Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
D.: Are there restrictions to be observed in food? M.: Sattva food taken in moderation.
D.: There are several asanas mentioned. Which of them is the best?
M.: Nididhyasana (one-pointedness of the mind) is the best.
Talk 558.
A visitor asked: “Sri Bhagavan! When I heard of you, a strong desire arose in me to see you. Why should it be so?”
M.: The desire arose in the same way as the body arises to the Self.
D.: What is the purpose of life?
M.: To seek to know the significance of life is itself the result of good karma in past births. Those who do not seek such knowledge are simply wasting their lives.
Talk 559.
A man asked Sri Bhagavan: “Sri Bhagavan can know when I shall
become a Jnani. Please tell me when it will be.”
M.: If I am Bhagavan then there is no one apart from me to whom Jnana should arise or to whom I should speak. If I am an ordinary man like others then I am as ignorant as the rest. Either way your question cannot be answered.
Talk 560.
When Sri Bhagavan was taking His bath a few bhaktas were around Him, speaking to themselves. Then they asked Him about the use of ganja (hashish). Sri Bhagavan had finished His bath by that time. He said: “Oh ganja! The users feel immensely happy when they are under its influence. How shall I describe their happiness! They simply shout ananda! ananda …” Saying so, He walked as if tipsy. The bhaktas laughed. He appeared as if He stumbled, placed His hands round ‘A’ and cried “ananda! ananda!”
‘A’ records that his very being was transformed from that time. He had remained an inmate for the past eight years. He further says that his mind now remains at peace.