Guest guest Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Q: It is said `atma samstham manah krtva' [fixing the mind in the Self]. But the Self is unthinkable. A: Why do you wish to meditate at all? Because you wish to do so you are told `atma samstbam manah krtva'. Why do you not remain as you are without meditating? What is that manah' [mind]? When all thoughts are eliminated it becomes `atma samstha' [fixed in the Self]. Q: If a form is given I can meditate on it and other thoughts are eliminated. But the Self is formless. A: Meditation on forms or concrete objects is said to be dhyana, whereas the enquiry into the Self is vichara [enquiry] or nididhyasana [uninterrupted awareness of being]. Q: There is more pleasure in dhyana than in sensual enjoyments. Yet the mind runs after the latter and does not seek the former. Why is it so? A: Pleasure or pain are aspects of the mind only. Our essential nature is happiness. But we have forgotten the Self and imagine that the body or the mind is the Self. It is that wrong identity that gives rise to misery. What is to be done? This mental tendency is very ancient and has continued for innumerable past births. Hence it has grown strong. That must go before the essential nature, happiness, asserts itself. ................... >> taken from >> Be As You Are, The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi>> Edited by David Godman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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