Spiritual Instruction Of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

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Why do thoughts of many objects arise in the mind even when there is no

contact with external objects?

 

All such thoughts are due to latent tendencies (purva samskaras). They

appear only to the individual consciousness (jiva) which has forgotten its

real nature and become externalised. Whenever particular things are

perceived, the enquiry “Who is it that sees them”? should be made; they will

then disappear at once.

 

What are the rules of conduct which an aspirant (sadhaka) should follow?

 

Moderation in food, moderation in sleep and moderation in speech.

 

How long should one practice?

 

Until the mind attains effortlessly its natural state of freedom from

concepts, that is till the sense of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ exists no longer.

 

It is an established rule that so long as there is the least idea of

I-am-the-doer, Self-knowledge cannot be attained, but is it possible for an

aspirant who is a householder to discharge his duties properly without this

sense?

 

As there is no rule that action should depend upon a sense of being the doer

it is unnecessary to doubt whether any action will take place without a doer

or an act of doing. Although the officer of a government treasury may

appear, in the eyes of others, to be doing his duty attentively and

responsibly all day long, he will be discharging his duties without

attachment, thinking ‘I have no real connection with all this money’ and

without a sense of involvement in his mind. In the same manner a wise

householder may also discharge without attachment the various household

duties which fall to his lot according to his past karma, like a tool in the

hands of another. Action and knowledge are not obstacles to each other.

 

Of what use to his family is a wise householder who is unmindful of his

bodily comforts and of what use is his family to him?

 

Although he is entirely unmindful of his bodily comforts, if, owing to his

past karma, his family have to subsist by his efforts, he may be regarded as

doing service to others. If it is asked whether the wise man derives any

benefit from the discharge of domestic duties, it may be answered that, as

he has already attained the state of complete satisfaction which is the sum

total of all benefits and the highest good of all, he does not stand to gain

anything more by discharging family duties.

 

Source: Spiritual Instruction Of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

 

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Om namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram