Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

What does it mean to know one's self?

 

Question: What does it mean to know one's self?

 

Answer: To know one's Self means that just like you have worn clothes,

then are you the clothes ? No! Is the skin, you? No! Are you the

flesh? No! Are you the blood? No! Are you the Pulse? No ! Are you

the waste-matter in the intestine-bowels? No! Are you the one who

arrives? NO! No I am not any of these ! In other words, that which

you are not, do not accept is as " I am " . Then you will know your self.

It is such a simple and easy point! One time if you have accepted that

" these I am not " , thereafter, do not accept them as " I am " . Do not spit out and

later lick it again. To know one's self, to do nothing for one's self and to

attain Paramatma (God) all three of these are very easy. What ever direction you

wish to walk, is up to you.

 

See! I am telling you a point. This point is one of pride, but my

intent is not to say it with pride. I have searched and am still

searching on the subject - Ease of Realization. According to the

scriptures the steps laid out are shravan (listening/hearing the divine

names/qualities of the Lord), manan, niddhiyaasan, dharana

(concentration), dhyaan (meditation), and samadhi (mystics absorption)

- savikalp aur nirvikalp samaadhi, then sa-beej and nir-beej samaadhi

and there after one attains realization. All these steps have been

learned by me. I have also become quite immersed in these. I have done

quite a bit of shravan, manan, niddhiyaasan, dhyaan, but the point is

only one - " I am not that " . Now for just this point why dig out a

mountain?

 

I am telling you a simple point, but brothers and sisters, you do not

have faith in it. Oh! Brothers ! I am not intent on cheating you. I

am not intent on deceiving you ! I am not ambushing your trust ! I am

sharing with you that by which you can realize as quickly as possible.

In this you create your own obstacles, by saying - how is it possible

for realization to take place so quickly? It did not happen with this

other person, then how can it happen to us? What I am suggesting is try it out

and see for your self. If you are unsuccessful, you can take the long road. I do

not stop or object if you take the long path. Do as I say! If you realize

quickly than it is nothing but gains. If not the long route is ever open and

available for you. What is coming in the way? If you do as I say, then even for

the long step by step approach you will it find easier. If you ask me, there

will be no need for you to take the longer path. Earlier I, myself did not know

about this. Without any abilites, knowledge, meditation, samadhi etc to directly

attain that state, thereafter which nothing remains to be known, to be done and

to acquire, this I was not aware off. When I was not aware of it, I engaged in

many disciplines and restrictions, I stayed in solitude, I gave up meeting any

one. You will be surprised to know that I even weighed the roti (indian bread)

before eating, to avoid eating more than absolutely essential. Same with sleep,

to sleep only a limited time. I kept very few possessions with me. I did not ask

anyone for anything. " I do not have this thing. " .. I never said this to anyone.

I stayed like this for many years. I underwent many hardships. If I share with

you, you will be shocked.

 

I know that when a sadhu does not ask for anything, he is better

received, and there is great peace around him. And if he seeks

something from another, then he will be lowered in the eyes of the

others. Whoever he asks from, he will become lowered in their eyes and

he will become a " taker " . And the one he is asking from, he will become their

slave. Saying all these things is not good, but I am saying this to make you

believe, and have faith in the fact that I have tried all of these things and

seen for myself. This too is a path, but it is a long path. Whatever spiritual

disciplines you engage in, will never go to waste. But it will take a long time.

My passion is around how to quickly and with ease one can attain realization /

salvation? I continue to search on this even today !

 

Simply speaking, I have concluded by this one sentence which says it all - IF

YOU WANT ANYTHING FOR YOUR SELF ! IT IS DEATH.