Part A

How sweet is your touch! It has transformed me! I am no longer someone overwhelmed with happiness or sorrow. Everything is sweet, everything has become sweet! This world is a cause of sorrow; relationships built on expectations are causes of sorrow. The emptiness inside is a cause of sorrow. Lust for objects is a cause of sorrow. Thinking of all this sorrow, and undergoing suffering, I was chanting the Name of Rama. Whence you appeared like this pleasant sensation? When you touched me, where did everything else go? Sheer delight! Ah, keep me immersed. Keep me immersed in your presence. Do not leave me; please do not take away this sensation.

At your touch everything is transformed. When you touch me, the feeling of sorrow within me, is no longer to be found. And if I do find it, I see your kind hand in it. When I imagine that I am sitting on your lap and you are holding me firmly, how do I feel? Feels good; it does. I know that you do have many things to do, but why do you touch me and then run away? Once you come, why do you not stay? No, no, why would you fly? It is my mind that flies. Well, you naughty mind! Why do you flee? Nobody speaks! The mind does not speak, you too do not speak. Listen, listen!

As soon as you touch me, I am transformed into another being. The objects of happiness and sorrow do change, but my suffering ceases. There remains only joy and more joy. Up to the moment you touched me, how much anxiety had I had; how many resolutions and reiterations I had made, how much had I laughed and cried, but all was gone with your touch. Even if I deliberately try to think of sorrow, it is not to be found. Truly, you are a great magician. As soon as you touch me, nothing remains. The noise returns only when you are not around. You want that everybody should cling to you. Do you not? Very well, what objection can I have? Do I ask you to go away or want to live without you? Keep on holding me in this way for all eternity. I will remain immersed in you. If you say that I want something else instead, I will not agree. I want only you. In how many guises I have been seeking you! I liked my relations and wealth, only to find happiness. But true joy is only in you. It is joy that I have been seeking. But instead of searching for the real jewel, I have been feeling elated on holding a piece of ordinary glass. This is it! Would you still say that I do not want you? It is fine if the others say this but it does not become of you. You are omniscient. You understand the feeling of the soul. I have been wrong in chasing objects but you are the embodiment of joy. It is you that I want.

• Hey madman, what are you scribbling?
• What else can I write? I write about your qualities.
• What will you do by writing?
• I will spread the message in the world.
• What profit will you get from it?
• When nobody will want you, you will have to remain alone. You will get the rewards of your mischief.
• I am indeed alone.
• Then, what are these men and women, worms and insects, trees and creepers, I see?
• They are nothing. I am alone. All these are illusions.
• Very nice! I can see them and you say they are nothing!
• No, there is nothing. It is only I. Look properly. Ask the trees and creepers, the worms and the insects if I am everything or not. Ask the earth, water, fire, air and ether if I am everything or not. Why are you silent? Ask the six senses, the mind, intellect, spirit and pride, whether I am everything or not.
• Well, I admit that you are everything. Even then you are not alone. I also exist.
• Who are you?
• You are a funny person. You want to wipe out even my existence! Here I am.
• Who are you?
• You are God and I am yours.
• Say what you are to me.
• I... I am your... you are very naughty, you do not allow me to say, you have suppressed my tongue, how can I say?
• Do, you understand then? It is I who exists. Now try to dive in me.
• That is why I shout, ‘Rama Rama’.
• See, he who is far away is to be called aloud. He, who is near, need not be called aloud. I have said this through the mouths of the sadhus. Now, call for me, within yourself.
• When I forget that you are near me, there remains no way other than calling you aloud.
• This is alright. When you come to realise that I am near you, there will be no need to even call out to me. This too, I have said through the mouths of the sadhus. For the present, keep your mind engaged in either the worldly play of the Name or my appearance. Otherwise, your mind will create a world, become involved in it and wail.
• It is true that when I forget you, my mind does wail!
• That is why I say: never forget me. Even if you forget me mentally, don’t let your tongue forget to take my Name. Call! Call! Call insistently!
• Well, let me call

‘Rama, Rama, Sitaram, Jai Jai Rama, Sitaram!’

