Vigilance

February 1, 2004

>From the January 99 issue of The Ramana Way Journal:

.....Yet, there is surely one rule which Bhagavan has laid down for

us. This is the rule of vigilance. To be vigilant, continuously,

every waking moment, to the rising of identity. To nip each

identification in the bud even as it rises, by questioning For whom

is this? For whom this distraction? For whom this anger? For whom the

anxiety? Who is judging? Who is deciding? Who is achieving? Who has

failed? Who? Who?. I comes the answer at every instance. And the next

question must automatically follow since we are on the path of self-

enquiry. I? Who am I? Attention returns to the I and its source,

vigilance remains. This is imperative. It is also the only regimen

that need be followed. All else can take its own course as it is

bound to. This is fine, some argue, but could you not put down a

little more clearly how this translates into action? It may seem

simple to say we should remain vigilant, yet it would be helpful if

you could give us some examples based on our daily routine.

.......Vigilance, vigilance through the day, through work and play,

through storm and quiet. To remember, recall time and again the

intense doubt, Who am I?, whenever possible, wherever necessary.

Then, night comes and one is not exhausted. For, one has kept the

company of enquiry through the day. Nor is one working till the

moment of dropping to sleep, for one does not seek such a hectic pace

of activity. So, with the mind still clear, one goes to bed so that

one may watch, remain alert as the I- thought drops back into the

source. So that one may track it down and again wake up with the same

awareness, alertness, every moment in readiness. What then are the

rules of this game? To renounce family.? No. To renounce work? No. To

give up bad habits? No. To give up good habits? No. To renounce the

one who seeks to renounce? Yes! To give up the original habit, the

habit of identification? Yes! How? Through vigilance, eternal

vigilance, the absolute intensity of alert, unbroken self-enquiry.

That's right, it is the price of truth.

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