some basic doubts

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I'm a beginner in Self-Enquiry and I have a few doubts

in the basics.

Abidance in the Self is said to be a state of complete

silence, absence of thoughts and falling away of the

senses so that the world is not seen/felt in any way?

When I close my eyes and still my mind, I can still

hear noices of people talking to me etc. Does this

mean that as long as I feel the world around me, my

enquiry is not in the least successful (because even

the perception of a noise sometimes creates a

thought)?. Should I just ignore what my senses tell me

so that no thought is created to process those

sense-impelled thoughts? But even ignoring these

sensual impulses involve effort/thought. Should I

mentally ask myself: Who is it that feels/hears the

world around me. Its of course the separative 'I'. So,

I still feel that separative 'I', which feels the

world around me rather than the absolute 'I', which is

complete silence.

I know all these doubts are steeped in ignorance. Can

somebody enlighten me here?

Also, how am I to follow self-enquiry when I am

involved in action. It seems impossible for

self-enquiry and action to co-exist. How am I to be

silent in mind/indulge in self-enquiry and still do

activities such as programming or talking to some

body? Thanks.

 

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Talks 17, 24th January, 1935

 

D: Is work an obstruction to Self-realisation?

 

M: No, For a realised being the Self alone is the Reality, and actions are only

phenomenal, not affecting the Self. Even when he acts he has no sence of being

an agent. His actions are only involuntary and he remains witness to them

without any attachment.

Their is no aim for this action. Even one who is practising the path of Wisdom

(jana) can practice while angaged in work. It may be difficult in the earlier

stages for a beginner, but after some practice it will be soon be effective and

the work will not be found a hindrance to meditation.

 

 

This is from Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. This might help your qustion.

 

Om Namah Sivaya

 

Barney

 

 

 

wrote:Hi,

I'm a beginner in Self-Enquiry and I have a few doubts

in the basics.

Abidance in the Self is said to be a state of complete

silence, absence of thoughts and falling away of the

senses so that the world is not seen/felt in any way?

When I close my eyes and still my mind, I can still

hear noices of people talking to me etc. Does this

mean that as long as I feel the world around me, my

enquiry is not in the least successful (because even

the perception of a noise sometimes creates a

thought)?. Should I just ignore what my senses tell me

so that no thought is created to process those

sense-impelled thoughts? But even ignoring these

sensual impulses involve effort/thought. Should I

mentally ask myself: Who is it that feels/hears the

world around me. Its of course the separative 'I'. So,

I still feel that separative 'I', which feels the

world around me rather than the absolute 'I', which is

complete silence.

I know all these doubts are steeped in ignorance. Can

somebody enlighten me here?

Also, how am I to follow self-enquiry when I am

involved in action. It seems impossible for

self-enquiry and action to co-exist. How am I to be

silent in mind/indulge in self-enquiry and still do

activities such as programming or talking to some

body? Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Dharan,

Thanks for Sri Ramana Maharshi's quote. I guess the question arose

because i am still a beginner. My question is..how exactly would you

carry out Self-Enquiry while at work?

Work will happen in my case only if I put in deliberate thought and

command my body to work. So how can Self-Enquiry be practiced so as to

abide in the Self and yet do work..i mean what sort of question do I

ask myself "Who is it that works?"??? My spurious answer would be: of

course the body, commanded by the mind (which ultimately draws power

from the Self). My answer would be "the Self is doing all the work",

if I am working and yet in a thoughtless state and there is no

deliberate effort. I guess my argument is flawed in some way. In any

case, I'd like to know how advanced practitioners use Self-Enquiry at

work. Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

RamanaMaharshi, Dharan Bharani <champbarn>

wrote:

> Talks 17, 24th January, 1935

>

> D: Is work an obstruction to Self-realisation?

>

> M: No, For a realised being the Self alone is the Reality, and

actions are only phenomenal, not affecting the Self. Even when he acts

he has no sence of being an agent. His actions are only involuntary

and he remains witness to them without any attachment.

> Their is no aim for this action. Even one who is practising the path

of Wisdom (jana) can practice while angaged in work. It may be

difficult in the earlier stages for a beginner, but after some

practice it will be soon be effective and the work will not be found a

hindrance to meditation.

>

>

> This is from Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. This might help your

qustion

 

> Om Namah Sivaya

>

> Barney

>

>

>

wrote:Hi,

> I'm a beginner in Self-Enquiry and I have a few doubts

> in the basics.

> Abidance in the Self is said to be a state of complete

> silence, absence of thoughts and falling away of the

> senses so that the world is not seen/felt in any way?

