Ramana Maharshi
(Sri Aurobindo:) “Perhaps you know the famous story about Maharshi. Once, getting disgusted with the Ashram and the disciples, he started to go away to the mountains. He passed along a narrow path flanked by hills. He came upon an old woman sitting with her legs stretched across the path. He requested her to draw aside her legs but she wouldn't. Then he walked across them. She became very angry and said, “Why are you so restless? Why can't you sit in one place at Arunachala instead of moving about? Go back to your place and worship Shiva there.” Her remarks struck him and he retraced his steps. After going some distance he looked back. He found that nobody was there. It flashed on him that the Divine Mother herself had spoken and had wanted him to remain at Arunachala.”[1]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “After two years of my joining the Ashram I asked the Mother that I wanted to go to Sri Ramana Maharshi's Ashram for just a visit and the Mother showing Her eyes said, “No! No! No! You cannot go!” I was surprised but I simply accepted.
After another year or two a batch of relatives of mine came for Tirth-Yatra (pilgrimage) and Bharat Darshan. They wanted me to go with them to see Sri Ramana Maharshi's Ashram. I simply agreed because I had completely forgotten that the Mother had said “No!” to me earlier. Or perhaps I thought hat that had been a different occasion and now the Mother would certainly allow me to go with my relatives.
I went to the Mother to ask for her permission, rather to inform her that I was going.
The Mother said, “Your relatives have come for Tirth-Yatra and not you. You have come for this place and the matter is finished. Your relations can certainly go without you. You are not their guide. They have no right to ask you to go with them. You are not their slave. Let them go.” ”[2]
- ↑ Talks with Sri Aurobindo, p.53, 2 December 1938
- ↑ Surendranath Jauhar, My Mother, p.10