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

Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi
withdrawn. There must be a Sakti (Power) to do it, and wonderful
too! She cannot also be independent of Her origin. In the Self-shining
Pure Being this Sakti cannot be seen. Nevertheless, Her actions are
only too well-known. How sublime!
From Her sublime original activity (i.e., power vibrating) satva-filled
reflection results; from it the rajasic ego; then tamasic thought-forms
which are commonly known as knowledge, or the light corresponding
to the magnifying lens. Just as the artificial light is projected through
a lens on to the screen, so also the Reflected Light passes through
thought (the magnifier) before expanding as the world beyond it;
furthermore, thought, itself the world in-seed form, seems to be the
wide external world. Such is the extraordinary Power! In this way
Isvara, individual and the world are only of the Reflected Light, having
the Self-shining Single Being for the substratum.
Now, what is this ‘I-thought’ (the ego)? Is it the subject or the object,
in the scheme of things?
Inasmuch as it witnesses all other objects in the waking and dream
states, or at any rate we think that it does so, it must be considered
to be the subject. On realising the Pure Self, however, it will be an
object only.
Whose is this ‘I-thought’ (the ego)? This investigation forms the
vichara.
‘I-thought’ and ‘this’-thought are both emanations from the same light.
They are related to rajoguna and tamoguna respectively. In order to
have the Reflected Light (pure satva), free from rajas and tamas it
must shine forth as ‘I-I’, unbroken by ‘this’-thought. This pure state
momentarily intervenes between sleep and waking. If prolonged it
is cosmic consciousness, or even Isvara. This is the only passage to
the Realisation of the Self-shining Supreme Being.
Again there are two kinds of experiences in deep sleep as recollected
after waking, that is, “I slept happily, unaware of anything”. Happiness
and ignorance are the experiences. Thus we see the Power modified
as (1) avarana (darkness) and (2) vikshepa (diversity). The mind is
the result of vikshepa.
300