"Talks..."

[Guest guest]

In response to a devotee relating how her health prevented her from

meditating, the following exchange took place with Sri Ramana...

 

M. This thought, 'I am not able to concentrate,' is itself an obstacle.

Why should the thought arise?

 

D. Can one remain without thoughts rising all 24 hours of the day?

Should I remain without meditation?

 

M. What is 'hours' again? It is a concept. Each question of yours is

prompted by a thought.

Your nature is Peace and Happiness. Thoughts are the obstacles

to realisation. One's meditation or concentration is meant to get rid of

obstacles and not to gain the Self. Does the Self remain apart from the

Self? No! The true nature of the Self is declared to be Peace. If the

same peace is not found, the non-finding is only a thought which is alien to

the Self. One practices meditation only to get rid of these alien fancies.

So, then, a thought must be quelled as soon as it rises. Whenever a thought

arises, do not be carried away by it. You become aware of the body when you

forget the Self. But can you forget the Self? Being the Self how con you

forget it? There must be two selves for one to forget the other. It is

absurd. So the Self is not depressed: it is not imperfect: it is ever

happy. The contrary feeling is a mere thought which actually has no stamina

in it. Be rid of thoughts. Why should one attempt meditation? Being the

Self one remains always realised, only be free from thoughts.

You think that your health does not permit you meditation. This

depression must be traced to its origin. This origin is the wrong

identification of the body with the Self. The disease is not of the Self.

It is of the body. But the body does not come and tell you it is possessed

by the disease. It is you who say it. Why? Because you have wrongly

identified yourself with the body.

The body itself is a thought. Be as you really are. There is no

reason to be depressed.

 

(The lady was called away and she retired. The question was

however pursued as follows...)

 

D. Sri Bhagavan's answers do not permit us to put further questions,

not because our minds are peaceful but we are unable to argue the point.

Our discontent is not at an end. For the physical ailments to go the mental

ailments should go. Both go when thoughts go. Thoughts do not go without

effort. Effort is not possible with the present weakness of mind. The mind

requires grace to gain strength. Grace must manifest only after surrender.

So all questions, wittingly or unwittingly, amount to asking for Sri

Bhagan's Grace.

 

M. Smiled and said, "Yes."

 

D. Surrender is said to be bhakti. But Sri Bhagavan is known to

favour enquiry for the Self. There is thus confusion in the hearer.

 

M. Surrender can take effect only when done with full knowledge. Such

knowledge comes after enquiry. It ends in surrender.

 

D. The knowledge of the Supreme Being is after transcending the

individual Self. This is jnana. Where is the need for surrender?

 

M. Quite so. There is no difference between jnana and surrender.

(Smile).

 

D. How is the questioner satisfied then? The only alternative left

is association with the wise or devotion to God (satsanga or Isvara Bhakti).

 

M. Smiled and said, "Yes."

 

(from Talks 464 - 19th Feb, 1938)