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A Great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami

sent to one of members Barry Domegan from John Maynard- a resident at

Ramanasramam.

 

> Question: What are the different stages or

> levels of the mind that one passes through before realising

> the Self?

>

> Sri Lakshmana Swami: Mind is only thoughts. The more easily

> you can be without thoughts, the nearer you are to a direct

> experience of the Self. To make the mind die you must

> deprive it of thoughts. The effortless thought-free state is

> the highest level of practice.

>

> There are no states or degrees of realization, there are

> only stages of spiritual practice. The final stage of

> sadhana is this effortless thought-free state. If this state

> can be maintained, then the " I " will sink into the

> Self and it will experience the bliss of the Self. These

> experiences are only temporary; the " I " will

> continue to reassert itself until the moment of realization.

> Realization can only happen in this effortless thought-free

> state, for it is only in this state that the Self can

> destroy the

>  " I " -thought. The " I " -thought, which is

> the mind, must die completely before Self-Realization

> occurs.

>

> Question: How is one to make the mind die?

>

> Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind can never eliminate itself

> without the grace of the Self. The mind is afraid of its own

> death; it will not do anything to endanger its own

> existence. It is like the theif who poses as a policement in

> order to catch himself because he ultimately wants to

> escape. SImilarly with the mind. The mind will engage in

> sadhana, thinking it wants to destroy itself, but as soon as

> the mind starts to sink into the Heart, a great fear arises

> which prevents the mind from completely subsiding. This fear

> is part of the mind's self-defence mechanism, and you

> will never overcome it by effort alone. It is because of

> this that you need the grace of the Guru. When you

> concentrate on the name and form of the Guru, or try to be

> without thoughts, the grace of the Guru calms the mind and

> helps

>  it to overcome the fear which would otherwise prevent it

> from completely subsiding.

>

> Question: Whyi s it necessary for the mind to die?

>

> Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind must die, there is no other

> way to realize the Self. Some people say that complete

> equanimity of mind is Self-Realization, but this is not

> true. Thius is only a stage one passes through on the way to

> Self-Realizaiton. Other people say that seeing the Self or

> God everywhere is Self-Realization, but this is not true

> either. To see the Self everywhere there must be an

> " I " who sees, and while that " I " exists

> the mind will also exist. The jnani does not see anything

> because the seeing entity in him has died. In the Self,

> there is no seeing, only being. When the mind still exists

> one can reach a stage where one can see the whole world as a

> manifestation of the Self, but when the mind dies, there is

> no one who sees and no world to be seen.

>

> If you have a mind then the earth, the

>  sky, and the stars will exist, and you will be able to see

> them. When the mind dies there will be no earth, no sky, no

> stars, and no world. The world of objects, names, and forms

> is only the mind, and when the mind dies, the world dies

> with it. Only the Self then remains.

>

> Seeing everything as the Self gives the impression that the

> Self is equally distributed everywhere. This is also an idea

> in the mind. When the mind finally dies you realize that

> there is no distribution and no

> everywhere.

>  

>  

> So

> I go off now to be in the effortless thought fee state, with

> no desires for anything or

> nothing...

>

>

>

>

>

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Dear Friends,

 

In case anyone is puzzled by the last paragraphs- what Swami is speaking about

is from the Absolute or Transcedental State of Ajata,as known in Samahdi.

 

When he interacts with the world according to the body's destiny, he sees the

world as a dream but with the difference that he perceives the substratum of all

as Pure Absolute Consciousness. Members may like to comment.

 

alan

 

>

> A Great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami

> sent to one of members Barry Domegan from John Maynard- a resident at

Ramanasramam.

>

> > Question: What are the different stages or

> > levels of the mind that one passes through before realising

> > the Self?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: Mind is only thoughts. The more easily

> > you can be without thoughts, the nearer you are to a direct

> > experience of the Self. To make the mind die you must

> > deprive it of thoughts. The effortless thought-free state is

> > the highest level of practice.

> >

> > There are no states or degrees of realization, there are

> > only stages of spiritual practice. The final stage of

> > sadhana is this effortless thought-free state. If this state

> > can be maintained, then the " I " will sink into the

> > Self and it will experience the bliss of the Self. These

> > experiences are only temporary; the " I " will

> > continue to reassert itself until the moment of realization.

