Removal of Misery

[Guest guest]

Removal of Misery

 

D.: When duhka (misery) overpowers me, enquiry is impossible.

M.: Because the mind is too weak. Make it strong.

D.: By what means?

M.: Sat-sanga, Isvara Aradhana, Pranayama (association with the wise,

worship of God, breath control).

D.: What happens?

M.: Misery is removed; our aim is removal of misery. You do not acquire

happiness. Your very nature is happiness. Bliss is not newly earned. All

that is done is to remove unhappiness. These methods do it.

D.: Association with the wise may strengthen the mind. There must also be

practice. What practice should be made?

M.: Yes. Practice is necessary too. Practice means removal of

predispositions. Practice is not for any fresh gain; it is to kill the

predispositions.

D.: Abhyasa (practice) should give me that power.

M.: Practice is power. If thoughts are reduced to a single thought, the

mind is said to have grown strong. When practice remains unshaken it becomes

sahaja (natural).

D.: What is such practice?

M.: Enquiring into the Self. That is all. Atmanyeva vasam nayet ... Fix

the mind on the SELF.

D.: What is the aim to be kept in view? Practice requires an aim.

M.: Atman is the aim. What else can there be? All other aims are for those

who are incapable of atmalakshya (having the Self for the aim). They lead

you ultimately to atma-vichara (enquiry into the Self). One-pointedness is

the fruit of all kinds of practice. One may get it quickly; another after a

long time. Everything depends on the practice.

 

-- From Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi, No. 290

Reproduced in "The Maharshi"

http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/publish/janfeb01.htm

 

There is an interesting article on the Five Hymns to Arunachala and also one

on Bhagavan and herbal medicine in this issue.

 

Regards

Miles