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 It was not just his friendship, but also his teachings that Bhagavan shared with Rangan. Rangan often felt that he could not stand up to the demands of spiritual practice because he was entangled in his worries about his family, money and other worldly problems. Bhagavan would tell him, “Throw your thoughts out. You will enjoy freedom only in a state where there are no thoughts.”Unfortunately,

Rangan found it difficult to follow this counsel. Feeling that it was impossible for him to progress spiritually, he asked, “How many times will I be born again before I get jnana?” Bhagavan gave a beautiful answer: “In reality, there are no factors like time and distance. In one hour, we dream that many days and years have passed by. In a movie, don‟t you see mere shadows being transformed into vast seas, mountains and buildings? The world is not outside you - all happens within you; like in the movie show. The small world that is in the mind appears as the big world outside.” Rangan complained later, “Bhagavan, your grace is not on me.” Bhagavan smiled graciously and replied, “Ranga, you are

speaking like one who is standing neck deep in the flood waters of the Ganges, complaining that he is thirsty and says that he wants water from the tap of his house to be brought to quench his thirst!”

From Ramana periya Puranam.

Page-79

Vilachery Rangan Iyer.