Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi Complete ... - BrahminVoice.org

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
30th May, 1936
Talk 190.
There is a pet squirrel in the hall which usually retires into its cage
before nightfall. Just as Maharshi was telling it to retire for the night
a visitor who had announced that he had attained the transcendent
consciousness suggested that water might be offered to it, since
it was likely to be thirsty on this hot evening. His presumption to
understand animals evoked no response. He repeated it. After a few
minutes’ silence Maharshi said, “You are probably thirsty after your
long meditation in the hot Sun on the hotter rocks and you would like
to drink a jug of water.”
D.: Quite so. I have taken water.
M.: The squirrel is not so thirsty. Because you were practising
austerities in the heat of the Sun you should feel thirsty. Why
prescribe it for the squirrel?
Maharshi added: I noticed him standing on the hot rocks facing the
Sun with eyes closed. I stood there for a while but did not want to
disturb him and came away. These people do as they please.
D.: What I did, I did not intend beforehand. It was spontaneous.
M.: Oh! I see! Whatever we others do, we do with intention! You
seem to have transcended all!
D.: This is not the first time I did so. You yourself inspire me and make
me do all these things. Yet you ask me why I did it. How is it?
M.: I see. You are doing actions being controlled by me. Then the fruits
also should be considered similarly to be mine and not yours.
D.: So they are undoubtedly. I act not of my free will but inspired by
you. I have no will of my own.
M.: Enough of this rubbish! So did Duryodhana of old (in the
Mahabharata) say:
janami dharmam nacha me pravrittih,
janamyadharmam nacha me nivrittih.
kenapi devana hridi sthitena
yatha niyuktosmitatha karomi.
162