IN QUEST OF GOD - Swami Ramdas -6

IN QUEST OF GOD

Swami Ramdas

ANANDASHRAM 

KANHANGAD

IN QUEST OF GOD

Swami Ramdas

ANANDASHRAM  

KANHANGAD

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CHAPTER XXXVII

SRI SIDDHARUDHA SWAMI

NOW, Ramdas, catching a train going still southward reached Hubli at

last. The idea of going to Hubli was put into his head by brother

Ramakrishna Rao of Bombay who is a great Bhakta of the famous Saint of

Hubli - Sri Siddharudha Swami. Ram took him here to obtain for him the

Darshan of this great Sage. It was past midday when he reached the Math of

Sri Siddharudha which is about three miles distant from the railway station.

The Math consisted of three sets of buildings. The first one in the line was a

solid block of granite over which was erected a tall conical Gopura. This

temple was intended to serve as a repository of the remains of the Swami

after he had entered Mahasamadhi. The other two were extensive buildings

constructed in such a way as to leave a large square yard in the interior. Of

these, the second one was a Dharmashala wherein reside Sannyasis, Bhaktas

and pilgrims. Facing the Math there were two beautiful tanks. On the other

side of the tanks there was a grove of trees yielding cool shade. The Math

was situated in very charming and healthy surroundings.

Ramdas, entering the Math, was, through the kindness of friends

there, duly introduced to Sri Siddharudha at whose feet he prostrated

himself most reverently. Here he spent about 10 days most happily. In the

mornings and evenings there were reading and exposition of religious texts.

Ramdas listened to, nay, drank in the words of wisdom that fell from the

lips of the learned Sage. Ram had so arranged matters for him that the

Upadesh the Swami gave during those days happened to be just what would

lead him further in his spiritual progress. At other times, he would wander

about in the fields behind the Math and remain mostly at the tomb or

Samadhi of the late Kabirdas, the great Muslim Saint of that place. Ramdas

was clearly able to experience a spiritual atmosphere charged with peace

and calmness inside the Math and Dharmashala, especially at the time of

the presence of the great Swami. Sri Siddharudha was a great Yogi of an

advanced age. He was kind, affable, hospitable and full of tranquillity.

Now, news reached Mangalore that Ramdas was staying at the Math

at Hubli. His former wife, but present mother (as all women are mothers to

Ramdas) and his child came there to fetch him. Sri Siddharudha Swami was

appealed to by them in the matter and the kind-hearted Saint advised him

to go with them to Mangalore. Ramdas submitted to the order, feeling that

it came from Ram Himself. Ram always means well and He does everything

for the best. The mother (i.e., Ramdas’ former wife) proposed to him to

return to Samsara, to which he replied:

“O mother, it is all the work of Ram. Ram alone has freed humble

Ramdas from the bonds of Samsaric life, and he resides now at Ram’s holy

feet. He is now the slave of Ram and prays to Him always to keep him as

such. To trust and acknowledge His supreme powers of protection over all,

and believe that He alone is the doer of all actions and possessor of all

things is the only way to be rid of the miseries of life. Therefore, O mother,

throw off your burden of cares and anxieties and, approaching the divine

feet of Ram, live there always in peace and happiness. This is all poor

Ramdas can ask you to do.”

Now, under the kind care and escort of the mother, he started by

train and reaching Mormugao embarked upon a steamboat which took them

in due course to Mangalore. As the party came up to the Bunder, Ramdas, as

bid by Ram, walking in advance, directed his steps straight to the Kadri

hills, where he remained for the night. Next day, by Ram’s will, he visited

the house of brother Sitaram Rao - a brother by the old relation and a great

Bhakta of Ram. A few days later, he had the happiness of the Darshan of his

Gurudev (father by old relationship) who had given him the Upadesh of the

divine Ram-Mantram . Now (this was in 1923), Ramdas stays by Ram’s

command in a cave called “Panch Pandav Cave” on the Kadri hill, and lives

there a serene life, devoting his whole time in talking about, writing of and

meditating on that all-loving and glorious Ram.

Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

APPENDIX

IN THE CAVE

(Heart-pourings when Ramdas

resided in the cave)

O Ram, Thou art father, mother, brother, friend, preceptor,

knowledge, fame, wealth and all. Sole refuge Thou art, make Thy slave

merge always in Thee - in Thee alone.

O Ram, what Thy slave Ramdas should do or should not do must be

determined by Thee alone. He is bewildered. He is helpless; make him

resign all to Thee. Let him live, move and have his being in Thee. Let him

eat, drink, sleep, move, sit, stand, talk, think, look, hear, smell, touch, do

everything in Thy name and for Thy sake only. O Ram, O Divine Mother,

Ramdas is Thine totally, completely - heart, soul, body, mind, everything,

everything.

O Ram, Thy slave cannot know what to think of Thy infinite love.

Shall he weep over it? Shall he smile over it? Shall he cry over it? Shall he

laugh over it? Thy love is at times so grand, majestic, vast and gushing like

the mighty ocean and its roaring waves. At times it is so soft, tender,

gentle, silent, like the mild flow of a tiny stream and her musical ripples.

O Ram, keep Thy slave always absorbed in Thee. He is at once Thy

slave and Thy child. He is willing to serve Thee in every way according to

the wisdom Thou givest him. He is Thy innocent child looking always for Thy

guidance and security. Never allow him to leave Thy holy feet. O Ram,

never put him in a situation in which he would forget Thee.

O Ram, O Mother, save, save, save Thy humble slave - Thy ignorant

child.

