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A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi
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more is going on in that part of the world than we know and this would fit in well with what Bhagavan said. However I could never discuss the matter with Bhagavan as it was not until many years after his passing that I had any indication that anything of this sort was happening in those parts. I had many years ago travelled extensively in that country but had never seen anything which would lead me to think that there might be important spiritualcentres there.
Some people were of opinion that Bhagavan could be persuaded to do things against his will or to change his mind. Only, enough people had to ask him and he would do what they wanted. Of course this is absolute rubbish. Nobody on earth could make or persuade Bhagavan to do anything. I remember a case in question. Some devotees were holding an Upanayana function (investing a Brahmin boy with sacred thread) in the Ashram Vedapatasala. When Bhagavan walked past there at 10 o'clock on his way to the cow shed, the parents of the boy came out and asked Bhagavan to come in and grace the function for a few minutes. There was no apparent reason why he should not do so, he often did do such things, but for some reason he did not even trouble to reply, but passed on his way. On his return he was again begged by a number of people just to step inside for a moment, but he refused. This was typical. He either did or did not, there was no persuading him.
It was the custom of people, when they were proposing to go somewhere, first to obtain Bhagavan's
