Ignorance, Truth and the World, etc

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Ramana Maharshi - Ignorance, Truth and the World, etc.From Talks, 10th June, 1936D.: From where did ignorance come?M.: There is no such thing as ignorance. It neverarises. Everyone is Knowledge itself. Only Knowledgedoes not shine easily. The dispelling of ignorance isWisdom which always exists--e.g., the necklaceremaining round the neck though supposed to have beenlost; or each of the ten fools failing to counthimself and counting only the others. To whom isknowledge or ignorance?D.: Can we not proceed from external to internal?M.: Is there any difference like that? Do you feelthe difference--external and internal--in your sleep? This difference is only with reference to the body andarises with body-consciousness ('I'-thought). Theso-called waking state is itself an illusion.Turn your vision inward and then the whole world willbe full of Supreme Spirit. The world is said to beillusion. Illusion is really Truth. Even thematerial sciences trace the origin of the universe tosome one primordial matter--subtle, exceedinglysubtle.God is the same both to those who say the world isreal and to their opponents. Their outlook isdifferent. You need not entangle yourself in suchdisputations. The goal is one and the same for all. Look to it.