8

Devotee: It is not necessary that the saints should mix with people and be helpful to them?

Maharshi: The Self alone is the Reality; the world and the rest of it are not. The realised being does not see the world as different from himself.

Devotee: Thus then, the saint’s realisation leads to the uplift of humanity without the latter being aware of it. Is it so?

Maharshi: Yes. The help is imperceptible but is still there. A saint helps the whole of humanity, unknown to the latter.

Devotee: Would it not be better if he mixed with others?

Maharshi: There are no others to mix with. The Self is the one and only Reality.

Talk 20

7

“Forget transcending your sadness, your longing, your heartbreak. Forget the disgusting lie of “permanent bliss”. Weep yourself into the arms of the Beloved. Break yourself on Her altar.

Surrender, my love. Surrender to all of yourself, the divine and the muddy, the sacred and the shitty. It is the safest thing of all, to let yourself be filled with anger, fear and sorrow, filled with LIFE. To let these dear spiritual friends rise and fall in you like ocean waves.

Be penetrated by all that you fear. 

Surrender to all that you run from.

And come alive...”

- Jeff Foster

6

5

Is there a thing in the world

  that is more powerful than his name

Ramana Ramana Ramana

  which is granted by him to his devotees

which grants the peace of mind

  and which graces the shelter

which guides and leads to the freedom

  and which gives the protection

Is there a thing in the world

  that is not possible by his Grace

Ramana Ramana Ramana

  which is granted by him to his devotees

which takes care of all the responsblities

   and burdens of devotees as his

which never tolerates to see them worry

  and never leaves his devotees in distress

Is there a thing in the world

  that is higher than his Love

Ramana Ramana Ramana

  which he showers upon his devotees

which helps and supports a lot

  for to surrender to his lotus feet

and which changes the surroundings

  for to do the practice, the Self Enquiry

Is there a thing in the world

  that is more powerful than his name

and that is not possible by his Grace

  that is higher than his Love

4

D.: It is said: Do your duty without any expectation of results. How shall I get that frame of mind?

M.: You need not aspire for or get any new state. Get rid of your present thoughts, that is all.

D.: How shall I get the bhakti necessary for it?

M.: It is bhakti to get rid of thoughts which are only alien to you (i.e. the Self).

3

Devotee: It is not necessary that the saints should mix with people and be helpful to them?

Maharshi: The Self alone is the Reality; the world and the rest of it are not. The realised being does not see the world as different from himself.

Devotee: Thus then, the saint’s realisation leads to the uplift of humanity without the latter being aware of it. Is it so?

Maharshi: Yes. The help is imperceptible but is still there. A saint helps the whole of humanity, unknown to the latter.

Devotee: Would it not be better if he mixed with others?

Maharshi: There are no others to mix with. The Self is the one and only Reality.

Talk 20

2

When it is realized that you live in the present moment, that you are indeed the present moment, (the what-is here and now) and that therefore apart from this there is no past and no future, you cannot but relax and taste to the full, the pleasure or the pain, His will - the present moment. And then everything becomes obvious: why this universe exists, why sentient beings have been produced, why sensitive organs, why space, time and change. The whole problem of analyzing and justifying nature, of trying to make life mean something in terms of words and lateral thinking - all this becomes meaningless. Obviously, it all exists for this moment, this kshana. It is a dance, and when you are dancing, there is only the dance, not any intent of getting somewhere.

- Ramesh S. Balsekar, 'A Living Gem from Ramesh’ - Advaita Fellowship Newsletter, August 2010

Advaita Fellowship www.advaita.org