O Love infinite, infuse into the arid heart of this child at least a small

measure of Thy love.

O Ramdas, drink, drink, always the sweet nectar of Ram’s love.

O Ram, make Ramdas mad of Thee - mad - mad, stark mad. He wants

nothing besides this. Let him talk like a fool only of Thee, O Ram. Let the

world declare him, a mad man, yes, mad of Thee, Ram.

Ramdas cares not for the opinion of this man or that. He is not to be

bound. O Ram, see that he is not bound. Let him be bound only by Thy

shackles. Those are the shackles of Thy love. But Thy love is free. So where

are the shackles? It is an enchanting freedom in fetters. O Ram, the

madness of Thy love, how sweet, how intoxicating, how charming!

O Ram, purify the mind of Thy slave. Let him not see evil anywhere.

Let him not see faults in others but only good. O Ram, have mercy on Thy

slave. Fill his mind with Thy grace. Thou art the sole refuge of Thy slave. O

Protector! Loving Parent of the whole universe, lift Thy slave up from the

consciousness of a narrow life in a perishable body. Make him realise Thy

infinite love. O Ramdas, rise, rise above the narrow limitations of your own

making. Ram asks you in all love and kindness: “Speed up my child, come

up; here is My hand, grasp it and rise out of the bondage in which you are.”

O Love, O life Universal, O Mother, O Ram, how glorious it is always to bask

in the sunshine of Thy loving influence!

O Ramdas, you are in Ram and out of Him. You are everywhere along

with Him; He is everywhere along with you. He cannot leave you; you

cannot leave Him. He is tied to you and you are tied to Him. You are in His

custody; He is in your custody. He cannot do without you; you cannot do

without Him. He lives in you and you live in Him. Still, you are His slave and

He is your protector. O Ram, Thou art two; but Thou art one. The lover and

the loved in fast embrace become one. Two become one and one remains

everlasting, infinite, eternal Love. O Love, O Ram! Rave on, mind, charged

with the madness of Ram’s love.

O Ram, destroy Ramdas’ desires. Crush them out of him. Take him on

and find him eternal abode in Thee. O madness of Ram, O Love, let

harshness, wrath and desire leave Ramdas entirely. Pure, pure be his mind

by Thy grace. Ram, save him, save him. O Ram, Thou art Love pervading

everywhere; Ram, Ram, Ram everywhere; in, out, in all directions, up,

below, in the air, trees, earth, water, sky, space, in all, in all is Ram - is

Love. O Love, O Ram, let thrill after thrill of the joy of Thy love pass

through the soul of Ramdas. O Ram, O Joy, O Love, O Ecstasy, O Madness, O

Goodness, no rest, no sleep, no food, no enjoyment but Thy divine love,

divine light. O Joy, Ramdas, remain steeped in the nectar of Ram’s infinite

love. O Light, dazzle on. O flashes of lightning, O Ram’s glory - flash on,

flash on! O supreme happiness, O Bliss! O Joy! Come on, O Ram, Ramdas is

lost in Thee. Lost, lost - in joy - in bliss untold - indescribable - lost in Thy

effulgence - in Thy light - flash - flash - flash - everywhere flash. Love, love,

love, everywhere love!

Fame, name, wealth, relations, friends, all - mirage, nothing real,

nothing true there. Mind fixed on Ram derives infinite peace, infinite bliss,

for Ram is love, Ram is kindness, Ram is joy.

Let the body go, let the mind go. Let the senses disappear. Let the

worlds vanish. Let all that appears pass out of their phantom-existence.

Ram - the love eternal - the bliss eternal - lives, endures, is pure, undefiled,

serene, peaceful. All hail Ram, all hail!

Madness of Ram, Madness of Ram’s love. Come on, take possession of

Ramdas and make him swim for ever and ever in the ocean of Thy

unfathomable love.

Sweet madness, cool madness, mild madness, peace madness,

because it is tempered with Ram’s elixir of love.

Away all joys of this fleeting world! The sun of Ram’s bliss is up,

rising in all his glory, shedding resplendent rays of peace and love all

around, dispelling the darkness of misery - nay, paling down the very stars

and moon - the fading pleasures of a transient world. Away!

The bird has flown away from the cage and is soaring high up in the

air, losing itself in the vast space, lost in Ram - a drop in the ocean.

O mind, be always firm and fixed on Ram. Every other occupation for

you is utterly useless. In your pursuit after Ram let no opinion of the world

disturb you. When Ram is thine, you do not want anything. Keep Ram’s

company always. Then your talk, your actions, your thoughts are all His.

Ramdas, wake up, shake up, never wax slow in your progress. Go, leap, leap

- pluck the golden fruit - enjoy eternal bliss! O, how sweet the fruit - the

taste is intoxicating with the soft love of Ram!

You are nothing, Ramdas. You have no worth, Ramdas. If any good

comes from you, it is all Ram’s. You are only a piece of stinking clay, away

with your vanity!

Ramdas, you are now mad, completely mad, O sweet madness,

madness, madness! O Love, O Love! Ramdas, you are really mad. Now, Ram

is the theme of your madness. You are stark mad, Ramdas. Drink, drink

Ram’s love, Ram’s nectar. Ram’s light dazzles everywhere.

