see who you are and remain as the Self

[Guest guest]

Disciple: Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam mama. Which is that dhama?

Is it not the Absolute state beyond cosmic consciousness?

 

Maharshi: Yes.

 

D.: 'Na Nivartante' would mean not covered by ignorance again.

 

M.: Yes.

 

D.: Does it follow by inference that those who reach Cosmic Consciousness have

not escaped from the clutches of ignorance?

 

M.: That is what is meant by saying that all lokas, even the Brahma loka, do not

release one from rebirth. Vide. the Bhagavad Gita: " Reaching ME, there is no

rebirth .... All others are in bondage. " Moreover, so long as you think that

there is gati (movement) - as implied in the word gatva (having gone to) - there

is punaravritti (return) also. Again gati implies your Purvagamanam (birth).

What is birth? It is birth of ego. Once born you reach something; if you reach

it you return also. Therefore leave off all this verbiage! Be as you are. See

who you are and remain as the Self, free from birth, going, coming and

returning.

 

D.: True. However often this truth is heard, still it eludes us and we forget

it.

 

M.: Quite so. Reminders are often necessary.

 

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi