Jnani

CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNAMALAI SWAMI

AS: Nothing can cause bondage for the jnani because his mind is dead. In the absence of a mind he knows himself only as consciousness. Because the mind is dead, he is no longer able to identify himself with the body. But even though he knows that he is not the body, it is a fact that the body is still alive. That body will continue to live, and the jnani will continue to be aware of it, until its own karma is exhausted.

Because the jnani is still aware of the body, he will also be aware of the thoughts and vasanas that arise in that body. None of these vasanas has the power to cause bondage for him because he never identifies with them, but they 
do have the power to make the body behave in certain ways.

The body of the jnani enjoys and experiences these vasanas although the jnani himself is not affected by them. That is why it is sometimes said that for the jnani there are bhoga vasanas but no bhanda vasanas. (Vasanas that are enjoyable but not binding).

Living by the Words of Bhagavan

Devotion

Sri Ramakrishna: “It is enough for a man to pray to Him, alone in solitude, weeping, '0 God, reveal Yourself to me as You are.' 

God is both inside and outside. It is He who dwells inside us. Therefore the Vedas say, Tat tvam asi - That thou art.' God is also outside us. He appears manifold through maya; but in reality He alone exists. 

Therefore before describing the various names and forms of God, one should say, “Om Tat Sat- Om, That alone is Truth.''

It is one thing to learn about God from the scriptures, and quite another to see Him. The scriptures only give hints. Therefore to read a great many scriptures is not necessary. It is much better to pray to God in solitude. 

It isn't necessary to read all of the Glta. One can get the essence of the Gita by repeating the word ten times. It becomes reversed and is then ‘tagi’ The essence of the book is: '0 man, renounce everything and worship God.'”

The Master went into an ecstatic mood while watching the evening worship of Kali in the company of the devotees. He was in no condition even 
to salute the image. Very carefully he returned to his room with the devotees and sat down; he was still in an ecstatic mood. He spoke to them while in that state.

- The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Be still

CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNAMALAI SWAMI

Q: Bhagavan often told devotees to 'Be still'. Did he mean 
‘Be mentally still'? 

AS: Bhagavan's famous instruction ‘summa iru' [be still] is often misunderstood. It does not mean that you should be physically still; it means that you should always abide in the Self. 

If there is too much physical stillness, tamoguna [a state of mental torpor] arises and predominates. In that state you will feel very sleepy and mentally dull. Rajoguna [a state of excessive mental activity], on the other hand, produces emotions and a mind which is restless. 

In sattva guna [a state of mental quietness and clarity] there is stillness and harmony. If mental activity is necessary while one is in sattva guna it takes place. But for the rest of the time there is stillness. When tamoguna and rajoguna predominate, the Self cannot be felt. 

If sattvaguna predominates one experiences bliss, clarity and an absence of wandering thoughts. That is the stillness that Bhagavan was prescribing.

- LWB