Sri Ramana Maharshi - Who am I? ( cont....5)

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Sri Ramana Maharshi - Who am I ?

 

( continued from yesterday's

post)

 

Question: What is the nature of the Self ?

 

The Self, one's real nature, alone exists and is real. The world,

the soul and God are superimpositions on it like [the illusory appearances of]

silver in mother-of-pearl. These three appear and disappear simultaneously.

Self itself is the world; Self itself is the 'I'; Self itself is God; all is

Siva, the Self.

 

( Sri.David Godman's comments : At the beginning of this paragraph Bhagavan

says, in effect, that the world, the soul and God are illusory appearances.

Later he says that all three are the Self, and therefore real. This should be

seen as a paradox rather than a contradiction. The following answer clarifies

Bhagawan's views:

" Sankara was criticised for his views on 'maya' [illusion] without

understanding him. He said that (1) 'Brahman' [the Self] is real (2) the

universe is unreal, and (3) 'Brahman' is the universe. He did not stop at the

second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe

is real if perceived as the Self and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self.

Hence 'maya' and reality are one and the same."

 

The seeing of names and forms is a misperception because, in the Self, the one

reality, none exist. Therefore, if a world of names and forms is seen, it must

necessarily be an illusory one. Bhagavan explains this in verse 49 of 'Guru

Vachaka Kovai' :

" Just as fire is obscured by smoke, the shining light of conciousness

is obscured by the assemblage of names and forms. When, by compassionate divine

grace, the mind becomes clear, the nature of the world will be known to be not

illusory forms, but only the reality." )

 

.............to be continued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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