Ramana Maharshi says to give up all the desires what remains is only moksha

[Guest guest]

8th January, 1946

 

A few days ago, a lady, a recent arrival, came into the hall at about 3 p.m.

and sat down. All the time she was there,she was trying to get up and ask

something of Sri Bhagavan.

 

As Bhagavan appeared not to have noticed her, and was reading a book, she

waited for a while.

 

As soon as Bhagavan put the book aside, she got up, approached the sofa and

said without any fear or hesitation, “Swami, I have only one desire.

 

May I tell you what it is?” “Yes,” said Bhagavan, “What do you want?” “I

want moksha,” she said. “Oh, is that so?” remarked Bhagavan. “Yes, Swamiji,

I do not want anything else. Is it enough if you give me moksha,” said she.

 

Suppressing a smile that had almost escaped his lips, Bhagavan said,

“Yes,yes, that is all right; that is good.” “It will not do if you say that

you will give it sometime later.

 

You must give it to me here and now,” she said. “It is all right,” said

Bhagavan.

“Will you give it now? I must be going,” said she. Bhagavan nodded.

 

As soon as she left the hall, Bhagavan burst out laughing and said, turning

towards us, “She says that it is enough if only moksha is given to her.

 

She does not want anything else.” Subbalakshmamma, who was seated by my

side, took up the thread of the conversation and quietly said, “We have come

and are staying here for the same purpose.

 

We do not want anything more. It is enough if you give us moksha.” “If you

renounce, and give up everything, what remains is only moksha.

 

What is there for others to give you? It is there always.That is,” said

Bhagavan. “We do not know all that. Bhagavan himself must give us moksha.”

So saying she left the hall.

 

Looking at the attendants who were by his side, Bhagavan remarked, “I should

give them moksha, they say. It is enough if moksha alone is given to them.

Is not that itself a desire?

 

If you give up all the desires that you have, what remains is only moksha.

And you require sadhana to get rid of all those desires.”

 

The same bhava (idea) is found in Maharatnamala:

 

It is said that the complete destruction of vasanas is Brahmam and moksha.

 

Source: Letters from Sri Ramanasramam VOLUMES I, II & Letters from and

Recollections of Sri Ramanasramam By SURI NAGAMMA Translated by D. S. SASTRI

 

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Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram

 

Love And Love Alone