A Search In Secret India
I came across this title few months ago while I was reading "The Mind of Ramana - by Arthur Osborne". This book is from a British journalist, Paul Brunton, first published in 1934! I secured this book from Sapna Book House, the evening before Sir Edmund 'Ed' Hillary passed away.
I have just started reading the book. Author wants to investigate about the mystical India and in search of the Yogis. I believe this book of him opened the spiritual face of India to the West. It is through this book that the West comes to know about Ramana Maharshi. The book is a series of his experiences with different kind of people. In his own words: "...One heard much of certain so-called holy men who possessed repute of having acquired ddeep wisdom and strange powers; so one travelled through scorching days and sleepless nights to find them - only find well-intentioned fools, scriptural slaves, venerable know-nothings, money-seeking conjurers, juggles with a few tricks, and pious frauds."
To this respect, it is similar to Swami Rama's "Living with the Himalayan Masters", where Swami Rama tells stories of his encounters with Yogis (in general terms) of the Himalayan region. Although I have just begun reading Brunton's book, the main difference I see is that Brunton's writings appear honest. He documents his experiences with careful consideration based on scientific scepticism and spiritual sensitivity. Another reason for me to believe is that he is a Westener and has no use in misleading his own people (Occidental) about the Oriental methods.
I initially thought I should wait writing about the book till I finish reading. But, few chapters fascinated me and it would be arduous a task to remember and write everything after completing the book. I will attempt to note down interesting parts as I go through the book. It will also help me in documenting my thought processes as I travel through the book, which I can look back at a later time.
"The Anchorite of the Adyar River" and "The Yoga which conquers Death" are the two chapters which I want to write about. The author meets a Yogi in a village near Tanjavur (Eastern district of TamilNadu in the delta of River Kaveri, known for its art and also for the rice production). His name is "Bramasuganandah" (I think, "Brahma-SukhAnanda") and author names him shortly as "Brama".
The Yogi demonstrates few yogic feats such as stopping his heart-beat for seven seconds, stopping the blood flow, and stopping the breath. Author holds Brama's wrist to feel the stoppage of the pulse on his wrist. Whereas, he uses a brass utensil to confirm that the Yogi is not breathing either through his nostrils or mouth. Brama claims that he could attain this by practice of Hatha Yoga for 12 continuous years. Brama explains the author, the Yoga system of Asana and Pranayama to the best extent possible with honest intentions.
Then he talks about conquering death. Demonstrating stoppage of breath, he says that one can conquer death. He says he could hold his breath for two hours. The conversation that struck me is:
Paul Brunton: "We Westeners will always find it difficult to understand how life can continue in a body unless breathing continues also."
Brama: "Life always continues," he answers cryptically, "Death is but a habit of the body."
He also gives an example of a faqueer who comes alive after buried for 40 days. Brunton verifies the records and confirms this. In Brunton's own words: "I have since verified this reference and find that the actual episode occurred in 1837 at Lahore. The faqueer was buried in the presence of King Ranjit Singh, Sir Claude Wade, Dr. Honigberger, and others. A guard of Sikh soldiers watched the grave day and night to prevent fraud. The faqueer was dug up alive forty days later. Fuller particulars can be found in the archives at Calcutta" (Page 93 - PB: A searchin secret India)
Another interesting conversation, revolving around age of Brama's master, Yerambu Swamy (The Ant Teacher):
"I believe that he is over four hundred years old !" Brama quietly finishes the sentence for me.
"Many a time he has described to me what happened during the reigns of the Moghul Emperors," supplements the Yogi. " And he has told me stories of the days when your English India Company first came to Madras."
Sceptical Western ears are unable to accept these statements.
"But any child who has read a history book could tell you such things," I counter.
Brama ignores my remark. He goes on :
"My master remembers clearly the first battle of Panipat and he has not forgotten the days of the
battle of Plassey. I recollect how he once referred to a brother desciple, on Beshudananda, as a
mere child of eighty years!"
