropriate for the sadhaka to use these enemies as allies (ripupaksha) - e.g. longing (kAma) for a continued engagement in the quest; anger/offense (krodha) at repeated misinterpretation or selfish misappropriation of the teaching of Guru, or at forgetfullness of vichara, etc. Many years ago, I recall A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada saying that one should, "tolerate any and all insults to one's self but when Krishna or His pure devotee is blasphemed, a true devotee becomes angry and acts like fire against the offenders." He continued, "krodha cannot be stopped, but it can be utilised in an appropriate fashion." [or words to that effect, it was some years ago back in 1970/71-ish].
Sri Ramakrishna says, "“There are three types of physicians - superior, mediocre and inferior. The physician who comes, feels the patient’s pulse and then says to him, ‘Brother, please take the medicine,’ and leaves, he is an inferior type of physician. He doesn’t care to find out if the patient has taken the medicine. The physician who persuades the patient in many ways to take the medicine, who says in a sweet voice, ‘O brother, how can you be cured unless you take the medicine? Dear brother, please take it. See I myself mix it for you. Now take it,’ is a mediocre physician. And the physician who sees that the patient is stubbornly refusing to take the medicine, puts his knee on the patient’s chest and forces the medicine down his throat is the superior type of physician. This is the tamoguna of the physician. This quality does good to the patient, it does not harm him.
Like the physicians acharyas (religious teachers) are also of three types. Those who instruct their disciples on spiritual matters and then make no inquiries about their progress are inferior acharyas. Those who repeat their teachings again and again for the good of their disciples so that they may internalize the instructions, make requests in various ways and show love are mediocre acharyas. And the type of acharyas who use force when they find that the disciples do not listen in any way them I call superior acharyas.” " (from Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Mahendranath Gupta)
Major Chadwick reveals, "I once saw Bhagavan appear really angry, the atmosphere in the Hall was electric; one felt afraid. The occasion was the visit to the town of a popular Swamy who initiated all and sundry, in fact anybody who came to him, without any sort of preparation. He taught them a form of breath control which proved very dangerous to those who practised it without observing certain necessary restrictions. He was quite the fashion for a short time ... Two of this Swamy’s disciples came to the Hall one evening just before the meal. They asked Bhagavan some questions which he readily answered, but they would accept none of his answers and tried repeatedly to put him in the wrong. Bhagavan was very patient with them and tried for long time to put them right; but at last their impertinence became such that Bhagavan flared up and went for them in a frightening way, but they were so hardened that it seemed to have but little effect. They were eventually ejected from the Hall forcibly and driven from the Ashram, Bhagavan remarking that “they came here to try and undermine this teaching.” (from "A Sadhu's Reminiscences" pages 65-66)
It is time Bhagavan's devotees took notice of those who perpetrate nonsense in his name and "undermine this teaching" lest they themselves become guilty of the same ;). They too should be "very patient with them" and try "for long time to put them right" only then can they truly call themselves Ramana devotees. The model devotee, who set the benchmark in such things, is Sri K. Lakshmana Sarma. So intent was he on giving a faithful rendering of Bhagavan's teaching that he "was blessed with the opportunity of receiving long and pertinent instructions" from Bhagavan, himself (cf. Maha Yoga). For those truly interested, there are plenty of books available from Sri Ramanasramam that can be referred to for "pramANa."
Labels: Atma vichara, Enquiry, Ramakrishna, RamanaMaharshi, sai baba, Sanskrit, vichara, Who am I