*************

Ramdas, you are free, nothing binds you. You are free like air. Soar

high and high in the heavens until you spread everywhere and pervade the

whole universe. Become one with Ram. All Ram! All Ram! What a grand

spectacle to see the dazzling light of Ram everywhere! Flash, Flash, Flash -

lightning flashes! O Grandeur! O Divinity, O Love, O Ram! Ramdas, your

madness is worth everything that is and that is not in the world. Fling away

wisdom, who wants it? Wisdom is poison - madness is nectar, madness of

Ram, mind you, Ramdas. Ramdas, you have no separate existence. Ramdas,

who are you? A phantom of your own creation. Break off and abide in Ram -

that ocean of Love, Bliss and Light. The dew drop slips into the shining sea.’

Child-like nature, madness of Ram and supreme wisdom mean one

and the same thing.

O Ram, thy slave Ramdas is Thine completely. His life is totally

consecrated to Thy service. Let the sweetness of Thy infinite love enter the

soul of Ramdas; give strength to Thy slave to withstand all the temptations

of a most unreal world. Let him always live in Thee!

O Ram, Thy slave cries to Thee repeatedly to make him mad of Thee,

but Thou dost not listen to his heart-felt prayers. Thou bringest on the

madness only for a short time. Why not always? Let his mind think of nothing

else but Thee, Thee and Thee alone - that is the madness he craves for.

Have pity on him!

Let Ramdas’ mind be filled with Thee when awake, in sleep, in

dreams. O Ram, O Mother, O Protector, have mercy on Thy child and Thy

slave!

*************

Start Ramdas on his mission - O Ram! Let him go out into the world,

toil, suffer, die for Thy sake. Let him face contempt, persecution, nay,

death for Thy rule of Love, Bliss and Light. In the fire of this ordeal, let

Ramdas purify his lethargic soul. Height of misery is height of happiness. To

rise above both is true bliss - true peace. O Ram, give the call! Let thy stern

command come. If not, make this body - worthless stuff - wither and perish.

Let every minute of its existence be utilised for Thy service, Ram.

The lull has passed. The storm is ahead. Ramdas feels waves on

waves rising in him, mighty waves of a surging ocean. O Ram, guard Thy

slave, give him energy, give him strength - give him Thy wisdom, and make

him sacrifice himself at the altar of Truth - at the shrine of Love - in the

flame of Light. All Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram! O save, save, save! Ramdas is

Thine, life, body, soul, all, all!

Make Ramdas mad of Thee. Quick - no time to lose. Quick! Quick!

Have mercy on him. Om Sriram!

Rise, rise, O despair of hope! Rise, rise, O Joyous misery! Rise, rise, O

light of darkness! O Rise, rise, lovely dream of an eternal life! Rise, rise, O

Bliss, Grandeur - what indescribable happiness to cry, to weep, to smile, to

laugh, to live, to die for Ram’s love, Ram’s grace. Ram’s light! Om Sriram!

Peace, Peace, Peace!

Ram, Ram, Ram!

You are not weak, Ramdas, you are all-powerful. Ram has infused

into you His divine effulgence. You are the infinite seed. Ram has thrown a

flood of light into you. Wake up! You are strong, you can conquer everything

by the power of Ram’s love. Don’t grovel, don’t feel weak. From hill-tops -

from house-tops - sound the trumpet of Ram’s glory, Ram’s love. Be bold,

forward - march! Brave the storm. Destiny is your slave. Keep her under

foot. What fear have you when Ram is your ally? Leave off narrow

limitations. Rise and soar and grasp the whole globe in one embrace of love.

Your dwelling place is the whole universe which is your body. You live in it

as love. There is nought but love, love supreme. Every leaf, every blade of

grass, every particle of dust, every tiniest life sings aloud of Thy love, O

Ram. Every moonbeam, every sun’s ray, every twinkle of the stars radiates

Thy love, O Ram. Every tear, every smile, every ripple, every sweet whisper

of joy is pregnant with Thy love, O Ram!

O Ramdas, rise to the very height of renunciation and there sit on its

crest and view the transient nature of the whole show around you.

Everywhere you see birth, growth, death. All, all are running finally along

the same road to destruction. What a terrible state of despair would have

faced man in the midst of this vast cremation ground - this vast graveyard

where all objects are ultimately reduced to dust and ashes - had there not

been that sweet and eternal influence - that divine ambrosia called Love -

which is a veritable lustrous reality that runs through the vanishing forms

that make up this wild, varied and grand structure of the universe. Love is

Happiness, Love is God, Love is Ram.

O Ram! Fill, fill, fill Ramdas with Thy nectar-like love. Let no thought

of evil, no thought of difference, cross his mind. Make him look upon all

with the light of Love.

O Ram! It is Thou that weepest in the sorrows of the world. It is Thou

that smilest in the happiness of the world. Still Thou art above all happiness

and above all sorrow.

Ram! Thou art an eternal love-baby. Ramdas is ever bent upon

catching Thy tender smiles, but they elude his grasp.

Love sheds her cooling light. Ramdas opens his lips to drink of it, but

the light slips away.

Ramdas at last catches the smiles - so many lustrous nothings that

beam upon his face.

Ramdas at last drinks deep the light of love and softly floats upon the

sea of peace.

O Love, O Ram, envelop everything in the soft glare of Thy radiance.

O Love, let all vibrations be rhythmical and true. Let the inexpressible

sweetness of bliss reign everywhere.

O Ram, make Ramdas mad of Thee. Let him not talk of anything else

but Thee. Let him think of nothing else but Thee. Thou art so merciful,

Thou art so loving. O Love, O Mercy - make Ramdas completely Thine!

