Abhyasa Practice 4 and last

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Abhyasa (Practice)

 

 

D. What are the rules of conduct which an aspirant should follow?

 

 

M. Moderation in food, moderation in sleep and moderation in speech.

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M. In the question 'Who am I?' by 'I' is meant the ego. Trying to

trace it and find its source, we see it has no separate existence but

merges in the real 'I'.

 

D. Should I go on asking 'Who am I?' without answering?

Who asks whom? What is 'I', the Self or the ego?

 

M. In the enquiry 'Who am I?' the 'I' is the ego. The question really

means, what is the source or origin of this ego?

****

M. Yes, any puja is good! 'Om Ram' or any other name will do. The

point is to keep away all other thoughts except the one thought of Om

or Ram or God. All mantras or japa helps that.

The mind turned inwards is the Self, turned outwards, it becomes the

ego and all the world. But the mind does not exist apart from the

Self, i.e., it has no independent existence. The self exists without

the mind, but never the mind without the Self.

 

 

D. When we enquire within 'Who am I?' who enquires?

 

M. It is the ego. It is only that which makes the vichara also. The

Self has no vichara. That which makes the enquiry is the ego. The '

I' about which the enquiry is made is also the ego. As a result of

the enquiry the ego ceases to exist and only the Self is found to

exist.

M. Everything we see is changing, always changing. There must be

something unchanging as the basis and source of all this. It is the

Self.

- The Mountain Path, April 1972

 

THE MAHARSHI

January/February 2003Vol. 13 - No. 1

Produced & Edited byDennis HartelDr. Anil K. Sharma

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