‘I AM’ IS EVER UNSHACKLED

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram

 

`I AM' IS EVER UNSHACKLED

 

By V Ganesan

 

Once a devotee told Sri Ramana that too much emphasis was being

given to the discarding of `I-am-the body' idea, and this was

impossible for him since he was always aware of the body and its

creature comforts. Sri Ramana replied, " You cannot give up the I-am-

the body consciousness without being first aware of it. The giving

up of the idea should take place by the grace of God, and by your

own efforts it will be very difficult. "

 

That which is presented to our limited understanding by the body-

mind complex we take for truth. We have no other means of

appreciating the truth. The body-mind complex supplies all our

experience and remains the only means or approach towards

transcending it. The mind-intellect recognizes or accepts known

entities and is baffled by or rejects unknown ones. In Saiva

Siddhanta the body is considered the `temple' in which the Lord is

enshrined. Neglect or torture of the body is condemned. The weak

cannot attain the Atman. The physical body (annamya kosha) is neither

to be despised nor neglected, says the scriptures.

 

To a body-minded votary the idea of transcending it is hard to

envisage and he is baffled. Sri Ramana says that it is better to be

confused than ignorant or indifferent. A state of confusion may

induce us to trace its source, in an attempt to clear it up. In this

way we may arrive at the understanding that we cannot solve the

problem by our own effort and that the Grace of God or Guru is

necessary.

 

This becomes the incentive for sadhana through Self-inquiry or

through devotion or surrender, whichever suits our temperament. We

dive deep to seek an answer and ultimately we come to know that by

understanding which it is possible to transcend this complexity.

Truth can be realized through intuitive experience. `I-am-the-body'

idea will become extinct only on Self-realisation. This is possible

through Grace, but Grace is vouchsafed only to those who have made

the necessary effort.

 

According to Sri Ramana the transcendence of the `I-am-the-body' idea

can be best achieved through constant and deep self-enquiry

(vichara) " Who am I? " " To whom is this problem. " This inquiry is the

best means for removing the false belief of selfhood.

(The author, a sadhaka of great merit and an outstanding devotee of

Sri Ramana, is grandson of Sri Ramana's brother.)