Talks with Ramana -12

 https://selfdefinition.org/ramana/Talks-with-Sri-Ramana-Maharshi--complete.pdf

418

D.: What are the fundamental tests for discovering men of great spirituality, since some are reported to behave like insane people? 

M.: The jnani’s mind is known only to the Jnani. 

One must be a Jnani oneself in order to understand another Jnani. 

However the peace of mind which permeates the saint’s atmosphere is the only means by which the seeker understands the greatness of the saint.

 His words or actions or appearance are no indications of his greatness, for they are ordinarily beyond the comprehension of common people.

..

M.: Yet you exist. Therefore existence beyond knowledge and ignorance is indicated. Although ignorance was prevailing, according to your present idea, yet you did not say so in sleep. You continued to exist all the same. Mere ignorance does not rule out the fact of your existence.

........

D.: In the practice of meditation are there any signs of the nature of subjective experience or otherwise, which will indicate the aspirant’s progress towards Self-Realisation 

M.: The degree of freedom from unwanted thoughts

 and the degree of concentration on a single thought are the measure to gauge the progress.

.....

 People see the world. The perception implies the existence of a seer and the seen. 

The objects are alien to the seer. 

The seer is intimate, being the Self. 

They do not however turn their attention to finding out the obvious seer but run about analysing the seen.

 The more the mind expands, the farther it goes and renders Self-Realisation more difficult and complicated. 

The man must directly see the seer and realise the Self.

.........

D.: So then, it amounts to synthesising phenomena and finding the one Reality behind.

 M.: Why do you still consider the phenomena? See who the seer is. 

Synthesis means engaging the mind in other pursuits. That is not the way to Realisation.

.......422

M.: Being insentient, it does not say so. But the individual is sentient and cannot function apart from consciousness. The Self is Pure Consciousness. Yet the man identifies himself with the body which is itself insentient and does not say “I am the body” of its own accord. 

Someone else says so. The unlimited Self does not. Who else is he that says so? A spurious ‘I’ arises between the Pure Consciousness and the insentient body and imagines itself limited to the body. Seek this and it will vanish as a phantom. That phantom is the ego, or the mind or the individuality. All the sastras are based on the rise of this phantom, whose elimination is their purpose. The present state is mere illusion. Disillusionment is the goal and nothing more.

.

Talk 428. 

Sri Bhagavan has selected 10 stanzas from the famous work of Sri Sankara - Sivananda Lahari - describing devotion (bhakti): 

(1) What is bhakti? 

Just as the ankola fruit falling from the tree rejoins it

 or a piece of iron is drawn to magnet, so also thoughts, after rising up, lose themselves in their original

 source. 

This is bhakti. 

The original source of thoughts is the feet of the Lord, Isvara. Love of His Feet forms bhakti. (61)

 (2) Fruit of bhakti: 

The thick cloud of bhakti, formed in the transcendental sky of the Lord’s Feet, pours down a rain of Bliss (ananda) and fills the lake of mind to overflowing. 

Only then the jiva, always transmigrating to no useful end, has his real purpose fulfilled. (76) 

(3) Where to place bhakti? 

Devotion to gods, who have themselves their origin and end, can result in fruits similarly with origin and end. 

In order to be in Bliss everlasting our devotion must be directed to its source, namely the Feet of the ever blissful Lord. (83) 

(4) Bhakti is a matter only for experience and not for words: How can Logic or other polemics be of real use? Can the ghatapatas (favourite examples of the logicians, meaning the pot and the cloth) save you in a crisis? Why then waste yourself thinking of them and on discussion? Stop exercising the vocal organs and giving them pain. 

Think of the Feet of the Lord and drink the nectar! (6)

 (5) Immortality is the fruit of Devotion: 

At the sight of him who in his heart has fixed the Lord’s Feet, Death is reminded of his bygone disastrous encounter with Markandeya and flees away. All other gods worship only Siva, placing their crowned heads at His feet. Such involuntary worship is only natural to Siva. Goddess Liberation, His consort, always remains part of Him. (65) 

(6) If only Devotion be there - the conditions of the jiva cannot affect him. However different the bodies, the mind alone is lost in the Lord’s Feet. Bliss overflows! (10) 

(7) Devotion always unimpaired: Wherever or however it be, only let the mind lose itself in the Supreme. It is Yoga! It is Bliss! Or the Yogi or the Bliss incarnate! (12)

(8) Karma Yoga also is Bhakti: To worship God with flowers and other external objects is troublesome. Only lay the single flower, the heart, at the feet of Siva and remain at Peace. Not to know this simple thing and to wander about! How foolish! What misery! (9) 

(9) This Karma Yoga puts an end to one’s sansara: Whatever the order of life (asrama) of the devotee, only once thought of, Siva relieves the devotee of his load of sansara and takes it on Himself. (11) 

(10) Devotion is Jnana: The mind losing itself in Siva’s Feet is Devotion. Ignorance lost! Knowledge! Liberation! (91)

...........

M.: The differences are the result of the sense of doership (kartritva). The fruits will be destroyed if the root is destroyed. So relinquish the sense of doership; the differences will vanish and the essential reality will reveal itself. In order to give up the sense of doership one must seek to find out who the doer is. 

Enquire within; the sense of doership will vanish. Vichara (enquiry) is the method.

........

D.: I do not follow. How is it to be done? 

M.: Atma Vichara is the way. 

D.: It seems too difficult to adopt, being so intangible. What shall I do if I feel unfit for this method of enquiry? 

M.: Guidance is there. It is for individuals to avail themselves of it.

.........

M.: Yes, Brahman is only rasa. 

D.: Rasa is also Bliss. 

M.: Rasa, Ananda, Peace are all names for the same Bliss.

........

M.: Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah - (Yoga is to check the mind from changing) - which is acceptable to all. That is also the goal of all. The method is chosen according to one’s own fitness. The goal for all is the same. Yet different names are given to the goal only to suit the process preliminary to reaching the goal. Bhakti, Yoga, Jnana are all the same. 

Sva svarupanusandhanam bhaktirity abhidheeyate 

Self contemplation is called bhakti.

.....

Can Sri Bhagavan help us to realise the Truth? 

M.: Help is always there. 

D.: Then there is no need to ask questions. I do not feel the ever present help. 

M.: Surrender and you will find it. 

D.: I am always at your feet. Will Bhagavan give us some upadesha to follow? Otherwise how can I get the help living 600 miles away?

 M.: That Sadguru is within. 

D.: Sadguru is necessary to guide me to understand it. 

M.: The Sadguru is within. 

D.: I want a visible Guru. 

M.: That visible Guru says that He is within. 

D.: Can I throw myself at the mercy of the Sadguru? 

M.: Yes. Instructions are necessary only so long as one has not surrendered oneself. 

D.: Is no particular time necessary for meditation?

M.: Meditation depends on strength of mind. 

It must be unceasing, even when one is engaged in work. 

Particular time is meant for novices.

........

M.: Yes. We are now living in Death. 

Those who have limited the unlimited Self have committed suicide by putting on such limitations.

..............435....................end of vol 2......................