In the Vision of God,
Volume 1, by Swami Ramdas, pp 224-225
ALL BELONGS TO THE ONE
Another day, two European missionaries came in search of him. They could find
him out only with great difficulty. In the course of their talk, they emphasized
the personal aspect of God as the whole truth. Ramdas confessed his faith in a
God who is both personal and impersonal. He added that one could not know the
glory of the supreme Person without realizing His impersonal aspect as well.
They expressed doubt in the truth of his statement. Without pursuing the subject
further, they took their leave and returned to the town.
Now an event occurred which caused a good deal of disturbance among the friends.
One morning, as customary, Kallu the cook entered the lower cave to bring out
the vessels for cooking. The vessels - a new set of which had, a short time
before, been purchased for the use of the sadhus on the hill - were kept in the
lower cave which had, of course, no door. All sadhus and friends retired to the
upper cave in the nights. Now Kallu discovered that the vessels had disappeared.
He ran up to Ramdas in a state of alarm and said:
"Maharai, the cooking utensils have disappeared! Somebody has stolen them away."
"Good," Ramdas replied quietly, "the man who took them is evidently more in need
of them than we are. It is all right. Ram gave and Ram has taken away."
He stared at Ramdas with perfect blankness when he heard his cool words.
Immediately, leaving the hills, he ran to Mahoba [a nearby town] and spread the
news of the lost utensils and Ramdas' comment on the loss. The friends who had
supplied the utensils understood what his words meant and at once substituted
the lost vessels by some from their own homes for the time being. A police
sub-inspector, who loved him greatly, used to come often to see him on the hill.
He had also heard the news of the loss of vessels. That afternoon, he specially
came to make an enquiry into the matter. He questioned Ramdas on the subject.
"Ramji, nothing is lost or stolen," Ramdas said. "It was Ram who furnished him
with vessels. It is Ram again who has taken them back. He took away His own
things. So there is no question of loss or theft; therefore no case against
anybody."
In the Vision of God, Vol I - The Continuing Saga of an Extraordinary Pilgrimage
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