Fw: [MillionPaths] The Maharshi and the Impersonal Self

July 8, 2005

It should not surprise all of us who are Marharshi now in the I Am,

where could he go, where could

he BE? If not here, in the I AM.

Love,

Anna

-

Sachin Chavan

MillionPaths ;

Friday, July 08, 2005 3:32 AM

Fw: Re: [MillionPaths] The Maharshi and the Impersonal Self

The last line should read...

In the end (and I guess here), this conditioning also vanishes and

then, the personality Ramana becomes as irrelevant for us as it was

for Him then.

Sachin

----

Sachin Chavan

07/08/05 12:57:17

MillionPaths

Re: [MillionPaths] The Maharshi and the Impersonal Self

This is an excellent question to dwell upon and the answer provided by

the editor gives some clues. It was helpful to me.

Its absolutely right when the Ed. says Maharshi's personality had

dissolved into the Absolute even when he was alive. So, logically,

Steven's question would also be relevant even during the days when

Maharshi was around in the physical state... i.e. before 1950.

You know, this problem is somewhat solved in the case of Buddha...

because the word Buddha is not just used to refer to Gautama, the

Buddha, but in general to that state of being one is in when he/she

has dissolved his/her personality with the Absolute. Can we use the

word Maharshi the same way? Ramana, the Maharshi was not significant

for himself even then, then would he be relevant to us now? Our Guru

existed then and now, as the "Absolute"... call it Maharshi or Budhha

or just God.

Its more a sign of our state of evolution than anything else. Most of

us (including me) get a lot of inspiration when we see Ramana's

photo. Why? Because it instantly reminds us of the Absolute and makes

us still. So, what is more important? The state or what caused it? The

same happened before 1950 when people sat near his physical presence.

The physical presence then or the figurative presence of the

personality now... are just pointers for us. Because of our

conditioning (yes conditioning) it triggers in us that stillness of

mind and helps us go further towards the source. in the mind (and I

guess here), this conditioning also vanishes and then, the

personality Ramana becomes as irrelevant for us as it was for Him

then.

Tat tvam asi

(You are that)

Sachin

P.S: I am surprised myself at having written this mail. I did not have

all this in my mind when I started typing... it just flowed. I just

felt an urge to reply.

----

michael bindel

07/08/05 10:32:14

atma_vichara; ;

millionpaths; namoramana;

[MillionPaths] The Maharshi and the Impersonal Self

THE MAHARSHI

January/February 2004Vol. 14 - No. 1

Produced & Edited byDennis HartelDr. Anil K. Sharma

Letters and Comments

The Maharshi and the Impersonal Self

I have one question after reading this newsletter [Nov/Dec 2003

issue], and that is, what exactly does it mean to say that the

Maharshi still exists as the Self. The Maharshi is there spoken of as

if he had a specific identity to whom one could relate. The problem

becomes obvious when one considers that if he has indeed merged with

the Absolute, he could not be distinguishable from it as Maharshi. I

don’t object to saying that he has merged with the Ocean of Being, or

the Absolute; the confusion is that, having done so, he would no

longer be Maharshi any more than any other who has thus merged. To

speak of Maharshi, as opposed to Buddha, or Franklin Merrell-Wolff,

etc., would be contradictory. So, does the Maharshi exist separate

from the Self, or is he identified (if one can say this) as the

Absolute, indistinguishable from it? To say that he still exists

without a body, as if he were different from the Self, makes little

sense. I don’t see how one can have it both ways. Can you have your

Maharshi and the impersonal Self? Is the Self somehow aware as

Maharshi...? What do you think?

Steven, USA

Did the Maharshi extend his guidance and grace to seekers while he was

embodied? If you put this question to those who earnestly sought his

company and guidance, undoubtedly the answer would be a resounding

“Yes”. Many felt his influence from both far and near during the

years he resided at Arunachala. If that was so then, what obstructs

the same guidance and grace now? The disappearance of a physical

body, you say.For those with a limited vision of Reality the Maharshi

‘appeared’ to occupy a body and responded to seekers who sought his

grace and guidance. This was perceived by the seekers and existed in

accordance with the Divine scheme for the ultimate liberation of

souls.

We must remember that the Maharshi existed as the ‘Self’ alone. With

our limitations we perceived him to be embodied. He was not a body or

a personality. We identify our self with our limited body and mind. He

did not. “Maharshi: The error lies in the identification of the Self

with the body. If Bhagavan is the body you may ask that body. But

understand him whom you address as Bhagavan. He is not the body. He

is the Self.”

The Maharshi was totally merged in the Absolute even before he arrived

at Tiruvannamalai in 1896. There was no question of a body or

personality for him then, even as there is no question of a body or

personality for him now.

For their own edification, seekers sought his company while he

appeared in time and space and occupied a body. This was their

perception only, from their limited level of understanding. As I

already said, he was not a body then nor is he now. His parting words

on the matter are telling: “People say I am going away. Go! Where can

I go? I am here.”

Therefore the question of the Maharshi merging in the Absolute at the

time of death cannot be posed. He was and ‘is’ the Absolute now and

always.

The Maharshi was very reserved in expressing any outward signs of

influence upon the spiritual state of those who came to him.

Nevertheless he did so, and in dramatic ways; sheltered from public

gaze, he acted within the consciousness of those seekers who

approached him physically, or just mentally from a distance. Since

his Mahasamadhi, I have heard untold number of testimonies from those

who have experienced his presence and grace in dreams or in the waking

state, or stories of rapturous encounters by simply looking at his

photo. I have also seen and heard of marvelous occurrences of

intervention which go far beyond the barriers of coincidence or

rational thinking. But normally, for most devotees, his influence

remains unobtrusive though potent, just as when he walked amongst us.

So, if the Maharshi responded to those who invoked his grace in the

past while he appeared to occupy a body, what is it that obstructs

this same response now that there is no body?

We, as seekers and devotees, should sincerely inquire within and

answer this question. Metaphysical explanations can perhaps satisfy

the intellect, but not our burning need for a permanent peace, a

resting place wherein mortality has lost its hold and the Eternal

Being of Awareness remains unbroken.In 2003, can Sri Ramana Maharshi

help you in this quest for freedom? Only you can answer that.

–Editor

Sell on Auctions - No fees. Bid on great items.

/join

"Love itself

is the actual form of God."Sri RamanaIn "Letters from Sri

Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma

July 8, 2005

True. Its just that we need to keep this awareness alive 24 hours a

day.... non-stop. I am still not there yet.

Sachin

----

Anna Ruiz

07/08/05 13:17:10

Re: Fw: Re: [MillionPaths] The

Maharshi and the Impersonal Self