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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
M.: There is no liberation, and where are muktas?
D.: Do not Hindu sastras speak of mukti?
M.: Mukti is synonymous with the Self. Jivan mukti (liberation while
alive) and videha mukti (liberation after the body falls) are all for the
ignorant. The Jnani is not conscious of mukti or bandha (bondage).
Bondage, liberation and orders of mukti are all said for an ajnani
in order that ignorance might be shaken off. There is only mukti
and nothing else.
D.: It is all right from the standpoint of Bhagavan. But what about us?
M.: The difference ‘He’ and ‘I’ are the obstacles to jnana.
D.: But it cannot be denied that Bhagavan is of a high order whereas
we are limited. Will Bhagavan make me one with Him?
M.: Were you aware of limitations in your sleep?
D.: I cannot bring down the state of my sleep in the present state and
speak of it.
M.: You need not. These three states alternate before the unchanging
Self. You can remember your state of sleep. That is your real state.
There were no limitations then. After the rise of the ‘I-thought’ the
limitations arose.
D.: How to attain the Self?
M.: Self is not to be attained because you are the Self.
D.: Yes. There is an unchanging Self and a changing one in me. There
are two selves.
M.: The changefulness is mere thought. All thoughts arise after the
arising of the ‘I-thought’. See to whom the thoughts arise. Then
you transcend them and they subside. This is to say, tracing the
source of the ‘I-thought’, you realise the perfect ‘I-I’. ‘I’ is the
name of the Self.
D.: Shall I meditate on “I am Brahman” (Aham Brahmasmi)?
M.: The text is not meant for thinking “I am Brahman”. Aham (‘I’) is
known to everyone. Brahman abides as Aham in everyone. Find out
the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is already Brahman. You need not think so. Simply
find out the ‘I’.
D.: Is not discarding of the sheaths mentioned in the sastras?
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