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A Sadhu's Reminiscences of Ramana Maharshi
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misdemeanours, till he had each one in turn more or less beaten down. From Pondicherry those who were really interested in spiritual matters returned to Bhagavan and amongst them came Spaulding. I saw something of him and liked him. He seemed a decent sort of a person who obviously suffered from delusions. He told me some fantastic tales which he certainly believed himself, so perhaps after all he was not to be blamed. For surely he would never have had the courage to lead such an expedition which could only end as a fiasco if he had not been slightly mad.
There were some very nice and sincere people in this party, and one cannot but feel that they had been deliberately led to Bhagavan in this strange way. One couple, the Taylors, I remember well. Mr. Taylor was a retired Post Master. They became much attached to Bhagavan. One day Mrs. Taylor was sitting in the Hall with Bhagavan when she suddenly said, “Bhagavan, I want Self-realization.”
“Wait,” replied Bhagavan, “it will come in due time.”
“No,” she answered, “that's no good. I want it here and now.”
Bhagavan tried to explain to her that when she was ready everything would work out all right. But she insisted. She must have it here and now and it was up to him to give it to her. Bhagavan said nothing but gazed at her steadily in the eyes for some five minutes or so. She suddenly burst into tears and rushed out of the room, but would never tell anybody what had happened.
