Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi

[Guest guest]

Sri Ramana Maharshi: The mind will subside only by means of the

enquiry 'Who am I?' The thought 'Who am I?' destroying all other

thoughts, will itself finally be destroyed like the stick used for

stirring the funeral pyre. If other thoughts rise one should, without

attempting to complete them, enquire 'To whom did they rise?' What

does it matter however many thoughts rise? At the very moment that

each thought rises, if one vigilantly enquires 'To whom did this

rise?', it will be known 'To me'. If one then enquiries 'Who am I?',

the mind will turn back to its source (the Self) and the thought which

had risen will also subside. By repeatedly practising thus, the power

of the mind to abide in its source increases.

 

Although tendencies towards sense-objects (Vishaya Vasanas), which

have been recurring down the ages, rise in countless numbers like the

waves of the ocean, they will all perish as meditation on one's nature

becomes more and more intense. Without giving room even to the

doubting thought, 'Is it possible to destroy all these tendencies

(Vasanas) and to remain as Self alone?', one should persistently cling

fast to self-attention.

 

As long as there are tendencies towards sense-objects in the mind, the

enquiry 'Who am I?' is necessary. As and when thoughts rise, one

should annihilate all of them through enquiry then and there in their

very place of origin. Not attending to what-is-other (anya) is non-

attachment (vairagya) or desirelessness (nirasa). Not leaving Self is

knowledge (Jnana). In truth, these two (desirelessness and knowledge)

are one and the same. Just as a pearl-diver, tying a stone to his

waist, dives into the sea and takes the pearl lying at the bottom, so

everyone, diving deep within himself with non-attachment, can attain

the pearl of Self. If one resorts uninterruptedly to remembrance of

one's real nature (Swarupa- Smarana) until one attains Self, that

alone will be sufficient.

 

Enquiring 'Who am I that is in bondage?' and knowing one's real nature

(Swarupa) alone is liberation. Always keeping the mind fixed in Self

alone is called 'sef-enquiry', whereas meditation (Dhyana) is thinking

oneself to be the absolute (Brahman), which is existence -

consciousness - bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda).