The self

Q: It is said that the Self is beyond the mind and yet the realization is with the mind. `The mind cannot think it. It cannot be thought of by the mind and the mind alone can realize it.'How are these contradictions to be reconciled?

Sri Ramana Maharshi :

Atman is realized with mruta manas [dead mind], that is,
mind devoid of thoughts and turned inward.

Then the mind sees its own source and becomes that [the Self].
It is not as the subject perceiving an object.

When the room is dark a lamp is necessary to illumine
and eyes to cognize objects.
But when the sun has risen there is no need of
a lamp to see objects.

To see the sun no lamp is necessary,
it is enough that you turn your eyes towards
the self-luminous sun.

Similarly with the mind.
To see objects the reflected light of the mind is necessary.
To see the Heart it is enough that the mind is turned towards it.
Then mind loses itself and Heart shines forth.

The essence of mind is only awareness or consciousness.
When the ego, however, dominates it,
it functions as the reasoning, thinking or sensing faculty.

The cosmic mind, being not limited by the ego,
has nothing separate from itself and is therefore only aware.

This is what the Bible means by `I am that I am'.

When the mind perishes in the supreme consciousness of one's own Self, know that all the various powers beginning with the power of liking [and including the power of doing
and the power of knowing] will entirely disappear,
being found to be an unreal imagination appearing in
one's own form of consciousness.

The impure mind which functions as thinking and forgetting,
alone is samsara, which is the cycle of birth and death.

The real `I' in which the activity of thinking and forgetting has perished, alone is the pure liberation.

It is devoid of pramada [forgetfulness of Self]
which is the cause of birth and death.

~ from Be as you are book