Help on the Quest for Self-realization-Reminders-38

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Help on the Quest for Self-realization-Reminders-38

 

39-If one remains without losing hold of the Self, all the thoughts

will be destroyed

 

The mind is only a bundle of thoughts.

 

"The mind is merely thoughts. Of all thoughts, the thought "I" is

the root. Therefore the mind is only the thought "I"." (Upadesa

Undiyar)

 

As the root of the mind is the ego, destruction of the ego is the

annihilation of the mind.

 

"When the mind unceasingly investigates its own nature, it

transpires that there is no such thing as mind. This the direct path

for all" (Upadesa Undiyar)

 

The "I"-feeling has two states, one real and the other spurious. Its

natural state is to shine in the Heart as being –consciousness. Its

reflection in sahasrara (the highest yogic center located in the

brain) and its expansion as thoughts are spurious. It is said that

if an aspirant wants to know his real nature, it will be necessary

for him to control his thoughts. The required practice is the

enquiry "Who am I?" Just as light overcomes darkness, the

enquiry "Who am I?" results in knowledge that overcomes ignorance.

Just as light and darkness are mutually inimical to each other, in

the same way, knowledge and ignorance cannot exist side by side.

 

Consciousness has appeared to turn into ignorance. It is not

possible for consciousness in its pure natural state to enquire into

this ignorance, so how does self-enquiry work? The inner meaning of

self-enquiry is that consciousness should remain in its natural

state as being-consciousness, without being distorted into ignorance

by becoming thoughts. When consciousness remains in its natural

state without the slightest distortion, this truly is the

destruction of the ego and the gaining of one's Self. We must

conclude that as long as the light of consciousness is shining in

its natural state, the darkness of ignorance will not raise its

head. This is emphasized by Thayumanavar in the following verse:

 

What is termed knowledge is like a lamp. Ignorance is false

darkness. When the blemishless lamp searches for darkness, it cannot

be grasped. Similarly, if one remains as consciousness, there is no

ignorance. This is proclaimed by the Vedas of the Lord.

 

It should therefore become clear that consciousness is the

substratum for the shadow of thoughts that is cast on it. When

consciousness remains without slipping from its real nature, the

mauna (silence; a synonym for the thought-free experience of the

Self) state, the shadow scene of thoughts will not appear on it.

Because of this, an aspirant should remain apart from the vrittis

(thoughts, mental modifications or activities) and should observe

their rise and subsidence. This, indeed, is how sankalpas (will or

intention; the faculty of the mind that chooses or makes decisions;

more generally, it can also means "desires") are destroyed, and it

is also self-enquiry.

 

"Whence does this "I" arise? Seek for it within. It then vanishes.

This is the pursuit of wisdom." (Upadesa Undiyar)

 

FROM "SRI RAMANA DARSANAM", EDITED BY DAVID GODMAN, PAGES 70 AND 71