> > Realization can only happen in this effortless thought-free

> > state, for it is only in this state that the Self can

> > destroy the

> >  " I " -thought. The " I " -thought, which is

> > the mind, must die completely before Self-Realization

> > occurs.

> >

> > Question: How is one to make the mind die?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind can never eliminate itself

> > without the grace of the Self. The mind is afraid of its own

> > death; it will not do anything to endanger its own

> > existence. It is like the theif who poses as a policement in

> > order to catch himself because he ultimately wants to

> > escape. SImilarly with the mind. The mind will engage in

> > sadhana, thinking it wants to destroy itself, but as soon as

> > the mind starts to sink into the Heart, a great fear arises

> > which prevents the mind from completely subsiding. This fear

> > is part of the mind's self-defence mechanism, and you

> > will never overcome it by effort alone. It is because of

> > this that you need the grace of the Guru. When you

> > concentrate on the name and form of the Guru, or try to be

> > without thoughts, the grace of the Guru calms the mind and

> > helps

> >  it to overcome the fear which would otherwise prevent it

> > from completely subsiding.

> >

> > Question: Whyi s it necessary for the mind to die?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind must die, there is no other

> > way to realize the Self. Some people say that complete

> > equanimity of mind is Self-Realization, but this is not

> > true. Thius is only a stage one passes through on the way to

> > Self-Realizaiton. Other people say that seeing the Self or

> > God everywhere is Self-Realization, but this is not true

> > either. To see the Self everywhere there must be an

> > " I " who sees, and while that " I " exists

> > the mind will also exist. The jnani does not see anything

> > because the seeing entity in him has died. In the Self,

> > there is no seeing, only being. When the mind still exists

> > one can reach a stage where one can see the whole world as a

> > manifestation of the Self, but when the mind dies, there is

> > no one who sees and no world to be seen.

> >

> > If you have a mind then the earth, the

> >  sky, and the stars will exist, and you will be able to see

> > them. When the mind dies there will be no earth, no sky, no

> > stars, and no world. The world of objects, names, and forms

> > is only the mind, and when the mind dies, the world dies

> > with it. Only the Self then remains.

> >

> > Seeing everything as the Self gives the impression that the

> > Self is equally distributed everywhere. This is also an idea

> > in the mind. When the mind finally dies you realize that

> > there is no distribution and no

> > everywhere.

> >  

> >  

> > So

> > I go off now to be in the effortless thought fee state, with

> > no desires for anything or

> > nothing...

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

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Dear Alan ,

 

Wonderful piece of inner wisdom ..the key here seems to effortlessness.. when there is complete trust , conviction and surrender .. any effort becomes redundant .. as the Supreme Grace takes over and we understand that our remnant role on this earth is that of an humble instrument .. ever ready to undertake even the most ' menial ' of tasks .. it is like the aeroplane being on Auto mode ...Relax , Relax yet Alert , Alert ( alertness required as the body-mind is used to the vasanas and dont disappear so easily ) ... Otherwise a state of non-doing , no-mind , no thinking .. JUST BEING .. they say in tamil SUMMA IRU..

 

Pranams

 

ramesh

--- On Sat, 4/4/09, alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote:

alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs Re: a great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 8:10 PM

 

 

Dear Friends,In case anyone is puzzled by the last paragraphs- what Swami is speaking about is from the Absolute or Transcedental State of Ajata,as known in Samahdi.When he interacts with the world according to the body's destiny, he sees the world as a dream but with the difference that he perceives the substratum of all as Pure Absolute Consciousness. Members may like to comment.alan> > A Great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami> sent to one of members Barry Domegan from John Maynard- a resident at Ramanasramam.> > > Question: What are the different stages or> > levels of the mind that one passes through before realising> > the Self?> > > > Sri Lakshmana Swami: Mind is only thoughts. The more easily> > you can be without thoughts, the nearer you are to a direct> > experience of the Self. To make the mind die you must>

