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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Moreover, how are thoughts to be erased in solitude? Should it not
be done in the present environment?
D.: But the mind is distracted now.
M.: Why do you let go the mind? Solitude amounts to making the mind
still. This can be done in a crowd too. Solitude cannot efface one’s
thoughts. Practice does it. The same practice can be made here too.
Talk 157.
D.: In the quest of I, the seeker is at a certain stage directed to keep the
mind in a negative attitude for Grace to enter. How can a negative
yield positive result?
M.: The Self is always there - not to be newly got.
D.: I mean to ask, what has been done in the negative attitude to
deserve the Grace?
M.: Are you asking this question without Grace? Grace is in the beginning,
middle and end. Grace is the Self. Because of the false identification of
the Self with the body the Guru is considered to be with body. But from
the Guru’s outlook the Guru is only the Self. The Self is one only. He
tells that the Self alone is. Is not then the Self your Guru? Where else
will Grace come from? It is from the Self alone. Manifestation of the
Self is a manifestation of Grace and vice versa. All these doubts arise
because of the wrong outlook and consequent expectation of things
external to oneself. Nothing is external to the Self.
D.: All our questions are from our standpoint and Sri Bhagavan’s
replies are from his standpoint. The questions are not only
answered, but are also undermined.
11th February, 1936
Talk 158.
Mr. Frydman: Janaka was a Jnani and still he ruled his dominions.
Does not action require activity of the mind? What is the rationale
of the working of a jnani’s mind?
M.: You say, “Janaka was a Jnani and yet active, etc.” Does Janaka ask
the question? The question is in your mind only. The Jnani is not
aware of anything besides the Self. He has no doubts of the kind.
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