Bhagavan on our real nature

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Happiness isour real nature.That happiness does not depend onour

possessions or achievements.Existence is the same as happiness

andhappiness is the same as being.That which is called happinessalone

exists.Knowing that fact andabiding in that state of Self,enjoy bliss

eternally.Perfect bliss isthe absolute.Perfect peace isthe Self.That

alone exists andis consciousness.Self is not other thanperfect

happiness.That which is called happinessis only the nature of

Self.One's own reality,which shines within everyoneas the heart, is

itselfthe ocean of unalloyed bliss.~ Sri Ramana

"How will the mind become quiescent?"

Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"By the inquiry 'Who am I?'. The thought 'Who am I?' will destroy all

other thoughts, and like the stick used for stirring the burning

pyre, it will itself in the end get destroyed. Then, there will arise

Self-Realization." The questioner asks:

"What is the means for constantly holding on to the thought 'Who am I?'"

Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"When other thoughts arise, one should not pursue them, but should

inquire: 'To whom do they arise?' It does not matter how many

thoughts arise. As each thought arises, one should inquire with

diligence, 'To whom has this thought arisen?'. The answer that would

emerge would be 'To me". Thereupon if one inquires 'Who am I?', the

mind will go back to its source; and the thought that arose will

become quiescent. With repeated practice in this manner, the mind

will develop skill to stay in its source." The questioner asks:

"Are there no other means for making the mind quiescent?" Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"Other than inquiry, there are no adequate means. If through other

means it is sought to control the mind, the mind will appear to be

controlled, but will again go forth." The questioner asks:

"How long should inquiry be practised?" Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"As long as there are impressions of objects in the mind, so long the

inquiry 'Who am I?' is required. As thoughts arise they should be

destroyed then and there in the very place of their origin, through

inquiry. As long as there are enemies within the fortress, they will

continue to sally forth; if they are destroyed as they emerge, the

fortress will fall into our hands."

The questioner asks:

"Is it not possible for God and the Guru to effect the release of a

soul?" Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"God and Guru will only show the way to release; they will not by

themselves take the soul to the state of release. Each one should by

his own effort pursue the path shown by God or Guru and gain

release." The questioner asks:

"Is it any use reading books for those who long for release?" Sri Ramana Maharshi answers:

"In order to quiet the mind one has only to inquire within oneself

what one's Self is; how could this search be done in books? The Self

is within the five sheaths; but books are outside them. Since the

Self has to be inquired into by discarding the five sheaths, it is

futile to search for it in books." The questioner asks:

"What is release?" Sri Ramana Maharshi answers:

"Inquiring into the nature of one's self that is in bondage, and

realizing one's true nature is release." The questioner asks:

"If 'I' also be an illusion, who then casts off the illusion?" Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"The 'I' casts off the illusion of 'I' and yet remains as 'I'. Such is

the paradox f Self-Realization. The realized do not see any

contradiction in it. You give up this and that of 'my' possessions.

If you give up 'I' and 'Mine' instead, all are given up at a stroke.

The very seed of possession is lost. Thus the evil is nipped in the

bud or crushed in the germ itself. Dispassion (vairagya) must be very

strong to do this. Eagerness to do it must be equal to that of a man

kept under water trying to rise to the surface for his life." The

questioner asked:

"Cannot this trouble and difficulty be lessened with the aid of a

Master or God chosen for worship? (Ishta Devata) Cannot they give the

power to see our Self as it is to change us into themselves and take

us to Self-Realization?" Sri Ramana Maharshi replies:

"Ishta Devata and Guru are aids very powerful aids on this path. But

an aid to be effective requires your effort also. Your effort is sine

qua non (an indispensable or essential condition, element, or factor).

It is you who should see the sun. Can spectacles and the sun see for

you? You yourself have to see your true nature.

http://www.awarenessplus.com/ramana.htm

Arunachala

LoveAlways,

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