Bhagavan - five verses on the Self

[Guest guest]

1.He who is forgetful of the Self, mistaking the physicalbody for it, and goes through innumerable births,is like one who wanders all over the world in a dream.Thus realizing the Self would only be like waking upfrom the dream-wanderings.2.One who asks himself "who am I?" and "where am I?",though existing all the while as the Self, is likea drunken man who enquires about his own identityand whereabouts.3.While in fact the body is in the Self, he who thinksthat the Self is within the insentient body is likeone who considers the cloth of the screen which supportsa cinema picture to be contained within the picture.4.Does an ornament exist apart from the gold of whichit is made? Where is the body apart from the Self?He who consider the body to be himself is an ignorant man.He who regards himself as the Self is the Enlightened Onewho has realized the Self.5.The One Self, the Sole Reality, alone exists eternally.When even the Ancient Teacher, Dakshinamurti, revealet Itthrough speechless eloquence, who else could convey itby speech?_________The Collected Works of Ramana MaharshiEdited by Arthur Osborne_________