Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

“Oh! Is that so, then get angry with that anger; it will
be all right” said Bhagavan. All people in the hall burst out
laughing. A person who gets angry with everything in the
world, if only he introspects, and enquires why he does not
get angry with his anger itself, will he not really overcome
all anger?
Two or three years back a devotee who could freely
approach Bhagavan came and told him five or six times that
somebody had been abusing him. Bhagavan listened but said
nothing. As there was no response from Bhagavan in spite
of repeated and varied complaints and in a number of ways,
this devotee could not contain himself any longer and so
said, “When I am abused so much unnecessarily, I also get
angry. However much I try to restrain my anger I am not
able to do so. What shall I do?”
Bhagavan laughingly said, “What should you do? You
too join him and abuse yourself; then it will be all right.” All
laughed.

That devotee, unable to understand anything, said
“That is very good! Should I abuse myself?”
“Yes indeed! What they are abusing is your body, isn’t
it? What greater enemy is there than this body which is the
abode of anger and similar feelings? It is necessary that we
ourselves should hate it. Instead of that, when we are
unguarded, if anybody abuses us, we should know that they
are waking us up. We should realise at least then, and join
them in abusing the body, and crying it down. What is the
use of counter-abuse? Those who abuse us that way should
be looked upon as our friends. It is good for us to be among
such people. If you are among people who praise you, you
get deceived,” said Bhagavan.

In June 1924, thieves entered the Ashram and not only
belaboured the devotees, but also beat Bhagavan on his thigh.

Subsequently, while relating amongst themselves the
thrashing they had received, the devotees said, “Bad fellows,
they beat even Bhagavan.” Bhagavan is reported to have
said, “Oh, you all worship me with flowers and they
worshipped me with a stick. That is also a form of worship.

If I accept yours, should I not accept theirs as well?” What
he teaches is by practical illustration. Is not this such an
instance?