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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
M.: Realisation is already there. The state free from thoughts is the
only real state. There is no such action as Realisation. Is there
anyone who is not realising the Self? Does anyone deny his own
existence? Speaking of realisation, it implies two selves - the one
to realise, the other to be realised. What is not already realised, is
sought to be realised. Once we admit our existence, how is it that
we do not know our Self?
D.: Because of the thoughts - the mind.
M.: Quite so. It is the mind that stands between and veils our
happiness. How do we know that we exist? If you say because
of the world around us, then how do you know that you existed
in deep sleep?
D.: How to get rid of the mind?
M.: Is it the mind that wants to kill itself? The mind cannot kill itself.
So your business is to find the real nature of the mind. Then you
will know that there is no mind. When the Self is sought, the mind is
nowhere. Abiding in the Self, one need not worry about the mind.
D.: How to get rid of fear?
M.: What is fear? It is only a thought. If there is anything besides
the Self there is reason to fear. Who sees the second (anything
external)? First the ego arises and sees objects as external. If the
ego does not rise, the Self alone exists and there is no second
(nothing external). For anything external to oneself implies the
seer within. Seeking it there will arise no doubt, no fear - not
only fear, all other thoughts centred round the ego will disappear
along with it.
D.: This method seems to be quicker than the usual one of cultivating
qualities alleged necessary for salvation (sadhana chatushtaya)?
M.: Yes. All bad qualities centre round the ego. When the ego is gone
Realisation results by itself. There are neither good nor bad qualities
in the Self. The Self is free from all qualities. Qualities pertain to
the mind only. It is beyond quality. If there is unity, there will also
be duality. The numeral one gives rise to other numbers. The truth
is neither one nor two. IT is as it is.
D.: The difficulty is to be in the thought-free state.
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