Supreme state

"When you demand nothing of the world, nor of God, when you want nothing, seek nothing, expect nothing, then the Supreme State will come to you uninvited and unexpected!"

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Understand first that you are not the person you believe yourself to be. What you think yourself to be is mere suggestion or imagination. You have no parents, you were not born, nor will you die. Either trust me when I tell you so, or arrive to it by study and investigation. The way of total faith is quick, the other is slow but steady. Both must be tested in action. Act on what you think is true -- this is the way to truth.
~ Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
...from 'I Am That', chapter 79
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Freedom

There is nothing that can interfere in your freedom.
There is no thing that can avoid your awakening.
There is nothing that can stop you.
For you are already that, be aware of this!
You are already free.
You are already bright and shining
and all is well.

~ Robert Adams

...from TS, chapter `Totally Free' - October 27, 1991

Being is bliss

GURU VACHAKA KOVAI

The Garland of Guru's Sayings,
quotes from Bhagavan,
set into verse by Muruganar,
edited by Bhagavan,
translated by Prof Swaminathan

It is true wisdom to restrain the mind
from flowing out into any of the five senses,
the home of every sorrow and pain,
and to contain and keep it still,
like a once roaring ocean, now lying calm and tranquil.

Those who, unlured by the false senses,
abide in the heart lotus in waking sleep,
enjoy the bliss of true Awareness,
which is liberation.
Others but slumber,
lost forever, in the illusive world’s dense darkness.

Being is by its nature supreme bliss.
It is the treacherous mind’s fond, eager search
all day for pleasure in alien objects
that insures the loss of our inherent bliss.

Self

What passes away is not Eternal.
Every form will pass away, and the Essence is formless.
If you are attached to the form you are making a mistake.
It is not the form which gives you light,
but something else which is deep inside your own Heart.
That is your Guru.
That Guru abides in the heart of all Beings,
not only human beings, but all the animals and plants.
You will see this when you see your own Essence within.
Then every plant and animal will speak to you as they speak to me.

~ Papaji

Life

It serves no purpose to worry about the disruptions of daily life, like another child, who rejoices on building a sand castle, and cries when it collapses. See how puerile beings rush into difficulties, like a butterfly which plunges into the flame of a lamp, so as to appropriate what they covet, and get rid of what they hate. It is better to put down the burden which all these imaginary attachments bring to bear down upon one.

Ramana says

Ramana says:

"So long as the sense of doership is retained there is the desire. That is also personality. If this goes the Self is found to shine forth pure. The sense of doership is the bondage and not the actions themselves. `Be still and know that I am God.' Here stillness is total surrender without a vestige of individuality. Stillness will prevail and there will be no agitation of mind. Agitation of mind is the cause of desire, the sense of doership and personality."

Silence

...“WHEN THE OCEAN IS SURGING AND CARRYING AWAY …”

The hall was full of silence, serenity and peace. About twenty people sat on the ground, apparently in deep meditation. When the bell rang for midday meal, the Maharshi invited us all with a nod of his head and we followed him to the dining hall.

Next morning, I sat facing the Maharshi. A government officer accompanied by his retinue entered the hall and at once started telling Bhagavan how corrupt the government servants were, how they abused and misused their positions, how he had been entrusted with the task of cleaning up the government machinery and in his anxiety to make a success of himself, he had lost his peace of mind and had come to Bhagavan to make him calm and contented. It was clear that he thought of himself to be a very important person whose request must be promptly met. After he had finished his long oration, he looked expectantly at Bhagavan as if saying, ‘Now it is your turn to show what you can do.’

Bhagavan did not even look at him. The clock was striking hours, but Bhagavan was completely silent. The officer lost patience, got up and said, “You are silent, Bhagavan. Does it mean that you want me to be silent too?” “Yes, yes”, said Bhagavan, and that was all.

One day, all the delegates to the conference for which I had come to Tiruvannamalai, went in a body to the Ashram. The president of the conference said, “Bhagavan, we are all social workers and disciples of Mahatma Gandhi. We have sworn to devote ourselves to work for the removal of untouchability. Be gracious to tell your view on the subject.”

Again there was no reply. One could not even make out whether he had heard the question. Time was passing. The delegates were getting tired of sitting quietly. When the situation grew embarrassing, Yagnanarayana Iyer, principal of Pachayappa College, Madras, got up and said, “Bhagavan our question concerns worldly life. Perhaps it was improper to put it to you. Kindly forgive us.”

“There is nothing to forgive”, said Bhagavan quite readily and with a bright smile. “When the ocean is surging and carrying away everything before it, who cares what are your views or mine?” The delegates could not find much sense in the answer. Only the great events years later gave meaning to it.

Face to Face with Sri Ramana Maharshi p 381.