the state free from thoughts is the only real state

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In reply to Miss Leena Sarabhai, a cultured Indian lady of high rank, Sri

Bhagavan said: The state of equanimity is the state of bliss. The declaration in

the Vedas 'I am This or That', is only an aid to gain equanimity of mind.

 

Disciple: So, it is wrong to begin with a goal: is it?

 

Maharshi: If there be a goal to be reached it cannot be permanent. The goal must

already be there. We seek to reach the goal with the ego, but the goal exists

before the ego. What is in the goal is even prior to our birth, i.e., to the

birth of the ego. Because we exist the ego appears to exist too. If we look on

the Self as the ego then we become the ego, if as the mind we become the mind,

if as the body we become the body. It is the thought which builds up sheaths in

so many ways. The shadow on the water is found to be shaking. Can anyone stop

the shaking of the shadow? If it should cease to shake you would not notice the

water but only the light. Similarly to take no notice of the ego and its

activities, but see only the light behind. The ego is the I-thought. The true

'I' is the Self.

 

D.: It is one step to realisation.

 

M.: Realisation is already there. The state free from thoughts is the only real

state. There is no such action as Realisation. Is there anyone who is not

realising the Self? Does anyone deny his own existence? Speaking of realisation,

it implies two selves - the one to realise, the other to be realised. What is

not already realised, is sought to be realised. Once we admit our existence, how

is it that we do not know our Self?

 

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi