Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi Complete ... - BrahminVoice.org

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
guidance. The purpose of philosophy is to turn you inward. “If
you know your Self, no evil can come to you. Since you asked me
I have taught you.”
The ego comes up only holding you (the Self). Hold yourself and
the ego will vanish. Until then the sage will be saying, “There is.”
- The ignorant will be asking “Where?”
D.: The crux of the problem lies in “Know Thyself.”
M.: Yes. Quite so.
Talk 133.
There are two schools in Advaita: (1) Drishti srishti (simultaneous
creation) and (2) Srishti drishti (gradual creation).
There is the Tantric Advaita which admits three fundamentals jagat,
jiva, Isvara - world, soul, God. These three are also real. But the
reality does not end with them. It extends beyond. That is the Tantric
Advaita. The Reality is limitless. The three fundamentals do not exist
apart from the Absolute Reality. All agree that Reality is all-pervading;
thus Isvara pervades the jiva; therefore the jiva has eternal being. His
knowledge is not limited. Limited knowledge is only imagined by
him. In truth, his is infinite knowledge. Its limit is Silence. This truth
was revealed by Dakshinamurti. For those who still perceive these
three fundamentals they are said to be realities. They are concomitant
with the ego.
True, the images of gods are described in great detail. Such
description points only to the final Reality. Otherwise why is the
special significance of each detail also given? Think. The image is
only a symbol. Only that which lies beyond name and form is Reality.
Saiva Siddhanta and Vedanta have the common aim of the same Truth.
Otherwise how could Sri Sankaracharya, the greatest exponent of
Advaita, sing praises of gods? Obviously he did so knowingly.
The questioner earnestly explained that his faith in Saiva Siddhanta,
Vedanta, etc., was shaken after reading Bahaic literature. “Please
save me,” he said.
M.: Know the Self which is here and now; you will be steady and
not waver.
121