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Every devotees of a living guru probably knows the sense of mingled thrill and fear as he or she approaches their spiritual master’s presence, and certainly Lee was experiencing this ambivalence the close he came to sacred mountain, Arunachala . The Tibetian Buddhist master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche one stated that once should be terrified in such a circumstance, as one comes to the guru for the purpose of being undone, annihilated. The Christian writer C.S Lewis captured this odd combination of sensation perfectively in describing how the animals approaches Aslan, the lion-king and Christ-figure in the chronicles of Narnia. Lewis wrote: Is he quite safe? I shall rather nervous meeting a lion. One of the children asked. To which the animal replied: ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
The true guru is always awesome and terrible, and Lee’s students who accompanied him on this trip noted that Lee Lozowick seemed nervous, even if quietly composed, as the time of their rendezvous drew neater. |
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At 1 P.M on this day in early December, the troupe arrived in Tiruvannamalai and, leaving their bags at ramana ashram , they headed immediately in to town. The men were hungry, but Lee’s intention to present himself to Yogi Ramsuratkumar warranted no postponing. Down the street, alongside the temple wall, they walked swiftly, until they reached the mandapam of the arunachala temple car, the familiar place where Yogi Ramsuratkumar was first encountered in 1977. Immediately across the road stood the beggar’s residence. #90 Sannadhi stree. Lee approached the door, with the men behind him.
Looking through iron grillwork that enclosed the front approach of the house, they could see Yogi Ramsuratkumar seated with a small group of devotees. Lee waited on the front step, with no need o knock, as anyone inside could clearly see an approaching visitor. As soon as the beggar noticed Lee Lozowick at the door, however, he got up and walked to the entrance. Lee dropped to his knees, bowing his head. When Lee rose to his feet, Yogi Ramsuratkumar placed his hand gently on the younger man’s back, and kept it there. This gesture of blessing lasted for only a few seconds, but in it, an eternity of wordless communication was shared. Of this precious touch Lee wrote:
Oh! Dearest, my Father
Yogi Ramsuratkumar "
My forehead rested on Your Knee
a moment.
Just an eternal moment
Your Father Blessed Lee"
You let me touch your feet,
Rough Beggar’s Feet
For just a moment.
Just an eternal moment,
Oh! Father Yogi Ramsuratkumar -
Lee bows, too humbled
To cry or smile as
Your crazy, Mad Beggarness
Sings wildly.
Immediately it was clear, both to Lee and to those in his company, that the beggar recognized him and was genuinely happy to see him. Bringing his guests inside, Yogi Ramsuratkumar rearranged the seating of his previous visitors and indicated that Lee should sit next to him at the head of the small room. As the Godman stroked Lee Lozowick’s hand, his arm his writs, with remarkable tenderness. He questioned the Americans about their travel, particularly about their trip to Kanhangad and their darshan with Mother Krishnabai. What was the exact time that they had arrived at Ramda’s ashram? When exactly had they left? For how long would they be in Tiruvannamalai? As usual, the conversation was pleasant and accommodating, background music to the prayers of the heart that were being exchanged between master and disciple. |