> deprive it of thoughts. The effortless thought-free state is> > the highest level of practice.> > > > There are no states or degrees of realization, there are> > only stages of spiritual practice. The final stage of> > sadhana is this effortless thought-free state. If this state> > can be maintained, then the "I" will sink into the> > Self and it will experience the bliss of the Self. These> > experiences are only temporary; the "I" will> > continue to reassert itself until the moment of realization.> > Realization can only happen in this effortless thought-free> > state, for it is only in this state that the Self can> > destroy the> > "I"-thought. The "I"-thought, which is> > the mind, must die completely before Self-Realization> > occurs.> > > > Question: How is one to make

the mind die?> > > > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind can never eliminate itself> > without the grace of the Self. The mind is afraid of its own> > death; it will not do anything to endanger its own> > existence. It is like the theif who poses as a policement in> > order to catch himself because he ultimately wants to> > escape. SImilarly with the mind. The mind will engage in> > sadhana, thinking it wants to destroy itself, but as soon as> > the mind starts to sink into the Heart, a great fear arises> > which prevents the mind from completely subsiding. This fear> > is part of the mind's self-defence mechanism, and you> > will never overcome it by effort alone. It is because of> > this that you need the grace of the Guru. When you> > concentrate on the name and form of the Guru, or try to be> > without

thoughts, the grace of the Guru calms the mind and> > helps> > it to overcome the fear which would otherwise prevent it> > from completely subsiding.> > > > Question: Whyi s it necessary for the mind to die?> > > > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind must die, there is no other> > way to realize the Self. Some people say that complete> > equanimity of mind is Self-Realization, but this is not> > true. Thius is only a stage one passes through on the way to> > Self-Realizaiton. Other people say that seeing the Self or> > God everywhere is Self-Realization, but this is not true> > either. To see the Self everywhere there must be an> > "I" who sees, and while that "I" exists> > the mind will also exist. The jnani does not see anything> > because the seeing entity in him has died. In the Self,>

> there is no seeing, only being. When the mind still exists> > one can reach a stage where one can see the whole world as a> > manifestation of the Self, but when the mind dies, there is> > no one who sees and no world to be seen.> > > > If you have a mind then the earth, the> > sky, and the stars will exist, and you will be able to see> > them. When the mind dies there will be no earth, no sky, no> > stars, and no world. The world of objects, names, and forms> > is only the mind, and when the mind dies, the world dies> > with it. Only the Self then remains.> > > > Seeing everything as the Self gives the impression that the> > Self is equally distributed everywhere. This is also an idea> > in the mind. When the mind finally dies you realize that> > there is no distribution and no> >

everywhere.> > > > > > So> > I go off now to be in the effortless thought fee state, with> > no desires for anything or> > nothing...> > > > > > > > > >>

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Dear Ramesh,

 

Yes. I thought so too. Sri Lakshmana is still alive, but reclusive at

Tiruvannamalai. His biography by David Godman- NO MIND I AM THE SELF is a good

read. He gives public Darshan 4 times a year.He is on YOUTUBE.

 

Love,

 

Yours in Him,

  

Alan

 

--- On Sat, 4/4/09, ramesh chivukula <ramesh_chiv wrote:

 

 

ramesh chivukula <ramesh_chiv

Re: Re: a great quote from Sri Lakshmana

Swami

 

Saturday, 4 April, 2009, 5:40 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Alan ,

 

Wonderful piece of inner wisdom ..the key here seems to effortlessness. . when

there is complete trust , conviction and surrender .. any effort becomes

redundant .. as the Supreme Grace takes over and we understand that our remnant

role on this earth is that of an humble instrument .. ever ready to undertake

even the most ' menial ' of tasks .. it is like the aeroplane being on Auto mode

....Relax , Relax  yet Alert , Alert ( alertness required as the body-mind is

used to the vasanas and dont disappear so easily ) ... Otherwise a state of

non-doing , no-mind , no thinking .. JUST BEING .. they say in tamil SUMMA IRU..

 

Pranams

 

ramesh

 

 

--- On Sat, 4/4/09, alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk> wrote:

 

 

alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk>

Re: a great quote from Sri Lakshmana

Swami

 

Saturday, April 4, 2009, 8:10 PM

 

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

In case anyone is puzzled by the last paragraphs- what Swami is speaking about

is from the Absolute or Transcedental State of Ajata,as known in Samahdi.

 

When he interacts with the world according to the body's destiny, he sees the

world as a dream but with the difference that he perceives the substratum of all

as Pure Absolute Consciousness. Members may like to comment.

 

alan

 

>

> A Great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami

> sent to one of members Barry Domegan from John Maynard- a resident at

Ramanasramam.

>

> > Question: What are the different stages or

> > levels of the mind that one passes through before realising

> > the Self?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: Mind is only thoughts. The more easily

> > you can be without thoughts, the nearer you are to a direct

> > experience of the Self. To make the mind die you must

>

> deprive it of thoughts. The effortless thought-free state is

> > the highest level of practice.