Whatever Thou dost Ram, Thou dost for the best: Ramdas is entirely

Thine. Thou dost make him walk, talk, think, act, all as Thou wilt. He has

not to feel sorry or regret for anything. He dwells in Thee always. He can

see Thee, Ram, everywhere. Thou alone hast taken the form of this universe

- this vast, picturesque, varied group of worlds. O, what a grand display is

Thine! O, what a sublime manifestation! The vast sheets of water - the

mighty oceans that dazzle in the sunlight like molten silver - bearing in their

bosom a variety of animal lives of their own creation - art Thyself. O

extensive Sky, what a magnificent structure is Thine! A limitless blue dome

pictured here and there with fantastic shaped white fleecy clouds,

sustaining in her mighty embrace innumerable creatures of her own making.

O Earth, whose unseen circumference vainly attempts to measure the

bounds of the sky that appears to clasp Thee! What an indescribable scene

Thou dost present to the wondrous gaze of the sun, moon and stars that are

never tired of viewing Thy beauties at ever changing altitudes. Thy valleys

are full of green verdure - sparkling water running through them all. Thy

high mountains are shooting up into the sky - those gigantic guardians of Thy

peace. The widespread forests, green and yellow-hued, form Thy beautiful

garment, in the loving folds of which Thou bringest into being untold variety

of lives.

Who brought this gorgeous show into being? It is all the work of Ram -

the work of Love - Ram himself manifested in all His grandeur of love.

O Ramdas, you have nothing in the world to call your own. All belong

to Ram, including yourself. Ram does everything for the best. Ram is the

doer. Ramdas, live always in tune with Him. O Ram, see that this prayer is

granted. Thou art all in all to Thy slave. He wants Thee and nothing else. O

Ram, purify Ramdas’ mind. Let no evil thought enter there.

O Ram, Thou art everywhere,

O Ramdas, Thou art nowhere,

O Ram, Thy will alone is supreme.

O Ramdas, Thou hast no will.

O Ram, Thou art the only reality,

O Ramdas, thou hast no existence.

O Ram - O infinite Love, let Ramdas lose himself in Thee.

O Ram, Thy Love pervades everywhere. Thy Light shines everywhere.

Thy Bliss absorbs everything. Ram, Thou art Light, Love and Bliss. Ramdas,

thou livest in this Light, in this Love, in this Bliss. Ramdas, thou hast no

separate existence. Thou art free - as free as Love, as free as Light, as free

as Bliss. Love all, shed Light on all, share Bliss with all. Thou art all and all

Thyself. Thou and all make Ram, that glorious Ram. Ram is one. Ram

appears as many. One is real. Many is false. One - One everywhere, and that

is Ram. Ramdas, thy will is the will of Ram. Live only for the sake of Ram.

Ram has made you mad of Him. Blessed are you, Ramdas. Ram’s madness

means everything for you, for that matter - means everything for everybody.

In this madness there is no pain, no perplexity, no ignorance, no weakness,

no sorrow, no hate, no evil of any kind. It is purely made up of Love, Light,

Bliss, Strength, Power, Wisdom, every good of every kind.

Ramdas, all praise, all honour, all respect is for Ram, because your

speech, your act, your thought is all in the name of Ram - for the sake of

Ram - prompted by Ram - acted by Ram - thought by Ram - listened to by

Ram. All in Ram, by Ram, through Ram, on Ram, about Ram, for Ram. All

Ram, Ram, nothing but Ram! Om Sri Ram! Om, Om, Om! Ram, Ram Ram!

This is madness of Ram. It is a grand madness - Blissful, Lightful, Loveful,

Ramful. No thought but of Ram. No work but of Ram. No talk but of Ram.

Talk in Ram, work in Ram, thought in Ram, silence in Ram, sleep in Ram,

dream in Ram. Ram is in everything. Everything is in Ram. Ram is

everything. Everything is Ram. Om Sriram!

Ram is form, Ram has assumed form. Ram is with form. Ram is

without form. Ram is being. Ram is non-being. Ram appears, Ram

disappears. Ram knows - Ram knows not. Love and hate is in Ram. Light and

darkness is in Ram. Bliss and pain is in Ram. Wisdom and madness is in Ram.

Strength and weakness is in Ram, still Ram is beyond all these, free from

Love and hate, Light and darkness, Bliss and pain, Wisdom and madness,

Strength and weakness. Om, Om, Om! Ram, Ram, Ram! Peace, Peace,

Peace! O Ram, Thou art the point where Love and hate meet, Light and

darkness meet, Bliss and pain meet, Wisdom and madness meet, Strength

and weakness meet. Om Sriram - Thou art Peace, stillness - unchangeable,

unshakable, eternal, infinite - all-powerful, inconceivable,

incomprehensible. Om, Om, Om!

There are two ladders - Love and hate - projecting from Thee. O

Ram, to reach Thee i.e., to climb up - the ladder of Love is used. To quit

Thee, i.e., to climb down - the ladder of hate is used. Love leads to unity.

Hate leads to diversity. Unity is happiness. Diversity is misery. Therefore, O

Ramdas, select the upward course of Love that takes you to ultimate Peace

- everlasting and eternal - which is Ram. When you quit Ram, hate leads you

down to where you sink into pain, fear and death. Om Sriram!

Ramdas, don’t be proud. Consider that none is inferior to you in the

world. All deserve to be treated with respect and love.

*************

Let your mind - O Ramdas - turn always the Charka of Ram-Smaran

and in due course you will make the mind wear the white Khaddar of Purity.

