I am I am, all is one --Lucknow disease etc.

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Ramana's 'Who am I?' is the easiest Sadhana to follow, understanding

of course that it really isn't a verbal question but a route to

a 'feeling'.

 

The interogative is important, otherwise we end up with all kind of

statements saying 'all is one', there is no other, man and Brahman are

the same etc. These and the Mahavakyas are important but unfortunately

usually end up with a certain duality in the question, whereas Who am

I drives the search inwards instead.

 

Ramana said there are different levels of understanding in illusion,

that is why there are 3 different theories on creation. They are all

right at that level of understanding.

 

The most effective sadhana according to Ramana is the question-I agree.

 

The enquiry of 'Where does the world go in deep sleep'? 'Where does

the world go for a Mukta when the body drops?'.These are all actuallly

the same as 'Who am I' for as I mentioned it isn't a verbal enquiry.

All these are questions designed to drive the mind inwards.

 

Statements that we are all one, and everybody is already realised etc

etc. Are highly philosophical but not really in everyone's experience.

To many they are as empty as the Lucknow Disease where everyone was

walking around avoiding the 'I' and saying such stuff as 'This body

thinks this etc'.

 

It is not productive for somebody in primary school, or middle school

to argue with somebody in university etc. They are all right at their

level of understanding. Level may not be the right word though.

 

The entire process is to turn the mind inwards, and for that we have

to accept Sankara, who was an Ajatavadin, when he said 'it is real

when you are in it'. We have to deal with it. Saying 'all is one'

gives a surface understanding of creation without driving inwards.

 

Hence when one thinks, Brahman cannot be divided, creation didn't

happen, etc. This leads to the natural question, then Who or What am I?

This is SELF enquiry. On realising the Saguna one realises NirGuna and

that is why imho Ramana didn't dwell on Ajatavada for most couldn't

accept that or grasp it. One has to leave the mind behind and go

within................ONS..Tony.