Be the Self

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V. Ganesan:

Practicing Self-Inquiry:

Introduction

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Sri Bhagavan Ramana is the Self within.

That which pulsates in one as the life-force,

as the very being, as the very existence, is

Sri Bhagavan. Only for our sake he appeared

outwardly as Guru, bearing a comely human form.

 

Once he also joined the devotees in singing Ramana

Sad-Guru. Seeing the look of astonishment on some

faces he smiled, and pointing to his body, asked:

"Do you think this is Ramana?"

Later he affirmed: "In the recesses of the lotus-shaped

heart of all, there shines the Absolute Consciousness

which is Arunachala Ramana."

 

He is ever with us, within us. To many he said:

"You are not the body."

Yes, he was not the body. Just before dropping the

body he said, "People say I am going, but where can

I go? I am here." Not, "I shall be here," but "I am here."

Both the "I am" and "here" refer to each one of us -

the former proclaiming the truth of one's own non-dual,

eternal existence and the latter to the very individual

entity.

 

For one who turns to Sri Ramana Maharshi, the assurance

of his presence as a reality within is a tremendous boon.

All urgencies and necessities to seek a Guru outside get

nullified. Sri Bhagavan Ramana ever IS! To realize this, is

His Grace!

 

So too with his guidance. His way of initiation was silent and

non formal; the guidance was straight to the heart, bypassing

words, concepts and thus all thought. It is so even now.

 

"Be as you are" is his only commandment. To remain as one

is and be fully aware as such, as pure being, i.e., to the

exclusion of body, mind, scriptures, world and all.

 

To this simple state of pure being, the I AM-ness, Sri Maharshi

gave the name "Self." Self is not an entity. It is the beholder of

all that is. The one Reality that ever IS. YOU are That! It is that

simple, that direct, that natural. No mystery, no abstruse

concept. Awaking oneself to this truth of one's own Self,

with total attention, is the message of the Maharshi.

 

"You have forgotten it. Now, wake up to the Truth that You are

That."

"Be the Self".