How to Keep Quiet?

Sri Ramana Maharshi

 A certain visitor began to pull the pankah. Sri Bhagavan said: “Because it is cold, they have placed fire by my side. Why should the pankah be pulled?”

Then he continued: “On a cold morning, when I was in Virupaksha cave, I was sitting in the open. I was feeling cold. People used to come, see me and go back. A group of Andhra visitors had come. I did not notice what they were doing. They were behind me. Suddenly a noise ‘tak’ - and water over my head! I shivered with cold. I looked back. They had broken a coconut and poured the water on me. They thought that it was worship. They took me for a stone image.”

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Sri Bhagavan said that this town is peculiar in that there are nine roads leading to it, not counting the railroad; navadware pure dehe (in the body - the city of nine gates).

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An Andhra visitor asked: How is one to be quiet? It is so difficult to be so. Should we practise yoga for it? Or is there any other means for it?

M.: What is not difficult looks difficult. A man is prone to wander about. He is told to stay quiet at home, but finds it difficult to do so because he wants to wander about.

D.: Is there any particular upasana which is more efficacious than others?

M.: All upasanas are equally efficacious. But each one takes easily to one kind of upasana which suits his previous vasanas.