Help others

From ~~~ Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, Ch.218.

Questioner:
Can a Jnani help not only those who follow his path
but also others who follow other paths?

Sri Ramana Maharshi :

Undoubtedly.
He can help people whatever path
they choose to follow.

It is something like this.
Suppose there is a hill.
There will be very many paths to climb it.

If he were to ask people to climb by the way he came,
some may like it and some may not.

If people who do not like it are asked to climb by that path,
and by that path only, they will not be able to come up.

Hence a Jnani helps people following any particular path
whatever it may be.

People who are midway may not know about
the merits and demerits of other paths,

but one who has climbed the summit
and sits there observing others coming up
is able to see all the paths.

He will therefore be able
to tell people who are coming up
to move a little to this side
or that or to avoid a pitfall.

The goal is the same for all,
you see.
~~~~~