O Ram, Ramdas is Thy slave, Thy entire slave. He implores Thee to

strictly watch every act he performs, every word that falls from his lips and

every thought that comes into his mind. O Ram, see that nothing unworthy

of Thee or unacceptable to Thee be done, talked or thought of by Thy slave.

Let Ramdas’ actions be always right and good. Let his speech be always wise

and gentle. Let his thoughts be always holy and pure. In short, let Ramdas’

acts, words and thoughts emanate directly from the meditation of Thy

Divine Self. Om Sriram!

O Ram, what a glorious being Thou art. Ramdas lays his head at Thy

holy feet. Deign to shed Thy full lustre on Thy slave. Make him Thine, Thine

totally. Ramdas has no refuge but Thee - no parent but Thee - no guide but

Thee - no master but Thee - no higher ideal than Thee. Have mercy on him,

O Ram, have mercy. Above all, O Ram, see that he does not forget Thee. To

forget Thee means for him utter ruin. Ramdas cannot bear the very thought

of it. O Ram, Ramdas has full trust in Thee. He knows that what Ramdas

begs, Thou grantest at once. Let him always live in Thee, in Thee alone. Om

Sriram!

O Ram, save, save Thy child, Thy slave. Let every fibre of his being

thrill to the music of Thy madness; the very blood of his veins rush impelled

by the fury of Thy madness; his very bones tatter and shatter in their seats

by the repeated blows inflicted by Thy madness; his whole frame quiver,

tremble and shake by letting fall on him an avalanche of Thy madness. Om

Sriram!

Rise, rise, O Ramdas - fly above all, soar in the heavens, mingle in

the flood of light poured down by the glorious sun. Let the pure, rarefied air

above encircle you all round. Let space itself swallow you up. Where are you

then, Ramdas? Ramdas is nowhere. Ramdas is now mere madness, an airy

nothing. Truth - the Great Truth, Ram, hath devoured you - and you are no

more, no more, no more! Om Sriram!

O Ramdas, become one with the greenness of the leaves. Be absorbed

in the splendour of light. Mix with the mists of the hills. Be the breath of

the wind - the blue of the sky - the golden hues of the dawn - the stillness

of the night. Om Sriram!

O Ram, Thou art kindness. Thou art love. Thou art the great Truth.

Let Ramdas cling to Thee fast. Let him not lose his hold on Thee. Let him

always clasp Thee firmly. Let him always live with Thee - in Thee. Let him

not be separated from Thee. Let him always remain in Thy embrace. O Ram,

enfold Thy slave always in Thy arms and never let him go. Make him

fearless, bold and firm - firm in his vows - firm in his faith in Thee. Let

contact with the world not affect him. Ramdas, always remember that you

are alone in the world in the company of Ram.

Ramdas, in spite of Ram’s unbounded grace upon you, you are still

weak. Ramdas, you are still small and insignificant - full of imperfections -

full of defects. Cry, cry; Weep, weep. O Ramdas, cry and weep. Take off, O

Ram, all his egoism.

O Ram, raise a great conflagration - a mighty deluge of fire - and

burn up in its devouring flames all the evils that are in Ramdas. The fire is

lit, the flames are rising - red tongues of flame - waving, hissing and

dancing. Throw in now - by Ram’s command - O Ramdas, first, Ahankar,

then Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya in quick succession.

Right, they are now all in. Fan the flames, O Ram. All the evils are burning,

burning, burning. Now they fly as smoke. Now they fall as ashes. All glory to

Thee, O Ram! Now the fire ceases and then a calm prevails - stillness of

heavenly repose, filled with the enchantment of Love and Peace, filled with

the sweetness of Ram. Freedom, Freedom, O Freedom, Mukti is Thy name.

Om Sriram!

O Ram, Thy slave is under Thy protection completely. Thou art his

sole refuge. He looks to Thee for everything. At all times let Thy sweet

name be in his thoughts. O Ram, purify Ramdas’ mind - purge it off from all

evil and unworthy thoughts. O Ram, Ramdas is Thine. Bear in mind, Ramdas,

you live only for Ram. You do not live for anything else, or for anybody else.

Ram is the end and aim of your existence. Your very life is bound up with

Ram. O Ram, make Ramdas’ faith in Thee ever unshakable, ever firm,

permanently fixed. Let all Ramdas’ thoughts, acts and words proceed

directly from Thee - at Thy bidding - in Thy name and for Thy sake only. Let

Ramdas’ personality merge itself in Thee. Make him Thy abode - or make

Thee his abode, one in the other always intermingled. Let there not be a

moment’s separation - blended, welded together for ever and for ever.

Powerful as Thou art, O Ram, Love as Thou art, Light as Thou art, Bliss as

Thou art, the great and only Truth as Thou art, Thy slave prays to Thee,

begs Thee, implores Thee, cries to Thee, weeps to Thee, prostrates before

Thee - O Ram, have pity on Thy slave, make him Thine altogether. Ram,

bless, bless Thy slave. To bless Thy slave is to bless the world. To love Thy

slave is to love the world. O Ram, O Love infinite, enter into the very being

of Ramdas and live there and spread Thy Light, Love and Bliss. Om Sriram.

O Ram, there is a dawn - a brilliant dawn in the heart of Ramdas.

There is in it a flood of Light - a flash of Love - a rush of Bliss. Purity dwells

where Ram is. He enters, all evils flee. The sun rises, all darkness vanishes.

O Ram, how glorious Thou art! The moment Thou art appealed to, Thou

listeneth and granteth. O Mother, how kind of Thee. How beautiful is Thy

Love, how tender, how soft, how gracious, how true, how bracing, how

cooling, how good, O how lasting! O Ram, Thine, Thine is Thy slave - Thine -

Thine is this Thy child for ever, for ever, for ever. Om, Om, Om Sriram!

