Moments Remembered: Reminiscences of Bhagavan Ramana

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Preface

"Moments Remembered" were written for The Mountain Path and they appeared in 22 instalments from 1982 to 1987. In response to requests from devotees, I have now compiled them as a book.

Apart from a few moments remembered by me, the bulk of the contents of this book comprises the reminiscences of older devotees. Everyone of them, after an initial hesitancy, opened up and readily and gladly shared their memories of blissful moments spent in the Presence of Sri Bhagavan. When I wrote the instalments for the journal, while I used the notes kept by me of the reminiscences of devotees like Muruganar, Cohen, Visvanatha Swami, Sadhu Natanananda and others of fragrant memory, the other devotees, fortunately still with us, like Ramaswami Pillai, Kunju Swami, Kanakamma, so kindly and joyfully went down the memory lane for me to those ecstatic moments in time with the Timeless One. I wish to express my deep gratitude to Rama-swami Pillai, Kunju Swami, Sampoornammal, N. Balarama Reddy, Prof. N. R. Krishnamoorthy Iyer, Alagammal (daughter of Vilacheri Ranga Iyer), Kitty Douglas (nee Osborne), Krishnaswami, K. Natesan, Princess Prabhavati Raje, Ammani Ammal, Lalitha Venkataraman, Dr. K. Subrahmanian, Kanakamma, N. Nataraja Iyer, Annamalai Swami, Padma Sitapati, Seshadri sastrigal, Ramani Ammal. Rajapalayam Ramani Ammal and Subbulakshmi Ammal for "moment remembered".

I cannot thank Professor K. Swaminathan, the then Chief Editor, The Mountain Path enough for the way he transmuted my manuscript of "Moments Remembered" before each instalment went to the Press. Substantial editorial help is only one of the many kindnesses that the revered Professor has been doing me. It is Sri Bhagavan's Grace that has ensured me the Professor's sage guidance and his love which "is a fixed mark".

I wish to thank J. Jayaraman for contributing the portrayals of select Ramana-bhaktas, which preface the chapters from 17 onwards. I with also to acknowledge my thanks to Joan Greenblatt who carefully went through the printed manuscript, culled out from The Mountain Path issues, and made valuable suggestions which have been incorporated in this book. She has my thanks also for designing the beautiful cover and format of this book and for her good Foreword. My thanks are also due to K. V. Subrahmonyan who helped me in improving the manuscript and also in preparing the Index and the Glossary, as suggested by Joan.

Sri Saphal of the All India Press, Pondicherry, well known for his excellence in work and for the awards won, had done a customary first-class job. I thank him whole-heartedly.

Last but not the least, my thanks go to my father and the Ashram President, Sri T. N. Venkataraman who encouraged me at every stage of the development of the book.