Self realization

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self realization

 

 

Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi was walking up the hill along with his

followers. On the way, he saw a small piece of wood, which had

fallen from the branch of a tree. He picked it up, started cutting

and shaping it up. Even as he went up the hill, he did not leave

the stick. He was polishing it and cleaning it with great care even

while conversing with his followers. Later In evening when they

went to see Bhagawan, he was still holding the stick and smoothening

it. It went on for two days and even while talking or walking,

Swamiji was found holding the stick and improving it and refining

it. No one dared ask Swamiji about it. Swamiji seemed to be giving

much importance to it.

 

He has now made it into a fine small stick. Later on, when Bhagawan

was walking along with his disciples, he saw a shepherd coming in

the opposite direction, called him near and just gave the stick to

him. The followers were a little surprised that Swamiji gave away

the stick, made with much care and attention, so casually to a

Sheppard and forgot about it all.

 

I remember having read this incident in a book. It may have some

significance or it may not have any. However, the message that I

would like to read into this incident is this: There may be many

things in life like relations, possessions etc. that we brought up

and built up with extreme care and we continue to hold them dear to

our heart. They may appear to be very dear and precious to us.

But let us not cling on to them and march forward, leaving them all

aside,

 

There is yet another interpretation to it. The stick here

represents our ego. The 'ego' which is the creation of the mind,

was not there when we were born and started our life journey. It

cought on to us sometime in between the journey and been influencing

us. We then start nursing it and nourishing it. Gradually,

the 'ego', the false " I " , becomes the stumbling block and we are

not able to see or experience our real 'self'. Ego is the cause for

all attachments, the cause for all desires and the cause for all

worries because it entangles us to the false identification with

mind and body. If we have to reach our goal of self realization, we

have to first liberate ourselves from ego, the false " I "

notion.