Brunton does not get satisfied with the explanation. But, he is satisfied with the above mentioned three demonstrations to believe that there is something in Indian Yoga System that West may find it difficult to digest. In Brunton's words: "...Yet the demonstrations of breath and blood control which Brama has given me provide some assurance that Yogic powers are not mere chimeras, that these powers can undoubtedly be responsible for the performance of feats which must appear fabulous to the uninitiated. Beyond this point I find it difficult to walk with him."
On his last conversation with the Yogi, Brunton asks:
"Brama, these powers - they are wonderfully fascinating. One day I would really like to go more deeply into your training, yet, after all, how much lasting happiness do they bring? Is there not something finer still in Yoga?"
Brama says:
"...the conquest of the body was to be looked upon as a step towards the conquest of the mind, and this again as a way to becoming spiritually perfect...", then continues, "Therefore, my own master has taught me: 'First run your course in Body Control; then you can take to the kingly science, the Mind Control.'..."
Then Brama gives a chart with peculiar symbols and Tamil characters drawn in red, green and black inks, and says:
"Whe you get back, paste one of my photographs in the centre." He informs me that if I will concentrate my mind upon this queer but not inartistic document for five minutes before going to sleep at night, I shall dream clearly and vividly of him.
He continues...
"Last night my master appeared to me. He spoke to me about yourself. He said: 'Your friend, the sahib, is eager for knowledge. In his last birth he was among us. He followed Yoga practices, but they were not of our school. To-day he has come again to Hindustan, but in a white skin. What he knew then, has now been forgotten ; yet he can forget for a while only. Until a master bestows his grace upon him he cannot become aware of this former knowledge. The master's touch is needed to help him recover that knowledge in this body. Tell him that soon he shall meet a master. Thereafter, light will come to him of its own accord. This is certain. Bid him cease his anxiety. Our land shall not be left by him untill this happens. It is the writing of fate that he may not leave us with empty hands.'"
I draw back, astounded. Thelamp throws its beams of light upon the little assembly. My young interpreter's face seems stricken with awe in that yellowish glare.
Brunton asks if his master is away somewhere in the Himalayas (or Nepal), how on earth could he travel twelve hundred miles in a single night.
Brama smiles cryptically. "My master is ever present to me, though India's span lies between our bodies. I receive his message without letter or bearer. His thought speeds through the air. It reaches me and I understand."
Let me stop here in reproducing part of the book. I may write more about this as I read through the book.
This is my second book on Ramana Maharshi. So far, it is looking more like a fiction thriller. I am not denying the veracity of the author. Being a Hindu, being a student of Yoga, I am more prone to believe these than the author himself. However, although I may not disagree with all these stories, I prefer not to be bothered about all these. I believe there must be something else which transcends all these.
Recently, I was privileged to hear the presidential speech of Dr. K Ramakrishna Rao (ex Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, who is one of the authorities on the subject of para-psychology) at "Prashanti Kutiram", Bangalore, on the occassion of Internationa Conference on Yoga. The spoke about experiments in the field of parapsychology and spoke at length about various incidents of Extra-Sensory-Perception. His speech was not a mere babbling. He had facts at hand. So, better I believe it. You can not go around calling everybody a fraud or insane.
Last Tuesday night, 22rd January 2008, my yoga teacher dreamt of one of his students who was not very regular to the class in the recent days. In the dream my teacher teased him for not being regular. When the student was made aware of this, he told that even he had similar dream where he had been to the class where the teacher asked the same question. This is what makes things strange and weird. It is quite possible that the student did not have the dream and he felt a kind of dejavu learning about his teacher's dream. It is quite possible the student did get similar dream and it was a mere coincidence. It is also quite possible that there is something beyond my/our understanding. Dr. K. Ramakrishna Rao in his speech said that such incidents are reported at random and the method to scientifically quantify is tough.
There may be something. It may be true that one can conquer death. I do not want to live for four hundred years at least. I am afraid if my employer, IBM, would be around. In the past 9 years of employment, I have seen at least 6 managers at work place. What if I continue to work for centuries for IBM? What version of IBM WebSphere product will be out in the market and which fixpack level?!!! I would be appraised by a manager who would be of my great-grandson's great-grandson's great-grandson's age!!!
