BHAGAVAN AND MONKEYS
Between 1899 and 1922, Ramana was staying in the various caves of the Arunachala hill but mainly at Virupaksha and Skandasramam.
The hill abounded in monkeys. Ramana would refer to it as their kingdom and to humans as intruders. Even after he shifted to Ramanasramam on the southern slope of Arunachaia, his jungle hermitage was also the monkeys' home.
Ramana was very observant.His love of all life made him study the general behavior and attitude of the monkeys who were daily visitors in large numbers to Virupaksha Cave and Skandasramam. As a result he knew about their way of life, their sports, their system of government, their attitudes and priorities. Often two monkey groups would come to him to arbitrate and his decision would be readily accepted.
Generally monkeys are looked down upon and one refers to their restlessness and mischief when talking about the mind. The mind is referred to as a "monkey". However, Bhagavan would always talk about their strengths, as would be seen from his remarks, "I have known something about their organisation, kings, laws etc. Everything is so
perfect, so much intelligence behind it all." He would say.
"I even known that tapas is not unknown to monkeys. A monkey whom we used to call 'Mottaipaiyan' was once oppressed and ill-treated by a gang. He went away into the forest for a few days, did tapas, acquired strength and returned. When he came and sat on a bough and shook it, all the rest of the monkeys, who had previously ill-treated him and of whom he was previously afraid, were now quaking before him. Yes, I am clear that tapas is well known to monkeys."
Between 1899 and 1922, Ramana was staying in the various caves of the Arunachala hill but mainly at Virupaksha and Skandasramam.
The hill abounded in monkeys. Ramana would refer to it as their kingdom and to humans as intruders. Even after he shifted to Ramanasramam on the southern slope of Arunachaia, his jungle hermitage was also the monkeys' home.
Ramana was very observant.His love of all life made him study the general behavior and attitude of the monkeys who were daily visitors in large numbers to Virupaksha Cave and Skandasramam. As a result he knew about their way of life, their sports, their system of government, their attitudes and priorities. Often two monkey groups would come to him to arbitrate and his decision would be readily accepted.
Generally monkeys are looked down upon and one refers to their restlessness and mischief when talking about the mind. The mind is referred to as a "monkey". However, Bhagavan would always talk about their strengths, as would be seen from his remarks, "I have known something about their organisation, kings, laws etc. Everything is so
perfect, so much intelligence behind it all." He would say.
"I even known that tapas is not unknown to monkeys. A monkey whom we used to call 'Mottaipaiyan' was once oppressed and ill-treated by a gang. He went away into the forest for a few days, did tapas, acquired strength and returned. When he came and sat on a bough and shook it, all the rest of the monkeys, who had previously ill-treated him and of whom he was previously afraid, were now quaking before him. Yes, I am clear that tapas is well known to monkeys."
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