True Realization

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There is a particular stumbling block to true Realization and it is

one which has become more prevalent in recent times. That stumbling

block is the notion that one has already attained enlightenment or

Self-realization, simply because one intellectually understands or

can express the conceptual description of the Awakened state, or the

philosophical orientation of Advaita. Many seekers have come to

assume that they have already attained " realization " simply

because they have learned or have heard the notion that there is no

effort needed because: " There is only the Self, therefore I am

the Self, therefore I must be Self-realized " . Although this is

fundamentally and theoretically true, one cannot gain or abide in

true realization simply by making this assertion and 'claim'.

Awakening into, and abidance in and as the Truth, or 'Sat',

cannot just simply be 'claimed'. What is necessary to awaken into

abidance as the Truth, is the exact opposite of 'claiming'

anything.

 

What is actually needed in this case is surrender. 'Claiming'

anything, especially enlightenment and realization (if one has not

actually achieved real and true realization), is simply a

maniferstation of ahamkara, or false ego. If one is actually already

abiding in the awakened state, then the ahamkara or false ego is

non-existent, and therefore there is no need to 'claim' anything.

So for a seeker of enlightenment, liberation, and Self-realization,

the genuine way to the real awakening into, and realization of

Truth, is simply surrender. That is why Sri Ramana has recommended

Self-inquiry. Precisely because Self-inquiry is a process of

directly surrendering all identifications and false-egoic notions,

ultimately leaving only the Truth of Being, which is Sat-Chit-Ananda

to remain shining.

 

This is the reason why 'claiming' realization, or " I am the Self " ,

or " I am Brahman " , or " I am Self-realized " , or I am God-realized " ,

is completely and utterly fruitless and simply self-deceiving. Sri

Ramana cautioned against this. A true Jnani, being truely awakened

as the supreme Self, has no need whatsoever to assert or 'claim'

anything. A true Jnani is the Self, and so needs not to claim

anything. There is nothing to claim. There is only the self-evident

Truth. There is nothing to prove, and no other to prove it to.

 

So therefore anyone who goes about claiming to be realized, or says

that they became awakened without any effort simply by 'claiming'

that they are none other than the Self, has stumbled into the great

pit-fall of false-ego. Instead of surrendering all these notions

and egoic identifications, these self-deceived fools have actully

hardened their egoic self-contraction, and are thus caught in the

snare of simply " talking the talk " , but not really " walking the

walk " .

 

The path direct to Self-knowledge is simply the surrendering of all

ignorance and false-ego in Self-inquiry. Knowledge and Surrender

are two sides of the same coin. Each is a reflection of the other.

Bhakti and Jnana are two wings of the same bird. They both come

together in the SELF. They are both aspects of the One SELF. There

is only the One Self, the sole Reality, which alone exists

eternally. Everyone is only That, the Self. But the Self cannot

simply be assumed or claimed. It can only be discovered, awakened

into and Real-ized by the surrender of the ignorance of false-ego.

Self-inquiry is the most direct way to effect this surrender of

ignorance.

 

This is why all the true enlightened Sages and Jnanis from time

immemorial have emphasised that the three primary requisites for

Self-realization are: Sincere Desire for Liberation ( Honesty,

Truthfulness & Effort ), Receptivity (Open-mindedness &

Humility ), and SURRENDER.

 

Conclusion: Anyone who goes about making claims of spiritual

enlightenment and realization, or recommending that no effort is

necessary, is simply a dead give-away that they are not. Anyone who

has truly awakened and abides in and as real Self-knowledge, is

already perfectly liberated, and therefore has no need to assert,

or claim, or show, or prove that they are such. For a true Jnani,

there truly is only the SELF, and there are no 'others' to

convince.