Jokes apart, let me now digress a little more. Let us forget about all these fantasy world, if I could call it so. Ramana says that mind is nothing but thoughts. It is a beautiful definition. You mind only if there are thoughts. Sorrow and happiness are your responses to these thoughts. Ramana, once teasing his mother (who is little orthodoxic when it comes to rituals), says: "Mind the onion! That is the cause of all problems!". In Hindu religion, we believe Onion to be of "tamasic" in nature. "Tamasa" is the "guna" (property) that pulls one's mind towards materialistic world. So, orthodox Brahmins do not eat onions. I thought "Mind the onion! That is the cause of all problems!", could have been re-written as: "Mind, The Onion! That is the cause of all problems!".
Further Ramana says, you destroy your thoughts, you end up destroying the mind. Ramana was a living example of this theory. My teacher once said, a real Yogi is the one who is capable of emptying one's mind at his will. This is nothing but destroying one's mind at his will. Then there is no pain, no pleasure. It is a state of eternal bliss. But, how can one attain this level? More you try to avoid / control your thoughts, they rush in with more vigour and force. The "actual" secret lies in ignoring, neglecting whatever thoughts that flow in. Thoughts are going to be there. But you are not giving any heed to it. You are just a witness. As they are neglected again and again, the waves of thoughts are going to ebb down.
It is nice to hear all these. Whether I agree or differ with the fantasising stories of the faqueers, Yogis (in general sense), I prefer to believe in what Ramana has said. During daily practice of Surya Namaskara, I have found it very difficult to stop thinking. At least, after Surya Namaskara, sometimes I sit down to see if I can sit quietly ignoring the thoughts that haunt me. To some extent, I succeed. For sometime, I can site idle without any thing registered by my mind. Thoughts will be there. But, for sometime, I am able to ignore them. However, this state remains for a very short period. I can not remain in this state for rest of the day. Hope I will find an answer. Hope the book by Paul Brunton helps in this direction.
Good night!
I have just started reading the book. Author wants to investigate about the mystical India and in search of the Yogis. I believe this book of him opened the spiritual face of India to the West. It is through this book that the West comes to know about Ramana Maharshi. The book is a series of his experiences with different kind of people. In his own words: "...One heard much of certain so-called holy men who possessed repute of having acquired ddeep wisdom and strange powers; so one travelled through scorching days and sleepless nights to find them - only find well-intentioned fools, scriptural slaves, venerable know-nothings, money-seeking conjurers, juggles with a few tricks, and pious frauds."
To this respect, it is similar to Swami Rama's "Living with the Himalayan Masters", where Swami Rama tells stories of his encounters with Yogis (in general terms) of the Himalayan region. Although I have just begun reading Brunton's book, the main difference I see is that Brunton's writings appear honest. He documents his experiences with careful consideration based on scientific scepticism and spiritual sensitivity. Another reason for me to believe is that he is a Westener and has no use in misleading his own people (Occidental) about the Oriental methods.
I initially thought I should wait writing about the book till I finish reading. But, few chapters fascinated me and it would be arduous a task to remember and write everything after completing the book. I will attempt to note down interesting parts as I go through the book. It will also help me in documenting my thought processes as I travel through the book, which I can look back at a later time.
"The Anchorite of the Adyar River" and "The Yoga which conquers Death" are the two chapters which I want to write about. The author meets a Yogi in a village near Tanjavur (Eastern district of TamilNadu in the delta of River Kaveri, known for its art and also for the rice production). His name is "Bramasuganandah" (I think, "Brahma-SukhAnanda") and author names him shortly as "Brama".
The Yogi demonstrates few yogic feats such as stopping his heart-beat for seven seconds, stopping the blood flow, and stopping the breath. Author holds Brama's wrist to feel the stoppage of the pulse on his wrist. Whereas, he uses a brass utensil to confirm that the Yogi is not breathing either through his nostrils or mouth. Brama claims that he could attain this by practice of Hatha Yoga for 12 continuous years. Brama explains the author, the Yoga system of Asana and Pranayama to the best extent possible with honest intentions.
