The truth is that there is neither birth nor death

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The Teachings of BhagavanSri Ramana Maharshiin His Own WordsCHAPTER ONETHE

NATURE

OF

MANIn fact, one name for the true state of realised being is the`Fourth State' existing eternally beyond the three states ofwaking, dream and deep sleep. It is compared with the

stateof deep sleep since, like this, it is formless and non-dual;however,

as the above quotation shows, it is far from beingthe same. In the Fourth State the ego merges in Consciousness,as in sleep it does in unconsciousness.DEATH AND RE-BIRTHIn

nothing did Bhagavan show more clearly that theory has tobe adapted

to the understanding of the seeker than in thequestion of death and

re-birth. For those who were capable ofgrasping pure, non-dual theory, he explained merely that thequestion does not arise, for if the ego has no real existence,now, it has none after death either.D.: Do a person's actions in this life affect him in futurebirths?B.:

Are you born now? Why do you think of future births?The truth is that there is neither birth nor death. Let him who isborn think of death and palliatives for it. 11 Talks with Sri Ramana

Maharshi, 17.