The Nature of The Self - [12]

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Q: How did ignorance [avidya] arise at all?

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi:

Ignorance never arose. It has no real being. That which is, is only

vidya [knowledge].

 

Q: Why then do I not realise it?

 

A: Because of the samskaras. However, find out who does not realise

and what he does not realise. Then it will be clear that there is

no avidya.

 

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

 

A: If there is 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, that is, 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 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 would cease to shake you would not notice

the water but only the light. Similarly, take no notice of the

ego and its activities, but see only the light behind. The ego is

the thought " I " . The true " I " is the Self.

 

Q: If it is just a question of giving up ideas then it is

only one step to realisation.

 

A: 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?

 

Q: Because of the thoughts, the mind.

 

A: Quite so. It is the mind that veils our happiness. How do we know

that we exist? If you say because of the world around us, then how

do you know that you existed in deep sleep?

 

Q: How to get rid of the mind?

 

A: Is it the mind that wants to kill itself? The mind cannot kill

itself. So your business is to find the real nature of the mind.

Then you will know that there is no mind. When the Self is sought,

the mind is nowhere. Abiding in the self, one need not worry about

the mind.