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In the Ashram I was given a room newly built at the

side of the store-room, which I shared with Annamalai


Swamy; here I remained for three and a half months until
a room had been built for me at the Ashram grounds.
This room I have occupied ever since.
Bhagavan came back from his after-breakfast stroll at
about seven oclock and I went in to the old Hall and
joined him. I was given a chair just beside the door facing
him, which I occupied for some months until I realized
that people objected. I did not know then that it was
considered disrespectful by Indians to sit on the same
level as the Guru or even to occupy a chair at all in his
presence. I had then, and still have, considerable difficulty
in sitting on the floor for any length of time in spite of
years of practice. Afterwards I devised a meditation belt
of cotton cloth which I brought round from the back
across my raised knees and with this support could sit
comfortably for long periods. Such belts are regularly used
by Yogis, though strange as it may seem I had no idea of
this when I devised my own. Bhagavan told me that his
father had had one but had not used it in public. Once
some boys came into the Hall and saw me meditating in
the belt, they asked Bhagavan, Why has he been tied
up? Bhagavan, who had a great sense of humour, was much
amused. However, in spite of the fact that the belt made
me conspicuous, I was so keen on meditating in Bhagavans
presence that I continued to use it for many years.

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