Whence Am I put into service

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Self-enquiry would have the effect of silencing the mind by warding off one's

association with thoughts. The intermingling would end. The mind's energies can

and need to be focused on the mind itself. It must be kept active in pursuit of

itself, in paying attention to its source. This may be termed as Self-attention.

Self-enquiry has acted as the initial thrust, enabling one to cut oneself off

from the mental movement. Self-attention completes the job for one is now on the

threshold of Self-knowledge. For this, the second weapon in Ramana's armory,

'Whence am 'I'?' has to be pressed into service. It is the other blade in a pair

of scissors. Having actively warded off thoughts one has to be passively alert

and let the power within take over. Ramana assures that this will happen

naturally. He has explained, "The Self is like a powerful magnet hidden within

us. It draws us gradually to itself... The truth is that we are like iron

filings. The process of finding the self is a kind of divine magnetism."

Cleansed of the rusting caused by thoughts the mind is drawn irresistibly within

to its source, to the divine current, to the heart.

 

In one of his compositions Ramana has explained his method with utmost clarity:

 

>From Timeless in Time by Natarajan

Stay tuned for next installment.