Being A Disciple Of Sadguru Ramana-Paul Brunton And Arthur Osborne

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There is another important event among the various series of events concerning the same point, the need to surrender to Ramana as a sadguru and his acceptance of the person as his disciple. This comes out in clear light in the life of Paul Brunton. Brunton had come to India in the early thirties in search of the saints and seers of India.

In the course of his search Brunton had also a memorable meeting with Ramana and got several clarifications regarding his doubts. Unfortunately he was still in the mode of a traveller wishing to finish his journey soon. His attitude was not one of surrender to Ramana. Therefore he failed to establish any worthwhile personal contact with the Maharshi. By divine grace he recognised this failure just before returning to Europe.

Brunton came back to Sri Ramanasramam, this time wishing to be a disciple of Ramana. Therefore his was an attitude of prayerful surrender and openness to receive the initiation which happened later.

Again, running through the events we come across the case of Arthur Osborne who had wrongly believed that Ramana had no disciples, until he himself became one. Even though he was regularly meditating in Ramana's presence in the Old Hall, initially he developed only the highest regard.

As Arthur Osborne progressed in the awareness of Ramana's true glory, on one festival day Ramana gave him a piercing look, a look of grace. Instantly Osborne felt that he had been accepted by Ramana as a disciple. After that Osborne classified all ideas about Ramana not being a guru as 'spurious theories', which have no validity.

Even when Ramana was in the body he was ever the bodiless Self. Therefore his role as Sadguru has not ended on his Mahanirvana on the 14th of April 1950. From then till now, and in the coming centuries as well, people can and will relate to him a their sadguru provided they yearn to be his disciples. And Ramana in his graciousness bestows that unique blessing for those devotees.

In accepting anyone as a disciple, Ramana literally takes the load off the disciple's shoulder. He not only guides him firmly on the inward path, never abandoning him inspite of his innumerable failures, but also takes charge of his material welfare.

A duty hence is cast on every disciple to be steadfast in his devotion, unflaggingly earnest in the practice of self-enquiry and to remember the truth that Ramana sadguru is the indweller in every human heart.

About the author

A.R.Natarajan

Sri A.R.Natarajan has had the opportunity of a long association of over 50 years with the Ramanashram. He was the editor of "Mountain Path" for two years. He was the secretary of Ramana Kendra, New Delhi for ten years. He founded the Ramana Maharshi centre for learning, a non profit institution. He has authored more than thirty six books and eleven pocket books on the life and teachings of Bhagavan Ramana.

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