Higher and higher the thought rises until it is lost in the

incomprehensible. Deeper and deeper the thought runs down until it is lost

in the unfathomable. Wider and wider the thought spreads out until it is lost

in the unexplorable. Narrower and narrower the thought contracts until it is

lost in the unthinkable. Om Sriram!

Love expands the heart and hate contracts it. There is nothing

sweeter than Love. There is nothing more bitter than hate. Love is natural.

Hate is unnatural. Love makes and hate destroys. Love is a charming and

cooling landscape. Hate is an arid and cheerless desert. Love is harmony.

Hate is chaos. Love is light. Hate is darkness. Love is bliss. Hate is misery.

Love is life. Hate is death. Love is purity. Hate is impurity. Love combines.

Hate breaks up. Love is beauty. Hate is ugliness. Love is health. Hate is

disease. Love is sweet music. Hate is discordant noise. Love is wisdom. Hate

is ignorance. Love is activity. Hate is dullness. Love is heaven. Hate is hell.

Love is God. Hate is illusion. Om Sriram!

O man,

Where is sweetness - it is in thee.

Where is bitterness - it is in thee.

Where is happiness - it is in thee.

Where is misery - it is in thee.

Where is light - it is in thee.

Where is darkness - it is in thee.

Where is love - it is in thee.

Where is hate - it is in thee.

Where is heat - it is in thee.

Where is cold - it is in thee.

Where is good - it is in thee.

Where is evil - it is in thee.

Where is truth - it is in thee.

Where is untruth - it is in thee.

Where is wisdom - it is in thee.

Where is ignorance - it is in thee.

Where is heaven - it is in thee.

Where is hell - it is in thee.

Where is God - it is in thee.

Where is illusion - it is in thee. Om Sriram!

Ram is a reservoir of nectar composed of Light, Love and Bliss. O

Ramdas, dive into this well of ambrosia - sink, swim, dance, nay, drown

Thyself in it. Om Sriram!

Ram is a volume of fragrance made up of Light, Love and Bliss. O

Ramdas, merge into this wave of aroma; dive, play, gambol - nay, lose

thyself in it. Om Sriram!

Ram is a rainbow of colours formed of Light, Love and Bliss. O

Ramdas, gaze into this heaven of tints; link, soak, blend - nay, feel thyself

one with it. Om Sriram!

Ram is a music of tunes filled with Light, Love and Bliss. O Ramdas,

drink at this fountain of thrills; reel, shake, wake - nay, die in the

intoxication of it. Om Sriram!

POEMS

OM SRIRAM

Love softly laid her head,

Light nimbly danced around,

Bliss made a joyous sound,

Peace comes to bless them all.

Love gently oped her eyes,

Light slowly waved the fan,

Bliss leapt and flit and ran,

Peace smiles upon them all.

Love sang her sweetest song,

Light tuned her charming rays,

Bliss laughs and rings and plays.

Peace smiles over them all.

Ram - the blithesome love,

Ram - the shining light,

Ram - the blissful height,

Ram - the peace over all.

THE SOLE REFUGE

O Ram, I take refuge in Thee,

Thou art my love, my life, my lead,

I am in Thee, Thou art in me,

Thou art my father, mother, indeed

Thou art the life that pervades all.

In Thee all things and lives reside,

Thou art the life in great and small,

In Thee my friend and brother abide.

Thy lotus feet my constant thought,

Thy light divine my only dream,

To serve Thee is my pleasing lot,

Thou art my wealth, name and fame.

O Ram, how charming is that sound,

O lips, utter Ram Ram

O mind, meditate Ram Ram,

Forget thyself in Him - in Him.

O Ram, I see Thy form on every side;

In all the worlds Thy light

and glory abide.

O Ram, Thou art the sun

that shines on high;

Thou art the moon

and stars that deck the sky.

O Ram, Thou art the life

that fills all space,

And sets the whirling universe

in its race.

O Ram, I see in hills Thy form divine,

In waters vast that flow

and wave and shine.

O Ram, I see Thy light

in jungles wild,

In trees and plants and verdure mild.

O Ram, all life reflects Thy godly light

Thou art all in all -

Love, Bliss and Might.

-OM

Gurudev

Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram

Guru Maharaj,

A thousand salutations at thy holy feet. Sri Ram’s kindness to me has

been so great that after freeing me from the toils of Samsara He has taken

me completely under His Divine guidance and support. O! Ram, Thou art my

sole refuge. Thou hast been treating me as Thy helpless child ever taking

tender care of me. Glory to Thee, O! Ram. Thy kindness and love is infinite.

