Nisargadatta Maharaj

[Guest guest]

" I Am That " Chapter 17: The Ever Present

 

Q: The highest powers of the mind are understanding, intelligence and

insight. Man has three bodies - the physical, mental and the causal

(prana, mana, karana). The physical reflects his being; the mental -

his knowing and the causal - his joyous creativity. Of course, these

are all forms in consciousness. But they appear to be separate, with

qualities of their own. Intelligence (buddhi) is the reflection in the

mind of the power to know (chit). It is what makes the mind

knowledgeable. The brighter the intelligence, the wider, deeper and

truer the knowledge. To know things, to know people and to know

oneself are all a function of intelligence; the last is the most

important and contains the former two. Misunderstanding oneself and

the world leads to false ideas and desires, which again led to

bondage. Right understating of oneself is necessary for freedom from

the bondage of illusion. I understand all this in theory, but when it

come to practice, I find that I fail hopelessly in my responses to

situations and people and by my inappropriate re-actions I merely add

to my bondage. Life is too quick for my dull and slow mind. I do

understand, but too late, when the old mistakes have been already

repeated.

 

M: What then is your problem?

Q: I need a response to life, not only intelligent, but also very

quick. It cannot be quick unless it is perfectly spontaneous. How

can I achieve such spontaneity?

M: The mirror can do nothing to attract the sun. It can only keep

bright.

As soon as the mind is ready, the sun shines in it.

Q: The light is the Self, or of the mind?

M: Both. It is uncaused and unvarying by itself and colored by the

mind, as it moves and changes. It is very much like a cinema. The

light is not in the film, but the film colors the light and makes it

appear to move by intercepting it.

Q: Are you now in the perfect state?

M: Perfection is a state of the mind, when it is pure. I am beyond the

mind, whatever its state, pure of impure. Awareness is my nature;

ultimately I am beyond being and non-being.

Q: Will meditation help me to reach your state?

M: Meditation will help you to find your bonds, loosen them, untie

them and cast your moorings. When you are no longer attached to

anything, you have done your share. The rest will be done for you.

M; By whom?

Q: By the same power that brought you so far, that prompted your heart

to desire truth and your mind to see it. It is the same power that

keeps you alive. You may call it Life or the Supreme.

Q: The same power kills me in due course.

M: Where you not present at your birth? Will you not be present at

your death? Find him who is always present and your problem of

spontaneous and perfect response will be solved.

Q: Realization of the eternal and an effortless and adequate response

to the ever-changing temporary event are two different and separate

questions. You seem to roll them into one.

What makes you do so?

M: To realized the Eternal is to become the Eternal, the whole, the

universe, with all it contains. Every event is the effect and the

expression of the whole and is in fundamental harmony with the whole.

All responses from the whole much be right, effortless and instantaneous.

It cannot be otherwise, if it is right. Delayed response is wrong

response. Thought, feeling and action must be one and simultaneous

with the situation that calls for them.

Q: Who does it come?

M: I told already. Find him who was present at your birth and will

witness your death.

Q: My father and mother?

M: Yes your father - mother, the source from which you came. To solve

a problem you must race it to its source. Only in the dissolution of

the problem in the universal solvents of enquiry and dispassion, can

its right solution be found.