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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
Light diffused through darkness. This darkness is otherwise known
as the Original Ignorance (Original Sin). The Light passing through
it is called Reflected Light. The Reflected Light on its own merits
is commonly known as the Pure Mind or Isvara or God. Isvara is
well-known to be unified with Maya: in other words the Reflected
Light is Isvara.
The other name - Pure Mind - implies impure mind also. It is the
rajasic or active mind or the ego; this too can be projected from the
former satvic mind through another reflection only; thus the ego is
the product of the second darkness (avidya) Then comes the tamasic
or the dull mind in the shape of antahkaranas (the inner organs); this
appears as the world.
From the standpoint of the gross body it may be said to shine forth
externally as the world by means of the brain.
But the gross body is of the mind only. The mind may be said to
consist of four inner organs, or the principle composed of thoughts,
or the sixth sense; or combining intellect with the ego, and chitta with
the mind (i.e. memory-faculty with the thinking faculty), it may be
taken to consist of two parts (the ego and the mind). In the latter case
the vijnanatma (the intellectual Self) or the ego or the seer forms the
subject, and the mental sheath or the seen, the object.
The waking, dream and sleep states have their origin in the Original
Darkness (mula avidya). With the mind outgoing and deriving
experiences from its modes in the waking and dream states, and
indrawn in sleep, experiencing with modes of Maya, a unique power
regulates all activities of the individuals and of the universe. All
these are only phenomena passing through the Reflected Light on
the substratum of the Self-radiant Being.
Just as a rope-snake cannot be seen in broad daylight, nor rope itself
in thick darkness, so also the world appears neither in the samadhi
state of Self-shining pure Being or in deep sleep, swoon, etc. Only
in Reflected Light (Light mixed with Darkness or knowledge soiled
by Ignorance) can the world, not independent of its Source, seem to
rise up, flourish and be resolved. Its diversity too cannot be exclusive
of the Reality, the original Source. Here a play is going on in which
the One Single Being becomes manifold is objectified and then
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