Who Am I ?

[Guest guest]

Talks of Paul Brunton(pb) with Ramana

Maharshi.<br><br>P.B. : Is there anything beyond mans' material

existence? If so, how can I realise it for

myself?<br><br>After a pause Maharshi replied :<br>You say 'I'. 'I

want to know'. Tell me who is that 'I'?<br><br>pb: I

am afraid I do not understand your

question.<br><br>M : Is it not clear? Think again !<br><br>Then pb

pointed a finger towards his body (Rupa) and mentioned

his name (Nama).<br><br>M : And do you now

him?<br><br>pb: (smiling) All my life.<br><br>M: But that is only

your body. Again I ask, "Who are you?". There is only

one thing to be done. Look into your own self. Do

this in the right way and you will find the answer to

all your problems.<br><br>pb: What must one do? What

method can I pursue?<br><br>M: Through deep reflection

on the nature of one's self and through constant

meditation the light can be found.<br><br>pb: I have

frequently given myself up to meditation upon truth, but I

see no signs of progress.<br><br>M: How do you know

that no progress has been made? It is not easy to

perceive one's progress in the sprititual

realm.<br><br>pb: Is the help of a master necessary?<br><br>M: It

might be.<br><br>pb: Can a master help a man to look

into his own self in the way you suggest?<br><br>M: He

can give the man all that he needs for the quest.

Such a thing can be perceived through personal

experience.<br><br>pb: How long will it take to get some enlightenment

with a master's help? <br><br>M: It all depends on the

maturity of the seeker's mind. The gunpowder catches fire

in an instant, while much time is needed to set fire

to coal.<br><br>pb's mind did not at once catch

Maharshi's fire, but allowed his old problem to crop up and

he asked questions having no apparent bearing on

Self-Realization. Would Maharshi express an opinion on the future

of the world, as we are living in critical

times?<br><br>M: Why should you trouble yourself about the future?

You do not even properly know the present! Take care

of the present; the future will then take care of

itself.<br><br>pb still anxious to have a prophecy on the world's

future, returned to the attack but got a cold reception.

<br><br>pb: Will the world soon enter a new era of

friendliness and mutual help, or will it go down into chaos

and war?<br><br>M: There is one who governs the

world, and it is His look out to look after the world.

He who has given life to the world knows how to look

after it also. He bears the burden of this world, not

you.<br><br>pb: Yet if one looks around with unprejudiced eyes,

it is difficult to see where this benevolent regard

comes in.<br><br>M: As you are, so is the world.

Without understanding yourself, what is the use of trying

to understand the world? This is a question that

seekers after truth need not consider. People waste their

energies over all such questions. First find out the truth

in yourself; then you will be in a better position

to understand the truth behind the world, of which

yourself are a part.<br><br>After this PB closed his eyes

and meditated, and he saw a vision of Ramana

Maharshi.<br><br>To be contd.....

[Guest guest]

Dear Blessed SVCS, Namaskaram!<br><br>Thank you, thank you ineed for this

posting.<br>Look forward to receiving this kind of gem-studed

postings,<br><br>HariOm!<br>Devan