Then he talks about conquering death. Demonstrating stoppage of breath, he says that one can conquer death. He says he could hold his breath for two hours. The conversation that struck me is:
Paul Brunton: "We Westeners will always find it difficult to understand how life can continue in a body unless breathing continues also."
Brama: "Life always continues," he answers cryptically, "Death is but a habit of the body."
He also gives an example of a faqueer who comes alive after buried for 40 days. Brunton verifies the records and confirms this. In Brunton's own words: "I have since verified this reference and find that the actual episode occurred in 1837 at Lahore. The faqueer was buried in the presence of King Ranjit Singh, Sir Claude Wade, Dr. Honigberger, and others. A guard of Sikh soldiers watched the grave day and night to prevent fraud. The faqueer was dug up alive forty days later. Fuller particulars can be found in the archives at Calcutta" (Page 93 - PB: A searchin secret India)
Another interesting conversation, revolving around age of Brama's master, Yerambu Swamy (The Ant Teacher):
"I believe that he is over four hundred years old !" Brama quietly finishes the sentence for me.
"Many a time he has described to me what happened during the reigns of the Moghul Emperors," supplements the Yogi. " And he has told me stories of the days when your English India Company first came to Madras."
Sceptical Western ears are unable to accept these statements.
"But any child who has read a history book could tell you such things," I counter.
Brama ignores my remark. He goes on :
"My master remembers clearly the first battle of Panipat and he has not forgotten the days of the
battle of Plassey. I recollect how he once referred to a brother desciple, on Beshudananda, as a
mere child of eighty years!"
Brunton does not get satisfied with the explanation. But, he is satisfied with the above mentioned three demonstrations to believe that there is something in Indian Yoga System that West may find it difficult to digest. In Brunton's words: "...Yet the demonstrations of breath and blood control which Brama has given me provide some assurance that Yogic powers are not mere chimeras, that these powers can undoubtedly be responsible for the performance of feats which must appear fabulous to the uninitiated. Beyond this point I find it difficult to walk with him."
On his last conversation with the Yogi, Brunton asks:
"Brama, these powers - they are wonderfully fascinating. One day I would really like to go more deeply into your training, yet, after all, how much lasting happiness do they bring? Is there not something finer still in Yoga?"
Brama says:
"...the conquest of the body was to be looked upon as a step towards the conquest of the mind, and this again as a way to becoming spiritually perfect...", then continues, "Therefore, my own master has taught me: 'First run your course in Body Control; then you can take to the kingly science, the Mind Control.'..."
Then Brama gives a chart with peculiar symbols and Tamil characters drawn in red, green and black inks, and says:
"Whe you get back, paste one of my photographs in the centre." He informs me that if I will concentrate my mind upon this queer but not inartistic document for five minutes before going to sleep at night, I shall dream clearly and vividly of him.
He continues...
"Last night my master appeared to me. He spoke to me about yourself. He said: 'Your friend, the sahib, is eager for knowledge. In his last birth he was among us. He followed Yoga practices, but they were not of our school. To-day he has come again to Hindustan, but in a white skin. What he knew then, has now been forgotten ; yet he can forget for a while only. Until a master bestows his grace upon him he cannot become aware of this former knowledge. The master's touch is needed to help him recover that knowledge in this body. Tell him that soon he shall meet a master. Thereafter, light will come to him of its own accord. This is certain. Bid him cease his anxiety. Our land shall not be left by him untill this happens. It is the writing of fate that he may not leave us with empty hands.'"
I draw back, astounded. Thelamp throws its beams of light upon the little assembly. My young interpreter's face seems stricken with awe in that yellowish glare.
Brunton asks if his master is away somewhere in the Himalayas (or Nepal), how on earth could he travel twelve hundred miles in a single night.
Brama smiles cryptically. "My master is ever present to me, though India's span lies between our bodies. I receive his message without letter or bearer. His thought speeds through the air. It reaches me and I understand."
