As an example of eloquent silence can be for the sincere seeker, the following episode which I (Maj Chadwick) personally witnessed in the old hall will illustrate:
A gentleman from Kashmir came to the Ashram with his servant who could not speak a word of any other language except Kashmiri. One night when the hall was almost dark except for the pale grimmer of a single hurricane lantern, the servant came into the hall and stood before Bhagavan in a respectful manner jabbering something rapidly in his own language. Bhagavan said nothing, but lay quietly gazing at him. After a while the servant saluted and left the hall. Next morning his master came to Bhagavan and complained. “Bhagavan, you never told me you could speak Kashmiri, was it fair?” “Why, what do you mean?” asked Bhagavan. “I know not a single word of your language.” Bhagavan asked the gentleman how he had got hold of this absurd idea and the latter explained: “Last night my servant came to you and asked you several questions in his language. He tells me that you answered him in the same language and cleared his doubts.” “But I never opened my mouth,” Bhagavan replied !!!! - A Sadhu’s Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi, Page 62 |