Sri Ramana - Devotion, Inquiry, and Grace

[Guest guest]

Sri Ramana used to say that either one has to inquire steadfastly about

the arising of the aham vritti (the "I" thought--the feeling awareness

of I AM) or surrender entirely to the Guru that is one's own Self, the

very Heart of one's existence. In either approach, the pure ego, the

sense of identity, the "I" ness merges in the Heart and the Self.

 

Bhagavan often made the point that although the spiritual effort is

critical, one cannot go beyond a certain point with effort alone, and

that Grace is needed. When asked, how could one obtain Grace, Sri Ramana

would say that Grace is ever existent and always there. One only needed

to be aware of It. Just like the Sun shines equally on all and gives

life, the light of awareness shines in all beings as Grace. That is why

Ramana Maharshi often brought attention to the nature of awareness and

it's source, the Heart. This can be grasped at many different levels

depending on the spiritual maturity of the aspirant. The fact that Self

is Always Realized and that the Grace is always there can be meditated

upon.

 

So one makes the sincere effort, but the effort alone is usually not

enough because the effort is made by the ego, however pure, by the

person, by an identity, that is separate (has presumed itself separate)

from the Lord of the Heart. The devotee cries out in anguish, in

despair. And then like the Mother rushes towards her child, Grace takes

over, some Power, the Power of the Self, the Divine Mother---that takes

the mind and embraces it and takes it and merges it into its Source, the

Heart, and one sees oneself as the Heart, the awareness, as pure

awareness, infinite awareness without boundaries anywhere that ancients

called Sat-Chit-Ananda.

 

Sri Ramana beautifully pointed out to Paul Brunton that, that which is

practice for the aspirant is the state of the Siddha. When awareness is

aware of itself as practice, it is due to Grace only and something

starts happening. It may be imperceptible at first and gradual over

time, over life times. But the Self Remembrance, the remembrance, starts

and like a river carries one along.

 

The Heart is the magnet. The words of the Guru are Grace because they

make the student alert and aware. When meditation is ripe, and all the

effort that is possible has been made, through Grace, mind and Shakti

are drawn to the Heart, and the Heart swallows up everything. That is

the Supreme Silence beyond concepts, imagination, time, and space.

 

Love to all

Harsha

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste!

>Bhagavan often made the point that although the spiritual effort

>is critical, one cannot go beyond a certain point with effort alone,

>and that Grace is needed. When asked, how could one obtain Grace,

>Sri Ramana would say that Grace is ever existent and always there.

>One only needed to be aware of It. Just like the sun shines

>equally on all ...

 

 

A good, inspiring and useful message. Should be reflected upon.

 

Benjamin