Ramana on Peace.

[Guest guest]

Mr. B. C. Das asked why the mind cannot

be turned inward in spite of repeated

attempts.

 

M: It is done by practice and

dispassion and that succeeds ONLY

GRADUALLY. The mind, having been so

long a cow accustomed to graze

stealthily on others' estates, is not

easily confined to her stall.

 

However much her keeper tempts her with

luscious grass and fine fodder, she

refuses the first time; then she takes

a bit; but her innate tendency to stray

away asserts itself; and she slips

away; on being repeatedly tempted by

the owner, she accustoms herself to the

stall; finally even if let loose she

would not stray away. Similarly with

the mind. If once it finds its inner

happiness it will not wander outward.

 

....

 

Question. After leaving this Asramam,

in October, I was aware of the Presence

that prevails in Sri Bhagavan's

Presence enfolding me for about ten

days. All the time, while busy in my

work, there was an under-current of

that peace in unity; it was almost like

the dual consciousness which one

experiences while half-asleep in a dull

lecture. Then, it faded out entirely;

and the old stupidities came in

instead. Work leaves no time for

separate meditation. Is it enough

constantly reminding oneself 'I AM',

while at work?

 

 

 

M. (After a short pause). If you

STRENGTHEN THE MIND, that peace will

continue for all time. Its duration is

PROPORTIONAL to the strength of mind

acquired by repeated practice. And such

a mind is able to hold on to the

current. In that case, engagement or no

engagement in work, the current remains

unaffected and uninterrupted. It is not

the work that hinders but the idea that

it is you who are doing it.

 

 

Question. Is a set meditation

necessary for strengthening the mind?

 

 

M. Not, if you keep the idea always

before you, that it is not your work.

At first, effort is needed to remind

yourself of it, but later on it becomes

natural and continuous. The work will

go on of its own accord, and your peace

will remain undisturbed.

 

Meditation is your true nature. You

call it meditation now, because there

are other thoughts distracting you.

When these thoughts are dispelled, you

remain alone-that is, in the state of meditation

free from thoughts; and that is your

real nature, which you are now trying

to gain by keeping away other thoughts.

Such keeping away of other thoughts is

now called meditation. But when the

practice becomes FIRM, the real nature

shows itself as true meditation.

 

Question. Other thoughts arise more

forcibly when one attempts meditation!

 

M. Yes, all kinds of thought arise

in meditation. That is only right; for

what lies hidden in you is brought out.

Unless it rises up, how can it be

destroyed ? Thoughts

rise up spontaneously, as it were, but

only to be extinguished in due course,

thus strengthening the mind.

 

 

Question. There are times when

persons and things take a vague, almost

a transparent form, as in a dream. One

ceases to observe them as outside, but

is passively conscious of their

existence, while not actively conscious

of any kind of selfhood. There is a

deep quietness in the mind. Is it at

such times that one is ready to dive

into the Self? Or is this condition

unhealthy, the result of self-

hypnotism? Should it be encouraged as

yielding temporary peace ?

 

 

M. There is Consciousness Along With

Quietness In The Mind; this is EXACTLY

the state to be aimed at. The fact that

the question has been framed on this

point, without realizing that it is the

Self, shows that the state is not

steady but casual.