Article sent from The Hindu on indiaserver.com

[Guest guest]

=============================================================

This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( chandran )

=============================================================

Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Self-enquiry leads to realisation

 

CHENNAI, MAY 1. The sense of individuality, ``I'', is fundamental

to all human experiences. Nothing is as evident as the feeling

``I am''. But the notion of ``I'' is identified with the body-

mind-intellect personality. So philosophical enquiry into the

true nature of the Self (Atman) must start at the fundamental

level of understanding ``Who am I?''. The sage of Arunachala

recommended this questioning method for Self-realisation.

 

Sages who have realised the true nature of the Self have

emphasised that this enquiry must be undertaken by every aspirant

as the experience of the Self cannot be communicated to others.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gives the example of a salt doll diving

into the ocean to plumb its depth and losing its identity in the

process. Likewise, he who plunges into his Self loses his

identity in the experience and then who remains to relate it to

others?

 

It is for this reason that silence is a corollary of Self-

realisation. It is not possible to speak of the experience and

sages like Ramana have indicated the importance of conducting

Self-enquiry for oneself to experience the same. It is through

the process of negation of the different layers of the human

personality that the subtlest level of the Self is reached. The

mind is responsible for the feeling of ``I''. The whole objective

is to find out what the mind is and trace its source so that

thoughts can subside and the Self revealed.

 

One must observe the thoughts as they arise in the mind and

question whose thoughts they are. This constant questioning makes

the mind subside into its source - the Self. By repeated enquiry

the mind acquires the power to return to its source. The mind is

by nature extroverted as the senses and the intellect force the

mind to seek the world of objects. In spiritual life the

objective was to direct the mind inward, said Sri Sukhi Sivam in

his discourse on Ramana Maharishi's teachings.

 

Like the mind, the Prana - vital breath - also originates from

the Self. Hence breath-control (Pranayama) can also achieve

stillness of mind. But the limitation of this method is that the

effect will be temporary as the mind (ego) does not get

annihilated.

 

The Guru by suitable instructions guides the disciple to achieve

introversion of mind. Though Ramana never called himself a Guru,

his exceptional spiritual stature attracted many a spiritual

aspirant to him and they definitely progressed by his benevolent

grace and guidance. He did not dissuade anyone from practising

any Sadhana (spiritual practice) but only showed how all of them

must lead ultimately to the method of Self-enquiry.

 

Copyrights: 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.

 

Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly

prohibited without the consent of The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc.