Ramana Hridayam

Ramana Hridayam shared a photo.

BHAGAVAN'S SENSE OF HUMOUR

WHEN I asked whether Bhagavan ever made jokes and whether he was ever in a lighter mood, Sri Kunju Swami jumped at me, as it were, to correct me and went into an ecstatic mood. With tears in his eyes he said: "Bhagavan is the most natural man you can ever conceive of. He had a very subtle sense of humour; it never hurt anyone and was never aimed at anyone. He also appreciated others' jokes, even those at his cost!" I became impatient and wanted him to tell me a few instances. He narrated the following:

Once, a boy was seated in front of Sri Bhagavan. Flies were troubling him and he was killing them. Seeing this Bhagavan told him: "Don't kill them; it is wrong." After some time the boy looked at Bhagavan intensely and remarked: "You say killing is wrong. I was only killing little flies which were giving me trouble, but you have killed a big tiger and you are sitting on its skin. How can it be?" Bhagavan laughed and said: "Yes, what he says is quite right!"

The same boy had the habit of wasting food served on his leaf-plate while seated with others. Once Bhagavan told him that he should not leave anything on the plate when he finished eating. That day too the boy could not eat everything, but stuffed something into his mouth and took out the empty leaf. Bhagavan saw him take out the empty leaf. However, the boy after throwing away the leaf also spat out the food that he had stuffed in his mouth. It was reported to Bhagavan. He enjoyed the trick of the boy and gave a hearty laugh.

Another boy who used to go round the Hill with Sri Bhagavan and other devotees was always silent, though others used to sing hymns and prayers and chants. (Bhagavan sometimes even used to hold this boy's shoulder while walking round the Hill.) One day Bhagavan, after everyone of the party had sung some song or other, asked this boy why he alone did not sing. The boy's spontaneous reply made Sri Bhagavan laugh to his heart's content. It was: "Do jivanmuktas ever sing?"
...
A young girl, named Rukmini, aged ten, the daughter of Vilacheri Ranga Iyer, used to meditate in front of Sri Bhagavan, seated like a statue. Some older boys or girls sitting next to her used to tickle her to disturb her. Bhagavan used to watch all these in amusement. One day, after having had her bath, Rukmini, as usual, sat for meditation in right earnest (like a yogi). A boy nearby (who had not had his bath yet) teased her, saying: "I am going to touch you." Rukmini firmly replied: "No one can touch me!" Bhagavan was looking at them. She turned to Bhagavan and then asked, "Yes, none can touch me, they can touch only my body. How can any one touch ME?" Bhagavan gave an expression of wonder and appreciation at the depth of her statement!

~from 'Surpassing Love and Grace'
(Photograph from http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/photos/restored_photos)