> >

> > There are no states or degrees of realization, there are

> > only stages of spiritual practice. The final stage of

> > sadhana is this effortless thought-free state. If this state

> > can be maintained, then the " I " will sink into the

> > Self and it will experience the bliss of the Self. These

> > experiences are only temporary; the " I " will

> > continue to reassert itself until the moment of realization.

> > Realization can only happen in this effortless thought-free

> > state, for it is only in this state that the Self can

> > destroy the

> >  " I " -thought. The " I " -thought, which is

> > the mind, must die completely before Self-Realization

> > occurs.

> >

> > Question: How is one to make

the mind die?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind can never eliminate itself

> > without the grace of the Self. The mind is afraid of its own

> > death; it will not do anything to endanger its own

> > existence. It is like the theif who poses as a policement in

> > order to catch himself because he ultimately wants to

> > escape. SImilarly with the mind. The mind will engage in

> > sadhana, thinking it wants to destroy itself, but as soon as

> > the mind starts to sink into the Heart, a great fear arises

> > which prevents the mind from completely subsiding. This fear

> > is part of the mind's self-defence mechanism, and you

> > will never overcome it by effort alone. It is because of

> > this that you need the grace of the Guru. When you

> > concentrate on the name and form of the Guru, or try to be

> > without

thoughts, the grace of the Guru calms the mind and

> > helps

> >  it to overcome the fear which would otherwise prevent it

> > from completely subsiding.

> >

> > Question: Whyi s it necessary for the mind to die?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind must die, there is no other

> > way to realize the Self. Some people say that complete

> > equanimity of mind is Self-Realization, but this is not

> > true. Thius is only a stage one passes through on the way to

> > Self-Realizaiton. Other people say that seeing the Self or

> > God everywhere is Self-Realization, but this is not true

> > either. To see the Self everywhere there must be an

> > " I " who sees, and while that " I " exists

> > the mind will also exist. The jnani does not see anything

> > because the seeing entity in him has died. In the Self,

>

> there is no seeing, only being. When the mind still exists

> > one can reach a stage where one can see the whole world as a

> > manifestation of the Self, but when the mind dies, there is

> > no one who sees and no world to be seen.

> >

> > If you have a mind then the earth, the

> >  sky, and the stars will exist, and you will be able to see

> > them. When the mind dies there will be no earth, no sky, no

> > stars, and no world. The world of objects, names, and forms

> > is only the mind, and when the mind dies, the world dies

> > with it. Only the Self then remains.

> >

> > Seeing everything as the Self gives the impression that the

> > Self is equally distributed everywhere. This is also an idea

> > in the mind. When the mind finally dies you realize that

> > there is no distribution and no

> >

everywhere.

> >  

> >  

> > So

> > I go off now to be in the effortless thought fee state, with

> > no desires for anything or

> > nothing...

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

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Dear Alan ,

 

Thanks for the information.. I would certainly plan to have his darshan .. I should as I stay in Chennai which is just 4 hrs from Tmalai...

 

Thanks once again.

 

Pranams

ramesh

--- On Sat, 4/4/09, alanadamsjacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote:

alanadamsjacobs <alanadamsjacobsRe: Re: a great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami Date: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 10:26 PM

 

 

Dear Ramesh, Yes. I thought so too. Sri Lakshmana is still alive, but reclusive at Tiruvannamalai. His biography by David Godman- NO MIND I AM THE SELF is a good read. He gives public Darshan 4 times a year.He is on YOUTUBE. Love,Yours in Him, Alan --- On Sat, 4/4/09, ramesh chivukula <ramesh_chiv@ > wrote:ramesh chivukula <ramesh_chiv@ >Re: Re: a great quote from Sri Lakshmana SwamiSaturday, 4 April, 2009, 5:40 PMDear Alan , Wonderful piece of inner wisdom ..the key here seems to effortlessness. . when there is complete trust , conviction and surrender .. any effort becomes redundant .. as the Supreme Grace takes over and we understand that our remnant role on this earth is that of an humble instrument .. ever ready to undertake even the most ' menial ' of tasks .. it is like the aeroplane being on Auto mode ...Relax , Relax yet Alert , Alert ( alertness required as the body-mind is used to the vasanas and dont disappear so easily ) ... Otherwise a state of non-doing , no-mind , no thinking .. JUST BEING .. they say in tamil SUMMA IRU.. Pranams ramesh--- On Sat, 4/4/09, alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk> wrote:alan jacobs

