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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
is the difference between one astral body and another? There is no
difference between the two.
Mr. P. Brunton: There are degrees of reality.
M.: To say the dream body is unreal now, and to say that this body
was unreal in the dream, does not denote degrees of reality. In deep
sleep there is no experience of the body at all. There is always only
one and that is the Self.
Talk 145.
Mr. P. Brunton: Why do religions speak of Gods, heaven, hell, etc.?
M.: Only to make the people realise that they are on a par with this
world and that the Self alone is real. The religions are according to
the view-point of the seeker. Take the Bhagavad Gita for instance:
When Arjuna said that he would not fight against his own relatives,
his elders, etc., in order to kill them and gain the kingdom, Sri
Krishna said, “Not that these, you or I, were not before, are not
now, nor will not be hereafter. Nothing was born, nothing was dead,
nor will it not be so hereafter” and so on. Later as he developed the
theme and declared that He had given the same instruction to the
Sun, through him to Ikshvaku, etc. Arjuna raised the doubt, “How
could it be? You were born a few years ago. They lived ages ago.”
Then Sri Krishna understanding Arjuna’s standpoint, said: “Yes.
There have been so many incarnations of myself and yourself, I
know them all but you do not know.”
Such statements appear contradictory, but still they are correct
according to the viewpoint of the questioner. The Christ also
declared that He was even before Abraham.
D.: What is the purpose of such descriptions in religions?
M.: Only to establish the Reality of the Self.
D.: Bhagavan always speaks from the highest standpoint.
Sri Bhagavan (with a smile): People would not understand the simple
and bare truth - the truth of their every day, ever-present and eternal
experience. That Truth is that of the Self. Is there anyone not
aware of the Self? They would not even like to hear it (the Self),
whereas they are eager to know what lies beyond - heaven, hell,
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