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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
The birth of the gross body does not amount to one’s own birth, on
the other hand, the birth of the ego is one’s own birth.
For liberation, nothing new remains to be gained. It is the original
state and continues unchanged too.
Talk 140.
D.: What is reality?
M.: Reality must be always real. It is not with forms and names. That
which underlies these is the Reality. It underlies limitations, being
itself limitless. It is not bound. It underlies unrealities, itself being
real. Reality is that which is. It is as it is. It transcends speech,
beyond the expressions, e.g., existence, non-existence, etc.
Talk 141.
The same gentleman later, after quoting a verse from Kaivalya, asked:
“Can jnana be lost after being once attained?”
M.: Jnana, once revealed, takes time to steady itself. The Self is certainly
within the direct experience of everyone, but not as one imagines
it to be. It is only as it is. This Experience is samadhi. Just as fire
remains without scorching against incantations or other devices but
scorches otherwise, so also the Self remains veiled by vasanas and
reveals itself when there are no vasanas. Owing to the fluctuation
of the vasanas, jnana takes time to steady itself. Unsteady jnana is
not enough to check rebirths. Jnana cannot remain unshaken side by
side with vasanas. True, that in the proximity of a great master, the
vasanas will cease to be active, the mind becomes still and samadhi
results, similar to fire not scorching because of other devices. Thus
the disciple gains true knowledge and right experience in the presence
of the master. To remain unshaken in it further efforts are necessary.
He will know it to be his real Being and thus be liberated even while
alive. Samadhi with closed eyes is certainly good, but one must go
further until it is realised that actionlessness and action are not hostile
to each other. Fear of loss of samadhi while one is active is the sign
of ignorance. Samadhi must be the natural life of everyone.
There is a state beyond our efforts or effortlessness. Until it is
realised effort is necessary. After tasting such Bliss, even once
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