May I be never tired of uttering Thy sweet name, sweeter than nectar. My

heart is full with the joy which Sri Ram gives me and I must talk of Him and

His love, to whom? O! Ram, to whom? To thee, my brother, my Satguru. Sri

Ram is showing me all the wonders of His Maya. Sri Ram took me round all

the sacred shrines from the south of India to the uttermost north. He guided

the footsteps of His humble servant over the blessed Himalayas. The very air

over there breathes Sri Ram’s Divine presence. The never ending chains of

mountains clothed with thick forests are eternal witnesses of Ram’s

greatness. The Holy Ganga flowing down these Hills - giving life and

sustenance to millions - is singing Ram’s glory. Indeed my sight was blessed

with enchanting scenes and landscapes - that kept me spellbound. O! Ram,

Thou are Grand! 400 miles I walked over the mountains and I never felt any

fatigue because Sri Ram was kind to me. He gave me strength and peace. At

certain places the ascents were so steep and path so rugged and narrow that

a slight slip would pull a man down headlong into the bosom of Ganga -

hundreds of feet below. When Sri Ram was my guide, what fear have I? He

took me up and up and I walked on fearlessly in full joy chanting His sweet

name. Kedarnath was the first place Sri Ram made me visit - about 160

miles from Hardwar. The path to Kedarnath is really dangerous. Many

pilgrims have slipped down from the rocks and have been washed away in

the torrents of Ganga. Mandakini, a tributary of the Ganges, starts from

Kedarnath. The place is covered with snow and cold here is extreme. While

ascending to Kedarnath one has to tread upon snow. Who protected me

from cold? O! It is Thou. A temple is founded here surrounded on all sides by

high rocks fully covered with snow. I ascended one of these rocks which

none venture. I first thought it was not so high. I crawled up two hours,

(nearly) still I could not reach the top. My hold while ascending was rough

grass that peeps here and there through snow. It took me nearly 3 hours to

travel up to the top of the rock. The distance traversed might be about a

mile. To ascend was difficult enough but to descend was extremely perilous.

I had simply to slip down 2 or 3 yards at a time and then grip the grass.

Further it began to rain not water but big white globules of snow. O! Ram,

who protected me here again - it is Thou and Thou alone. After nearly five

hours I reached the bottom of the rock. I went to the source of the river

Mandakini where the snow melts and flows down. Here I bathed in the ice

cold water. O! Ram, it is by They grace I could do all these things. All glory

to Thee. I stayed in Kedarnath for one day, then coming down about 40

miles ascended again another chain of hills, the path here was not so bad as

the one leading to Kedarnath. But I had to walk over snow at several places

and to cover a distance of about 81 miles (milestones are on the way) in

order to reach the source of the river Alaknanda, another tributary of the

Ganges. This place is called Badrinath or Badrinarayan. Here also the cold is

very great. There is a wonder here. From one of the rocks surrounding the

temple of Narayan flows down hot fuming water which is collected in a tank

in which pilgrims bathe. I remained here also for a day and then came

down. Thousands of pilgrims are every year ascending these hills for the

Darshan of Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Through over exertion many old men and women give up their bodies

on the way. Ram’s kindness to me during this journey was so great, that I

never felt hungry on the way. The pilgrims here were very kind to me. They

used to vie with each other in serving my wants which consisted of 2 or 3

rotees without salt and boiled potatoes. Some veritably worshipped Ram’s

humble das. Hardwar is the starting point for this Himalayan pilgrimage.

About 15 miles up the hills is situated the place called Rishikesh, where

about a hundred Mahatmas reside in their respective Ashrams, thatched

huts on the bank of the Ganges. The place is simply enchanting - for a time I

thought of settling down here once for all, even without proceeding further

on the hills. Even now I wish Sri Ram should take me to this place again so

that I might spend the rest of my life in the company of these Sannyasis, but

I do not know what His wish is. I remained in Rishikesh for 3 days. In my

wanderings on the hills, I visited the Ashrams of Agastyamuni, Narad and

Pandavas. It took me 40 days to complete this pilgrimage. These mountains

are peopled by hill tribes who live by cultivation. They are so simple and so

pure, uncontaminated by the touch of modern civilisation. Ram Nam is on

the lips of all of them. They are a fair complexioned race, clad in clothing

made of thick blankets. Even women use thick rugs for sarees. They are also

rearing cattle and sheep; the latter yield wool which they spin and weave

into blankets for their clothing. Wonderful are Thy works O! Ram. Returning

from the Himalayas, Ram directed me towards Mathura, the birthplace of

that love incarnate Bhagwan Sri Krishna, wherefrom I visited Gokul,

Govardhan and Brindaban. I spent about 10 days on the banks of the holy

Jamuna in Brindaban. Brindaban is a delightful place. From Mathura, Sri

Ram made me travel down to Raipur, Ajmer (where I visited Khaja Pir, a

famous Shrine of Mohammedans and thence ascended the hill of Pushkar

Raj, remained there for 5 days. Then came down further this side. Ram

wants me shortly to visit Dwarka and Girnar. Girnar is the stand or seat of

Dattatreya. After visiting these places and Pandharpur, Ram seems to be

wishing to close my itinerant life. At present I am staying in the Ashram of a

Mahatma of Gujarat. This Ashram is situated in a jungle, quite solitary,

where I can perform Rambhajan with great pleasure. I am praying Ram to

point out and lead me to a place where I can spend the remainder of my life

in meditation of Him, in uttering His sweet name. The charming music of

the sound Ram has sustained me all along and will certainly fill me with His

grace till the end. But what He intends to make of me is not known yet. My

prostrations at the holy feet of my Gurudev, our father who gave me that

Divine Ram Mantram and at thy feet also. I crave for thy blessings. May Sri

Ram keep you all blessed with His grace is the fervent prayer of His humble

Ramdas. I may, by Ram’s Will, remain here for about 10 days before going

to Dwarka.

Love and Namaskars.

RAMDAS

On the eve of Swami Ramdas’ departure from Mangalore on 27-12-

1922, this letter was written to Smt P Rukma Bai, wife of Sri Swami Ramdas

in his Grihasthashrama.

