#hand-fan

[19thcenturygirls]

Someone’s tired. 

Image for a hand-fan by R. de Greck, Lausanne, 1903

[shinymoonbird]

Bhagavan sitting in wooden chair posing for sculpture

If one gains association with sadhus (that is, with those who know and abide as the Reality), of what use are all these observances (niyamas)? When the excellent cool southern breeze itself is blowing, say, what is the use of holding a hand-fan?

  — Sri Ramanopadesa Noonmalai - Ulladu Narpadu - Anubandham, V.3 pg.93 (pdf)

Explanatory note:

Just as a hand-fan may be put aside when the cool breeze is blowing, so all observances or niyamas such as fasting, performing worship or puja, doing japa, practicing meditation or dhyana, and so on, may be discarded when one has gained association with a Sage or Sadhu.

Gaining association with a Sadhu does not only mean living in His physical presence. Since the sadhu is one who abides as Self, the Reality (sat) His bodily presence is not necessary. If one has true love for a Sadhu and sincere faith in Him, then one has truly gained His association, whether or not one has ever lived in His physical presence. Refer to Day by Day with Bhagavan, 9-3-1946, where Sri Bhagavan explains that mental contact or association with a Jnani is best, and that, since the Guru is not the physical form, the opportunity of gaining contact or association with Him remains even after the passing away of His physical form.

Dhyana:  Contemplation, meditation, Dhyana is taken up in Yoga exercises and leads to samadhi and self-knowledge.

Japa:  Meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name.

Jñāni: a person of true self-knowledge; Ajñāni: a person lacking true self-knowledge.

Niyamas:  Virtues and ethical premises, considered in Hinduism as necessary for an individual to achieve a self-realized, enlightened, liberated state of existence (moksha).

Puja: Is a prayer ritual performed by Hindus to host, honour and worship one or more deities, or to spiritually celebrate an event.

Sadhu: "Holy man", is a religious ascetic or holy person.

Sage:  An extremely wise person, mystic or spiritual teacher. In Hinduism, the sages are divinely inspired philosophers, saints and leaders with direct knowledge of the Universal/Absolute Truth. In post-Vedic traditions, they are referred to as rishis.

Satcitānanda, Satchitānanda, or Sat-chit-ānanda: Existence-consciousness-bliss.  

[nohition]