Paul Brunton - The Maharshi and His Message #8

[Guest guest]

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I have now reached my conversational objective and decide

 

to await the Maharshi's response. He continues to stare

 

thoughtfully at me. Perhaps he is pondering over my questions.

 

Ten minutes pass in silence.

 

 

 

At last his lips open and he says gently:

 

" You say I. 'I want to know.' Tell me, who is that I? "

 

What does he mean? He has now cut across the services of

 

the interpreter and speaks direct to me in English. Bewilderment

 

creeps across my brain.

 

 

 

" I am afraid I do not understand your question, " I reply blankly.

 

" Is it not clear? Think again! "

 

 

 

I puzzle over his words once more. An idea suddenly flashes into

 

my head. I point a finger towards myself and mention my name.

 

 

 

" And do you know him? "

 

 

 

" All my life! " I smile back at him.

 

 

 

" But that is only your body! Again I ask, 'Who are you'? "

 

 

 

I cannot find a ready answer to this extraordinary query.

 

 

 

The Maharshi continues:

 

" Know first that I and then you shall know the truth. "

 

My mind hazes again. I am deeply puzzled. This bewilderment

 

finds verbal expression. But the Maharshi has evidently reached

 

the limit of his English, for he turns to the interpreter and the

 

answer is slowly translated to me:

 

 

 

" There is only one thing to be done. Look into your own

 

self. Do this in the right way and you shall find the answer to all

 

your problems. "

 

 

 

It is a strange rejoinder. But I ask him:

 

" What must one do? What method can I pursue? "

 

 

 

 

" Through deep reflection on the nature of one's self and

 

through constant meditation, the light can be found. "

 

" I have frequently given myself up to meditation upon the

 

truth, but I see no signs of progress. "

 

 

 

" How do you know that no progress has been made? It is not

 

easy to perceive one's progress in the spiritual realm. "

 

" Is help of a Master necessary? "

 

 

 

" It might be. "

 

" Can a Master help a man to look into his own self in the

 

way you suggest? "

 

 

 

" He can give the man all that he needs for this quest. Such a

 

thing can be perceived through personal experience. "

 

" How long will it take to get some enlightenment with a

 

Master's help? "

 

 

 

" It all depends on the maturity of the seeker's mind. The

 

gunpowder catches fire in an instant, while much time is needed

 

to set fire to the coal. "

 

 

 

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