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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Sri Bhagavan said: A Madhva saint Tatvaroyar had composed
a bharani on his master Swarupanand. Pandits objected to the
composition, saying that it was reserved to such as have killed more
than a thousand elephants in battle, whereas Swarupanand was an idle
man sitting somewhere unknown to people and he did not deserve
that panegyric.
Tatvaroyar asked them all to assemble before his master so that
they might see for themselves if he could slay one thousand
elephants at a time. They did so. As soon as they appeared they
were struck dumb and remained in beatific peace for a few days
without the least movement. When they regained their senses, they
saluted both the master and the disciple, saying that they were
more than satisfied. Swarupanand excelled the warriors in that he
could subdue the egos, which is a much more formidable task than
slaying a thousand elephants.
Maharshi said that the moral was clear. Peace is the sole criterion of
a Mahatma’s Presence.
20th October, 1936
Talk 263.
Dr. Syed: Sri Bhagavan says that the Heart is the Self. Psychology has
it that malice, envy, jealousy and all passions have their seat in the
heart. How are these two statements to be reconciled?
M.: The whole cosmos is contained in one pinhole in the Heart. These
passions are part of the cosmos. They are avidya (ignorance).
D.: How did avidya arise?
M.: Avidya is like Maya [she who is not is maya (illusion)]. Similarly
that which is not is ignorance. Therefore the question does not
arise. Nevertheless, the question is asked. Then ask, “Whose is the
avidya? Avidya is ignorance. It implies subject and object. Become
the subject and there will be no object.
D.: What is avidya?
M.: Ignorance of Self. Who is ignorant of the Self? The self must be
ignorant of Self. Are there two selves?
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