Self-Inquiry: a collection of Bhagavan's Replies to questions

December 11, 2006

Dear All,

This is just to follow up on the recent email on "The Great Doubt and

Self-Inquiry" which gave an account of Zen Practice (The Great Doubt) of

Self-Inquiry (Atma-Vichara).

Below is a chapter on Self Inquiry as found in the book "Surpassing Love and

Grace" published by Sri Ramanasramam and available as a free download from:

http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/

Best wishes,

Peter

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SRI BHAGAVAN'S REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

Submitted by Sri D. C. D. on 25-8-1944

1. Japa of koham is not correct. Put the question once and then concentrate

on finding the source of the ego, and preventing occurrence of thoughts.

2. You should not attend to the breathing if you are capable of

concentrating on the enquiry without it. Some may have to attend to the

breathing if unable to concentrate on the enquiry alone. Some may practise

kevala kumbhaka during the enquiry. Some may require the help of regular

pranayama also to steady the mind and control the thoughts. All these

practices are to be given up when the mind becomes strong enough to pursue

the enquiry without any aid. Pranayama is to be practised with the usual

caution. It will gradually increase the power and duration of kumbhaka. It

will make the mind one-pointed. Take help if unable to concentrate without

it. Pranayama is like reins to control the mind-horse, or like brakes to

control wheels of thought ... 'Who am I?' and 'Whence am I?' are one and the

same. They refer to the ego only. No such questions can be asked in the case

of the Real Self.

3. Suggestive replies such as Sivoham etc., to the enquiry, are not to be

given to the mind during the meditation. The true answer will come by

itself. Any answer the ego may give cannot be correct. These affirmations or

auto suggestions may be of help to those who follow other methods, but not

in this method of enquiry. If you go on asking, the reply will come. The

method of enquiry is dhyana, and the effortless state is Jnana.

4. 'I' is also a Guru-mantra. The first name of God is "I." Even OM comes

later. Atma or the real Self is always saying 'I-I.' There is no mantra

without the person who does the japa, i.e., Aham. The japa of Aham is always

going on within. Japa leads to dhyana and dhyana to jnana. You may practise

saguna meditation or the method of enquiry according to your inclination.

Only that method which is most suitable for a person will appeal to him.

5. Without losing hold of the knowledge of "Who you are," you may continue

all activities as prompted to perform by the inner controller. They will go

on even without your efforts. What you are destined to do, you cannot avoid.

They will come your way of their own accord. You should also understand what

japa, kirtans, etc., are meant for. The real japa is always going on. Japa

and God are one and the same. See the philosophy of the name of God as given

by the saint Namadeva.

6. In the enquiry, 'I' refers to the ego.

7. Don't entertain such thoughts of imperfection, lack of qualities, etc.

You are already perfect. Get rid of the ideas of imperfection and need for

development. There is nothing to realize or annihilate. You are the Self.

The ego does not exist. Pursue the enquiry and see if there is anything to

be realised or annihilated. See if there is any mind to be controlled. Even

the effort is being made by the mind which does not exist.

8. Real asana is "being established" in the Self-Reality or the Source. Sit

in your Self. Where can the Self go and sit? Everything sits in the Self.

Find out the source of the 'I' and sit there. Don't have the idea that the

Self cannot be realized without the help of asanas, etc. They are not at all

necessary. The chief thing is to enquire and reach the source of the ego.

The details such as posture, etc., may distract the mind towards them or to

the body.

9. You may read whichever book you like. Self (Atma) is the real book. You

can look into it whenever you like. Nobody can take it away. It is always at

hand to be read. Hold onto your Self in your spare time also and then you

can read any book.

10. Ask yourself, "To whom do these doubts, fears and worries occur?" and

they will vanish. Cease to pay attention to them. Pay attention to the Self

within. Fears, etc., can only arise when there are two, or when anybody else

exists apart from, or separate from, or outside you. If you turn the mind

inward towards the Self, fears, etc., will disappear. If you try to remove a

doubt or fear, another doubt or fear will arise. There will be no end of it.

The best method to annihilate them is to ask "To whom do they occur?" and

they will disappear. Destroying a tree by plucking its leaves one by one is

impossible - other leaves will grow by the time you pluck a few. Remove the

root of the tree - the ego - and the whole tree with its leaves and branches

will be destroyed. Prevention is better than cure.

11.

Q. Should I look for the source within the body?

A. The ego arises within the body. Hence in the first instance you may look

within the body for its source. When you reach the source there will be no

inside or outside, because the source of the Self is all-pervading. After

realization everything will be inside the Self.

12.

Q. Is the source on the right side of the middle line of the chest?

A. The Heart is defined as the place from which the "I thought" arises.

Heart means the Centre (of consciousness). It cannot be identified with any

part of the body.

13. Keep the mind quiet. That is enough. Sitting in the hall will help you.

The purpose of effort is to get rid of all efforts. The force will be

clearly felt when the stillness is achieved. Spiritual vibrations exist

everywhere and they will manifest when the mind is stilled.

14. Look at your Self or Atma, rather than anywhere else. The eyes may be

kept open or closed - it is immaterial. There is only one I, whether you

spell it 'I' or 'eye'. There is no point in opening or closing the eyes.

Attention must be focused on the inner 'I'. You are not an eye that can be

opened or closed. You may close or open the eyes according to your liking or

inclination. It is immaterial, and not important. You will cease to think of

the world when you think of the Self. If you are in a room and close your

eyes and do not look out, it is immaterial whether you close the windows or

keep them open. (The body is the room, the eyes are the window.) Looking at

ajna-chakra, etc., is not necessary in this method. It may help in keeping

the mind from going out towards external objects. Concentrate on the Self

without which there are no chakras. They do not exist without you. You are

all of them. All centres (chakras) are in the Heart. The Heart is not the

anahata chakra, which is in the spinal cord. Heart is 'I'.

15. First find out whether the ego, who is depressed by these thoughts,

exists. Find out how you got the idea of the body. Solve this problem for

your ego, then see if anything remains to be solved.

>From "Surpassing Love and Grace: an offering from his Devotees"

Chapter: 'SRI BHAGAVAN'S REPLIES TO QUESTIONS' (pp73-76) Submitted by

Sri D. C. D. on 25-8-1944

December 11, 2006

Dear Peter

let me please again state how surprised and full of joy i am seeing your contribution to our sangha....

great great great

thank you soooo much....

in ramana

yours

michael bindel

-

Peter

Monday, December 11, 2006 1:08 PM