Maharshi's Gospel - Self and Individuality - 3

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Disciple: How does individuality emanate from the Absolute Self, and how is

its return made possible?

 

Maharshi: As a spark proceeds from fire, individuality emanates from the

Absolute Self. The spark is called the ego. In the case of the ajnani, the

ego identifies itself with some object simultaneously with its rise. It

cannot remain without such association with objects. This association is

due to ajnana, whose destruction is the objective of one's efforts. If this

tendency to identify itself with objects is destroyed, the ego becomes pure

and then it also merges into its Source. The false identification of oneself

with the body is called dehatma-buddhi or I-am-the-body idea. This must go

before good results can follow.

 

Disciple: How am I to eradicate it?

 

Maharshi: You exist in susupti without being associated with the body and

the mind, but in the other two states you are associated with them. If you

were one with the body, how could you exist without the body in susupti? You

can separate yourself from what is external to you but not from that which

is one with you. Hence the ego cannot be one with the body. This must be

realized in the walking state. The three states are studied in order to gain

this knowledge.

 

 

 

(From Maharshi's Gospel, published by Sri Ramanasramam and available for

download from http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/ )