Today we mark the anniversary when Swami Ramdas took sannyas, the life of a wandering mendicant. We may all take inspiration from Papa in his complete surrender to God, his fearlessness in throwing his lot in with the inner promptings of his beloved Ram, and the good cheer in which he carried out even the most severe disciplines. Whether God calls us to such a wandering life or He directs us to some other, the same complete surrender is required to attune our bodies, minds and souls, not with the lower impulses, but with the highest, most beautiful, sublime states of consciousness available to anyone. Here is how Papa spoke of that initial change in his life, many years after the fact.
Swami Ramdas on Himself
The great change came over Ramdas in 1922 with his life of renunciation not as a result of his own effort or initiative, but by the power, Will and grace of God. Until this transformation came to him, he was living only an ordinary life. This does not mean that he was selfish or inflicted any injury upon others or exploited others for his personal happiness. It was only that he was not aware then that there was a great Reality underlying this universal manifestation and that by attaining that Reality one could become supremely happy and peaceful, free from all anger, hate and bickering, which brought him in daily conflict with his fellow-beings.
When this great change came, Ramdas was swept off his feet, as it were. He did not know what was going to happen to him. He was asked to repeat the name of God constantly, to keep his mind serene and calm, so that it could go deeper within himself, to find the truth on which his life was based. For that purpose he was made to give up everything, all attachments to worldly life, worldly relations, and he was taken from place to place in a state which was really wonderful. In that state he felt neither attraction nor repulsion for the world. The world had practically ceased to exist for him. His mind was merely an instrument in the hands of the Divine and he was being led by that Power. His mind was merged in ineffable peace and bliss.
Having experienced that supreme joy in this state, Ramdas was going about telling everybody that, if they lived on the lower levels of life like animals, they could never get real happiness. They must transcend all these and go deep down within themselves and realise the all-pervading eternal Spirit, which is pure bliss and peace. In this way for nearly four years, Ramdas was wandering from place to place, and during his wanderings, he was made to remain for days together in caves and jungles in order that he might get the fullness of spiritual experience which is the aim and purpose of human life.