Part B

• Touchstone, you are very naughty.
• Why do you call me naughty?
• Why shan’t I call you naughty? How many things I was doing for you, by surrendering to you. But when I turned around, you were gone. Why do you have a mind that flits? Now I will keep you tied.
• What will you bind me with?
• Why, I will bind you with a rope.
• Where will you find the rope?
• You will give it to me.
• So, I give you a rope and will you tie me? Nicely said!
• Look, there is no way of getting this rope if you do not give it. I thought that this rope could be had by listening and chanting. Now I well understand that it cannot be obtained in that way. Nothing can be done without your grace. I am guilty of many offences, forgive me. I seek your shelter. Make me yours.
• Here, here. Don’t cry. Don’t look at people. Keep looking at me. Your eyes should not see anything apart from me. Begin to see me in all things. Hear me in all the sounds, feel me in all the sensations and taste me in all the juices. Smell me in all the scents. Look, I love you dearly. I have put you in my lap. Just turn and see.
• Then, why do you go away? Where will I go? Say who I am.
• You are everything for me; you are the life-force of my existence.
• If you were alive, then how did I leave you? Had I left, you would have died. I am here. Tell me who am I?
• You are my revered deity.
• Is your revered deity very small?
• Why?
• Everyone’s revered deity is the same Being. Isn’t He your object of desire as well?
• He is the object of my desire also.
• If it be so, then there is nothing in the world except me. Where could I go? Nothing else exists outside me. There is nothing else. Ignore all external appearances, ignore everything. Cover this life with me. I am in front of you, behind you, above you, below you, within you, outside you, in your mind, in your senses, in your enemies and friends, in your disease and grief, in your want and fulfillment. I am all. I am in all. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid. Accept everything as same, and always utter the Name of Rama.

Part C

• Touchstone, where are you?
• Are you calling me?
• Yes, I am calling you. Gradually, everything is getting mixed up.
• Don’t worry, I am everything. I make up all your experiences. I am your singing of prayers; in your mental repetition of mantras. There is no reason to worry. Utter my Name without worries and see me in all living and non-living things. Don’t look at the creatures with your physical eyes. Try to peer into their inner being. Don’t be deceived by varied guises and garments. See the real person who is wearing the garments. That bird is singing. Who gave him the voice? I am that.
• What is the matter? You have suddenly appeared in the guise of a dog. What kind of game is this? What mistake did I commit that you disrupted my chanting?
• Why? You were not able to catch me. Why did you say, ‘Stay, Stay?’ Let it be, don’t worry. Don’t give up calling me. Call me. Keep calling me.
• I like to call you only if you come. Otherwise, I keep calling and then go silent.
• I do come! Are you not able to sense my presence?
• I cannot always make out. How am I to know whether it is indeed you or a creation of the mind?
• The state in which you forget everything, your body is thrilled, tears flow profusely, the soul is overwhelmed; is my presence. Do you hear me?
• I have heard much. I will know only when you keep everything aside and accept me.
• You are already mine. Tell me what part of you are you.
• Everything. My body, house, wife, son, family all are mine and I belong to them. Then how am I, yours?
• Only when one has control over something, it can be called one’s own. Do you have any right to any of these; the body, house, relations, kinsmen, wife or son? Can you move them according to your will or can they move you as per their will? Think clearly and reply.
• No, I cannot make anybody move according to my will nor can anybody make me move according to his will. My relations and kinsman are not within my control.
• Is your body, senses and mind within your control?
• No, they are also not within my control.
• How can those who are not within your control be called yours? All those belong to me. It is I who makes your body, house, relations and kinsmen, wife and son, move according to my will. Then how are you not mine?
• Yes, that is also true.
• Then you have nothing. Everything belongs to me. Do you understand now? Don’t worry. You are in my lap; so what is there to fear? Only I am present as your relations and kinsmen on the stage of this world and I assume different forms to engage with you. I alone am present in your disease and grief, sorrow and poverty, honour and insult, enemies and friends, above you, below you, before you, behind you, on your left and right, in your wife and son, body and house, senses, mind, intellect, spirit and pride. Only I am in everything and everywhere.