> When I close my eyes and still my mind, I can still

> hear noices of people talking to me etc. Does this

> mean that as long as I feel the world around me, my

> enquiry is not in the least successful (because even

> the perception of a noise sometimes creates a

> thought)?. Should I just ignore what my senses tell me

> so that no thought is created to process those

> sense-impelled thoughts? But even ignoring these

> sensual impulses involve effort/thought. Should I

> mentally ask myself: Who is it that feels/hears the

> world around me. Its of course the separative 'I'. So,

> I still feel that separative 'I', which feels the

> world around me rather than the absolute 'I', which is

> complete silence.

> I know all these doubts are steeped in ignorance. Can

> somebody enlighten me here?

> Also, how am I to follow self-enquiry when I am

> involved in action. It seems impossible for

> self-enquiry and action to co-exist. How am I to be

> silent in mind/indulge in self-enquiry and still do

> activities such as programming or talking to some

> body? Thanks.

>

> Regards,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I can only say this. Maintain continuous awareness of your body, mind and

the work. Observe yourself at work equanimously... without any reaction to

what you observe. Its basically "observing the worker" and "observing the

work". Whenever an emotion crops up while working, Self-inquiry is needed.

Otherwise, the observation/awareness continues as the work also continues.

 

Sachin

 

 

 

----

 

Hi Dharan,

Thanks for Sri Ramana Maharshi's quote. I guess the question arose

because i am still a beginner. My question is..how exactly would you

carry out Self-Enquiry while at work?

Work will happen in my case only if I put in deliberate thought and

command my body to work. So how can Self-Enquiry be practiced so as to

abide in the Self and yet do work..i mean what sort of question do I

ask myself "Who is it that works?"??? My spurious answer would be: of

course the body, commanded by the mind (which ultimately draws power

from the Self). My answer would be "the Self is doing all the work",

if I am working and yet in a thoughtless state and there is no

deliberate effort. I guess my argument is flawed in some way. In any

case, I'd like to know how advanced practitioners use Self-Enquiry at

work. Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

RamanaMaharshi, Dharan Bharani <champbarn>

wrote:

> Talks 17, 24th January, 1935

>

> D: Is work an obstruction to Self-realisation?

>

> M: No, For a realised being the Self alone is the Reality, and

actions are only phenomenal, not affecting the Self. Even when he acts

he has no sence of being an agent. His actions are only involuntary

and he remains witness to them without any attachment.

> Their is no aim for this action. Even one who is practising the path

of Wisdom (jana) can practice while angaged in work. It may be

difficult in the earlier stages for a beginner, but after some

practice it will be soon be effective and the work will not be found a

hindrance to meditation.

>

>

> This is from Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. This might help your

qustion

 

> Om Namah Sivaya

>

> Barney

>

>

>

> I'm a beginner in Self-Enquiry and I have a few doubts

> in the basics.

> Abidance in the Self is said to be a state of complete

> silence, absence of thoughts and falling away of the

> senses so that the world is not seen/felt in any way?

> When I close my eyes and still my mind, I can still

> hear noices of people talking to me etc. Does this

> mean that as long as I feel the world around me, my

> enquiry is not in the least successful (because even

> the perception of a noise sometimes creates a

> thought)?. Should I just ignore what my senses tell me

> so that no thought is created to process those

> sense-impelled thoughts? But even ignoring these

> sensual impulses involve effort/thought. Should I

> mentally ask myself: Who is it that feels/hears the

> world around me. Its of course the separative 'I'. So,

> I still feel that separative 'I', which feels the

> world around me rather than the absolute 'I', which is

> complete silence.

> I know all these doubts are steeped in ignorance. Can

> somebody enlighten me here?

> Also, how am I to follow self-enquiry when I am

> involved in action. It seems impossible for

> self-enquiry and action to co-exist. How am I to be

> silent in mind/indulge in self-enquiry and still do

> activities such as programming or talking to some

> body? Thanks.

>

> Regards,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

We just need to keep practising and trying. To repeat 'It may be

difficult in the earlier stages for a beginner'

 

Om Namah Sivaya

 

Barney

Hi Dharan,

Thanks for Sri Ramana Maharshi's quote. I guess the question arose

because i am still a beginner. My question is..how exactly would you

carry out Self-Enquiry while at work?

Work will happen in my case only if I put in deliberate thought and

command my body to work. So how can Self-Enquiry be practiced so as to

abide in the Self and yet do work..i mean what sort of question do I

ask myself "Who is it that works?"??? My spurious answer would be: of

course the body, commanded by the mind (which ultimately draws power

from the Self). My answer would be "the Self is doing all the work",

if I am working and yet in a thoughtless state and there is no

deliberate effort. I guess my argument is flawed in some way. In any

case, I'd like to know how advanced practitioners use Self-Enquiry at

work. Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

RamanaMaharshi, Dharan Bharani <champbarn>

wrote:

> Talks 17, 24th January, 1935

>

> D: Is work an obstruction to Self-realisation?

>

> M: No, For a realised being the Self alone is the Reality, and

actions are only phenomenal, not affecting the Self. Even when he acts

he has no sence of being an agent. His actions are only involuntary

and he remains witness to them without any attachment.

