8/03/2015
Be as you are
Q: However often Bhagavan teaches us, we are not able to understand.
Sri Ramana Maharshi :
People say that they are not able to know the Self
that is all pervading.
What can I do ?
Even the smallest child says, `I exist; I do; this is mine.'
So, everyone understands that the thing `I' is always existent.
It is only when that `I' is there that there is the feeling that you are the body, he is Venkanna, this is Ramanna and so on.
To know that the one that is always visible is one's own Self,
is it necessary to search with a candle ?
To say that we do not know the atma swarupa [the real nature of the Self] which is not different
but which is in one's own Self
is like saying, `I do not know myself.`
Q: But how is one to reach this state?
Sri Ramana Maharshi :
There is no goal to be reached.
There is nothing to be attained.
You are the Self.
You exist always.
Nothing more can be predicated of the Self than that it exists.
Seeing God or the Self is only being the Self or yourself.
Seeing is being.
You, being the Self, want to know how to attain the Self.
It is something like a man being at Ramanasramam
asking how many ways there are to reach Ramanasramam
and which is the best way for him.
All that is required of you is to give up the thought
that you are this body
and to give up all thoughts of the external things
or the not-Self.
~ From Be as you are book
Ego self
Q: What is the ego-self ? How is it related to the real Self ?
Sri Ramana Maharshi :
The ego-Self appears and disappears and is transitory, whereas the real Self is permanent.
Though you are actually the true Self you wrongly identify the real Self with the ego-self.
Q: How does the mistake come about?
Sri Ramana Maharshi : See if it has come about.
Q: One has to sublimate the ego-self into the true Self.
Sri Ramana Maharshi : The ego-self does not exist at all.
Q: Why does it give us trouble?
Sri Ramana Maharshi : To whom is the trouble ?
The trouble also is imagined.
Trouble and pleasure are only for the ego.
Q: Why is the world so wrapped up in ignorance?
Sri Ramana Maharshi :
Take care of yourself.
Let the world take care of itself.
See your Self.
If you are the body there is the gross world also.
If you are spirit all is spirit alone.
Q: It will hold good for the individual, but what of the rest?
Sri Ramana Maharshi : Do it first and then see if the question arises afterwards.
Q: Is there avidya [ignorance]?
Sri Ramana Maharshi : For whom is it?
Q: For the ego-self.
Sri Ramana Maharshi : Yes, for the ego.
Remove the ego and avidya is gone.
Look for it, the ego vanishes and the real Self alone remains.
The ego professing avidya is not to be seen.
There is no avidya in reality.
All sastras [scriptures] are meant to disprove the existence of avidya.
~ From Be as you are book
8/01/2015
Self realization
THOUGHT
Self-realization is the cessation of thoughts and all mental activity. Thoughts are like bubbles upon the surface of the sea, the Self. Thoughts are predispositions accumulated through innumerable former births, in the chitta.
Their annihilation must be the aim. To be free from them is purity.
People are deluded by the confusing of the conscious Self with the insentient body; this delusion must cease.
No effort is needed to realize the ever-present Self, just remove the delusion.
Absence of thought does not mean a void. There must be one to know the void.
Knowledge and ignorance are of the mind. They are not born of duality, but the Self is beyond knowledge and ignorance.
It is self-luminous.
There is no necessity to see the Self with another Self.
There are not two selves. What is not Self is non-self. The non-self cannot see the Self.
There cannot be seeing or hearing. The Self lies beyond, all alone as pure Consciousness.
Guru pornima
Guru is one who is “heavy” (with knowledge, wisdom and inner experience) and hence holds us fast lest we be swept by the waves of ignorance and be drowned in the ocean of material existence. Traditionally, a Guru is a God Realized Being – one who has merged with Divinity and remains back on earth to teach those who yearn for Divinity.
All existence has come from the Supreme Brahman and nothing exists apart from Divinity. All creation is veiled by maya or illusion and it is difficult for us to know or understand Divinity. In great compassion, Divinity manifested a portion of itself which retains the memory of Godhood and sent it to teach us. This is the Guru. Only God can be Guru as only God knows God!
We obtain information and knowledge from schools and colleges which helps us to earn a livelihood. The knowledge and wisdom imparted by the Guru helps us to live in the right manner. The wisdom imparted by the Guru helps us to set benchmarks for ourselves and we are propelled to reach out and attain higher standards in thought, word and deed. The light of the Guru penetrates every nook and corner of our lives and being and we see the world and life anew and afresh. We realize our inner potential and develop to the fullest extent under the guidance of the Guru. The Grace of the Guru helps us to finally merge with Divinity.
There are as many paths to God as there are people. Each of us is a unique being with a different approach to God. Hence we have a large number and variety of Gurus. Sri Krishna speaks of a variety of paths in the Bhagwad Geeta – karma yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga, japa yoga, dhyana yoga etc. Each Guru imparts the knowledge, wisdom and practices best suited to his disciple.
Nowadays, any person who imparts knowledge or wisdom or unique insight is labelled ‘Guru’. We have Internet Gurus, Management Gurus, Music and Dance Gurus, Drama Gurus, Storytellers, Horoscope Readers and Palmists who are Gurus , Exercise Gurus and Think Positive Gurus and so on. They too have their roles in making our lives better.
Veda Vyasa classified and codified the huge findings, knowledge, wisdom and experiences of the Rishis of India into Vedas, Upanishads, Puranans and the great epic of Mahabharata. His literary works are extraordinary and their high spiritual stature and wisdom make them outstanding. His works guide us even today and hence he is a great ‘Loka Guru’ – a Guru to the world!
The Guru Purnima is a day dedicated to honor Veda Vyasa and the Gurus who guide and steer our lives towards Divinity. With so many ‘Gurus’ in our lives, it is also a day when we should think of each of them with gratitude and reverence for help rendered in our times of need. Let this day of Guru Purnima be filled with love and appreciation to all the Gurus in our life. Let us also do our bit in serving our Gurus in thanksgiving.
~Neela Iyer
http://www.sanskritimagazine.com/events-festivals/inner-meaning-guru-purnima
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