Transcription of the facsimile:

To

Smt Rukmabai

Dear Sister,

You are to me only a sister in future. Sriram at whose feet I

have surrendered myself entirely has called me away from

the past sphere of my life. I go forth a beggar in the wide

world chanting the sweet name of Sriram. You know I have

no ambition in life except to struggle for the attainment of

Sriram’s Grace and Love. To that aim alone I dedicate the

rest of my life and suffer for it - suffer to any extent. We

may not meet again - at least as husband and wife. Walk

always in the path of God and Truth and make Rame do the

same.

Don’t give up the spinning wheel. It will give you peace and

happiness. Let Rame also work it.

Sriram’s blessings on you and Rame - He protects you both.

Yours affectionately

  P Vittal Rao

27.12.22

GLOSSARY

Ahankar - Ego-Sense

Akhada - Abode of Sadhus

Annakshetra - Free feeding house for religious mendicants

Asan - A seat or Yogic posture

Avataras - Incarnations of God

Bhajee - Vegetable curry

Bhaktas - Devotees of God

Bhakti - Devotion

Bhiksha - Alms

Bundar - Sea-port

Chandan - Sandalwood paste

Charka - Spinning wheel

Chela - Disciple

Chits - Meal tickets

Dal - A preparation of pulse

Darshan - Visit of vision

Das - Servant

Dharmashala - Rest-house

Dhed - Parish

Doli - Cradle-like conveyance for going uphill

Ektar - One-stringed musical instrument

Fakir - Religious mendicant

Gadi - A seat made of cotton mattress

Gerrua - Red ochre used for dyeing the clothes of a Sannyasi

Gomata - Mother cow

Gopura - Tower of a temple

Grihastha - Householder

Grihasthashrama - Life of a householder

Guru - Spiritual preceptor

Gurustan - Abode of the Guru

Kam - Lust or desire

Kamandal - Water-vessel carried by Sannyasis

Kambal - Woollen blanket

Kaupin - Loin cloth

Krodh - Anger

Kshetra - Place of field - here refers to free feeding house

Ladoos - Sweetmeat balls

Lobh - Greed

Lota - A small hand water -vessel

Mada - Pride

Mahant - Head of a religious institution

Maharshi - A great sage

Mahasamadhi - Ultimate absorption of a saint in God after dissolution

of his body

Mahtma - A great soul

Mandap - A decorated structure for seating the image of Divinity

or an honoured person

Mandir - Temple

Mantram - Incantation

Masjid - A Muslim place of worship

Matsarya - Jealousy

Maya - Illusive power of God

Moha - Attachment

Mridang - A drum used in Indian music

Mukti - Emancipation

Namaskar - Salutation

Nim - A species of Indian tree with leaves of bitter taste, but

possessing medicinal properties

Pranava - The sacred syllable -OM

Prasad - Food offered to God

Puja - Worship

Pujari - Worshipper

Purees - Fried wheat-bread

Ram-Bhajan - Devotional singing, or meditation on God

Ram-Japa - Repetition of the name Ram

Rami-Smaran - Remembrance of God

Roti - Home-made bread

Sadavart - Food-stuffs given free to Sadhus

Sadhana - Spiritual discipline

Sadhu - Ascetic

Samadhi - Saint's tomb or spiritual trance

Samsara - Worldly life or the wheel of birth and death

Samsaric - Pertaining to worldly life

Sandhya - The prayers of the Hindus during the three specified

periods of the day

Sannyasin - Religious mendicant

Sarees - The main garments of a Hindu woman

Satis - Here refers to Hindu women who immolate themselves

on the funeral pyre of their departed husbands

Sat-Sang - Association with Saint

Seth - Merchant

Shiva-Ling - Symbol of Shiva, worshipped by Hindus

Shivaratri - The night on which special worship is offered to Shiva

annually

Shishya - Disciple

Slokas - Verses

Tabooth - A Muslim term - see Mandap

Tambourine - Stringed Indian musical instrument

Tapasya - Austerity

Upadesh - Initiation or religious exhortation

Vakils - Lawyers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

(Back Cover)

Swami Ramdas, who was known as P Vittal Rao during his pre-Sannyas

days, was leading an ordinary life till God’s grace descended on him in or

about the year 1920. Then he was made to think deeply on the futility of

worldly pursuits and the necessity of pursuing the divine path and realizing

one’s identity with the Supreme Being, which alone can lead one to ‘Peaceeternal’

. He placed himself totally at the altar of God. At this time his

father initiated him with the holy and all-powerful Name of God – Sri Ram

Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. He took to ceaseless chanting of the holy Name. When

the prompting came from within to renounce the worldly life, he took to a

wandering mendicant’s life. Fiery aspiration coupled with intense practice

to attain the Highest, hastened his spiritual progress and, in a short time, he

could behold his Beloved - God - everywhere, both within and without. He

thus showed how absolute surrender to God, arising from His constant

remembrance by chanting of His name, could lead to ultimate Realization

quickly and getting established in unending Bliss.

Having thus attained spiritual liberation and God-vision, he started on

his mission to awaken mankind to the awareness of God. In 1931 he and

Mother Krishnabai, his foremost disciple and a Self-realized soul, founded

Anandashram with the object of propagating the ideal of Universal Love and

Service. This spiritual centre offers every kind of facility for spiritual

regeneration of the soul so that it may realize its pristine divine nature.

Swami Ramdas attained Maha Nirvana in July 1963 and Mother

Krishnabai in February 1989.

The books authored by Swami Ramdas which come from the deep of

Reality continue to inspire innumerable devotees both inside and outside India.

 

 

Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(End) 

(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of H H Swami Ramadas ji  for the collection)