Help on the Quest for Self-realization-Reminders-78

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sources of the information, starting from the next posting, will be

specified. The aim was, is, and will always be to obtain the maximum

benefit from Sri Ramana Maharshi's teachings and qualified

commentaries on the same, in order to keep on advancing towards the

ultimate goal: Self-realization. Suggestions are welcome.

 

Help on the Quest for Self-realization-Reminders-78

 

Whatever the body is to do and whatever experiences it is to pass

through was already decided when it came into existence. Destiny is

the result of past action. It concerns the body.

 

There are only two ways to conquer destiny or be independent of it.

One is to enquire for whom is this destiny and discover that only

the ego is bound by destiny and not the Self, and that the ego is

non-existent. The other way is to kill the ego by completely

surrendering to the Lord, by realizing one's helplessness and saying

all the time, "Not I but thou, O Lord", giving up all sense of "I"

and "mine" and leaving it to the Lord to do what he likes with you.

Surrender can never be regarded as complete so long as the devotee

wants this or that from the Lord. True surrender is love of God for

the sake of love and nothing else, not even for the sake of

liberation. In other words, complete effacement (wiping out) of the

ego is necessary to conquer destiny, whether you achieve this

through Self-enquiry or through the path of devotion.

 

Find out first who fears death. That in you which fears death, is

it not that little ego which is already dying every passing moment?

Find out who you really are, and you will discover that this "I"

which is afraid is itself ephemeral (transitory), and indeed, that

it vanishes when you try to reach it; it cannot be grasped, for it

is without substance. But you yourself are; beyond all change and

decay you are; and in fact neither old age nor death nor fear are

able to touch you.

 

Source: Various reliable publications of / on Sri Ramana Maharshi's

teachings.