Self Focused Attention On It Self

[Guest guest]

, Harsha wrote:

>

> Dear Friends:

>

> We have often heard how near death experiences for many have lead

to a

> fundamental change of outlook in life. One of the most unusual and

> interesting examples

> of such an experience is that of the Sage of Arunachala when he

was

> barely 17. In his own words Sri Ramana later described it.

>

> In these simple words given below is embedded the open secret of

> Self-Inquiry leading to Self-Realization.

>

> "The shock of the fear of death drove my mind inwards and I said

to

> myself mentally, without actually framing the words: 'Now that

death has

> come; what

> does it mean? What is it that is dying? This body dies . . . But

with

> the death of the body am I dead? Is the body I? . . . The body

dies but

> the Spirit that transcends it cannot be touched by death. That

means I

> am the deathless Spirit.' All this was not dull thought; it

flashed

> through me vividly as living truth which I perceived directly. . .

From

> that moment onwards the 'I' or Self focused attention on itself by

a

> powerful fascination. Fear of death had vanished once and for all.

> Absorption in the

> Self continued unbroken from that time on. " - Sri Ramana

Maharshi.

>

> Harsha

 

Thanks for posting this. I read that the last line of it is

remarkable, in that many have had similar experiences but they are

not lasting. Although, the experience is remembered and people are

changed by what they have touched.