Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi

[Guest guest]

Question: Why is concentration ineffective?

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi: To ask the mind to kill the mind is like making

the thief the policeman. He will go with you and pretend to catch the

thief, but nothing will be gained. So you must turn inward and see

from where the mind rises and then it will cease to exist.

 

Question: In turning the mind inwards, are we not still employing the

mind?

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Of course we are employing the mind. It is well

known and admitted that only with the help of the mind can the mind be

killed. But instead of setting about saying there is a mind, and I

want to kill it, begin to seek the source of the mind, and you find

the mind does not exist at all. The mind, turned outwards, results in

thoughts and objects. Turned inwards, it becomes itself the Self.

 

Question: Even so, I do not understand. 'I', you say, is the wrong 'I'

now. How to eliminate the wrong 'I'?

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi: You need not eliminate the wrong 'I'. How can 'I'

eliminate itself? All that you need to do is to find out its origin

and abide there. Your efforts can extend only thus far. Then the

beyond will take care of itself. You are helpless there. No effort can

reach it.