<alanadamsjacobs@ .co. uk> Re: a great quote from Sri Lakshmana SwamiSaturday, April 4, 2009, 8:10 PMDear Friends,In case anyone is puzzled by the last paragraphs- what Swami is speaking about is from the Absolute or Transcedental State of Ajata,as known in Samahdi.When he interacts with the world according to the body's destiny, he sees the world as a dream but with the difference that he perceives the substratum of all as Pure Absolute Consciousness. Members may like to comment.alan> > A Great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami> sent to one of members Barry Domegan from John Maynard- a resident at Ramanasramam.> > > Question: What are the different stages or> > levels of the mind that one passes through before realising> > the Self?> > > >

Sri Lakshmana Swami: Mind is only thoughts. The more easily> > you can be without thoughts, the nearer you are to a direct> > experience of the Self. To make the mind die you must>> deprive it of thoughts. The effortless thought-free state is> > the highest level of practice.> > > > There are no states or degrees of realization, there are> > only stages of spiritual practice. The final stage of> > sadhana is this effortless thought-free state. If this state> > can be maintained, then the "I" will sink into the> > Self and it will experience the bliss of the Self. These> > experiences are only temporary; the "I" will> > continue to reassert itself until the moment of realization.> > Realization can only happen in this effortless thought-free> > state, for it is only in this state that the Self can> >

destroy the> > "I"-thought. The "I"-thought, which is> > the mind, must die completely before Self-Realization> > occurs.> > > > Question: How is one to makethe mind die?> > > > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind can never eliminate itself> > without the grace of the Self. The mind is afraid of its own> > death; it will not do anything to endanger its own> > existence. It is like the theif who poses as a policement in> > order to catch himself because he ultimately wants to> > escape. SImilarly with the mind. The mind will engage in> > sadhana, thinking it wants to destroy itself, but as soon as> > the mind starts to sink into the Heart, a great fear arises> > which prevents the mind from completely subsiding. This fear> > is part of the mind's self-defence mechanism, and you> >

will never overcome it by effort alone. It is because of> > this that you need the grace of the Guru. When you> > concentrate on the name and form of the Guru, or try to be> > withoutthoughts, the grace of the Guru calms the mind and> > helps> > it to overcome the fear which would otherwise prevent it> > from completely subsiding.> > > > Question: Whyi s it necessary for the mind to die?> > > > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind must die, there is no other> > way to realize the Self. Some people say that complete> > equanimity of mind is Self-Realization, but this is not> > true. Thius is only a stage one passes through on the way to> > Self-Realizaiton. Other people say that seeing the Self or> > God everywhere is Self-Realization, but this is not true> > either. To see the Self everywhere

there must be an> > "I" who sees, and while that "I" exists> > the mind will also exist. The jnani does not see anything> > because the seeing entity in him has died. In the Self,>> there is no seeing, only being. When the mind still exists> > one can reach a stage where one can see the whole world as a> > manifestation of the Self, but when the mind dies, there is> > no one who sees and no world to be seen.> > > > If you have a mind then the earth, the> > sky, and the stars will exist, and you will be able to see> > them. When the mind dies there will be no earth, no sky, no> > stars, and no world. The world of objects, names, and forms> > is only the mind, and when the mind dies, the world dies> > with it. Only the Self then remains.> > > > Seeing everything as the Self gives the

impression that the> > Self is equally distributed everywhere. This is also an idea> > in the mind. When the mind finally dies you realize that> > there is no distribution and no> >everywhere.> > > > > > So> > I go off now to be in the effortless thought fee state, with> > no desires for anything or> > nothing...> > > > > > > > > >>

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ramesh chivukula wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Alan ,

 

Wonderful piece of inner wisdom ..the key here seems to

effortlessness.. when there is complete trust , conviction and

surrender .. any effort becomes redundant .. as the Supreme Grace takes

over and we understand that our remnant role on this earth is that of

an humble instrument .. ever ready to undertake even the most ' menial

' of tasks .. it is like the aeroplane being on Auto mode ...Relax ,

Relax yet Alert , Alert ( alertness required as the body-mind is used

to the vasanas and dont disappear so easily ) ... Otherwise a state of

non-doing , no-mind , no thinking .. JUST BEING .. they say in tamil

SUMMA IRU..

