Mouni Sadhu: The Technique of Vichara

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THE TECHNIQUE OF VICHARA

By Mouni Sadhu

 

The method according to the teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi is as follows:

 

To immerse oneself in meditation, making a clear impression on the outer mind

that the real Self cannot be any transient thing such as the body, emotions or

mind. When this fact is strongly established without any doubt in consciousness,

then I try to fill every possible moment with the inquiry "WHO AM I?". When any

other thought enters the mind one crushes it with the Vichara. The more

determined the perseverance, the better the result. The restless mind begins to

give up the struggle. As I substitute every approaching thought with the magic

Vichara, the periods of absolute quietness become longer. At first it is only

for a few seconds, but with constant practice there come minutes of unruffled

peace. The most important thing is to catch and remember what was most helpful

reaching that peace of mind. I cannot describe that process in my consciousness,

because it is above and beyond the activity of the mind, and therefore, cannot

be expressed in words, which belong to the mental realm.

But each earnest student will have the same experience.

 

Wherever I was, Vichara was with me: walking in the street, sitting in trams and

trains, in fact all day long when my mind was not immediately engaged in some

necessary activity.

 

During the first months I counted the inquiries putting a number after each

one,'Who am I?' (one), 'Who am I?" (two) and so on. When circumstances compelled

me to break the work, I noted the number in my memory, or if the break had to be

longer, I wrote it on a slip of paper carried in my pocket for the purpose. For

the first few days the figure of 1000 was the highest. Later 7000 and more

became an easy mark. When I learned to fill every moment with Vichara excepting

those of speech and compulsory mental occupation, the counting was discarded as

unnecessary, for then the mind had learned to remember Vichara automatically.

The important part was not to repeat Vichara with the mind, but to saturate each

inquiry with a strong desire (without words) to know 'Who am I?'.

 

Then the results were : peace of mind, and a power to use it after my own will,

as a force apart from the individual ' I '. The average man believes, in his

ignorance, that his body , emotions and mind constitute himself. The disciple

trained by a Master overcomes this falsehood. And this is the turning point in

his spiritual development. Being under the dominance of his mind the man is only

a slave, and realisation is not possible for those enslaved by the mind or the

senses.

 

The spiritual aspect of Vichara is also clear. In using it you are seeking your

legitimate inheritance, aiming directly at the very source of life.The whole

problem of life is wrapped up in the Vichara. Every religion and every spiritual

Master affirms that life in its essence is eternal and indestructible; but what

is that life?

 

Maharshi reveals, and the disciple realises, that eternal life is none other

than uninterrupted consciousness.

 

To reach that stage means to reach the immortality of spirit, of reality. That

is the goal and the ultimate aim. There is nothing else. Meditate upon this and

the truth will be made clear even to the outer mind.

 

Such are the heavens promised to the righteous and the saints. For them there is

no death any more. How clear now are the words of the great teacher of humanity!

 

When our consciousness reaches the supra-mental realm, the realm of the eternal

unchangeable spirit-self, the unchanging reality, then death is simply

transcended and does not exist any more. Now can be understood truth of the

saying of the Great Rishi, when he denies reincarnation in the realm of spirit,

but otherwise speaks about it as an established fact. From his point of view

both death and reincarnation are only illusions, and do not affect the real

Self, just as body is not affected by a change of dress. The Vichara throws

light on every path.

 

When many religions and sects were quarrelling with each other, there was need

for a presentation of truth which would transcend all the enclosing walls of

particular faiths. This was given by Sri Ramana Maharshi. His teachings can be

accepted by any person sincerely seeking truth and God, independently of the

religion in which a person is reared.

 

(from www.hinuism.co.za)