> Their is no aim for this action. Even one who is practising the path

of Wisdom (jana) can practice while angaged in work. It may be

difficult in the earlier stages for a beginner, but after some

practice it will be soon be effective and the work will not be found a

hindrance to meditation.

>

>

> This is from Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. This might help your

qustion

 

> Om Namah Sivaya

>

> Barney

>

>

>

> I'm a beginner in Self-Enquiry and I have a few doubts

> in the basics.

> Abidance in the Self is said to be a state of complete

> silence, absence of thoughts and falling away of the

> senses so that the world is not seen/felt in any way?

> When I close my eyes and still my mind, I can still

> hear noices of people talking to me etc. Does this

> mean that as long as I feel the world around me, my

> enquiry is not in the least successful (because even

> the perception of a noise sometimes creates a

> thought)?. Should I just ignore what my senses tell me

> so that no thought is created to process those

> sense-impelled thoughts? But even ignoring these

> sensual impulses involve effort/thought. Should I

> mentally ask myself: Who is it that feels/hears the

> world around me. Its of course the separative 'I'. So,

> I still feel that separative 'I', which feels the

> world around me rather than the absolute 'I', which is

> complete silence.

> I know all these doubts are steeped in ignorance. Can

> somebody enlighten me here?

> Also, how am I to follow self-enquiry when I am

> involved in action. It seems impossible for

> self-enquiry and action to co-exist. How am I to be

> silent in mind/indulge in self-enquiry and still do

> activities such as programming or talking to some

> body? Thanks.

>

> Regards,

[Guest guest]

Brahman does not 'do' anything.

 

Ramana (and other sages) say that we are NOT the body, nor the organs

of action. We are not the doer.

 

So in action, you can still look to see, 'who am I?' or 'Who knows

this?' and look past the identification with the doer to He who

is 'the unknown Knower of all that is Known."

 

So you need to look deeper than the idea that 'the Self is the doer.'

 

Sorry.

 

Not two,

Richard

 

> Hi Dharan,

> Thanks for Sri Ramana Maharshi's quote. I guess the question arose

> because i am still a beginner. My question is..how exactly would you

> carry out Self-Enquiry while at work?

> Work will happen in my case only if I put in deliberate thought and

> command my body to work. So how can Self-Enquiry be practiced so as

to

> abide in the Self and yet do work..i mean what sort of question do I

> ask myself "Who is it that works?"??? My spurious answer would be:

of

> course the body, commanded by the mind (which ultimately draws power

> from the Self). My answer would be "the Self is doing all the work",

> if I am working and yet in a thoughtless state and there is no

> deliberate effort. I guess my argument is flawed in some way. In any

> case, I'd like to know how advanced practitioners use Self-Enquiry

at

> work. Thanks.

>

> Regards,

>

> RamanaMaharshi, Dharan Bharani

<champbarn>

> wrote:

> > Talks 17, 24th January, 1935

> >

> > D: Is work an obstruction to Self-realisation?

> >

> > M: No, For a realised being the Self alone is the Reality, and

> actions are only phenomenal, not affecting the Self. Even when he

acts

> he has no sence of being an agent. His actions are only involuntary

> and he remains witness to them without any attachment.

> > Their is no aim for this action. Even one who is practising the

path

> of Wisdom (jana) can practice while angaged in work. It may be

> difficult in the earlier stages for a beginner, but after some

> practice it will be soon be effective and the work will not be

found a

> hindrance to meditation.

> >

> >

> > This is from Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi. This might help your

>

>

> > Om Namah Sivaya

> >

> > Barney

> >

> >

> >

> > I'm a beginner in Self-Enquiry and I have a few doubts

> > in the basics.

> > Abidance in the Self is said to be a state of complete

> > silence, absence of thoughts and falling away of the

> > senses so that the world is not seen/felt in any way?

> > When I close my eyes and still my mind, I can still

> > hear noices of people talking to me etc. Does this

> > mean that as long as I feel the world around me, my

> > enquiry is not in the least successful (because even

> > the perception of a noise sometimes creates a

> > thought)?. Should I just ignore what my senses tell me

> > so that no thought is created to process those

> > sense-impelled thoughts? But even ignoring these

> > sensual impulses involve effort/thought. Should I

> > mentally ask myself: Who is it that feels/hears the

> > world around me. Its of course the separative 'I'. So,

> > I still feel that separative 'I', which feels the

> > world around me rather than the absolute 'I', which is

> > complete silence.

> > I know all these doubts are steeped in ignorance. Can

> > somebody enlighten me here?

> > Also, how am I to follow self-enquiry when I am

> > involved in action. It seems impossible for

> > self-enquiry and action to co-exist. How am I to be

> > silent in mind/indulge in self-enquiry and still do

> > activities such as programming or talking to some

> > body? Thanks.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> >

> >

> >