Guest guest Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Disciple: Why should Self-inquiry alone be considered the direct means to jnana? Maharshi: Because every kind of sadhana except that of atma-vichara presupposes the retention of the mind as the instrument for carrying on the sadhana, and without the mind it cannot be practiced. The ego may take different and subtler forms at the different stages of one's practice, but is itself never destroyed. When Janaka exclaimed, "Now I have discovered the thief who has been running me all along. He shall be dealt with summarily," the King was really referring to the ego or the mind. Disciple: But the thief may well be apprehended by the other sadhanas as well. Maharshi: The attempt to destroy the ego or the mind through sadhanas other than atma-vichara is just like the thief turning out a policeman to catch a thief, that is, himself. Atma-vichara alone can reveal the truth that neither the ego nor the mind really exists, and enables one to realize the pure, undifferentiated Being of the Self or the Absolute. Having realized the Self, nothing remains to be known, because it is perfect Bliss; it is the All. (From Maharshi's Gospel, published by Sri Ramanasramam and available for download from <http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/> http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/ ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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