Realization

[Guest guest]

The following was posted to M.'s Bhairava list:

 

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Question: Of what nature is the realization of westerners

who relate

that they have had flashes of cosmic consciousness?

 

Bhagavan: It came as a flash and disappeared as such. That

which has

a beginning must also end. Only when the ever-present

consciousness

is realized will it be permanent. Consciousness is indeed

always with

us. Everyone knows "I am." No one can deny his own being.

The man in

deep sleep is not aware; while awake he seems to be aware.

But it is

the same person. There is no change in the one who slept and

the one

who is now awake. In deep sleep he was not aware of his body

and so

there was no body-consciousness. In the wakeful state he is

aware of

his body and so there is body-consciousness. Therefore the

difference

lies in the emergence of body-consciousness and not in any

change in

the real consciousness.

 

There is no one who does not say "I am." The wrong knowledge

of "I am

the body" is the cause of all the mischief. This wrong

knowledge must

go. That is realization. Realization is not acquisition of

anything

new nor is it a new faculty. It is only removal of all

camouflage.

 

The ultimate truth is so simple. It is nothing more than

being in the

pristine state. This is all that need be said.

 

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-- From the chapter, "Self-Awareness and Self-Ignorance,"

contained

in the book "Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana

Maharshi,"

edited by David Godman.

 

--

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http://www.nonduality.com