Questions concerning Thus Spake Ramana

[Guest guest]

Here are some questions I asked A. Ramana the spiritual

teacher of The AHAM Center in Ashboro, North Carolina.

The Center has a web site at:

 

http://www.aham.com/

 

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Dear Victor,

 

Read my comments to each question or item below:

 

> -------------------------

>

> Questions

> Thu, 3 Feb 2000 07:36:05 -0500

> Victor Torrico <vtorrico

> Ramana

>

> Dear Ramana,

>

> In " Thus Spake Ramana " Sri Ramana Maharshi says:

>

> 2. " Reality is at once Being and Consciousness. To know

> That is to be That in the Heart, transcending thought.

> Absolute surrender to the Supreme Lord, whereby the 'I' and

> 'mine' are destroyed, is the one means to realize

> immortality. The Supreme Being, the one ultimate Cause of

> the Universe, manifests Himself as many which do not exist

> apart from Him. To destroy the ego and BE as the Self, is

> the Supreme method of attainment. "

>

> Is it possible to point to this Reality using the every day

> mind?

 

This Reality is present as infinite consciousness, even in or prior to the

mind. The Inquiry, " Who am I? " brings the mind back into its source, the

Self, prior to the mind and its content.

 

> How is Absolute surrender to the Supreme Lord accomplished?

 

Turn or withdraw the personal sense of " I " back into its source, or pure

consciousness, like merging a river in the ocean. This is really more of the

quality of sacrifice than surrender. Surrender is not enough. The ego loves

to surrender, then it is right back again, fat and sassy as ever, but now

with the added sin of false humility for now it " has surrendered. "

 

> How does one destroy the ego?

 

The same as given above. See if there really is an ego. What pursued back

to its source the mind or ego disappear.

 

> What is Being?

>

> What is Consciousness?

 

Whose being? Whose consciousness? Find out.

 

Infinite being or consciousness is what is, it is all that ever really is.

Everything else is merely thought or concepts.

 

> Who am 'I'?

 

Find out. Turn attention inward and let Conscious Being reveal itself.

 

> How does one simply BE or not BE?

 

The same as is stated above.

 

> Are you and I merely undifferentiated blips within Reality?

> How do we differ or not differ?

 

We are the One Reality, in which all and everything appear to occur as

modifications in the One unmodified, unmodifiable being of the Self.

 

> Are there any benefits to pursuing or not pursuing this

> path?

 

Are there any benefits in being free of doubt, fear, bondage and unhappiness?

 

> Is morality out the window on this path?

 

This path is prior to morality or immorality. It is beyond all opposing

forces or appearances.

 

> Love,

>

> Victor

 

Best wishes,

 

Ramana