How is one to know the Self?

[Guest guest]

Question:

If the mind is merely a shadow, how then is one to know

the Self?

 

Maharshi: The Self is the Heart, self-luminous. Illumination arises

from the Heart and reaches the brain, which is the seat of the mind.

The world is seen with the mind; so you see the world by the

reflected light of the Self. The world is perceived by an act of the

mind. When the mind is illumined, it is aware of the world; when it

is not so illumined, it is not aware of the world.

 

If the mind is turned in, towards the Source of illumination,

objective knowledge ceases, and the Self alone shines as the Heart.

 

The moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun. When the sun has

set, the moon is useful for displaying objects. When the sun has

risen, no one needs the moon, though its disc is visible in the sky.

So it is with the mind and the Heart.

The mind is made useful by its reflected light. It is used for seeing

objects. When turned inwards, it merges into the Source of

illumination, which shines by Itself, and the mind is then like the

moon in the day-time. When it is dark, a lamp is necessary to give

light. But when the sun has arisen, there is no need for the lamp;

the objects are visible. And to see the sun no lamp is necessary; it

is enough if you turn your eyes towards the self-luminous sun.

Similarly with the mind - to see the objects, the light reflected

from the mind is necessary. To see the Heart it is enough that the

mind is turned towards it. Then the mind does not count and the Heart

is self-effulgent.

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