Forty Verses on Reality By Sri Ramana Maharshi - Verses 31-40

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31. For Him who is immersed in the bliss of the Self, arising from the

extinction of the ego, what remains to be accomplished? He is not aware of

anything (as) other than the Self. Who can apprehend his State?

 

32. Although the scriptures proclaim 'Thou art That', it is only a sign of

weakness of mind to meditate 'I am That, not this', because you are

eternally That. What has to be done is to investigate what one really is and

remain That.

 

33. It is ridiculous to say either 'I have not realized the Self' or 'I have

realized the Self'; are there two selves, for one to be the object of the

other's realization? It is a truth within the experience of everyone that

there is only one Self.

 

34. It is due to illusion born of ignorance that men fail to recognise That

which is always and for everybody the inherent Reality dwelling in its

natural Heart-centre and to abide in it, and that instead they argue that it

exists or does not exist, that it has form or has not form, or is non-dual

or dual.

 

35. To seek and abide in the Reality that is always attained, is the only

Attainment. All other attainments (siddhis) are such as are acquired in

dreams. Can they appear real to someone who has woken up from sleep? Can

they that are established in the Reality and are free from maya, be deluded

by them?

 

36. Only if the thought 'I am the body' occurs will the meditation 'I am not

this, I am That', help one to abide as That. Why should we for ever be

thinking, 'I am That'? Is it necessary for man to go on thinking 'I am a

man'? Are we not always That?

 

37. The contention, 'Dualism during practice, non-dualism on Attainment', is

also false. While one is anxiously searching, as well as when one has found

one's Self, who else is one but the tenth man?

 

38. As long as a man is the doer, he also reaps the fruit of his deeds, but,

as soon as he realizes the Self through enquiry as to who is the doer his

sense of being the doer falls away and the triple karma is ended. This is

the state of eternal Liberation.

 

39. Only so long as one considers oneself bound, do thoughts of bondage and

Liberation continue. When one enquires who is bound the Self is realized,

eternally attained, and eternally free. When thought of bondage comes to an

end, can thought of Liberation survive?

 

40. If it is said, that Liberation is of three kinds, with form or without

form or with and without form, then let me tell you that the extinction of

three forms of Liberation is the only true Liberation.

 

Source: http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/40_verses/40_verses_4.htm

 

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Om namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram