I went to meet Sri Nannagaru today knowing that the great man was in my city. The moment I thought of meeting him today...everything was perfect.
My driver arrived on time, there was no power cut, and I got ready within minutes.
The view outside the car too seemed too perfect. I had to cover nearly 12 km of distance in morning traffic and I knew it would take me about half an hour or so. I decided to watch the scenes outside to while away the time.
Everything was perfect.
Schoolgirls with white ribbons and long plaits, the traffic constable with a rayban replica cooling glasses, the peasant carrying a bundle of coconut leaves, commuters waiting for the bus at the bus stop, a youth indulging in helmetless bike driving, two shy lovers hiding from all sitting under a tree shade in a small park...the boy talking excitedly and the girl listening shyly, the vendor with the mangoes for sale, a govt building walls plastered with 'do not pass urine here' :), cars trying to overtake from the wrong side....everything...everything looked perfect.
Today was a day when everything was left uncared for...no analysis...only something that needed to be seen and loved...from sheer ugliness to enchanting beauty...everything was the same...
PERFECT.
Reaching the house where the saint was staying I bought some apples for him and took the lift up to the fifth floor.
there were already a hundred people trying to catch a glimpse of him and trying to get in the small flat that the saint usually stays in.
I was ushered in by his trusted lieutenant whose wife is a patient of mine and made to sit on a sofa as the saint ate his breakfast.
Finishing breakfast the saint looked at me and smiled. He introduced me to the crowd and asked me to come and sit next to him. I refused and tried to sit down. He vehemently opposed this and made me sit next to him.
He inquired about my professional life and family. I answered.
He looked at the fruits I bought for him.
"You have brought a lot of fruits" he said.
I nodded shyly.
"Do you read any other books apart from your subject books?" he asked.
I replied that I read Sri Ramakrishna's books a lot.
He nodded.
"Do you think there is a difference between Sri Ramakrishna's teachings and Bhagwan Ramana's teachings?" he asked.
I shook my head "No"
He smiled and said " Ramakrishna delved into all aspects of Advaita, Dvaita, and other forms of philosophy more than Ramana. Bhagwan was more Advaita oriented." He said.
I nodded again. It seemed to echo an inner feeling of mine.
I looked at him and said " Sri Ramakrishna and You are One. I consider you as God."
There was an instant ripple of joy across the crowd surrounding us.
The saint gave a slight pause as a divine smile played on his features and he looked like Grace Personified.
The Divine glow persisted for a few seconds and then it was gone.
He extended his palms and patted my cheeks.
In another meeting I had said to him
"I worship you as God. I know no other. You are my Sri Ramakrishna."
He had smiled and said
"Protect that feeling of yours and cherish it throughout life." He said. " That one thing is enough...that one thing is enough."
His hands raised in a mudra of blessing as I bowed low before him
