Fwd: Ramana Maharshi's answer to Materialists who say there is no such thing as God or Self

[Guest guest]

, Prasanth Jalasutram <jvrsprasanth

wrote:

 

17-8-46

 

This morning, a number of Gujerati visitors arrived here,evidently returning

from Pondicherry, after darshan there on the 15th. One of them asked

Bhagavan, " What is meant by Self-realisation? Materialists say there is no

such thing as God or Self. "

 

Bhagavan said, " Never mind what the materialists or others say; and don't

bother about Self or God. Do you exist or not? What is your idea of

yourself? What do you mean by `I'? "

 

The visitor said he did not understand by `I' his body, but something within

his body.

 

Thereupon, Bhagavan continued, " You concede `I' is not the body but something

within it. See then from whence the `I' arises within the body. See whether

it arises and disappears, or is always present.You will admit there is an

`I' which emerges as soon as you wake up, sees the body,the world and all

else, and ceases to exist when you sleep; and that there is another `I'

which exists apart from the body, independently of it, and which alone is

with you when the body and the world do not exist for you, as for instance

in sleep.

 

Then ask yourself if you are not the same `I' during sleep and during the

other states. Are there two `I's? You are the same one person always. Now,

which can be real, the `I' which comes and goes, or the `I' which always

abides? Then you will know that you are the Self. This is called

Self-realisation.

 

 

Selfrealisation is not however a state which is foreign to you, which is far

from you, and which has to be reached by you. You are always in that state.

You forget it, and identify yourself with the mind and its creation. To

cease to identify yourself with the mind is all that is required.

 

Bhagavan said, " Everybody will go after only what gives happiness to him.

Thinking that happiness comes from some object or other, you go after it.

See from whence all happiness,including the happiness you regard as coming

from sense objects, really comes. You will understand all happiness comes

only from the Self, and then you will always abide in the Self. "

 

Source: DAY BY DAY WITH BHAGAVAN From the Diary of A. DEVARAJA MUDALIAR

 

--

Love And Love Alone

 

Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram

 

--- End forwarded message ---