Analysis Of A Search In Secret India By Paul Brunton

Paul Brunton, an author of A Search in Secret India, visits Ramana Maharshi. Upon his arrival, Brunton finds Maharshi sitting on a long white divan. He is looking at something through the window, and his head is still, so although the author tries to catch his attention, he does not seem to pay attention to Brunton. Suddenly, Maharshi’s appearance reminded the author of a sage he had met before. The stillness of Maharishi’s body was similar to the sage. Brunton believed that he could get something of the soul from men’s eyes, but in front of Maharishi, that thought gets puzzled because something is different in Maharshi. In the beginning, he doubts whether Maharshi’s action of sitting in a trance condition is meaningful or not. However, the

This time, most of the people have gone, so he can question him without making any trouble with people around Maharshi. Brunton discusses with Maharshi about his experience. The author had learned Western philosophies and science, heard many opinions, and listened to many theories. He even tried to be alone and thought deeply, but he confesses that he is not religious and cannot believe skeptical things that cannot be proved. Therefore, Brunton questions Maharshi how can one realize something beyond one’s self. His words came out from his lips as if he was in hurry. In contrast to Brunton, Maharshi does not make any verbal reply but seems like he is letting Brunton’s words sink into his head deeply. After that, Brunton added that scientists of the West are clever, but they “have confessed that they can throw but little light upon the hidden truth behind life” (144). He asks Maharshi to help him experience enlightenment, and questions whether the idea itself is a fake or not. Maharshi is still calm and after ten minutes, he states “You say I. I want to know. Tell me, who is that I?” (144). Brunton replies with bewilderment that he cannot understand what he is saying. “Know fist that I and then you shall know the truth” (145), Maharshi continues. Again, Brunton’s is confused. He has no idea how he can know who he is. Then, Maharshi notes that through “deep reflection on the nature of one’s self, and through

However, it did not go well. The week quickly passes, so he extends to two weeks. As he has conversations with Maharshi, he begins to become unable to grasp Maharshi. Each day, Brunton felt “the beautiful peace of the sage’s mental atmosphere, the serenity which pervades the very air around him” (154). However, since he is having trouble understanding and sinking ideas into his head, he begins to keep a distance from Maharshi. Finally, on the last day, he was not close to Maharshi. He begins to feel Maharshi is not the same as ordinary people, yet, he belongs to nature. Maharshi has lived in Arunachala, where stands separated, and the author assumes that just like Arunachala, Maharshi “remain mysteriously aloof even when surrounded by his own devotees, men who have loved him and lived near him for years” (155). The mountain Arunachala itself seems like entered into Maharshi, Brunton reports. Maharshi’s ideas are so difficult for him, that he wishes Maharshi was more like a human. Brunton decides to ask Maharshi more questions. Maharshi kindly accepts his interview, and Brunton starts asking. In the conversation, Maharshi states that if you find who you really are, “you will solve all other problems thereby” (157). Then he continues, “Men’s real nature is happiness”. Maharshi claims that all men are searching for happiness unconsciously, but people “have identified themselves with the body and brain” (158).