Guest guest Posted January 17, 2006 Report Share Posted January 17, 2006 I ask you to see where the 'I' arises in your body; but it is not really quite correct to say that the 'I' rises from and merges in the Heart on the right side of the chest. The Heart is another name for the Reality, and it is neither inside nor outside the body. There can be no in and out for it, since IT alone is. I do not mean by 'Heart' any physiological organ, any plexus of nerves or anything like that, but so long as one identifies oneself with the body and thinks he is the body, he is advised to see in the body where the 'I-thought' rises and merges again. It must be the Heart at the right side of the chest, since every man of whatever race and religion and in whatever language he may be saying 'I', points to the right side of his chest to indicate himself. This is true all over the world. So that must be the place. And by keenly watching the constant emergence of the 'I-thought' on waking and its subsiding in sleep, one can see that it is in the Heart on the right side. (Gems from Bhagavan, selected by A. Devaraja Mudaliar) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2006 Report Share Posted January 17, 2006 RamanaMaharshi, "Peter" <not_2@b...> wrote: > > 'Who am I?' is not a mantra. It means you must find out where in you the > 'I-thought' arises, which is the source of all other thoughts. But if you > find that vichara marga (path of enquiry) is too hard for you, you go on > repeating 'I-I' and that will lead you to the same goal. There is no harm > in using 'I' as a mantra. It is the first name of God. > > (Gems from Bhagavan, selected by A. Devaraja Mudaliar) This seems to contradict another quotation of Bhagavan I came across which runs as follows: "Japam of koham is not good." The words above suggest that self-enquiry is not to be practised as a mantra. Could somebody please clarify the discrepancy between the two statements? Perhaps the contexts they were made in were different? (I'm sorry I don't remember where I came across the quote I cited but maybe someone will be able to authenticate that.) Thanks fg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2006 Report Share Posted January 17, 2006 > 'Who am I?' is not a mantra. It means you must find out where in you > the 'I-thought' arises, which is the source of all other thoughts. But > if you find that vichara marga (path of enquiry) is too hard for you, > you go on repeating 'I-I' and that will lead you to the same goal. > There is no harm in using 'I' as a mantra. It is the first name of God. > > (Gems from Bhagavan, selected by A. Devaraja Mudaliar) fg writes: This seems to contradict another quotation of Bhagavan I came across which runs as follows: "Japam of koham is not good." ------------------- Dear fg, If we take "Koham" to be "who am I?" then Bhagavan appears to be saying that the practice of Self-Enquiry (vichara marga) does not consist of continually repeating (japa) the phrase 'Who am I?' . Bhagavan says that the path of enquiry is seeking the source of the 'I-thought'. The quote you mention may come from the following source (see below). It seems to include your comment and the original passage from "Gems" above. See if you think it addresses your question. Regards, Peter THE MAHARSHI NEWSLETTER July / August 1998 Sri Bhagavan's Replies to Questions Submitted by Sri D. C. C. and found in the June 1953 edition of the Call Divine. KOHAM Japa of Koham is not correct. Put the question "Who Am I?" once and then concentrate on finding the source of the ego and preventing the occurrence of thoughts. PRANAYAMA You should not attend to the breath if you are capable of concentrating on the Enquiry without it. Some may have to attend to the breath if unable to concentrate on the Enquiry alone. Some may practice Kevala Kumbhaka (retention of breath) during the Enquiry. Some may require the help of regular pranayama also to steady the mind and control the thoughts. All these practices are to be given up when the mind becomes strong enough to pursue the Enquiry without aid. Pranayama is to be practise with the usual caution. It will gradually increase the power and duration of the kumbhaka. It will make the mind one-pointed. Take its help if unable to concentrate without it. Pranayama is like the reins to control the mind-horse, or like brakes to control the wheels of thought. The true answer will come by itself. Suggestive replies to the Enquiry, such as Sivoham, etc. are not to be given to the mind during the meditation. The true answer will come by itself. Any answer the ego may give cannot be correct. These affirmations or auto-suggestions may be of help to those who follow other methods, but not in this method of Enquiry. If you go on asking, the reply will come. The method of Enquiry is dhyana, and the effortless state is Jnana. GURU-MANTRA "I" is also a Guru-mantra. The first name of God is "I" (tasya aham nama -Brihidaranyaka Up.) Even OM comes later. Atma or the real Self is always saying "I-I." There is no mantra without the person (the aham) who does the japa. The japa of "Aham" is always going on within. Japa leads to dhyana and dhyana leads to Jnana. Japa is always going on. Japa and God are one and the same. See the philosophy of the Name as given by Saint Namdev. You may practice saguna meditation or the method of Enquiry according to your inclinations. Only that method will appeal to a person which is most suitable for him. (etc etc.....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 17, 2006 Report Share Posted January 17, 2006 Hello fg, The repetition of the phrase "Who am I" is not Self-enquiry. The repetition, specially without the articulation or vebalisation, of I-I, moves the repetition to beingness of I-I. (as much as can be said in words and concepts) Avril faintglow <faintglow wrote: RamanaMaharshi, "Peter" <not_2@b...> wrote: > > 'Who am I?' is not a mantra. It means you must find out where in you the > 'I-thought' arises, which is the source of all other thoughts. But if you > find that vichara marga (path of enquiry) is too hard for you, you go on > repeating 'I-I' and that will lead you to the same goal. There is no harm > in using 'I' as a mantra. It is the first name of God. > > (Gems from Bhagavan, selected by A. Devaraja Mudaliar) This seems to contradict another quotation of Bhagavan I came across which runs as follows: "Japam of koham is not good." The words above suggest that self-enquiry is not to be practised as a mantra. Could somebody please clarify the discrepancy between the two statements? Perhaps the contexts they were made in were different? (I'm sorry I don't remember where I came across the quote I cited but maybe someone will be able to authenticate that.) Thanks fg Religion and spirituality Ramana maharshi Visit your group "RamanaMaharshi" on the web. RamanaMaharshi Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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