Self is the heart

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The Self is the Heart. The Heart is selfluminous. Light arises from

the Heart and reaches the brain, which is the seat of the mind. The

world is seen with the mind, that is, by the

reflected light of the Self. It is perceived with the aid of the

mind. When the mind is illumined it is aware of the world. When it

is not itself so illumined, it is not aware of the world. If the

mind is turned in towards the source of light, objective knowledge

ceases and Self alone shines forth as the Heart.

The moon shines by the reflected light of the sun. When the sun has

set, the moon is useful for revealing objects. When the sun has

risen,

no one needs the moon, although the pale disc of the moon is visible

in the sky.

So it is with the mind and the Heart. The mind is useful because of

its

reflected light. It is used for seeing objects. When it is turned

inwards,

the source of illumination shines forth by itself, and the mind

remains

dim and useless like the moon in day-time.

Atman is realised with mruta manas (dead mind), i.e., mind devoid

of thoughts and turned inward. Then the mind sees its own source

and becomes That. It is not as the subject perceiving an object.

When the room is dark a lamp is necessary to illumine and eyes

to cognise objects. But when the sun is risen there is no need of

a lamp, and the objects are seen; and to see the sun no lamp is

necessary, it is enough that you turn your eyes towards the

selfluminous

sun.

Similarly with the mind. To see the objects the reflected light of

the

mind is necessary. To see the Heart it is enough that the mind is

turned

towards it. Then the mind loses itself and the Heart shines forth.

The essence of mind is only awareness or consciousness. When the

ego, however, dominates it, it functions as the reasoning, thinking

or

sensing faculty. The cosmic mind being not limited by the ego, has

nothing separate from itself and is therefore only aware. This is

what

the Bible means by "I am that I AM".

Talks from Ramana Maharshi.

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