Let me stop here in reproducing part of the book. I may write more about this as I read through the book.
This is my second book on Ramana Maharshi. So far, it is looking more like a fiction thriller. I am not denying the veracity of the author. Being a Hindu, being a student of Yoga, I am more prone to believe these than the author himself. However, although I may not disagree with all these stories, I prefer not to be bothered about all these. I believe there must be something else which transcends all these.
Recently, I was privileged to hear the presidential speech of Dr. K Ramakrishna Rao (ex Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, who is one of the authorities on the subject of para-psychology) at "Prashanti Kutiram", Bangalore, on the occassion of Internationa Conference on Yoga. The spoke about experiments in the field of parapsychology and spoke at length about various incidents of Extra-Sensory-Perception. His speech was not a mere babbling. He had facts at hand. So, better I believe it. You can not go around calling everybody a fraud or insane.
Last Tuesday night, 22rd January 2008, my yoga teacher dreamt of one of his students who was not very regular to the class in the recent days. In the dream my teacher teased him for not being regular. When the student was made aware of this, he told that even he had similar dream where he had been to the class where the teacher asked the same question. This is what makes things strange and weird. It is quite possible that the student did not have the dream and he felt a kind of dejavu learning about his teacher's dream. It is quite possible the student did get similar dream and it was a mere coincidence. It is also quite possible that there is something beyond my/our understanding. Dr. K. Ramakrishna Rao in his speech said that such incidents are reported at random and the method to scientifically quantify is tough.
There may be something. It may be true that one can conquer death. I do not want to live for four hundred years at least. I am afraid if my employer, IBM, would be around. In the past 9 years of employment, I have seen at least 6 managers at work place. What if I continue to work for centuries for IBM? What version of IBM WebSphere product will be out in the market and which fixpack level?!!! I would be appraised by a manager who would be of my great-grandson's great-grandson's great-grandson's age!!!
Jokes apart, let me now digress a little more. Let us forget about all these fantasy world, if I could call it so. Ramana says that mind is nothing but thoughts. It is a beautiful definition. You mind only if there are thoughts. Sorrow and happiness are your responses to these thoughts. Ramana, once teasing his mother (who is little orthodoxic when it comes to rituals), says: "Mind the onion! That is the cause of all problems!". In Hindu religion, we believe Onion to be of "tamasic" in nature. "Tamasa" is the "guna" (property) that pulls one's mind towards materialistic world. So, orthodox Brahmins do not eat onions. I thought "Mind the onion! That is the cause of all problems!", could have been re-written as: "Mind, The Onion! That is the cause of all problems!".
Further Ramana says, you destroy your thoughts, you end up destroying the mind. Ramana was a living example of this theory. My teacher once said, a real Yogi is the one who is capable of emptying one's mind at his will. This is nothing but destroying one's mind at his will. Then there is no pain, no pleasure. It is a state of eternal bliss. But, how can one attain this level? More you try to avoid / control your thoughts, they rush in with more vigour and force. The "actual" secret lies in ignoring, neglecting whatever thoughts that flow in. Thoughts are going to be there. But you are not giving any heed to it. You are just a witness. As they are neglected again and again, the waves of thoughts are going to ebb down.
It is nice to hear all these. Whether I agree or differ with the fantasising stories of the faqueers, Yogis (in general sense), I prefer to believe in what Ramana has said. During daily practice of Surya Namaskara, I have found it very difficult to stop thinking. At least, after Surya Namaskara, sometimes I sit down to see if I can sit quietly ignoring the thoughts that haunt me. To some extent, I succeed. For sometime, I can site idle without any thing registered by my mind. Thoughts will be there. But, for sometime, I am able to ignore them. However, this state remains for a very short period. I can not remain in this state for rest of the day. Hope I will find an answer. Hope the book by Paul Brunton helps in this direction.
Good night!
A wonderful post, enjoyable to read now and to contemplate later.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite bits were "Death is a habit of the body" and "Mind the Onion".
Thank you.