 

Pranams

 

ramesh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

abandoning

yourself

corpse-like

to

the waters

of ever running

river of

life,

you

appear as moving fast

to

those watching

from

the shore…

 

but

when you

submit

fully

to

the current

and

float effortlessly,

merging

 

with

the flow -

reposing

whole

in

the present

you

do not

move

at

all

 

 

_()_

yosy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- On Sat, 4/4/09, alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs (AT) (DOT) co.uk>

wrote:

 

 

alan jacobs <alanadamsjacobs (AT) (DOT) co.uk>

Re: a great quote from Sri

Lakshmana Swami

 

Saturday, April 4, 2009, 8:10 PM

 

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

In case anyone is puzzled by the last paragraphs- what Swami is

speaking about is from the Absolute or Transcedental State of Ajata,as

known in Samahdi.

 

When he interacts with the world according to the body's destiny, he

sees the world as a dream but with the difference that he perceives the

substratum of all as Pure Absolute Consciousness. Members may like to

comment.

 

alan

 

>

> A Great quote from Sri Lakshmana Swami

> sent to one of members Barry Domegan from John Maynard- a resident

at Ramanasramam.

>

> > Question: What are the different stages or

> > levels of the mind that one passes through before realising

> > the Self?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: Mind is only thoughts. The more easily

> > you can be without thoughts, the nearer you are to a direct

> > experience of the Self. To make the mind die you must

> > deprive it of thoughts. The effortless thought-free state is

> > the highest level of practice.

> >

> > There are no states or degrees of realization, there are

> > only stages of spiritual practice. The final stage of

> > sadhana is this effortless thought-free state. If this state

> > can be maintained, then the "I" will sink into the

> > Self and it will experience the bliss of the Self. These

> > experiences are only temporary; the "I" will

> > continue to reassert itself until the moment of realization.

> > Realization can only happen in this effortless thought-free

> > state, for it is only in this state that the Self can

> > destroy the

> > "I"-thought. The "I"-thought, which is

> > the mind, must die completely before Self-Realization

> > occurs.

> >

> > Question: How is one to make the mind die?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind can never eliminate itself

> > without the grace of the Self. The mind is afraid of its own

> > death; it will not do anything to endanger its own

> > existence. It is like the theif who poses as a policement in

> > order to catch himself because he ultimately wants to

> > escape. SImilarly with the mind. The mind will engage in

> > sadhana, thinking it wants to destroy itself, but as soon as

> > the mind starts to sink into the Heart, a great fear arises

> > which prevents the mind from completely subsiding. This fear

> > is part of the mind's self-defence mechanism, and you

> > will never overcome it by effort alone. It is because of

> > this that you need the grace of the Guru. When you

> > concentrate on the name and form of the Guru, or try to be

> > without thoughts, the grace of the Guru calms the mind and

> > helps

> > it to overcome the fear which would otherwise prevent it

> > from completely subsiding.

> >

> > Question: Whyi s it necessary for the mind to die?

> >

> > Sri Lakshmana Swami: The mind must die, there is no other

> > way to realize the Self. Some people say that complete

> > equanimity of mind is Self-Realization, but this is not

> > true. Thius is only a stage one passes through on the way to

> > Self-Realizaiton. Other people say that seeing the Self or

> > God everywhere is Self-Realization, but this is not true

> > either. To see the Self everywhere there must be an

> > "I" who sees, and while that "I" exists

> > the mind will also exist. The jnani does not see anything

> > because the seeing entity in him has died. In the Self,

> > there is no seeing, only being. When the mind still exists

> > one can reach a stage where one can see the whole world as a

> > manifestation of the Self, but when the mind dies, there is

> > no one who sees and no world to be seen.

> >

> > If you have a mind then the earth, the

> > sky, and the stars will exist, and you will be able to see

> > them. When the mind dies there will be no earth, no sky, no

> > stars, and no world. The world of objects, names, and forms

> > is only the mind, and when the mind dies, the world dies

> > with it. Only the Self then remains.

> >

> > Seeing everything as the Self gives the impression that the

> > Self is equally distributed everywhere. This is also an idea

> > in the mind. When the mind finally dies you realize that

> > there is no distribution and no

> > everywhere.

> >

> >

> > So

> > I go off now to be in the effortless thought fee state, with

> > no desires for anything or

> > nothing...

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

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