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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Which is this unspoken word? It is only Silence, Pranava or the
Mahavakya.* These are also called the Word.
Talk 186.
M.: We read a newspaper and all the articles therein, but do not care
to know anything about the paper itself. We take the chaff but not
the substance. The substratum on which all this is printed is the
paper and if we know the substratum all else will be known (like
wall and paintings).
D.: You said the only ONE which exists is the REAL. What is that
only ONE?
M.: The ONE only is the Sat, the existence, that appears as the world,
the things that we see and we ourselves.
D.: What is Atman? Is there a finality for the ATMAN?
M.: First learn what is Atman. If we know this then we can query as
to whether it has a finality or not. Which do you call ATMAN?
D.: Jiva is ATMAN.
M.: Learn what jiva is. What is the difference between jiva and Atman?
Is jiva itself Atman or is there any separate thing as Atman? There is
an end for what you observe; that which is created has a destruction or
end. That which is not created has no end. That which exists cannot be
observed. It is unobservable. We must find out what it is that appears;
the destruction of that which appears is the end. That which exists,
exists for ever; that which newly appears is later lost.
D.: What happens after birth in human form, what happens to the jiva?
M.: Let us know first what we are. We do not understand what we
are, and until we know what we are there is no room for such a
question. (Bhagavan obviously here refers to the confusion of body
as Atman - dehatma buddhi - which is the cause for this confusion
of ideas of death and birth, for Atman has no birth or death, it is
untainted by the elements of Earth, Fire, Air and Water, etc.) (Gita
II, 11) - Asochyam anvosochas tvam, projnavadamscha bhashase,
etc. - What is it that had birth? Whom do you call a man? If, instead
of seeking explanation for birth, death and after-death matters, the
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* Mahavakyas are four: (1) “That art Thou.” (2) “I am Brahman.” (3) “This Self is
Brahman.” (4) “Prajnana (Absolute Knowledge) is Brahman.”
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