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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
be happy. She then thought that unless she could prove her worth by
manifesting some extraordinary powers he could not be convinced
and she began to seek occult powers and gained them. But she did
not betray them just then. Constant association with her made the
king dispassionate. He began to dislike the worldly life and desired
to retire into the forest for performing tapasya. So he told his wife
that he wanted to leave the world for the forest. She was delighted
at the development, but pretended to be very much concerned with
his unkind decision. He hesitated out of consideration for her. In
the meantime, his dispassion gained in force and he decided to
leave home even without her consent.
When the queen was sleeping one night he suddenly left the palace
by stealth and retired into the forest. He was seeking some solitary
spot where he could perform his tapas. When the queen woke up she
did not find her husband and immediately found out by her occult
powers what had really happened. She rejoiced in her husband’s
determination. She called the ministers and said that the king had
gone on some important business and that the administration should
be carried on as efficiently as ever. She herself administered the
state in the absence of the king.
Eighteen years passed. She then knew that the king was fit for
Self-Realisation. So she appeared to him disguised as Kumbha and
so on. He then realised the Self and returned to rule the kingdom
with the queen.
The point is that occult powers are sought and gained for the
benefit of others by Self-Realised persons also. But the sages are
not deluded by the possession of such powers.
D.: Does the sage use occult powers for making others realise the Self
or is the mere fact of his Self-Realisation enough for it?
M.: The force of his Self-Realisation is far more powerful than the
use of all other powers.
Inasmuch as there is no ego in him, there are not others for him.
What is the highest benefit that can be conferred on others? It is
happiness. Happiness is born of Peace. Peace can reign only when
there is no disturbance. Disturbance is due to thoughts which arise
in the mind. When the mind itself is absent there will be perfect
571