Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

The Sakti is only one.”
Questioner: “To realise the Self, some say you must
concentrate your mind on the anahatam (the 4th of the mystical
chakras [plexuses] of the body); some say on the sahasraram (a
mystical plexus in the brain with a thousand petals); and some
say on the muladharam (a mystical plexus about the organs of
generation). Which is the most important?”
Bhagavan: “All are important. Self (Atman) is everywhere
in the body. Some say you should see it in the muladharam;
some say in the anahatam and some say in the sahasraram. It is
the same whichever it is. But, for all of them, the place of birth
and of dissolution is anahatam only.”
Questioner: “Can a Jnani help not only those who follow
his path but also others who follow other paths?”
Bhagavan: “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.”
The young man was not satisfied with the replies given
by Bhagavan and again began asking questions about
Kundalini Sakti and how it arises. Bhagavan appeared
unconcerned about those questions but when they were
asked repeatedly, said, “What do I know about those paths?
Please ask those who know them well.” Giving up the topic,
the young man took up the topic of spiritual bodies (chinmaya
dehas) by saying, “My Guru gave a darshan in chinmaya rupam
(form) on such and such a day, spoke to me of this and that,”
and started speaking about the miracles performed by his
deceased Guru. Bhagavan did not speak but kept quiet for
some time. At last the young man said, “Is it a fact that Lord
Krishna is still with his chinmaya deha (spiritual body)?”
Bhagavan replied with patience: “Does chinmaya deha
mean the human body? Chinmaya means Chit-prakasa, i.e. lustre
of the spirit. That light is always existent:
AhmaTma gufakez svRÉUtazyiSwt>,
Ahmaidí mXy< c ÉUtanamNt @v c.

Arjuna, I am the Self seated in the heart of all beings. I
am the beginning and middle and also the end of all beings.

Gita, X: 20
“Does that mean that He is in the hearts of all beings with
this material body? It means He is in the hearts of all beings in
the shape Aham Sphurana (effulgence of ‘I’, ‘I’). That effulgence
of the Self is known as Chit-prakasa or Chinmaya.”
Questioner: “Is the same thing said of other Mahapurushas
(great personages) or is it that Lord Krishna’s body becomes
Chinmayam and remains like that?”
Bhagavan: “Oh! You think that that body becomes
Chinmayam and sits somewhere. The whole world is
Chinmayam. That being so is it that one body alone has become
Chinmayam? Visions (sakshatkaras) are also like this. People
say that they descend from somewhere with a body. That
which is omnipresent you leave or ignore and talk of karam
and sakshatkaram.”
Questioner: “My Guru stated that a great personage
who would reform the whole world will be born. Can you
tell me when he will be born?”
Bhagavan did not reply but kept quiet. A devotee who
was close by said to the young man, “Sir, you are not able to
realise the greatness of the Mahapurusha that is sitting opposite
to you; so what is the sense in asking him himself when a
Mahapurusha will be born? You are not able to understand
even that much. If you have so many doubts, could you not
have asked your Guru himself? Enough of this here. You may
go to your Guru who is in Chinmaya body and ask him.”
The young man thereupon quietened down and gave
up further questioning.